Almighty God, the One who is, who was, and whoever shall be, praise you as we glorify you this morning in our prayers, attentiveness, and worship! You have made this day, and we rejoice and glorify you in it!

Today we celebrate your divine ascension into heaven, Jesus, making way for the Holy Spirit to be gifted to your followers. Help prevent us from naval gazing into the heavens wondering what you are up to but instead convict us to go, baptize, make disciples, teach, and serve others in the loving name of Jesus.

This morning, we lift up the family of Van Lloyd as they grieve her death early yesterday. We pray for all who feel the searing sting of pain from the grief of a lost spouse, child, parent, or friend. Remind us in those shadowy moments that you have conquered death and we dine with the saints of heaven each time we break bread with you at the Lord’s Supper.

There are those in our midst whose lives teeter on the precipice between life or demise. We pray for those who are in the position of having to make very difficult decisions regarding healthcare for themselves or for a dear loved one. Give them peace and assuage any doubts they may have.

We pray for our world leaders, not only the G7 but for leaders in the majority 2/3 world who do not often make the headlines. In particular, we pray for our national leaders in Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Oval Office. Partisanship has infiltrated all branches of our government which is destroying civitas, sowing disunity and distrust, and sowing fear among their constituents.  The eyes of many of our citizens have developed cataracts preventing us from seeing the legitimate needs and concerns of those people who are different from me. We dare to judge another human being’s worth based on their party affiliation, the color of their skin, sexual identity, economic standing, or by the type of books they read. O sweet Lord, we have become a nation of narcissists where “my agenda and moral beliefs are more superior than your agenda or moral beliefs.” Sadly, in the process, we’ve become an amoral people.

Yet, we sit eagerly awaiting Pentecost when you breathe upon us your Holy, Live-giving, Spirit of joy, love, peace, reconciliation, and unity. Prepare our hearts this week to receive the gift you so eagerly want to bestow upon us. Hear us now as we lift up these people to you…

For those dying…

For graduates…

For their teachers and professors…

For those who work in hospitals and in the medical sector…

For the janitors and custodians who serve us in our places of work or enjoyment…

For the men and women, along with their families, who serve our nation…

For the homeless children, women, and men of Broward County…

And finally, for our community’s faith leaders who are trying to remind a diffident world that You, O Lord, are alive and well and that we are to love and serve in Your name.

Now hear us as we pray the prayer Jesus taught his beloved centuries ago…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom comes, they will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, the power,  and the glory forever. Amen!