Saturday June 30th

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In his presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

- Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896
- Music by Winfield S. Weeden, 1896

Lord;

Your word says "come to me I will give you rest." Help us to do just that.

Thank you that we are like delicate rose buds in Your hands - full of life and promise - waiting for Your life-giving breath to help us mature and blossom.

Help us to surrender - to yield - to You, to Your plans and Your promises for our own lives.

Amen

A Prayer For Vacations

Dear Lord, how I’ve waited for this vacation, and now it’s finally here. Thank You, Lord, for the opportunity to take a break from my daily routine and to replenish my mind, body,and soul so that I may better serve You. Sometimes my expectations for vacations are unrealistic, and I find myself disappointed when things don’t go my way. Help me not to worry about having the “perfect” vacation but to relax and enjoy every moment, whatever it may bring. I am grateful for the joys that await me – whether they be the beauty of your creation, recreation with family or friends, or peace and solitude. Watch over me and protect me as I travel, and bring me safely home again – refreshed and renewed. Amen. -- from the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross

You are the potter

O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

Wednesday Prayer

A Prayer of John Wesley

We offer up again our souls and bodies to you to be governed,
not by our will, but yours.
O let it be ever the ease and joy of our hearts,
to be under the conduct of your unerring wisdom,
to follow your counsels, and to be ruled in all things by your holy will.
And let us never distrust your abundant kindness and tender care over us;
whatsoever it is you would have us to do
or to suffer in this world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Labyrinth

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive
the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Luke 18:17


Photo by Jeff of Elijah, age 5, walking the labyrinth.

Relearning our Loveliness

The bud
stands for all things,
even for those things that don't flower,
because everything flowers from within, of self-blessing.
Though sometimes it's necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on its brow
of the flower
and retell it in words and touch
it is lovely.....

From "St. Francis and the Sow"
Galway Kinnell

Sunday Prayer

Gracious God, even when our world feels unpredictable and chaotic, we trust that the sun will rise and set each day, and the seasons will turn according to the wonder and wisdom of creation.

In the same way, O God, we know that regardless of who we are, where we are, and how we are – we are yours, and your love is as constant as the sun and moon.

So in thanksgiving and praise, we offer the prayers and concerns of our hearts. As we celebrate the beauty and splendour of the summer season, we do so knowing that we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the bounty all around us.

It is up to us to preserve and care for the earth, sea, and sky. Guide us God, as we seek to be thankful stewards of creation.

We lift our hearts in prayer for those whose needs we have named aloud and for those whose needs are known only to you. We take a moment now to silently ponder your grace and your power to bring strength, comfort and healing where it is needed...

We praise you, God, and ask your blessing this day, and every day, in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray together saying...

Amen.

Saturday June 23rd

(photo courtesy of Sally, thanks)

Jesus, we know that we cannot see where the wind is, or where it blows, but we ask You to be the wind in our sails. Help us to find that place of rest in You - so that as the wind picks up we can notice it and set our sails accordingly - and sail to where You want us to go, to be your hands, your ears and your voice ministering to the people we meet on the way. Amen

Jesus be the centre
Be my source, be my light
Jesus
Jesus be the centre
Be my song
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

(vineyard 1999)

A Prayer For Fridays

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:


a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -- from the Sabeel Project

Give me yourself

God, for your goodness, give me yourself. For you are enough for me and I may not ask anything that is less, that I may be fully worthy of you.

And if I ask any thing that is less, I am always wanting. But only in you I have all.

Julian of Norwich

Wednesday Prayer

A Prayer for Wednesday
Creator God,
You imagined us into being before we were born.
You called us by name at baptism,
and You have already set a place for us at your Banquet Table in Heaven.

From beginning to ending, we are cradled in your care.
Help us to remember all others whom You have invited into your company
and to rejoice that we are one in the wide diversity of family.

Help us to perceive the unstirred wings of angels in all people.
We give You our selves that in the mystery of your love,
You may use our voice to speak a word of hope,
our hands for an act of charity,
and our learning to assist someone on their journey home to You.

We commend all that we are

for your Glory.

Amen.

Anniversary Prayer

The United Church of Christ turns 50 years old this week. To honor the occasion:

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith in the form of a doxology

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:

You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image,and set before each one the ways of life and death.

You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil,to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

Sunday Prayer

Holy and Wondrous Creator, in an act of love so powerful as to be beyond comprehension, you created all that was, is, and will be. This is another day that you have created, and you have filled it with beauty and possibilities. We thank you, God, for the promise of another day and another opportunity to live for you and incarnate the peace, love and justice to which we are called.

Guide us through this day, O God, that we might create spaces of safe refuge for those who especially need to hear a word of hope spoken with genuine compassion. May those who live in the chaos of illness of body, mind or spirit, find the peaceful order of someone who cares. May the lonely hear the friendly words of a companion that will break up the monotony of hours spent alone. May the grieving feel your arms wrapped closely around them in their pain, and may they see the face of Christ in friends who care.

God, we pray for all the creatures of the earth. We ask forgiveness for our neglect of the sacred gift of our planet and ask for guidance as we learn how to better care for its needs. Bless our winged and four-footed friends, as well as the fish and reptiles. Bless our pets God, for they bring such joy to our lives.

God, with you nothing is impossible, and so I pray for an end to war and conflict. Help us, each of us, to make all the difference in the world, simply by living as Jesus taught us to live. It is in his name that we pray. Amen.

praying people

Prayer for Saturday 16th June

Lord, make us a praying people, passionate for You!

We give you thanks
for family and friends
for those we love
and those we find hard to love too

We give you thanks
for summer
for longer days
and a more relaxed schedule

We ask Your blessing
on our lives
at work, home and school
when we are busy
and when we are at rest

In this holiday season
we ask you for
travelling mercies & safety
opportunities to rest and enjoy life at a slower pace
that your love would flow and bring healing in our midst

We ask for more moments with You and to recognise You in our midst

Amen

Can I also ask you to join me in praying for our daughter and and all the other youngsters on the camp with her who will profess their faith in Jesus today?

Father, send Your spirit to help them hang on to their passion for You. Help them maintain the friendships that have been made so that they might continue to be a support for each other. We thank you for their leaders and ask that You would bless them abundantly. Help them all rest spiritually, emotionally and physically as they return to their homes.
Amen


I ask that you would continue to work in the lives of people around the world -that they would become to know you better and their lives would be transformed by their relationship with you.

A Prayer For the Whole World

Dear Lord, Thank-you for all the colours of the rainbow, the beautiful waterfalls which fall into the river and the flowers that grow in the wild. Thank-you for giving us the knowledge to make fire, wheels and other things. Please help all the blind, the deaf and the ones who can’t walk. Please give the world leaders the knowledge to make the right choices for this world to be a better place.

By Yulia, a young Christian

Open my hands

Living God,
open my heart,
my mind,
my hands.
All three feel more secure with some defenses.
And the price of their contentment
is my soul.

Daily Prayers for Busy People
William J. O'Malley

Morning Prayer

Walking in sunlight all of our journey;
Over the mountains, through the deep vale;
Jesus has said, "I'll never forsake you,"
Promise divine that never can fail.

Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
Flooding our souls with glory ablaze:
Hallelujah, we are rejoicing,
Thankful for blessing, singing our praise.
-- Words: Henry J. Zelley, William Kirkpatrick , Henry Gilmour (19thC) adapted

Psalm 72 Deus, judicium

1	Give the King your justice, O God, * and your righteousness to the King's son;
2	That he may rule your people righteously * and the poor with justice.
3	That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, * and the little hills bring righteousness.
4	He shall defend the needy among the people; * he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5	He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, * from one generation to another.
6	He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, * like showers that water the earth.

Deut. 31:30-32:14 (NRSV)

30Then Moses recited the words of this song, to the very end, in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 2May my teaching drop like the rain, my speech condense like the dew; like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth. 3For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! 4The Rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is he; 5yet his degenerate children have dealt falsely with him, a perverse and crooked generation. 6Do you thus repay the LORD, O foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?

Suffrages

Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

Tuesday Song of the Soul

Open mine eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth thou hast for me
Open mine eyes, illumine me
Spirit divine...

What do you do for your living
Are you for giving, giving shelter?
Follow your heart; love will find you;
Truth will unbind you; sing out a song of the soul.

And we'll sing this song;
Why don't you sing along?
And we can sing for a long, long time.
Why don't you sing this song?
Why we can sing along?
And we can sing for a long, long time...

excerpted from Cris Williamson's Song of the Soul

The Spirit Prays In Us

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. For the Spirit that God has given you does not enslave you and trap you in fear; instead, through the Spirit God has adopted you as children....

All creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God....We know that from the beginning until now, all of creation has been groaning in one great act of giving birth. And not only creation, but all of us who possess the firstfruits of the Spirit--we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free....

The Spirit, too, comes to help us in our weakness. For we don't know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit expresses our pleas with groanings too deep for words. And God, who knows everything in our hearts, knows perfectly well what the Spirit is saying, because her intercessions for God's holy people are made according to the mind of God.

Romans 8:14-15a, 19, 22-23, 26-27
The Inclusive New Testament, Priests for Equality

Sunday Prayer: Church Picnic Edition

Today is a special day for our congregation. We are sharing in a church picnic with the four other United Churches on this end of our fair city. It may not sound like much, but this coming together is a huge deal. It is a sign of the good work we have done together as people of faith seeking to work more closely in community. It is, hopefully, just the beginning of the new and exciting times ahead of us.

Gracious God, we often say, "Life is not a picnic" but today, I would like to think that perhaps it is a picnic. Or at least, it can be if we want it to be. It can be if we intentionally choose to embrace the joys and wonders of it.

We ask your blessing on our gathering this morning, rain or shine, sun or cloud. Bless the children who can't wait for the games and the fun and the good food. Bless the child in all of us who feels the same way. Bless our elders who seek out the shade and remember fondly the church picnics over the years.

Bless our singing and the feel of grass beneath our feet and bless the grandest cathedral of all - the sky above us. May we hear your word in a special way this morning as the birds sing out the prayer response, and may our worship together bring you joy.

God of Wonder, send us away from our worship and picnic renewed in our faith, and assured of your guiding presence, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

go out with joy

Lord, thank You.

Whatever our circumstances today,

thank You that we can step out with joy,

and carry the peace that only comes from You.

Amen

You shall go out with joy
and be led forth with peace;
the mountains and the hills
will break forth before you;

there’ll be shouts of joy,

and all the trees of the field will clap,

will clap their hands!

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands,

the trees of the field will clap their hands,

the trees of the field will clap their hands

while you go out with joy.

A Prayer of St. Benedict

Gracious God, grant us the
Intellect to understand You,
Reason to discern You,
Diligence to seek You,
Wisdom to find You,
A spirit to know You,
A heart to meditate upon You.
May our ears hear You,
May our eyes behold You,
And may our tongues proclaim You.
Give us grace that our way of life may be
Pleasing to You, that we may have
he patience to wait for You, and the
Perseverance to look for You.
Grant us a perfect end: Your Holy Presence,
A Blessed Resurrection, and Life Everlasting.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

Make joyful noise

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God;
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise;
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100

Amazing Grace

May we all see Grace in our worlds today -- Grace that astounds and amazes.

May God's Grace sustain us and revive us.

May God's Grace give us serenity and peace.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

traditional hymn - john newton - circa 1760

Finding Our Way Home

"We're all scared and lonesome, but most of the time we keep it hid. It's like every one of us has lost his way so bad we don't even know which way is home any more, only we're ashamed to ask. You know what would happen if we would own up we're lost and ask? Why what would happen is we'd find out home is each other. We'd find out home is Jesus, who loves us lost or found or any whichway."

excerpt from June 5 Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner
artist unknown (if you know the artist, please email me and I will add the credit)

God Within Me

I am one with all life.

I have a place of stillness within me.

I follow my heart.

I am thankful.

I am loving.

Laughter and joy fill my heart.

I love and care for myself.

I am blessed.

God within me is my power.


From I Believe in Me: A Book of Affirmations

by Connie Bowen

Unity House, 1995.

Thanks God

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ His Son.

And now let the weak say "I am strong."
Let the poor say "I am rich."
Because of what the Lord has done
for us
---Give thanks.

(Don Moen)

O God
Thank you for all that you do-those things we notice and those things that we are oblivious of. Thank you that you are the God of history -interested in us, in our lives, and our every day happenings. Thank you that nothing is too small for us to bring to you, and nothing is too big that Your hands cannot hold. Thank you that nothing is impossible for You, and though things may well turn out differently to what we hope or expect we can know and trust that Your plans are good for us.

I especially want to thank you for the summer season that is upon us, for the end of the school year, and for the season of rest. Thank you that we can fling ourselves into the unknown -safe in the knowledge that You are there with us!

Lord let this be a time with You - that we can drink deeply from the well of living water and be refreshed by You.

Amen

Lost and Found

In those times I can't seem to find God, I rest in the assurance that God knows how to find me.-- Anon.