Stop/Start
O God,
Help us
stop judging and start understanding,
stop holding grudges and start forgiving,
stop fretting and start trusting,
stop despairing and start hoping,
stop hoarding and start sharing, and
stop hating and start loving.
Amen.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
A Prayer for Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Istanbul
O God,
We mourn the people killed and pray for the people wounded by terrorists in the Istanbul airport.
Bless the families of those killed and injured in the attack. Give them the strength and comfort they need.
Work in the hearts and minds of those who plan and carry out such attacks that they might pursue their goals through peaceful means rather than through violent ones.
Help us all to live in peace and to work for peace in every way we can.
Especially help those of us who follow the One who told us to pray for our enemies, and who showed us how to do so, to do all we can to practice and to advocate for peace.
Amen
O God,
We mourn the people killed and pray for the people wounded by terrorists in the Istanbul airport.
Bless the families of those killed and injured in the attack. Give them the strength and comfort they need.
Work in the hearts and minds of those who plan and carry out such attacks that they might pursue their goals through peaceful means rather than through violent ones.
Help us all to live in peace and to work for peace in every way we can.
Especially help those of us who follow the One who told us to pray for our enemies, and who showed us how to do so, to do all we can to practice and to advocate for peace.
Amen
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
A Prayer for Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Broaden
O God,
Broaden
our experience,
our perspective,
our understanding, and
our acceptance.
Use all those broadenings to broaden
our love.
Amen.
O God,
Broaden
our experience,
our perspective,
our understanding, and
our acceptance.
Use all those broadenings to broaden
our love.
Amen.
Monday, June 27, 2016
A Prayer for Monday, June 27, 2016
Brexit
O God,
Now that Great Britain has voted to leave the European Union, things are happening—even though it will be a long time before they actually depart.
Regret is happening. Lots of folks regret the decision. Many have signed a petition calling for a revote.
Political upheaval is happening. The Prime Minister has announced his resignation. Many members of the shadow cabinet have resigned.
Economic turmoil is happening. Global markets are losing huge amounts of value.
Uncertainty is happening. Nobody knows how it will all turn out.
Help us learn what we need to learn from Brexit.
Help us learn that participation in the process matters, that decisions have consequences, and that the nations of the world are closely connected.
Help us learn to trust in you, no matter what chaos seems poised to envelop us.
Bless the people of Great Britain, of Europe, and of the world with trust, peace, and hope.
Bless the leaders of nations with wisdom, insight, and courage.
Help us all to trust in you.
Help us all to think clearly and to act wisely.
Amen.
O God,
Now that Great Britain has voted to leave the European Union, things are happening—even though it will be a long time before they actually depart.
Regret is happening. Lots of folks regret the decision. Many have signed a petition calling for a revote.
Political upheaval is happening. The Prime Minister has announced his resignation. Many members of the shadow cabinet have resigned.
Economic turmoil is happening. Global markets are losing huge amounts of value.
Uncertainty is happening. Nobody knows how it will all turn out.
Help us learn what we need to learn from Brexit.
Help us learn that participation in the process matters, that decisions have consequences, and that the nations of the world are closely connected.
Help us learn to trust in you, no matter what chaos seems poised to envelop us.
Bless the people of Great Britain, of Europe, and of the world with trust, peace, and hope.
Bless the leaders of nations with wisdom, insight, and courage.
Help us all to trust in you.
Help us all to think clearly and to act wisely.
Amen.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
A Prayer for Sunday, June 26, 2016
The Lord’s Day
O God,
Help us offer ourselves to you in worship today.
Help us offer ourselves to you in service every day.
Let our worship be focused on you.
Let our service be focused on others.
Amen.
O God,
Help us offer ourselves to you in worship today.
Help us offer ourselves to you in service every day.
Let our worship be focused on you.
Let our service be focused on others.
Amen.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
A Prayer for Saturday, June 25, 2016
Leaving
O God,
Thank you that every leaving implies an arrival.
When we get to the next place, help us bring the experiences of the last one with us in helpful and creative ways.
When we arrive at our final destination, may our experiences in this life have prepared us well for where we will always be.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you that every leaving implies an arrival.
When we get to the next place, help us bring the experiences of the last one with us in helpful and creative ways.
When we arrive at our final destination, may our experiences in this life have prepared us well for where we will always be.
Amen.
Friday, June 24, 2016
A Prayer for Friday, June 24, 2016
Make
O God,
Thank you for people
who try to make a difference,
who try to make things better,
who try to make a positive contribution,
who try to make room for other people, and
who try to make space for new ideas and new possibilities.
Make us into people like that.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for people
who try to make a difference,
who try to make things better,
who try to make a positive contribution,
who try to make room for other people, and
who try to make space for new ideas and new possibilities.
Make us into people like that.
Amen.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
A Prayer for Thursday, June 23, 2016
Right
O God,
Help us
do the right thing
for the right reason,
say the right thing
in the right way,
ask the right question
with the right motivation,
and
make the right choice
with the right intention.
Amen
O God,
Help us
do the right thing
for the right reason,
say the right thing
in the right way,
ask the right question
with the right motivation,
and
make the right choice
with the right intention.
Amen
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
A Prayer for Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Simple
O God,
For simple blessings,
for simple pleasures,
for simple words,
for simple feelings,
for simple reasons,
for simple hopes, and
for simple dreams,
we thank you.
Amen.
O God,
For simple blessings,
for simple pleasures,
for simple words,
for simple feelings,
for simple reasons,
for simple hopes, and
for simple dreams,
we thank you.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
A Prayer for Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Contribute
O God,
Let our actions contribute
to making things better.
Let them contribute
to a stockpile of grace,
love, hope, and peace.
Let them be joined with
the actions of others
in seeking solutions,
in building community, and
in promoting progress.
Amen.
O God,
Let our actions contribute
to making things better.
Let them contribute
to a stockpile of grace,
love, hope, and peace.
Let them be joined with
the actions of others
in seeking solutions,
in building community, and
in promoting progress.
Amen.
Monday, June 20, 2016
A Prayer for Monday, June 20, 2016
Calm
O God,
It’s calm in the eye of a hurricane.
As life swirls and storms around us this week,
give us a calm center.
Help us be still in the heart of our being.
Let our calmness and stillness be
based in our ever-growing experience
of your love and trust in your grace.
Let our calm center be a base from
which we carry out actions that
show and share your love and grace.
Amen.
O God,
It’s calm in the eye of a hurricane.
As life swirls and storms around us this week,
give us a calm center.
Help us be still in the heart of our being.
Let our calmness and stillness be
based in our ever-growing experience
of your love and trust in your grace.
Let our calm center be a base from
which we carry out actions that
show and share your love and grace.
Amen.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
A Prayer for Sunday, June 19, 2016
The Lord’s Day
O God,
Let our worship of you be a celebration
of all you did through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We praise you
because in Jesus you came to us,
because in Jesus you loved us, and
because in Jesus you saved us.
Let our worship of you be a celebration
of all you do through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We praise you
because in Jesus you come to us,
because in Jesus you love us, and
because in Jesus you save us.
Let our worship of you be a celebration
of all you will do through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We praise you
because in Jesus you will come to us,
because in Jesus you will love us, and
because in Jesus you will save us.
Amen.
O God,
Let our worship of you be a celebration
of all you did through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We praise you
because in Jesus you came to us,
because in Jesus you loved us, and
because in Jesus you saved us.
Let our worship of you be a celebration
of all you do through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We praise you
because in Jesus you come to us,
because in Jesus you love us, and
because in Jesus you save us.
Let our worship of you be a celebration
of all you will do through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We praise you
because in Jesus you will come to us,
because in Jesus you will love us, and
because in Jesus you will save us.
Amen.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
A Prayer for Saturday, June 18, 2016
Sure
O God,
Help us never to be more
than 99% sure of our opinion,
just in case …
Amen.
O God,
Help us never to be more
than 99% sure of our opinion,
just in case …
Amen.
Friday, June 17, 2016
A Prayer for Friday, June 17, 2016
Acknowledge
O God,
Forgive us when we fail to acknowledge you.
Forgive us when we fail to acknowledge that you are and that you are with us.
Give us an ongoing sense of your perpetual presence.
Give us an active attentiveness to your involvement in and guidance of our lives.
As we acknowledge you, help us be sensitive to your direction, to your comfort, to your challenge, to your justice, and to your love.
Let our lives demonstrate our acknowledgement that you are God and that you are with us.
Amen.
O God,
Forgive us when we fail to acknowledge you.
Forgive us when we fail to acknowledge that you are and that you are with us.
Give us an ongoing sense of your perpetual presence.
Give us an active attentiveness to your involvement in and guidance of our lives.
As we acknowledge you, help us be sensitive to your direction, to your comfort, to your challenge, to your justice, and to your love.
Let our lives demonstrate our acknowledgement that you are God and that you are with us.
Amen.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
A Prayer for Thursday, June 16, 2016
Peacemakers
O God,
Jesus tells us that peacemakers are blessed because they will be your children.
We want to be your children.
So let us be peacemakers.
Let our hearts be changed as we follow Jesus so that we become more and more at peace with you and with ourselves.
As our hearts are changed, let us become more and more at peace with other people.
Because our hearts are changing, let us become more and more proactive about doing what we can to promote, create, and encourage peace between people.
When your kingdom comes, we want to be your children.
Because we are in your kingdom, we want to live like we are your children.
So help us be peacemakers, right here and right now.
Amen.
O God,
Jesus tells us that peacemakers are blessed because they will be your children.
We want to be your children.
So let us be peacemakers.
Let our hearts be changed as we follow Jesus so that we become more and more at peace with you and with ourselves.
As our hearts are changed, let us become more and more at peace with other people.
Because our hearts are changing, let us become more and more proactive about doing what we can to promote, create, and encourage peace between people.
When your kingdom comes, we want to be your children.
Because we are in your kingdom, we want to live like we are your children.
So help us be peacemakers, right here and right now.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
A Prayer for Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Radicals
O God,
Help us be radicals
in the ways we
trust,
hope,
forgive,
share,
accept, and
embrace.
Help us be extreme radicals
in the ways we
love.
Amen.
O God,
Help us be radicals
in the ways we
trust,
hope,
forgive,
share,
accept, and
embrace.
Help us be extreme radicals
in the ways we
love.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
A Prayer for Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Sure
O God,
We can’t be sure of much.
Forgive us when we act like we’re surer of something than we actually are. Forgive us when we cover up our fears and insecurities with intransigence and bravado.
Help us be humble and honest.
But make us sure of your love, grace, and mercy. Help us be absolutely certain that you love us, accept us, forgive us, and go with us.
We can’t be sure of much.
Let us be sure of you.
But help us wear that certainty with humility. Help us receive it as the gift it is. Help us live in it with grace.
Amen.
O God,
We can’t be sure of much.
Forgive us when we act like we’re surer of something than we actually are. Forgive us when we cover up our fears and insecurities with intransigence and bravado.
Help us be humble and honest.
But make us sure of your love, grace, and mercy. Help us be absolutely certain that you love us, accept us, forgive us, and go with us.
We can’t be sure of much.
Let us be sure of you.
But help us wear that certainty with humility. Help us receive it as the gift it is. Help us live in it with grace.
Amen.
Monday, June 13, 2016
A Prayer for Monday, June 13, 2016
Orlando
O God,
As we embrace our children, our spouses, our partners, and our friends today, we remember over fifty people whose parents, spouses, partners, and friends can no longer embrace them.
As we enjoy our rights to speak, to assemble, to worship, and to bear arms, we remember over fifty people who can no longer enjoy theirs.
As we try to understand what drives someone to kill over fifty people, help us also try to understand where we as a nation, as a society, as a community, and as human beings are failing to acknowledge and deal with our contributions to violence through attitudes we foster and don’t foster, through words we say and don’t say, and through policies and laws we enact and don’t enact.
Bless the families, friends, and communities that are grieving today.
Show us what to do. Give us courage to do it.
Amen.
O God,
As we embrace our children, our spouses, our partners, and our friends today, we remember over fifty people whose parents, spouses, partners, and friends can no longer embrace them.
As we enjoy our rights to speak, to assemble, to worship, and to bear arms, we remember over fifty people who can no longer enjoy theirs.
As we try to understand what drives someone to kill over fifty people, help us also try to understand where we as a nation, as a society, as a community, and as human beings are failing to acknowledge and deal with our contributions to violence through attitudes we foster and don’t foster, through words we say and don’t say, and through policies and laws we enact and don’t enact.
Bless the families, friends, and communities that are grieving today.
Show us what to do. Give us courage to do it.
Amen.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
A Prayer for Sunday, June 12, 2016
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We hope our praise of you today
comes from hearts that are truly grateful
for who you are and what you do.
Make us more aware of your great grace
so we can practice greater gratitude.
We are grateful.
Increase our gratitude!
Amen.
O God,
We hope our praise of you today
comes from hearts that are truly grateful
for who you are and what you do.
Make us more aware of your great grace
so we can practice greater gratitude.
We are grateful.
Increase our gratitude!
Amen.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
A Prayer for Saturday, June 11, 2016
Together
O God,
When I fall, remind me to take a
little time to look around to see
who else is down there with me.
When I get up, remind me to
remember those who haven’t
quite made it back to their feet.
When they get up, remind us to
walk together in the light of the
grace we’ve all experienced.
When one of us stumbles, remind the
rest of us to hold the stumbling one up.
When we stumble together, remind us
to hold on to each other, and to you.
Amen.
O God,
When I fall, remind me to take a
little time to look around to see
who else is down there with me.
When I get up, remind me to
remember those who haven’t
quite made it back to their feet.
When they get up, remind us to
walk together in the light of the
grace we’ve all experienced.
When one of us stumbles, remind the
rest of us to hold the stumbling one up.
When we stumble together, remind us
to hold on to each other, and to you.
Amen.
Friday, June 10, 2016
A Prayer for Friday, June 10, 2016
Learn (Pt. 5)
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from you.
Help us live a life of prayer. Enable us to stay in constant communion with you so we are always listening to you. Especially let us learn more each day from you about your love, grace, and mercy. Then let what we learn show itself in the way we live.
Help us live a life of discipleship. Enable us to follow Jesus, who shows us who you are, faithfully and boldly. Let us learn from the Gospels and from your Spirit what it means for us to grow toward being who we are in Christ. Then let what we learn show itself in the way we live.
Thank you for the privilege we have of learning from you. Help us learn well. Then let what we learn show itself in the way we live.
Amen.
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from you.
Help us live a life of prayer. Enable us to stay in constant communion with you so we are always listening to you. Especially let us learn more each day from you about your love, grace, and mercy. Then let what we learn show itself in the way we live.
Help us live a life of discipleship. Enable us to follow Jesus, who shows us who you are, faithfully and boldly. Let us learn from the Gospels and from your Spirit what it means for us to grow toward being who we are in Christ. Then let what we learn show itself in the way we live.
Thank you for the privilege we have of learning from you. Help us learn well. Then let what we learn show itself in the way we live.
Amen.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
A Prayer for Thursday, June 9, 2016
Learn (Pt. 4)
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from books.
Thank you for books that take us places. Thank you that through them we can go anywhere in the world and in the imagined world.
Thank you for books that introduce us to and educate us about ideas, concepts, and perspectives. Thank you that through them we can expand our knowledge and perception of reality.
Thank you for books that entertain us. Thank you that through them we can find distraction, relief, and joy.
Thank you for books.
Help us learn from them so we will be more aware, more insightful, and more complete.
Amen.
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from books.
Thank you for books that take us places. Thank you that through them we can go anywhere in the world and in the imagined world.
Thank you for books that introduce us to and educate us about ideas, concepts, and perspectives. Thank you that through them we can expand our knowledge and perception of reality.
Thank you for books that entertain us. Thank you that through them we can find distraction, relief, and joy.
Thank you for books.
Help us learn from them so we will be more aware, more insightful, and more complete.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
A Prayer for Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Learn (Pt. 3)
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from each other.
We are grateful for our experiences and for what we learn from them. But keep us mindful of the facts that we experience life in only one way and that others experience life differently than we do.
So help us listen to each other. Help us learn from each other.
Give us grace really to get to know each other so we can share as much of our life with each other as we can.
Help us increase our understanding and broaden our perspective by listening to and learning from each other.
Amen.
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from each other.
We are grateful for our experiences and for what we learn from them. But keep us mindful of the facts that we experience life in only one way and that others experience life differently than we do.
So help us listen to each other. Help us learn from each other.
Give us grace really to get to know each other so we can share as much of our life with each other as we can.
Help us increase our understanding and broaden our perspective by listening to and learning from each other.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
A Prayer for Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Learn (Pt. 2)
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from experience.
Help us learn from our successes. Help us build on what has gone well. Make us aware of what we did right so we can repeat it and build on it. Remind us to be grateful for how others contributed to our success so we remember to praise our future partners in success.
Help us learn from our failures. Help us remember what we did wrong so we won’t repeat our mistakes. Help us also remember that sometimes we can do things right and still not succeed. Teach us to hold on to our ethics, even if that means “failing” at a project or deal.
Help us learn from all we’ve experienced. Help us learn from the good and bad, from the happy and sad, and from the triumphs and defeats.
Amen.
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from experience.
Help us learn from our successes. Help us build on what has gone well. Make us aware of what we did right so we can repeat it and build on it. Remind us to be grateful for how others contributed to our success so we remember to praise our future partners in success.
Help us learn from our failures. Help us remember what we did wrong so we won’t repeat our mistakes. Help us also remember that sometimes we can do things right and still not succeed. Teach us to hold on to our ethics, even if that means “failing” at a project or deal.
Help us learn from all we’ve experienced. Help us learn from the good and bad, from the happy and sad, and from the triumphs and defeats.
Amen.
Monday, June 6, 2016
A Prayer for Monday, June 6, 2016
Learn (Pt. 1)
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from Jesus.
Thank you for the Gospels that teach us the essentials about Jesus. Thank you that we can read them and reflect on what he did and said. Thank you that the Gospel writers presented Jesus’ life and teachings in ways that addressed the needs of their particular audiences. Help us read what they wrote with an eye toward understanding what the life and message of Jesus mean to us in our time, place, and situation.
Thank you for your Holy Spirit who teaches us about Jesus. Thank you that the Spirit helps us understand what Jesus did and said and helps us interpret and apply his life and teachings to our lives. Thank you that the Spirit empowers us to follow and to serve Jesus.
We’ll never learn everything there is to know about Jesus.
Help us learn a little more every day. And let our lives reflect what we are learning.
Amen.
O God,
Help us learn what we need to learn to be who you intend us to be.
Help us learn from Jesus.
Thank you for the Gospels that teach us the essentials about Jesus. Thank you that we can read them and reflect on what he did and said. Thank you that the Gospel writers presented Jesus’ life and teachings in ways that addressed the needs of their particular audiences. Help us read what they wrote with an eye toward understanding what the life and message of Jesus mean to us in our time, place, and situation.
Thank you for your Holy Spirit who teaches us about Jesus. Thank you that the Spirit helps us understand what Jesus did and said and helps us interpret and apply his life and teachings to our lives. Thank you that the Spirit empowers us to follow and to serve Jesus.
We’ll never learn everything there is to know about Jesus.
Help us learn a little more every day. And let our lives reflect what we are learning.
Amen.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
A Prayer for Sunday, June 5, 2016
The Lord’s Day
O God,
As we gather for worship,
let us do so in fellowship
with your Spirit
and
with each other.
Let our worship be an experience
of true communion with you and
with our sisters and brothers
who are with us in the sanctuary,
who are in other places of
worship around the world, and
who worship you before your throne.
Let our worship be a real
experience of true community.
Amen.
O God,
As we gather for worship,
let us do so in fellowship
with your Spirit
and
with each other.
Let our worship be an experience
of true communion with you and
with our sisters and brothers
who are with us in the sanctuary,
who are in other places of
worship around the world, and
who worship you before your throne.
Let our worship be a real
experience of true community.
Amen.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
A Prayer for Saturday, June 4, 2016
Help
O God,
I’m always asking you for help.
You always give it to me.
Please help me respond to
your help by helping others.
I’m always helping myself
to your grace and love.
Please help me respond to your grace and
love by showing grace and love to others.
Amen.
O God,
I’m always asking you for help.
You always give it to me.
Please help me respond to
your help by helping others.
I’m always helping myself
to your grace and love.
Please help me respond to your grace and
love by showing grace and love to others.
Amen.
Friday, June 3, 2016
A Prayer for Friday, June 3, 2016
First
O God,
Inspire us to try to be first
in loving,
in giving,
in serving,
in forgiving,
in helping, and
in encouraging.
Let us all finish in a tie for first.
What a church it would be!
What a life it would be!
What a world it would be!
Let it be …
Amen.
O God,
Inspire us to try to be first
in loving,
in giving,
in serving,
in forgiving,
in helping, and
in encouraging.
Let us all finish in a tie for first.
What a church it would be!
What a life it would be!
What a world it would be!
Let it be …
Amen.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
A Prayer for Thursday, June 2, 2016
Sensitivity
O God,
Make us sensitive
to the promptings of your Spirit,
to the needs of people,
to the pain of the planet,
to the vastness of the universe,
to the smallness of our lives,
to the range of possibilities, and
to the stirrings of imagination.
Help us
choose well,
decide intelligently,
think clearly,
speak honestly,
live creatively, and
act boldly
in light of what we sense.
Amen.
O God,
Make us sensitive
to the promptings of your Spirit,
to the needs of people,
to the pain of the planet,
to the vastness of the universe,
to the smallness of our lives,
to the range of possibilities, and
to the stirrings of imagination.
Help us
choose well,
decide intelligently,
think clearly,
speak honestly,
live creatively, and
act boldly
in light of what we sense.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
A Prayer for Wednesday, June 1, 2016
What
O God,
What keeps us from trusting in you?
What stops us from loving you with all we are?
What prevents us from loving our neighbors?
What limits our practice of grace?
What inhibits us from following Jesus?
What keeps us from living life fully?
Help us
see what we need to see,
acknowledge what we need to acknowledge,
repent of what we need to repent of, and
embrace what we need to embrace
so we can be
who you made us to be,
who Jesus died and rose that we might be, and
who your grace, love, and Spirit enable us to be.
Amen.
O God,
What keeps us from trusting in you?
What stops us from loving you with all we are?
What prevents us from loving our neighbors?
What limits our practice of grace?
What inhibits us from following Jesus?
What keeps us from living life fully?
Help us
see what we need to see,
acknowledge what we need to acknowledge,
repent of what we need to repent of, and
embrace what we need to embrace
so we can be
who you made us to be,
who Jesus died and rose that we might be, and
who your grace, love, and Spirit enable us to be.
Amen.
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