Inspired by Luke 9: 37-43, John Wesley and the denomination that raised me

Dear God:

We convulse. We foam at the mouth. We are seized

By this power that throws

Us to the ground and mauls us and will not leave us.

Today, I pray for my United Methodist siblings; for the church that raised me.

They have been seized by a force that is tearing them apart; that has thrown them to the ground.

None of our churches are perfect. Not one. We all have our demons to contend with. We understand what this is is like. It is awful and terrible. We all need to pray for each other.

So today, I pray in the name of Jesus that this death-dealing, life rejecting demon of prejudice and hetero-supremacy may be rebuked. May all those hurt by this demon find a place of peace and hope and grace and healing and calm. May the church reconnect

to that still, small voice that continues to whisper and invite those who hear it to

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as you ever can.”

Amen.