September 9, 2022

Dear Road Church Friends,

In this week’s Scripture text the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. This reminds me of the first prayer my mother taught me when I was 4 or 5. After I was tucked into bed, she would ask me to recite the prayer she taught me to pray before she said goodnight and turned out the light. “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” This prayer was a source of comfort to me. Even though I was left all alone in the dark, these words assured me that the Lord is the keeper of my soul and that I’d be safe, until I’d wake—even if I didn’t. I knew whether I lived or died, I was safe in the arms of the Lord either way. This Sunday we will remember the events of 9/11 and think about how the power of prayer can keep us from falling into the Black Hole of fear and hate. Gather with us at 10 am this Sunday.

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 11:1-4          SERMON TITLE:  “Lord, Teach Us to Pray”

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

HYMN:   AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL   #727

POEM OF THE DAY:  AMERICA’S PROSPERITY

by Henry van Dyke

They tell me thou art rich, my country: gold

In glittering flood has pored into thy chest;

Thy flocks and herds increase, thy barns are pressed

With harvest, and thy stores can hardly hold

Their merchandise; unending trains are rolled

Along thy network rails of East and West;

Thy factories and forges never rest;

Thou art enriched in all things bought and sold!

But dost thou prosper? Better news I crave.

O dearest country, is it well with thee

Indeed, and is thy soul in health?

A nobler people, hearts more wisely brave,

And thoughts that lift men up and make them free—

These are prosperity and vital wealth!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God, our Heavenly Father, we pray for our nation today. We remember the pain and grief that the tragic events of September 11th brought to our nation. That grief also generated a spirit of  unity that we all shared. We pray for a renewed sense of that brotherhood and unity. Give us a common heart, common goals, and a common desire for peace and kindness towards one another.  Help us to love each other as you love us. Give our elected leaders a righteous wisdom that puts country above party, and integrity above personal ambition. Our nation has so much to offer the world materially and spiritually. We pray with our whole heart that We the People would hold fast to our founding principles and truly be a City on a Hill, and an example to the world. Amen.

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

This service can be found on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/HiZmuVGqCkI