Prayer from the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, October 10, 2021

 Apologies for the lateness of this-sometimes Word doesn't want to cooperate. 

Holy God, you value justice and compassion over empty acts of worship and piety because those are part of your core that is Love. For this we are grateful. As we worship, fill us with your Spirit that inspires us to actions that reflect your compassion and justice – actions seeking reconciliation and amends, instead of punishment or banishment. Form us together through our worship the morning to become an invitation to your liberating ways. 

It was not just in ancient times that prophets were needed. We still need those who will not only speak but act as your prophets, calling for those considered last to be treated in the same manner as those who consider themselves first. Calling for justice that is not afraid to look at where we fall short, not to chastise our failures but so that we may change. Challenging us to humbly, honestly, and fearlessly to love for the ways we perpetuate injustice, discrimination, even oppression in our systemic issues, our institutions, our communities, even ourselves. Open our ears to the prophets aong us new, entreating us to hear the cries of those experiencing poverty, discrimination, fear, and those who are feared merely because of they are who they were born to be. Move our hearts to respond as you would and do.

For we don’t even need to look to people to see where acts of injustice and imbalance have taken a toll over the years. Stir us to act in new ways to stem if not reverse the centuries of misuse and misappropriation of your gift of Creation itself. We need only look at nature around- raging wildfires, floods, more animals extinct while other roam our streets because their habits are gone. Forgive us our self-centeredness and stir us to have compassion upon the environment itself.

Bring us together O God, as we seek to live out your ways in addressing these issues. Remind us that these are not about faceless issues, but people, individuals who are our siblings, our parents, our children, our friends – prod us to visual the face of one who would be helped whenever we seek out solutions and new ways. And when we disagree over how, remind us that the one we disagree with is also your child, as well as a child, parent, sibling, friend themselves.

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

 

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.