PRAYER

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 O Lord, I acknowledge that I am in your presence. I offer this time to you. Please allow my heart and mind to focus on you. May everything I feel, think and do be directed purely to your greater praise and service. Amen. 

Take Lord and receive 

all my liberty, my memory,

     my understanding 

     and my entire will,

all that I have and possess.

    You gave it all to me, 

       to you I return it,

           all is yours,

dispose of it entirely according to your will.

      Give me only the love of you,

         together with your grace

         for that is enough for me.

To follow Jesus is our task

Each day upon this earth,

To walk as he walked, led by God,

Convinced of love's true worth.

To follow Jesus is our task,

To counter grief and sorrow

With gentle words that speak of hope

In what will come tomorrow.

To follow Jesus is our task,

To come to life's defense

When taking life is meaningless

Or killing makes more sense.

To follow Jesus is our task,

To serve at his behest

The ones in want of homes or food:

May they, by us, be blest!

To follow Jesus is our task,

To pardon all our foes,

To break down walls of anger

And stunt the hate that grows.

To follow Jesus is our task,

But when our task has ended,

We'll find we've followed once again--

To where he has ascended.

Ascension of the Lord (A) May 7-8, 2005