Easter 5C Sunday Prayer

Oh God who created all things including humans, we praise your name for you faithfulness.

We praise you just as all of the creatures of the earth sing your praise.

We look forward to that day when we live with you in our eternal home.

In the meantime come make your home in us.

Come into our neighborhoods, our work places, our schools.

Come live in us Lord.

We await the day when every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more grieving.

In the meantime Lord, wipe our tears when we do mourn our losses, like those in West Texas after the explosion.

We look for the day when there will be no more sickness, in the meantime when we are ailing bring your healing touch to our lives.

We look for the day when all things will be new,

 in the meantime renew our tired land, our old falling down housing, our broken systems, our empty spaces of worship and our aging bodies.

We await that day Lord, when your justice, your love, your mercy rules and thy kingdom has come.

Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Sunday Prayer for Easter 4C

Lord,

You are our Shepherd,

Jesus said he was the Good Shepherd.

But God if you are the good Shepherd, why?

Why must we be so violent? Is it because we don’t trust you as our good shepherd?

Where are you if you are the good shepherd?

Its not just in Boston or New York that people are killed by bombs

Its everywhere God.

It doesn't much feel like green pastures or still waters.

But we need you to make us lie down in green pastures and to lead us beside the still waters.

We all need green pastures and still waters to sooth our souls.

Lord we walk through some dark valleys now with the violence in the world.

We walk through our own dark valleys of death, illnesses, crisis, hardships, and tough times.

We want to believe and to not fear evil, but God sometimes we do fear.

How can this world feel safe if you can even run in a race or

walk in a run/walk event anymore without worrying if there is a bomb planted at the finish line.

We aren't always sure you are there right beside us.

But Lord we all need you right there beside us, guiding us, protecting us and comforting us.

God, our Shepherd we need you to prepare a feast for all of us,

Especially all who are hungry.

We need you to anoint our heads with your oil.

We need goodness and mercy to follow us all our days instead of the hatred, badness, mistreatment,

Bullying, and harming one another.

We all need to live in the house of the LORD our whole life long for there we find peace, your peace that overcomes that which is mean, violent and hard in this world.

Wait a minute Lord it’s us you need to bring the goodness and mercy, peace and reconciliation

into this world.

It’s us that you need to work toward justice and nonviolence so that we can have shalom in this world.

It’s us that need to prepare the feast for all and homes for the homeless.

But God, we want to remain safe and secure.

We don’t want to go to help change the world.

We are afraid.

We don’t want to be the ones you called to go into all the world and make disciples.

Lord forgive us, encourage us, equip us, and yes, send us Lord to change our world.

And Lord go with us as the Good Shepherd of the world.

based on Psalm 23

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Easter 3c

God, our God,

You stay by us day and night and.

You deliver us from life’s messes.

We thank you God.

We thank you that you hear us when we cry out for help.

You love us, you heal our wounds, and you deliver us from our downheartedness.

 

We pray for those who are grieving that the time of their weeping

may not last forever but be turned into days of joy.

We pray for those who are in the midst of a crisis

that you guide them through the crisis and that they find their strength in you.

We pray for those who are sick and ailing that they may find

 peace, rest and restoration in you.

Lord you make yourself known to us in so many ways,

help us to not miss those moments.

And just as you told Peter to feed your sheep you call us to feed your sheep today.

Lord may we be faithful to loving you and feeding your sheep.

 

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Sunday prayer for Easter 2C

God,

We are your Easter people living in the hope of resurrection.

Yet, we live in a world that is increasingly more difficult to live in

Lord we need hope and we need to share that hope with others.

Lord we prayer for those whose world may still be covered in the darkness of grief

instead of the sunlight, lighten their load of grief.

We pray for those who are ill, in the hospitals, facing surgery, or going through treatments,

Sustain them with your loving care.

We pray for those who live with chronic illnesses, Surround them with your peace and faithfulness.

Lord may we be messengers of Easter hope to those in need by our word and deed.

May we be your Easter people bringing restoration and justice to this hurting world.

Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Sunday Prayer: Easter

Gracious God, we give thanks
for all the gifts of this life,
especially in the One through whom
Your love poured out into the world.
For You, who breathes life through Word
and who, against all odds
 restores hope.

Welcome Happy Morning!
This Easter day when
love prevails
and all creation is made new.

You, Oh Holy One cannot be stopped!
And, for that, we give thanks!

Welcome Happy Morning!
May this Easter-tide reveal
to us, more signs of your prodigal peace,
filling our hearts with radiant grace.
May your grace and peace reflect through us
that we may proclaim with JOY the
Paschal Mystery of the resurrection -
of this Easter love divine.

God of Word and flesh
be with those for whom
on this Easter Day
 there lingers still
pain and suffering, and yes, even death.
 Restore all creation to wholeness
of health in mind, body, spirit.
Restore all in your resurrection love.

Welcome Happy Morning!
Welcome blessed Easter!
Rejoice and give thanks
for Jesus Christ is risen!

Thanks be to God.
Amen.

 

(This is my final prayer for Sunday prayers. It is has been a joy to offer these every other month for the last several years. I am grateful for sharing this with my colleague, RevAbi. Thank you for this opportunity.)

Sunday Prayer: Palms of Passion

God of all hopefulness, God of my life
On this holy day of Palms and Passions 
and through this 
the holiest of weeks,
when our Lenten journey
finds its completion
through pain
sorrow
despair
illness
losses of all kinds,
through fear
anger
hatred
vitriol
and finger pointing.

As we come to recognize
the varied ways we work against you -

Oh God
against your hopes and dreams 
for creation
against your love poured out 
in flesh and blood -
we hang our heads and bow our hearts
seeking your forgiveness
yearning for your guidance
desiring your compassion.

Fill us we pray, with the ability to
turn to you, kneeling before you

may your grace
open our spirit that we may
let you in
receive you
take You in..

Into our hearts and minds and souls 
Let you in
that we might turn and
return to you, 
that we might be

transformed in you, 
through you, by you, 
for you.

Transformed 
once more,
this day, this week,
into a new self, 
me, you.

May we become a new people, 
a gentle people, 
a people of
love and compassion, 
born anew from our
deepest sorrow 
through the breadth of your 
forgiveness
and love.

And then, may we do likewise.
Forgive.
And, love.
Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Lent 5C

Gracious God
We come to you
broken
seeking 
to be made whole.

On this night/day
we pray for those
who weep,
who have died
who are struggling.

Compassionate God
We come to you
tired
yearning
for peace and harmony.

Loving God
We offer our
suffering
looking
for solace and comfort.

Holy God
Take our fears
tears
losses
and heal us.

In our darkness
be with us
hold us
contain
and sustain us.

Gentle God
anoint us
with your 
peace
and love.
Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Lent 4C, Prodigal Grace

 

Holy and Gracious God

You, the one of prodigal grace
We give you thanks for the gift of life
and for the blessings of this life,

for family and friends and

love abundant.

Lead us through the trials
the suffering and sorrow
the challenges and struggles
the tired time, despair and bleak places,

back to you, and

love abundant.

Be with those who weep
or cannot sleep
who have no peace
who seek release

and comfort them with

love abundant.

Fill us with hope, 

sustained in your mercy,
with patience and stamina

upheld by your Holy Spirit

in your prodigal grace.

Transform us and all our broken ways 

transforms us that we can be
made whole

And in wholeness
may we
be
the hands and heart of Christ.

Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Lent 3C

Gracious God, we give you thanks for all the blessings of this life -
for family, friends, 
for home and food, and work
for water that quenches thirst

and the ever abiding presence
of your son 
who leads us in this life.

Loving God, we offer up these prayers of concern this day -
for those struggling to rebuild lives
from natural disasters
from human disasters
from failed economies
from illness 
from_______________
may the power of your Holy Spirit
bring new life, new hope.

May your love nourish the barren soil

and replenish the drought of our hearts.

May we grow anew and give forth fresh

fruit, new life. 

Creator God, fill us with nourishment
the kind that only you can offer.
Fill us with hope
fill us with kindness
fill us with gentleness
fill us with your love.
May we be your living love.
Amen.

Prayer for Lent 2C

Lord,

you are the giver of light,
Come into the dark places of our lives and light our way.
Lord we are afraid,
We feel insecure and fear what lies before us.
Keep us safe, be our strong deliverer, protect us,
So that we are not overcome by these fears.

And Lord we will trust you.

We ask Lord that we get to live in your house
To see how wonderful you are and to spend time talking daily with you.
Lord we need your sanctuary, we need the quiet,
the place we can go to slow down and to take a deep breath.
Lord we all need the peace we can find there with you.
And we thank you for that peace and time we spend with you.

Lord,

Please listen to us when we pray
Hear our cry for those in need of prayer,
those who are downtrodden—lift them up
Those who are ill—bring your healing touch.
Those who have lost a loved one---comfort for their sorrow.
Those who have felt rejected—acceptance and support.
Those who have become homebound, disabled, chronically ill, terminally ill, or
Gone into nursing care—send them your loving presence.
Be gracious to all Lord and answer our prayers.

Lord,

It is often hard to know which way to go in this world,
And so we ask that you teach us your ways.
Light the path well for Lord so we may see our way.
We may stumble and we may fall,
But pick us up, brush off the dirt,
bandage our wounds and send us back on your path.
And encourage us along our way as your believers.
Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals & rev abi's long and winding road

based on Psalm 27

Prayer for Lent 1C

Lord,

You are our fortress, our place of safety;
you are our God, and we trust you.”

We seek to live in your presence,

and stay in the shadow of the Almighty

Lord spread your wings over us like a mothering hen,

Protecting her babies.

We have nothing to fear living in your faithfulness.

Though circumstances become tough, illness strike us,

Death comes our way, whatever befalls us we have nothing to fear.

 We know this because you God, are our refuge.
and our sanctuary.

Though temptations come to lure us from small

Ones to big ones, though evil one looks like he is winning the day;

We can trust in you.

No matter what happens in life we can hold on to you Lord,

Because we know you are with us, caring for us, loving us, and delivering us.

Lord, we can call on you anytime and anywhere

And we can believe and trust that you will answer.

You alone are our refuge, our place of safety;
you are our God, and we trust you

Based on Psalm 91
cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday

Lord,


You have put your wonderful hope in us born of the spirit of Jesus.

This hope empowers us to be your servants in this world

bringing light into darkness.

Hope into despair.

Warmth into coldness.

Friendship into loneliness.

Food into hunger.

Care into trouble.


We are out in the open, not hidden away with shame for our beliefs and love of you.

We practically shine brightly with your spirit in us as we bring a healing touch, a shoulder to lean on, an arm around a person who is hurting, a hand to lift someone up, a ride to the grocery story or the Doctor’s office, or ourselves being present.

Lord Jesus let us remember that after you were transfigured and you were blessed by God as his chosen son, you came down off the mountain. You didn’t stay up there, you came down among your people. And the first thing you did was to heal someone. Lord, you are still in our midst. You are still healing. You are still touching lives. And so we pray that you will do so today in our midst.

Lord we pray for those who are overwhelmed with the snow, cold and no electricity in the North East. We pray for those who live in places of drought. We pray for those who live in areas of flooding. And we pray for those who don’t have clean water for drinking.

We pray for the violence in our world to end. We pray for the countries that are torn by civil war. We pray for the children who are taken into slave trade and trafficking. We pray that your light would shine and transform our world.

Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Epiphany 3

This day, every day, is holy
for the joy of God is our strength -
our rock and our life.

We give thanks for all the blessings of this life
for food and drink, for family and friends, for
neighbors and strangers, for those celebrating
birthdays and anniversaries, we give thanks.

This day is holy, and we give thanks,
for the joy of God is our strength,
our rock and our life.

We pray for those in need, those suffering,
those who need healing.Those struggling
 from any kind of distress. Be with
those who weep, be with the poor
in  mind, body, or spirit, and bring them hope.
Help us to be your hands and heart.
Help us to bring your love into world.

For you, O God are our strength,
our joy, our rock, and our life.
Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Epiphany 2, Ordinary Time 2

Holy One, O Divine Wisdom

You look deep into the world and see all the broken places.

And, yes, the world and our lives are very broken - 

foresaken and desolate, your people cry out.

But - 

You, O Lord, are steadfast in your love

You take delight in us, O builder of hope

And we rejoice that you are with us. Through 

you we can be made whole once more - 

like a newly married couple, renamed in love.

Holy One, O Divine Wisdom,

We thank you for all the gifts of this life

those known and those we have yet 

to discover. For family and friends,

And -

for all those who are a blessing 

in our lives, known and unknown gifts

of mercy and grace, all signs of You.

The many ways you show up and reveal

the Holy Spirit active, present in love.

Holy One, O Divine Wisdom

in you we celebrate and rejoice 

for you call us to this party of life

this wedding banquet of delight

For

you love life and love us and

call us to do like wise - love you

and love others. And this is hard to do -

loving is hard! Some days - what concern is this?

But you, O lover of souls never quit

loving.

And for that we give thanks. 

Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Baptism of Jesus

Holy God, before time you named us

Beloved.
Through time you redeem us

Forgiven.
You call us, precious,

baptized 

in your Spirit

your fire!
May we love as you love. 

 

Holy One, through the turbulent waters

Hold us.
Make us steady, your hands

caring.
Holding strong the fragile and weak
May we love as you love.

 

Gracious God, may the fruits of our lives

Become  

food for the hungry and clothing.

Offering

shelter, fire, water, to those in need.
May we love as you love.

 

God of justice, remove the chaff
Of our lives that keep us from
Hearing, following, Your call
May we love as you love.

 

Loving God, take this day our fears our
Worries, distractions, and all
Turn them into wheat, heart food
May we love as you love.

May we tend all in need.

May our hearts be informed by You

May our actions reveal Your grace

May our words reveal Your mercy.

May our prayer today be Your prayer.

Amen.