Eternal God, we open our hearts and minds to you this day, anew … we seek your guidance and wisdom … the wisdom of the ages, tried and tested by women and men who have given themselves unto humanity, taken up the hard work of justice, applied themselves to the toughest problems of history …
Open our eyes, O LORD, to those who love life and can teach us how to love all the more … women and men of great compassion and learning and devotion … they’re all around us, O God … sometimes we learn of them in the news, but most of the time, it’s a quiet witness they give … as they go about their daily tasks - with bravery, faith and love … bless them, keep them, in their noble endeavors, and watch over us all that we might constantly push ahead for the better world.
We pray for this church, O God … may it always be a safe haven from the storms of life, a place to learn of faith, hope and love … to hear the gospel proclaimed in all of its beauty and all of its power, to transform lives and reshape the world.
Bless our Trustees and Deacons … our Altar Guild and the Women’s Association, the Seekers Class, Pilgrim School, Jonathan and Christoph, and all our gifted musicians, and our staff, dear God - who maintain the books, print the bulletin, keep an eye on things, maintain our buildings and grounds, clean our hallways and offices …
We pray for Scott and his family … may they all have safe travels in their various and sundry endeavors … may your Spirit continue to liven Scott’s spirit and provide him the words and insights needed to speak the gospel and to mirror its grace.
And for the members and friends of First Church - who work and pray, serve and give … to keep this church vibrant and growing … a reflection of humanity’s highest values and your deepest grace, O God … keep us we pray, in your hand, that we might be of great value to your world.
We pray this morning, O God, for rain … and for snow in the Sierras this winter …
We pray for the scientists who study our environment … who help us understand the world you’ve created, dear God, and how it works, and how we can spell the difference - for good and for ill … and we pray that your Spirit will guide us toward decisions that honor your creation, decisions that honor all creatures, great and small … decisions that honor the butterfly and the river, the vast oceans and the smallest minnow.
Even as we pray, remind us that you hear our prayers, and that every prayer counts … plain and simple, what’s on our heart, in our mind, well-said, or said in a panic … we lay our prayers before you, just as they are - it’s all we can do, O LORD, and these are the prayers we offer …
In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, who is, who was, and is to come, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning of all things good, the end toward which all creation moves … a bright and glorious day, a new heaven and a new earth … all made new, all made good - our mission, our hope, our purpose, our dream.
To the glory of God, and for the wellbeing of all. Amen! and Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment