John 14:1-5 (common English Bible)

“Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. You know the way to the place I’m going.”

Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

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Pastoral Prayer

God of abundance,

You have ordained that creation yields fruit,

and that the earth will put forth plenty.

You have promised a banquet in your presence for all those who seek you.

And yet, so many in the world are hungry.

So many suffer under the weight of poverty,

made greater now by the burden of illness.

In this time of struggle and uncertainty Lord,

hear our prayer.

Guide us to share what we have in faith,

so that even our smallest gifts

might be transformed by your love.

Take our offerings of compassion,

so that even when we doubt your abundance,

all might be fed.

Forgive us when we cling to what you have given us;

when we believe in the world’s story of scarcity

more than your promise of plenty.

Forgive us when we fail our neighbors,

building up treasures for ourselves

when we should be caring for the

most vulnerable in our midst.

Teach us to walk in the way of Christ,

who leads us in paths of plenty;

who seeks the one lost sheep,

who calls in those who have been cast out,

and who feeds those he loves with a generous hand.

Give us a new Spirit of hope,

that all might be fed in your presence,

if only we plant the smallest seeds of love.

Call us from our places of fear and

into the open fields of generosity,

In the name of Jesus,

Our brother and our friend.

Amen.