Our recent series on the Lord’s Prayer explored its timeless words with fresh eyes. More than just a prayer, it’s a framework for the kind of life Jesus wants us to live – moving us from asking to acting, from praying to participating in God’s work. Each line pulls us deeper into God’s heart, reminding us who God is, who we are, and how we’re called not just to pray but to live, love, and act in the world.
Here’s a quick recap using the NRSVUE translation, shaped around what we ask of God and how we are called to act in response:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy.
Ask
For God’s character to be known and revered throughout the world.
Act
Practice daily acts of kindness, stand up for what is right, treat others with dignity and respect, and live with trust and confidence, knowing we are deeply loved and never alone, held in the care of a God who nurtures us like a loving parent.
May your kingdom come. May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Ask
For God’s justice, peace, and love to shape the world around us.
Act
Be agents of change by volunteering in our communities, advocating for justice, promoting peace and equity in daily life, and actively working to align our actions with God’s dream for creation.
Give us today our daily bread.
Ask
For our daily needs to be met, trusting God to provide for us and for others.
Act
Share resources generously, support food banks, care for neighbors in need, and cultivate gratitude for the provisions we receive.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Ask
For forgiveness from God in proportion to the forgiveness we extend to others.
Act
Engage in personal and communal practices of forgiveness, seek reconciliation with those we’ve wronged, release grudges, and advocate for economic justice, addressing systems of inequality and exploitation.
And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from evil.
Ask
To avoid unnecessary trials and hardship, and for strength, courage, and resource to endure when they do inevitably come our way.
Act
Embrace the reality of trials as part of the journey of faith, stand firm through prayer, draw strength from faith communities, and expect opposition as a sign of faithful living in alignment with Jesus’ teachings.
Check out all the messages from this series
Rev. Tom Hathaway - December 22, 2024
What Should We Do?
What does it mean to “do the good that is yours to do”? This sermon explores the powerful, practical wisdom of John the Baptist in Luke 3:7-16, where he calls crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers alike to bear good fruit in their own lives. Through the surprising story of an Oakland man who transformed his neighborhood with a single act, we’re reminded that even small, faithful actions can spark extraordinary change.
Scripture References: Luke 3:7-14
From Series: "Words for the Beginning"
As one year ends and another begins, we reflect on the tension between endings and beginnings. Christ’s birth brought renewal into a chaotic world, while Mary, surrounded by uncertainty, trusted in a God making all things new. This season invites us to find steady ground in words of blessing – words that guide us forward. Through timeless scriptures, often heard in sacred rituals like weddings and baptisms, we’ll explore lessons of belovedness, hope, and starting anew. Whatever lies ahead, love remains our foundation and our beginning.
More Messages Associated With "Calling"...
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God CallingRev. Wendy Miller Olapade - May 19, 2024Jeremiah 1:4-10 |
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What Should We Do?Rev. Tom Hathaway - December 22, 2024Luke 3:7-14 |
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Jesus Believes in You – Do You?Rev. Tom Hathaway - February 16, 2025Matthew 4:18-22 |
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