Prayer for today ...

O Holy One,
Come build your church ...
some blocks fit together smoothly and easily,
others need some cleaning and shaping,
some just do not fit and bring challenge and opportunity ...

O Holy One,
be with us as we struggle to find our place,
help us work and live with others as they struggle too,
remind us that each of us are different, and our diversity is grand,
be with us as we seek to build your Church ...

O Holy One,
open our eyes to see the opportunities,
open our hearts to embrace our diversity,
open our beings to the work that is to be done,
and be with us every step, every moment, every breath ...

O Holy One,
we are your church,
and yet we tend to tear down when you call us to build up,
we fear the unfamiliar and the different,
we yearn for uniformity and sameness ...

But then your Holy Spirit come and blasts through us and around us ...
Be with us O Holy One ... and inspire us to look beyond what is,
and to embrace, welcome and celebrate what will be!!

thanks be to you O God. AMEN

O God of Hope ...

God of Hope ...

We pray for the people of Boston and area ...
We pray for the victims of violence both near and far ...
We pray for those gripped with fear ...
We pray for those bold enough to emody hope ...
We pray for our human family ...

Hear our prayers O Holy One, and pour out your love upon us ...

Hear our prayers for those struggling in the darkness ...
hear our prayers for those undergoing tests and procedures ...
hear our prayers for those continuing their recovery and healing ...
hear our prayers for those gripped with uncertainty and fear ...
hear our prayers for your children in need ...

Hear our prayers O Holy One, and pour out your blessings upon us ...

Listen to the unspoken fears that roil within us ...
listen to the apprehension and uncertainty that grips us ...
listen to the prayers we yearn to speak but can not ...
listen to the feelings and thoughts that come to us in the dark moments ...
listen to us when we feel alone and cry out to you ...

Hear our prayers O Holy One, and embrace us with your love ...

Loving God, it is to you we turn,
and it is from you we find the strength and courage to carry on ...
Be with us ...
Hold us ...
strengthen us ...
love us ...
and grant us patience, courage and faith
to know that we are your children and you are with us always ...

Hear our prayers O Holy One, and envelope us with your Hope
now and always ... Amen

Prayer for today ...

Oh Holy One ... there are sometimes no words ...
Around us are mind-numbing tragedies ...
losses at a staggering scale ...
stories of pain and sorrow pile in upon each other ...

We struggle to catch our breath ...
the tears fall from our eyes as we behold the suffering ...

Emotions raw and nerves tender,
we fall in prayer calling on you,
asking the questions knowing there are no answers ...

Yet in that moment ... in that profound moment ...
you speak without words ...
you give strength beyond our doubt ...
you comfort with a love that surpasses all understanding ...

You take our anger and hurt and bring transformation,
you wipe our tears and offer the comfort of shalom,
you envelop our doubt and fear and give us courage and faith ...

O God of ALL Hope ... hear our prayers
hear the words that escape our lips,
the cries that fill our mouths,
the lamenting that resonantes on our tongues ...
Hear our prayers and in your love answer ...

a prayer for today ... (August 30th 2012)

Holy One,
all about us people are in turmoil ...
economics have alienated and battered many ...
politics have divided and angered even more ...
people yearn for answers and certainty, but find only questions ...
and even in our Congregations and faith communities,
we are torn apart by divisive opinions and misunderstandings ...

Whisper to us again O Blessed One ...
remind us of what is important ...
hear us in our moments of weakness,
and hold us when we stumble ...

Call to us over the clamour and the tumult ...
Speak to us with love and care ...
and bless us with your gift of Shalom ...

We yearn for peace in a world torn apart ...
We crave comfort in a world that offers none ...
We stumble through the darkness searching for light ...

And through it all you are still there ...
loving us ...
caring for us ...
holding us ...
and strengthening us ...

Hear our prayers O Blessed One,
and be with us today and always,
as we seek your strength and comfort,
trusting always in your grace and love ...

In your name we pray ... AMEN.