Posts Tagged ‘Prayer’

Easter 2020

April 12, 2020

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Lord, this pandemic has revealed our many failings.

We relied on our own wisdom, made our own plans.

We worshiped money, celebrity, and power and went the wrong way.

We embraced the cynical voices of folly and mockery.

We denied the poor and dismissed the needs of many who we now call essential workers.

We repent and seek your forgiveness Lord, as we celebrate the promise of new life brought through your death and resurrection.

Resurrect in us humility, the love of others, and trust in you.

Show us the hope of a better way, and help us to follow.

Amen

Palm Sunday 2020

April 5, 2020

Hosanna! We praise your Holy Name.

Lord, you came to us not as a king but as a servant.

And showed us a way of mercy, of compassion, of healing from sin.

Forgive us for all the times we failed to heed your call.

Especially in these difficult times O Lord, remind us that there is life after death, and that evil can be overcome by good. (Romans 12:20).

Turn us O Lord, and guide us through that we may share your mercy and love, and rebuild our world so that all might thrive.

Amen

Trusting In God

March 29, 2020

God of light, eternal and bright shining, do not allow the noises and shadows of this fleeting world confuse us.” – Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)

Lord, as our routines are disrupted, our diversions disappear, and our futures grow increasingly uncertain, guide us through our fear, anger, and confusion.

Help us to trust in you.

As we sort through our media feeds, listen to the talking heads, and receive conflicting advice, focus us on what is true and hopeful and kind.

Give us a discerning spirit, O Lord.

As we seek to stay connected in community, help us find peace and comfort in what we can do and share, knowing that you walk closely with us in all things.

Help us to persevere, O Lord.

Amen

Coronavirus Continued

March 21, 2020

This prayer is by the Right Rev. Richard Bott of The United Church in Canada and being shared through various churches.

“In this time of COVID-19, we pray:

When we aren’t sure, God, help us be calm; when information comes from all sides, correct and not, help us to discern; when fear makes it hard to breathe, and anxiety seems to be the order of the day, slow us down, God; help us to reach out with our hearts, when we can’t touch with our hands; help us to be socially connected, when we have to be socially distant; help us to love as perfectly as we can, knowing that ‘perfect love casts out all fear.’

For the doctors, we pray, for the nurses, we pray, for the technicians and the janitors and the aides and the caregivers, we pray, for the researchers and theorists, the epidemiologists and investigators, for those who are sick, and those who are grieving, we pray, for all who are affected, all around the world…we pray for safety, for health for wholeness.

May we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and house those without homes; may we walk with those who feel they are alone, and may we do all that we can to heal the sick—in spite of the epidemic, in spite of the fear.

Help us, O God, that we might help each other. In the love of the Creator, in the name of the Healer, in the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all, we pray. May it be so.”

Amen

Coronavirus

March 15, 2020

Lord, it is not our natural way to plan, invest, and prepare for the difficult times ahead. Forgive our hardheadedness O Lord.

Forgive us for choosing easy answers, for our failures to engage, for our complacency.

And thank you for those who heard the wake-up call and sounded the alarm, those who chose to face the hard facts and take action.

Thank you for our medical professionals. May we, like them, affirm the dignity of every human life.

Thank you for those who are bridging the partisan divides to provide relief. Thank you for all those who see their neighbors and reach-out to help. May these efforts strengthen our country and our communities in the long-term.

Help us to trust in you as we fight this disease.

Protect us and heal us O Lord.

Amen

Being Faithful In Politics

March 8, 2020

Lord, help us to find the information we need to make wise choices. Help us to filter the loud voices, the brash voices, the voices that lie.

Give us the courage to engage, to reach-out rather than retreat; to listen and work with others rather than to distort, deflect, or dismiss the thoughts that challenge ours.

Help us Lord, be a reconciling rather than a dividing influence as work to rebuild our communities and our country.

Amen

Save Us From Seeking A King

March 1, 2020

The people wanted a king (1 Samuel 8).

A king to rule over them,

to fight their battles,

to direct them, and so

to salve their conscience.

They rejected God. They ignored God’s warning. They demanded a king.

And the king led them astray.

Lord save us from our love of easy answers.

Save us from our love of battle.

And save us from our desire to anoint a king.

Strengthen us O Lord in the hard work of citizenship.

Help us to trust in you, and guide us in your ways.

Amen.

Politics and Wisdom

February 16, 2020

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

As we move through our elections, O Lord, guide us to wisdom, guard us from folly. (Pr. 3:13-18; 8:1-36)

Turn us from the harsh judgments and words that divide; refocus us instead on the ties that bind — both us to one another and to you.

Help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19-20; 3:13:18). Let us reject the appeals of arrogance and easy answers.

Help us to see the needs and frailties of the real world before us and commit to the actions that might bring us healing, and forgiveness, and peace.

Guide us O Lord.

Amen

Politics of Faith

February 2, 2020

[On politics] “Most people just want somebody who can articulate their hatreds . . .” (David Brooks, 2011)

It is easy to fear the other –

  • the alien,
  • the stranger,
  • the one who thinks differently,
  • the poor,
  • the sick,
  • the ones in need who look for more.

And yet you call on us

  • to embrace the alien (Ex. 22:21),
  • to welcome the stranger (Mt. 25:35),
  • to reject factions (Gal. 5:20),
  • to serve the poor (Lev. 19:9-10),
  • to care for the sick (Mt. 25:36), and
  • to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mt. 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-34).

Help us O Lord, to heed your call as we live our lives together.

Amen.

Building Peace

January 25, 2020

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Lord, please cure our warring madness, bend our lives to your control.*

Help us to witness to the dignity of others and to your faith and justice and mercy.

Give us the compassion and knowledge to share our blessings and alleviate the sufferings of others.

Help us to avoid the lies that you hate, and pursue the truth and love that lead to peace. (Zechariah 8:16-17)

Give us the courage to see our world as it is and to challenge its systems and shortcomings.

Show us your ways, teach us your paths. (Ps. 25:4-5)

For you are a God of love and not disorder, of peace and not of chaos. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

We need your help O Lord.

Amen

*Chalice Hymnal, Chalice Press, 1998, # 464 God of Grace and God of Glory, v.3, Harry Emerson Fosdick.