Prayer from 17th Sunday after Pentecost, September 12, 2021

God, you show us the power of Words. The Bible tells us that at Creation was if you spoke a word over chaos and things began to be ordered, new life emerging.  Some call Jesus your Word, your declaration that your love knows no bounds and that nothing can separate us from you and your love. What wonders you reveal with just a few spoken words.

We know that words can heal, lift up spirits, bring reconciliation and express love and compassion. But we also know that they can deceive, wound a person’s sense of being, spread lies and half truths that tear down. They can be formed in ways to manipulate others, inspire unfounded fears, or gain unchallenged power.

When we speak, give us the words of our mouth that reflect you and your ways. As we prepare to send an email, a text, a letter, fire off that response on Facebook or Twitter, give us a pause to ask- it is true? Does it reflect your ways of  love and compassion, as well as justice?  Are we the ones you desire to speak this in this time, in this place? We long to have the words of hearts and minds be inspired by you God.

So when forgiveness is sought, give us words of grace to respond.

When we are the ones that need to ask forgiveness, give us words of humility and accountability.

Refrain us when we would speak with anger and malice, especially when we have been hurt or  feel oh so justified.

Provide the words of healing and reconciliation that are needed so much in this world right now.

Show us how to speak to bridge the divisions in this country especially in this time of pandemic.  Help us to hear the vicious words of other for what the often are, words of anger covering their fear of not being heard, that things are changing, out of their control.

Bring our leaders to choose words that unite and build community even when there is disagreement over the ways to address challenges. Silence those who choose words to sow discontent with each other, hoping to gain power, prestige, and position by inciting fear of the other.

Give us the actions to mold and revise our institutions and systems in ways that make true the words so many speak carelessly: justice and liberty for all.

Inspire us to words of welcome to all those fleeing war and violence, poverty, seeking medical assistance.

Provide the words of comfort and support, as well as the times for just silence, to those who are hurting in body, mind, or spirit, and to all who grieve.

We lift up all these prayers, as well as the unspoken ones of our hearts and spirits in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for Twentieth Anniversary of 9/11

 

Holy One, we stop and remember the events of 9/11-lifting those killed in the Twin Towers, at the Pentagon, and on Flight 93 during these attacks. We remember where we were, what we felt, as we tried to take in what was so rapidly and tragically happening- horrified, sickened, grief-struck, even scared for our own safety. Continue to to comfort and care for all those who survived those attacks, the loved ones of those who died, and the responders who are still dealing with illness and still dying from the attacks of that day. Remind us that we still have a responsibility to them even now 20 years later.

Help us to remember the other scenes we witnessed that day- shop owners opening their doors and urging people to come in for shelter. Fire and rescue, ems, police personnel putting aside their own fears to help others. Passengers on a plane willingly giving their lives to save others. Bring up for us also the images of merchants and people giving away food, clean clothes, swapping heels and dress shoes for sneakers for those who had to walk out of the city. The feeling that we were one people, politics, race, language, beliefs, none of that mattered for at least a few days. Even nationality melted away as acts of remembrance and condolences came in from around the world, from friends such as England and Japan, and from perceived adversaries as Iran.

Make that the legacy of this day- not a pain that seeks revenge or retribution, or a life of fear of it happening again. A desire to reach across those boundaries so that we may experience each day in joy what we instinctively knew for a few moments that day in pain; we are one, that those distinctions and labels we apply are false, for we share in the humanity you created us all to be part of. The reality that we are all your children, and  what effects one impacts us all.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Prayer for Labor Day Weekend 2021

 

Most loving and gracious God, through this pandemic you have opened our eyes to who truly are essential workers, needed by us in a variety of ways.

Grocery clerks and stockers. Farmers and truck drivers. Janitors and garbage collectors. Hospital workers who assist Doctors and nursesby washing sheets, mopping floors, helping patients change  clothes, and all the ways they assist in caring for others. Too many for us to list. We celebrate them this Labor Day weekend.

Yet too frequently peopoe don’t fully seem them, see their situation. Too many are treated unjustly- we don’t care for them as you have called all your people to do throughout time.

Too many are working poor despite working fulltime-struggling to put a roof over their family’s head, food on the table, clothe their children and all the necessities we take for granted.

Too many are carefully scheduled so that they don’t reach the threshold of hours to receive health insurance coverage, or other benefits. So they work multiple jobs to try to cobble together the equivalent of full-time work.

Frequently they are seen as a means to an end- to someone else’s profit, to keep prices low on the things we buy.

Again and again they are the last to be thought of, and the first to be cut.

Open our eyes and hearts to see as you do. Give us the humility to see where we might be complicit, and change what we can to treat those we celebrate with this holiday with justice and equity. Give us the courage to make the decisions and changes needed to treat them with the dignity and fairness they deserve.

We lift this up in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, August 8, 2021

O God, we are weary. Weary of CoVID. Weary of trying to decide what is best for us and others- to mask or not mask, travel or not travel, vaccine or no vaccine, keep plans or make them.  

We are weary of the accumulating losses – of loved ones, of time with family and friends, of plans, of being able to see smiling faces- and it wears us down.

We are tired of the divides the pandemic creates, as it seems everything we value is on the line depending on what one does or doesn’t do. A divide fed by the weaponization of this pandemic by leaders no matter their party or affiliation. We mourn the loss of compassion and understanding for those who disagree with whatever decision we make.

And so you remind us- come to you and rest. Come to you for we are not alone or left to get through this on our own.

You offer us sanctuary. You offer us a place of retreat-a place for you to nourish us.

Your sanctuary invites us into your love and your care. A place to just be, to recognize again that we are your beloved, no matter what. Lead us to these places O God, whether it be for a brief moment before we speak, an hour in the day to quiet our spirits, or longer, whatever is needed to renew our spirits.

Then when we have rested in your love and care, allow us to be that sanctuary for others, offering a peaceful spirit. Save us from accepting invitations to every debate or fight.  Compel us to look for the beloved in others, no matter how difficult we find it, to listen, to understand even when we don’t agree.

 Yet give us the courage to stand in humility for what we feel is right, especially when it comes to others whose voices may not be heard. Keep us following the ways of Jesus, who somehow lived out with others these practices, knowing love for others meant for all.  

And when fear starts to spill out sideways, through anger and frustration at others such as  servers or friends, by fighting for control over something because we feel at the mercy of the pandemic, help us recognize our fears, and bring them to you rather than bearing them on our own.

And if we are weary O God, how exhausted must be those dealing with other challenges, other disasters on top of this. Whole towns threatened and wiped out by wildfires in California and the west. People impacted these fires that it is changing local weather patterns or blanketing their area with smoke and ash. Nourish them through your love.

And for those dealing with the battles that don’t make social feeds or front pages, those facing illnesses or injury in body, mind or spirit, preparing to take the last breath or watch a loved one do so, who grieve, who face addictions, or whatever pain they may carry- remind them to that you offer them a sanctuary, a place of rest and peace, And if we may be that place, O God, let it be so.

We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.