Pastoral Prayer Gracious God, you framed creation with love and mercy and declared it good; yet we, desiring to justify ourselves, judge others more harshly than we judge ourselves, and often without knowledge or understanding. May our heart beat with yours. May our heart break with yours. May our heart make room for friend and… Read more »
Posts Tagged: prayer
A Prayerful Mother
Even though Mother’s Day isn’t mentioned in scripture, this holiday offers us a great opportunity to recognize our mothers, those who were like mothers to us, and the mothers of our faith throughout God’s story. One mother in particular calls me to remember God’s providence, power, humility, and grace. In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah offers… Read more »
I Will Not Pray for Peace
The morning headlines have weighed heavily on me–tension mounting between Israel and Palestine, children being kidnapped from school and sold into slavery, civil stability in Iraq seemingly dissolving like the word “Peace” written on the beach too close to the shoreline. We pray for peace, but for what are we really praying? When I pray… Read more »
Prayer of Resurrection, Incarnation, and Transfiguration
Have you ever been with someone in need, someone in a desperate place? Have you held their hand while her shaking body wept? Have you awkwardly stood by while he says, “I don’t know what to do.” Have you ever taken that great leap of faith to say, “Can I pray for you?” If that’s… Read more »
Pastoral Prayer, Lent 5 A
Gracious God, you who created light so that we might see your grace, open our eyes to see how you are carefully and constantly weaving blessings throughout our life. Put upon our heart to respond to brokenness with healing. Holy Father, Father of Christ who opened the eyes of the blind, made the lame to… Read more »
Pastoral Prayer, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany C
Gracious God, You who promises to be with us, guide us with your presence, scatter the fears that bind us, and set us free to live stewards of your promise. Because you are with us, give us the courage to offer presence to one another, so that the world might know and trust your promise…. Read more »
Pastoral Prayer, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Gracious God, our persistent liberator, every day you summon your slumbering people. Stir up within us a call to repentance, a vision of your kingdom, and a desire to offer ourselves to your loving work. Enlighten our lives with your grace so that we might fully give ourselves to Christ’s mission and ministry. Holy Father,… Read more »
Pastoral Prayer, Baptism of the Lord, Sunday Epiphany C
Gracious God, God of grace and glory, you call us to be your people, faithful and courageous. You created us, male and female, to love you and to love one another. Through disobedience our love for you became a fear of you. Let us once again hear your footsteps calling us to follow,… Read more »
Prayer for Thanksgiving
Gracious God, who clothes the grass of the field and feeds the birds of the air, on behalf of the church and the world we offer our prayers. We pray to you more from our need to be transformed by our awareness of them than from any need of God to be reminded of them…. Read more »
Veteran's Day Prayer
Gracious God, we praise you for your abiding presence from generation to generation, blessing your people, strengthening us to lives of service, empowering us to witness, and calling us to share the love of Christ with all. You let us choose, O God, between you and the false gods of the world. In the midst… Read more »