[Note: this prayer is best prayed by speaking it aloud.
Do so quietly, slowly, and rhythmically. Speak it at least three times,
sitting in silence for a few moments after each reading.]
Trinitarian Echoes
Father, Father, Father . . .
Son, Son, Son . . .
Spirit, Spirit, Spirit . . .
Love, love, love . . .
Fellowship, fellowship, fellowship . . .
Community, community, community . . .
Three in One, Three in One, Three in One . . .
One in Three, One in Three, One in Three . . .
Majesty, majesty, majesty . . .
Intimacy, intimacy, intimacy . . .
Lifted up, lifted up, lifted up . . .
Reaching down, reaching down, reaching down . . .
Praise, praise, praise . . .
Mystery, mystery, mystery . . .
Presence, presence, presence . . .
Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity . . .
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Saturday, May 30, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, May 30, 2015
Practicality
O God,
Let my love for you show itself
in my love for others since there’s
really no other practical way to express it.
Let my forgiveness from you show itself
in my forgiveness of others since there’s
really no other practical way to share it.
Let my acceptance by you show itself
in my acceptance of others since there’s
really no other practical way to show it.
Amen.
O God,
Let my love for you show itself
in my love for others since there’s
really no other practical way to express it.
Let my forgiveness from you show itself
in my forgiveness of others since there’s
really no other practical way to share it.
Let my acceptance by you show itself
in my acceptance of others since there’s
really no other practical way to show it.
Amen.
Friday, May 29, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, May 29, 2015
Beyond
O God,
Give us grace to see beyond.
Give us grace to see beyond
our experience,
our ethnicity,
our religion,
our nationality,
our borders,
our politics,
our lifetime,
our perspectives,
our prejudices,
and
our assumptions,
that we might catch a glimpse
of the wider world with all of its
fascinating people, histories, and cultures,
of the many ways that you
work through and in them,
of the wonders of an
ever-expanding worldview,
and
of the eternity that, if we stand on
our tiptoes and stretch as high and far as we can,
we just might possibly, with your help,
just barely be able to see.
Amen.
O God,
Give us grace to see beyond.
Give us grace to see beyond
our experience,
our ethnicity,
our religion,
our nationality,
our borders,
our politics,
our lifetime,
our perspectives,
our prejudices,
and
our assumptions,
that we might catch a glimpse
of the wider world with all of its
fascinating people, histories, and cultures,
of the many ways that you
work through and in them,
of the wonders of an
ever-expanding worldview,
and
of the eternity that, if we stand on
our tiptoes and stretch as high and far as we can,
we just might possibly, with your help,
just barely be able to see.
Amen.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, May 28, 2015
This/That
O God,
It will happen all day long.
I can do this or that.
I can say this or that.
I can eat this or that.
I can drink this or that.
I can watch this or that.
I can read this or that.
I can desire this or that.
I can work toward this or that.
I can focus on this or that.
I can imagine this or that.
I can trust in this or that.
I can dedicate myself to this or that.
I can commit myself to this or that.
Sometimes there will even be more than
one “this” and more than one “that.”
Help me to choose well.
Help me to live so close to you that
choosing according to your will and way
will be my reflexive response.
But when I need to stop and think,
let me stop and think; when I stop and think,
let me think with the mind of Christ so that
I will put loving you and loving others
ahead of all other considerations.
Let me
love greatly,
choose wisely,
live boldly,
and
rest peacefully.
Amen.
O God,
It will happen all day long.
I can do this or that.
I can say this or that.
I can eat this or that.
I can drink this or that.
I can watch this or that.
I can read this or that.
I can desire this or that.
I can work toward this or that.
I can focus on this or that.
I can imagine this or that.
I can trust in this or that.
I can dedicate myself to this or that.
I can commit myself to this or that.
Sometimes there will even be more than
one “this” and more than one “that.”
Help me to choose well.
Help me to live so close to you that
choosing according to your will and way
will be my reflexive response.
But when I need to stop and think,
let me stop and think; when I stop and think,
let me think with the mind of Christ so that
I will put loving you and loving others
ahead of all other considerations.
Let me
love greatly,
choose wisely,
live boldly,
and
rest peacefully.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Mid-Week
O God,
Thank you for the opportunity that mid-week provides to stop and take stock, to evaluate the progress we’ve made so far this week and to realign and redirect as necessary for the rest of the week.
Help us to learn and to apply the lessons of mid-week to other aspects of our lives.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-task to determine if we are doing the task well and whether it is worth doing in the first place.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-sentence to ask ourselves if the way we intend to finish the sentence will build people up or tear them down.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-thought to evaluate whether the place our mind is going is a place in which we really want to end up.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-course to consider what brought us to this place and to make any needed adjustments to our trajectory.
We’re always in the middle of a lot of things, O God. Help us to take advantage of the perspective that comes from being in the middle to rethink, to reconsider, and to redirect for the sake of our faithful service to you, to our community, and to our world.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for the opportunity that mid-week provides to stop and take stock, to evaluate the progress we’ve made so far this week and to realign and redirect as necessary for the rest of the week.
Help us to learn and to apply the lessons of mid-week to other aspects of our lives.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-task to determine if we are doing the task well and whether it is worth doing in the first place.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-sentence to ask ourselves if the way we intend to finish the sentence will build people up or tear them down.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-thought to evaluate whether the place our mind is going is a place in which we really want to end up.
Sometimes we need to stop in mid-course to consider what brought us to this place and to make any needed adjustments to our trajectory.
We’re always in the middle of a lot of things, O God. Help us to take advantage of the perspective that comes from being in the middle to rethink, to reconsider, and to redirect for the sake of our faithful service to you, to our community, and to our world.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Wide Open
O God,
Let us live
with our eyes wide open
to the wonders of the world,
with our hearts wide open
to the possibilities of love,
with our minds wide open
to the pursuit of knowledge,
with our spirits wide open
to the reality of your presence,
with our arms wide open
to the embrace of the other,
with our ears wide open
to the cries of the hurting,
and
with our hands wide open
to the grace of giving.
Amen.
O God,
Let us live
with our eyes wide open
to the wonders of the world,
with our hearts wide open
to the possibilities of love,
with our minds wide open
to the pursuit of knowledge,
with our spirits wide open
to the reality of your presence,
with our arms wide open
to the embrace of the other,
with our ears wide open
to the cries of the hurting,
and
with our hands wide open
to the grace of giving.
Amen.
Monday, May 25, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, May 25, 2015
Memorial Day
O God,
We thank you that there are things worth dying for. We thank you that you have instilled in us a desire for individual freedom within the context of community responsibility that is worth defending with our lives. We thank you for those who have been willing to die and who have in fact died so that others, be they those of their own nation or those of another nation, might have the opportunity to exercise their individual liberties in ways that are best for the community at large.
Thank you for those who as members of our Armed Forces have, ever since our War for Independence, died in service to our country so that their families, their neighbors, their fellow Americans, and even, in a very real sense, their opponents on the battlefield and the countries for which they were fighting, might be free.
Thank you for those who have made the hard decisions to go to war when it was necessary to do so if freedom and responsibility were going to continue to exist and to flourish. Thank you for those leaders who made that terrible decision only after counting and agonizing over the terrible human cost of war. Forgive those leaders who have made decisions to go to war out of self-serving, short-sighted, and even dishonest motives and with callousness toward the human cost.
Thank you for those who have given their lives in service to our country to work behind the scenes, to do the hard work of listening, of talking, of understanding, and of negotiating so that armed conflicts might be avoided and so that problems might be solved without bloodshed.
Thank you for those who have given their lives to remind us of our greatest values and to call us to be our best selves as Americans, even when it put them in the position of swimming against the strong tide of public opinion and when their patriotism was questioned even though their actions were motivated by support for our troops and love for our country. Forgive those whose motives for opposing and protesting were self-serving, self-promoting, and self-protecting.
Today we honor those who have given their lives for our country.
Help us, O God, to honor them by building a world where such sacrifice becomes less and less necessary.
Amen.
O God,
We thank you that there are things worth dying for. We thank you that you have instilled in us a desire for individual freedom within the context of community responsibility that is worth defending with our lives. We thank you for those who have been willing to die and who have in fact died so that others, be they those of their own nation or those of another nation, might have the opportunity to exercise their individual liberties in ways that are best for the community at large.
Thank you for those who as members of our Armed Forces have, ever since our War for Independence, died in service to our country so that their families, their neighbors, their fellow Americans, and even, in a very real sense, their opponents on the battlefield and the countries for which they were fighting, might be free.
Thank you for those who have made the hard decisions to go to war when it was necessary to do so if freedom and responsibility were going to continue to exist and to flourish. Thank you for those leaders who made that terrible decision only after counting and agonizing over the terrible human cost of war. Forgive those leaders who have made decisions to go to war out of self-serving, short-sighted, and even dishonest motives and with callousness toward the human cost.
Thank you for those who have given their lives in service to our country to work behind the scenes, to do the hard work of listening, of talking, of understanding, and of negotiating so that armed conflicts might be avoided and so that problems might be solved without bloodshed.
Thank you for those who have given their lives to remind us of our greatest values and to call us to be our best selves as Americans, even when it put them in the position of swimming against the strong tide of public opinion and when their patriotism was questioned even though their actions were motivated by support for our troops and love for our country. Forgive those whose motives for opposing and protesting were self-serving, self-promoting, and self-protecting.
Today we honor those who have given their lives for our country.
Help us, O God, to honor them by building a world where such sacrifice becomes less and less necessary.
Amen.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, May 24, 2015
Pentecost Sunday
O God,
We praise you because your Spirit came to those believers who had gathered in expectant worship seven weeks after Jesus had been crucified and had been raised from the dead.
We praise you because your Spirit remained with those believers and has been with your people ever since.
We praise you that your Spirit will come to those believers who gather in expectant worship two thousand years after Jesus was crucified and was raised from the dead.
We praise you that your Spirit remains with us believers and will be with us from now on.
We praise you, O God, that you in your grace choose to be with us through your Spirit to enliven us, to empower us, to enlighten us, to challenge us, to comfort us, to convict us, and to lead us.
Make us always aware of the presence of your Spirit; make us always open and responsive to your Spirit’s leadership.
Amen.
O God,
We praise you because your Spirit came to those believers who had gathered in expectant worship seven weeks after Jesus had been crucified and had been raised from the dead.
We praise you because your Spirit remained with those believers and has been with your people ever since.
We praise you that your Spirit will come to those believers who gather in expectant worship two thousand years after Jesus was crucified and was raised from the dead.
We praise you that your Spirit remains with us believers and will be with us from now on.
We praise you, O God, that you in your grace choose to be with us through your Spirit to enliven us, to empower us, to enlighten us, to challenge us, to comfort us, to convict us, and to lead us.
Make us always aware of the presence of your Spirit; make us always open and responsive to your Spirit’s leadership.
Amen.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, May 23, 2015
Forty-Ninth Day of Easter
O God,
On this last day of this year’s Easter season,
help us remember and never forget
that there is no such thing
as the last day of Easter,
that not only was Christ raised but
Christ is risen and is risen forever,
that not only will we be raised to new life but
that we have been raised to walk in newness of life,
that the same Spirit that made the risen Christ
available to the earliest Church makes him
available to today’s Church,
and
that because Christ is risen we
can know him personally and thereby
can experience eternal life.
Amen.
O God,
On this last day of this year’s Easter season,
help us remember and never forget
that there is no such thing
as the last day of Easter,
that not only was Christ raised but
Christ is risen and is risen forever,
that not only will we be raised to new life but
that we have been raised to walk in newness of life,
that the same Spirit that made the risen Christ
available to the earliest Church makes him
available to today’s Church,
and
that because Christ is risen we
can know him personally and thereby
can experience eternal life.
Amen.
Friday, May 22, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, May 22, 2015
Forty-Eighth Day of Easter
O God,
We have moved seven weeks
past this year’s Easter Sunday.
We have moved two thousand years
past the first Easter Sunday.
Help us never forget, though,
that we never move past Easter,
that Easter always goes with us,
that we always live the Easter life,
that the Christ of Easter is always with us,
and
that in the Christ of Easter
we have been raised,
we are being raised, and
we will be raised.
Amen.
O God,
We have moved seven weeks
past this year’s Easter Sunday.
We have moved two thousand years
past the first Easter Sunday.
Help us never forget, though,
that we never move past Easter,
that Easter always goes with us,
that we always live the Easter life,
that the Christ of Easter is always with us,
and
that in the Christ of Easter
we have been raised,
we are being raised, and
we will be raised.
Amen.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, May 21, 2015
Forty-Seventh Day of Easter
O God,
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
set us free from our fear of dying.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
set us free from our fear of living.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
help us to live in you until we die.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
help us to die to self until we live.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
grant us everlasting life.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
grant us abundant life.
Amen.
O God,
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
set us free from our fear of dying.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
set us free from our fear of living.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
help us to live in you until we die.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
help us to die to self until we live.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
grant us everlasting life.
Through the resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ,
grant us abundant life.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Forty-Sixth Day of Easter
O God,
With every breath I take,
with every fragrance I smell,
with every sight I see,
with every word I speak,
with every thought I think,
with every idea I have,
with every sound I hear, and
with every texture I feel,
let me be aware of
this wonderful life that I live.
With every presence I sense,
with every dream I dream,
with every hope I have,
with every mystery I ponder,
with every future I imagine,
with every prompting I feel,
with every longing I experience, and
with every possibility I picture,
let me be aware that there is more to
this wonderful life than I can see.
With every relationship I develop,
with every conversation I share,
with every shoulder I cry on,
with every mercy I experience,
with every hand I shake,
with every neck I hug,
with every promise I keep, and
with every person I know,
let me be aware that love is what makes
this wonderful life truly wonderful.
Amen.
O God,
With every breath I take,
with every fragrance I smell,
with every sight I see,
with every word I speak,
with every thought I think,
with every idea I have,
with every sound I hear, and
with every texture I feel,
let me be aware of
this wonderful life that I live.
With every presence I sense,
with every dream I dream,
with every hope I have,
with every mystery I ponder,
with every future I imagine,
with every prompting I feel,
with every longing I experience, and
with every possibility I picture,
let me be aware that there is more to
this wonderful life than I can see.
With every relationship I develop,
with every conversation I share,
with every shoulder I cry on,
with every mercy I experience,
with every hand I shake,
with every neck I hug,
with every promise I keep, and
with every person I know,
let me be aware that love is what makes
this wonderful life truly wonderful.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Forty-Fifth Day of Easter
O God,
I want to live.
I don’t want to survive; I don’t want to exist; I don’t want to make it through somehow.
I want to live.
I want to live in freedom, unencumbered by guilt or fear or shame.
I want to live in community, giving and receiving in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
I want to live in grace, motivated only by your love for me and my love for you.
I want to live in humility, gladly regarding others as better than myself and gladly giving myself up for them.
I want to live in you, knowing that my life comes from your life and so is eternal.
I want to live. I want truly to live.
Help me to live, O God . . .
Amen.
O God,
I want to live.
I don’t want to survive; I don’t want to exist; I don’t want to make it through somehow.
I want to live.
I want to live in freedom, unencumbered by guilt or fear or shame.
I want to live in community, giving and receiving in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
I want to live in grace, motivated only by your love for me and my love for you.
I want to live in humility, gladly regarding others as better than myself and gladly giving myself up for them.
I want to live in you, knowing that my life comes from your life and so is eternal.
I want to live. I want truly to live.
Help me to live, O God . . .
Amen.
Monday, May 18, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, May 18, 2015
Forty-Fourth Day of Easter
O God,
Here we are at the beginning of another week.
It will be like our other weeks in so many ways. We have our routines and so we have our expectations.
But this week will also be different than any other week. We will experience the unexpected, the surprising, and the new; our routines will be interrupted and our expectations will be surpassed.
In all things during this week, be they routine or novel, help us to be aware of how the resurrected Christ and the life we have in him fill it all with meaning, with purpose, and with joy.
Amen.
O God,
Here we are at the beginning of another week.
It will be like our other weeks in so many ways. We have our routines and so we have our expectations.
But this week will also be different than any other week. We will experience the unexpected, the surprising, and the new; our routines will be interrupted and our expectations will be surpassed.
In all things during this week, be they routine or novel, help us to be aware of how the resurrected Christ and the life we have in him fill it all with meaning, with purpose, and with joy.
Amen.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, May 17, 2015
Seventh Sunday of Easter
O God,
We praise you for Easter!
We praise you for Easter Sunday on which our Lord was raised from the dead.
We praise you for the Easter Season during which we continue to reflect on and to celebrate our resurrected Lord.
We praise you for the Easter realities of the ongoing presence of our resurrected Lord and of the newness of life in which we walk because of him that permeate our lives in all of our days.
We praise you for Easter!
Amen.
O God,
We praise you for Easter!
We praise you for Easter Sunday on which our Lord was raised from the dead.
We praise you for the Easter Season during which we continue to reflect on and to celebrate our resurrected Lord.
We praise you for the Easter realities of the ongoing presence of our resurrected Lord and of the newness of life in which we walk because of him that permeate our lives in all of our days.
We praise you for Easter!
Amen.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, May 16, 2015
Forty-Second Day of Easter
O God,
Through the presence of your resurrected Son and of your Holy Spirit in us and among us, give us insight into the ways of real life—the ways of eternal life—as we go about living our daily lives.
Let the ways of eternal life, the ways that develop in us from our growing relationship with you, come more and more to be our ways.
Help us to gain greater insight into and to live more and more in line with the ways of grace, of mercy, of forgiveness, of compassion, of peace, and of love.
Amen.
O God,
Through the presence of your resurrected Son and of your Holy Spirit in us and among us, give us insight into the ways of real life—the ways of eternal life—as we go about living our daily lives.
Let the ways of eternal life, the ways that develop in us from our growing relationship with you, come more and more to be our ways.
Help us to gain greater insight into and to live more and more in line with the ways of grace, of mercy, of forgiveness, of compassion, of peace, and of love.
Amen.
Friday, May 15, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, May 15, 2015
Forty-first Day of Easter
O God,
Help us to remember that the way to resurrection goes through crucifixion.
Help us to remember that such was the path that Jesus our Lord took; help us to remember also that such is the path that Jesus our Lord calls us to take.
Thank you that Jesus emptied himself and was obedient to the point of death on a cross; thank you that you then exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name.
Thank you for the privilege of having the mind of Christ and of giving ourselves up in the same way that he did; thank you for the better—the more meaningful and more fulfilling—life that we find in giving ourselves up for you and for others.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to remember that the way to resurrection goes through crucifixion.
Help us to remember that such was the path that Jesus our Lord took; help us to remember also that such is the path that Jesus our Lord calls us to take.
Thank you that Jesus emptied himself and was obedient to the point of death on a cross; thank you that you then exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name.
Thank you for the privilege of having the mind of Christ and of giving ourselves up in the same way that he did; thank you for the better—the more meaningful and more fulfilling—life that we find in giving ourselves up for you and for others.
Amen.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, May 14, 2015
Fortieth Day of Easter
O God,
Thank you for the ways in which
your love has lifted me.
Please use your love in me
to lift someone else.
Use your love in me
to lift someone's hopes to new levels,
to lift someone's spirits to new heights, and
to lift someone's eyes to new visions.
Use your love in me to lift someone's life
to a new or renewed relationship with you.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for the ways in which
your love has lifted me.
Please use your love in me
to lift someone else.
Use your love in me
to lift someone's hopes to new levels,
to lift someone's spirits to new heights, and
to lift someone's eyes to new visions.
Use your love in me to lift someone's life
to a new or renewed relationship with you.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Thirty-Ninth Day of Easter
O God,
We all live with limitations.
There are things we can do and things we cannot do. There are things we do well and things we do poorly.
Help us to live creatively and fully within whatever limitations we have.
Sometimes, though, we are too quick to assume that we are limited; sometimes we use our perceived or presumed limitations as excuses not to try to do something that challenges us. Sometimes we let our fears and insecurities place false limitations on us.
Give us wisdom to know the difference between our legitimate limitations and our presumed or assumed ones. Give us grace to accept what we cannot do and courage to try to do what we just might be able to do.
Amen.
O God,
We all live with limitations.
There are things we can do and things we cannot do. There are things we do well and things we do poorly.
Help us to live creatively and fully within whatever limitations we have.
Sometimes, though, we are too quick to assume that we are limited; sometimes we use our perceived or presumed limitations as excuses not to try to do something that challenges us. Sometimes we let our fears and insecurities place false limitations on us.
Give us wisdom to know the difference between our legitimate limitations and our presumed or assumed ones. Give us grace to accept what we cannot do and courage to try to do what we just might be able to do.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Thirty-Eighth Day of Easter
O God,
For the beauty of the Earth,
for the wonder of this life,
for the glory of human love,
for the grace of second and
of third and of fourth (etc.) chances,
for the optimism of dreamers,
for the pragmatism of planners,
for the lessons of hardship,
for the privilege of breathing, and
for the joy of knowing you and
of being known by you,
we thank you.
Amen.
O God,
For the beauty of the Earth,
for the wonder of this life,
for the glory of human love,
for the grace of second and
of third and of fourth (etc.) chances,
for the optimism of dreamers,
for the pragmatism of planners,
for the lessons of hardship,
for the privilege of breathing, and
for the joy of knowing you and
of being known by you,
we thank you.
Amen.
Monday, May 11, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, May 11, 2015
Thirty-Seventh Day of Easter
O God,
I acknowledge that the presence
of the resurrected Christ in me
should make me a better person.
Let that presence make me
better at the things that were
most important to him.
Let it make me better
at trusting you,
at obeying you,
at forgiving others,
at giving to others,
at practicing grace,
at putting others ahead of self,
and
at being in constant communion with you.
Amen.
O God,
I acknowledge that the presence
of the resurrected Christ in me
should make me a better person.
Let that presence make me
better at the things that were
most important to him.
Let it make me better
at trusting you,
at obeying you,
at forgiving others,
at giving to others,
at practicing grace,
at putting others ahead of self,
and
at being in constant communion with you.
Amen.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, May 10, 2015
Sixth Sunday of Easter
O God,
Thank you for the gift of life;
thank you for the gift of being known and loved by people
and for the gift of knowing and loving them.
Thank you for the gift of eternal life;
thank you for the gift of being known and loved by you
and for the gift of knowing and loving you.
Thank you for those through whom you
gave and give us the gifts of life and love, be it
by birth, by adoption, by marriage, or by behavior.
Thank you for the One through whom you
gave and give us the gift of eternal life;
thank you for Jesus Christ your Son and our Savior.
Thank you also for those through whom you
taught and teach us about the nature and quality of eternal life;
thank you for our guides and mentors.
Thank you for the gifts of life and eternal life
and for all of those through whom
you communicate those gifts to us.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for the gift of life;
thank you for the gift of being known and loved by people
and for the gift of knowing and loving them.
Thank you for the gift of eternal life;
thank you for the gift of being known and loved by you
and for the gift of knowing and loving you.
Thank you for those through whom you
gave and give us the gifts of life and love, be it
by birth, by adoption, by marriage, or by behavior.
Thank you for the One through whom you
gave and give us the gift of eternal life;
thank you for Jesus Christ your Son and our Savior.
Thank you also for those through whom you
taught and teach us about the nature and quality of eternal life;
thank you for our guides and mentors.
Thank you for the gifts of life and eternal life
and for all of those through whom
you communicate those gifts to us.
Amen.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, May 9, 2015
Thirty-Fifth Day of Easter
O God,
Was Jesus laughing as
he came out of the tomb?
Did all of heaven erupt in laughter
when he rose from the dead?
We praise you, O God, because
in the resurrection of Jesus
you had the last laugh,
the universe had the last laugh,
love had the last laugh, and
life had the last laugh.
We praise you, O God, because
through the resurrection of Jesus
the laughter continues and
we are caught up in it.
We praise you, O God, because
one of these days we will laugh
our way into eternity.
We praise you, O God, because
in these days we know
the joy of new life in Christ.
Let our laughter be deep, robust,
knowing, constant, and contagious …
Amen.
O God,
Was Jesus laughing as
he came out of the tomb?
Did all of heaven erupt in laughter
when he rose from the dead?
We praise you, O God, because
in the resurrection of Jesus
you had the last laugh,
the universe had the last laugh,
love had the last laugh, and
life had the last laugh.
We praise you, O God, because
through the resurrection of Jesus
the laughter continues and
we are caught up in it.
We praise you, O God, because
one of these days we will laugh
our way into eternity.
We praise you, O God, because
in these days we know
the joy of new life in Christ.
Let our laughter be deep, robust,
knowing, constant, and contagious …
Amen.
Friday, May 8, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, May 8, 2015
Thirty-Fourth Day of Easter
O God,
Keep us always aware that as
he walked with the two disciples
on the Emmaus Road on
that first Easter evening,
so the resurrected Christ walks with us.
Keep us always aware that as
he interpreted the scriptures for them,
so the resurrected Christ opens up the scriptures
to us so that we can experience the life
in you toward which they point us.
Keep us always aware that as
he became known to them
in the breaking of the bread,
so the resurrected Christ is known
to us when we sit at table
in communion with one another
and when we gather around his table
to celebrate our Communion with him.
Keep us always aware that
the resurrected Christ
shares our journey with us,
shares the truth with us, and
shares his life with us.
Amen.
O God,
Keep us always aware that as
he walked with the two disciples
on the Emmaus Road on
that first Easter evening,
so the resurrected Christ walks with us.
Keep us always aware that as
he interpreted the scriptures for them,
so the resurrected Christ opens up the scriptures
to us so that we can experience the life
in you toward which they point us.
Keep us always aware that as
he became known to them
in the breaking of the bread,
so the resurrected Christ is known
to us when we sit at table
in communion with one another
and when we gather around his table
to celebrate our Communion with him.
Keep us always aware that
the resurrected Christ
shares our journey with us,
shares the truth with us, and
shares his life with us.
Amen.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, May 7, 2015
Thirty-Third Day of Easter
O God,
Inspire us by your grace and
empower us by your Spirit
to see as you see,
to love as you love,
to give as you give,
to forgive as you forgive, and
to bless as you bless.
Amen.
O God,
Inspire us by your grace and
empower us by your Spirit
to see as you see,
to love as you love,
to give as you give,
to forgive as you forgive, and
to bless as you bless.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Thirty-Second Day of Easter
O God,
If we don’t consume the things that make for earthly life, we die. That’s why we consume food and air and water—because we want to live.
If we don’t consume the things that make for eternal life, we die. So inspire us to want to consume the life of Christ through which we enter into eternal life. Let us crave personal knowledge of you through him so that we are compelled to pray, to worship, to study, and to serve.
We want to live; help us to consume what it takes for us to live spiritually as well as physically and eternally as well as temporally.
Amen.
O God,
If we don’t consume the things that make for earthly life, we die. That’s why we consume food and air and water—because we want to live.
If we don’t consume the things that make for eternal life, we die. So inspire us to want to consume the life of Christ through which we enter into eternal life. Let us crave personal knowledge of you through him so that we are compelled to pray, to worship, to study, and to serve.
We want to live; help us to consume what it takes for us to live spiritually as well as physically and eternally as well as temporally.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Thirty-First Day of Easter
O God,
Jesus came in the Incarnation.
Jesus left in the Crucifixion.
Jesus came in the Resurrection.
Jesus left in the Ascension.
Jesus will come in the Second Coming.
Thank you that Jesus is with us in all of our comings and goings.
Keep us aware that he is with us in our journey; keep us open to his gracious guidance.
Show us what it means to walk humbly with our God; show us what it means to follow Jesus and to have him walking beside us.
In all of our comings and goings, let our one goal be for your will to be done.
Amen.
O God,
Jesus came in the Incarnation.
Jesus left in the Crucifixion.
Jesus came in the Resurrection.
Jesus left in the Ascension.
Jesus will come in the Second Coming.
Thank you that Jesus is with us in all of our comings and goings.
Keep us aware that he is with us in our journey; keep us open to his gracious guidance.
Show us what it means to walk humbly with our God; show us what it means to follow Jesus and to have him walking beside us.
In all of our comings and goings, let our one goal be for your will to be done.
Amen.
Monday, May 4, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, May 4, 2015
Thirtieth Day of Easter
O God,
Whenever I take a breath today,
let me celebrate the fact that I am alive.
Whenever I see another person today,
let me celebrate the fact that they are alive.
Whenever I think about Jesus today,
let me celebrate the fact that he is alive.
Whenever I do anything today,
let me celebrate life.
Amen.
O God,
Whenever I take a breath today,
let me celebrate the fact that I am alive.
Whenever I see another person today,
let me celebrate the fact that they are alive.
Whenever I think about Jesus today,
let me celebrate the fact that he is alive.
Whenever I do anything today,
let me celebrate life.
Amen.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, May 3, 2015
Fifth Sunday of Easter
O God,
As we come into your presence to worship you today,
remind us that we are in your presence every day.
As we come to know you better in our worship of you today,
remind us that we can grow in our knowledge of you every day.
As we come before you to celebrate your love and grace today,
remind us that we have much cause to celebrate your love and grace every day.
As we come together as the body of Christ today,
remind us that we are together as the body of Christ every day.
As we come to give ourselves over to you in worship today,
remind us that we are to give ourselves over to you in service every day.
Come Monday, help us to remember and to live in light
of that of which you have reminded us on Sunday.
Amen.
O God,
As we come into your presence to worship you today,
remind us that we are in your presence every day.
As we come to know you better in our worship of you today,
remind us that we can grow in our knowledge of you every day.
As we come before you to celebrate your love and grace today,
remind us that we have much cause to celebrate your love and grace every day.
As we come together as the body of Christ today,
remind us that we are together as the body of Christ every day.
As we come to give ourselves over to you in worship today,
remind us that we are to give ourselves over to you in service every day.
Come Monday, help us to remember and to live in light
of that of which you have reminded us on Sunday.
Amen.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, May 2, 2015
Twenty-Eighth Day of Easter
O God,
When Jesus comes again,
we will be raised.
It will be wonderful!
Hallelujah!
Jesus has already come to us,
and so we have been raised.
It is wonderful!
Hallelujah!
Help us to live as the resurrected people that we already are;
help us to rise from the deadness of pride and ego
and to rise to the life of grace, love, and service.
Help us to live as those who have been raised
from envy, self-centeredness, hate, and apathy
and who have been raised to
sympathy, empathy, love, compassion, and involvement.
Thank you that we will be raised.
Thank you that we have been raised.
Help us to live
in light of
the assurance of our future resurrection
and in light of
the present presence
of the resurrected Christ in our lives.
Amen.
O God,
When Jesus comes again,
we will be raised.
It will be wonderful!
Hallelujah!
Jesus has already come to us,
and so we have been raised.
It is wonderful!
Hallelujah!
Help us to live as the resurrected people that we already are;
help us to rise from the deadness of pride and ego
and to rise to the life of grace, love, and service.
Help us to live as those who have been raised
from envy, self-centeredness, hate, and apathy
and who have been raised to
sympathy, empathy, love, compassion, and involvement.
Thank you that we will be raised.
Thank you that we have been raised.
Help us to live
in light of
the assurance of our future resurrection
and in light of
the present presence
of the resurrected Christ in our lives.
Amen.
Friday, May 1, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, May 1, 2015
Twenty-Seventh Day of Easter
O God,
We praise you for being
the God of new things!
For new life,
for new beginnings,
for new opportunities,
for new challenges,
for new relationships,
for new perspectives,
for new ideas,
for new insights,
for new responsibilities, and
for new blessings,
we thank you!
Show us how to take advantage of all
of the new realities that you place before us.
Amen.
O God,
We praise you for being
the God of new things!
For new life,
for new beginnings,
for new opportunities,
for new challenges,
for new relationships,
for new perspectives,
for new ideas,
for new insights,
for new responsibilities, and
for new blessings,
we thank you!
Show us how to take advantage of all
of the new realities that you place before us.
Amen.
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