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 enemy alike so that your kingdom will grow with peace and justice.
Holy Father, Father of Christ who opened our mind to understand that the whole of the law and prophets are contained within love of God and love of neighbor. Forgive us for the times when we’ve desired to be right rather than be in relationship, when we’ve sought our own needs at the expense of the other, when we’ve offered ourselves grace while withholding forgiveness to someone else. Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who have sinned against us. May we be offered mercy to the extent that we are merciful. But when we fail, may we be mindful that our judge is also the one who loves us to the cross, and through an empty tomb.
Sovereign Lord, God of all by the power of the Holy Spirit, strengthen our soul for the journey ahead. May our burden of sin be cast away so that we might carry each other, so that we may be free to offer our gifts across our city and across your world. Offer us a resolve not to be threatened by spiritual growth and change, and offer us patience to practice your grace with all. By your Spirit, may the compliments of our heart, mind, soul, and strength be perpetually pointed to You and your holy work. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!