9.11.22 Prayers of Church & Community, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, CA

Eternal God, we are here for some terribly important reasons …

We’re here, O God, to find that which is true … that which fulfills the longing of the soul,

creates the virtues of faith and polishes the skills of living.

We’re here, O God, to pursue that which is worthy of our humanity … to learn and grow in the grace of Christ, to explore the never-ending realms of faith … to discover new dimensions of our humanity, and what it means to be followers of Christ.

We’re here, O God, to learn of self-love, the kind of self-love that makes sense, and is wholesome and right … the kind of self-love, dear God, that has plenty room for the lives and needs of others, and plenty of energy to love them creatively… to help and to heal, to lift up and restore, to open doors of opportunity, to repair the roads of hope and peace, roads often destroyed by human folly and social failure … roads barred to the many, and open only to the few … we’re here, O God, to change ourselves, so we can change the world …  

For the world, we pray … especially for the people of Great Briton, and the family of Queen Elizabeth, and her son, King Charles III … bless them, one and all … and all the nations of the world, diverse and unique, friend or foe, frightened or frightening … let the bells of peace ring loud and clear.

And for our nation, dear God - on this day of remembrance … 9/11, 2001 … of those who lost loved ones, bless their broken hearts; dry their tears; provide mercy and hope.

And may our leaders be faithful to their vows of public service … may they point us always toward wisdom … may their words inspire us to give more of ourselves to the tasks at hand … may we all find within ourselves the better angels of faith, hope, and love.

In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ who taught us to pray, saying:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.