Prayer for Fifth Sunday in Easter - May 15, 2022

Holy One you radiate such love that it not only shines upon us but emanates through us. As you provide us a place of rest, you not only shelter us from the troubles and worries of life and the world, you form us to become bearers of that love into the world. Even if we resist or protest, you will continue to shower your love on those we would have turned our backs upon, or judged as not yet worthy, even dangerous to the communities of love that you are building. Thank you for your love for us that never ends, and that nothing we do can hinder you from offering your love as freely and abundantly as you do.

You show us where that love is evident now, even when there is real pain, hurt, and even evil, inviting us to live within that love. Continue to help us to recognize that love, and move towards it, rather than becoming discouraged. Keep us from abandoning hope. Prevent us from deciding that we will acquiesce to “the way things are”, resigning ourselves to that it isn’t worth the effort to try, or deciding that such wrongs and divisive ways are the only the way for us to get ahead.

When it is hard for us to see where we or others abide in your love, where it is still the light radiating that you will not allow to be overcome, open our hearts to recognize your presence there. Whether it be in places far away such as the Ukraine or closer to us such as The Top Friendly Market in Buffalo, or Chippewa Falls, remind us that such love isn’t for a moment, but will last until all live within its breadth so that such violence never occurs again.

Show us where your love is within the gift of Creation itself, how you call us to love the environment in similar manner to how we are to love all people- caring for its needs, welcoming its gifts, and repairing the harm we do.

As we pass the horrid milestone of one million CoVID deaths in this country, show us how we can love each other in this time as Jesus is loving us.

Wherever there are those hurting, injured, and ill in body, in mind, or in spirit, reveal your love at work there. Strengthen and give peace to those who are going through these times, as well as those who love and care for them.

As people grieve the loved ones lost recently or long ago, those who mourn losses of relationships, hopes, dreams, security, and all that may be lost, comfort them O God. Hold them in your love, providing safe places for all that they may feel, so that once again they can begin to see the glimmers of hope and joy that you and life still offer.

We pray this all in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer for Easter Sunday, 2022

 

God, what can we offer to you in prayer that could be worthy of what you have done? You have brought sun out of darkness, refusing to let death have the final word, even when we bring that death on ourselves.

For you wrought resurrection this morning, creating new life from the ashes of hope, and bringing grace to places of shame and regret. You declare that no matter how hard we or others try, nothing can separate your children from your love. Your actions reveal that nothing will prevent the coming of your reign of reconciliation, your ways of true justice, and provide us liberation from death in all its forms.

Enable us to express our gratitude by following the Risen One, even now at loose in this world.  That we may follow Jesus into the places of poverty, hunger, violence, hurt, and hate, no matter if they be close to home or in places far away.

Help us to embrace the truth that even where there is pain, there is still your love and care. The reality of  Christ weeping with us even while bringing us to places of comfort, hope, and life.   

Reveal for all the people, places, and times it seems that despair is unending, pain and illness unrelenting, hunger and poverty insurmountable, where Jesus is already present, and where we are called to join him there.

Destroy the barriers we erect during those times we feel that what we have done or what we have failed t do keeps us trapped, isolated, permanently separated from You and from others, so that we can live in your reign of grace upon grace and reconciliation.

You have brought life out death, hope out of the ashes of despair this day, and continue to each day until your reign of love fully encompasses each person. With our gratitude may we join the Risen One wherever we hear his call to come, follow him.  In Jesus name. Amen.  

Pastoral Prayer for the 6th Sunday in Lent

 

How often we act in the same way as the older son in Jesus; parable, O God, refusing to enter fully join you in joy because of the company you keep. How grateful we are that when we do, you stand with us, loving us as we are unable to love others, until we too can join joyfully saying“the dead are now alive, the lost have been found!” Until we recognize that we are just as lost as others, and that you are just as eager to welcome us home.

We recognize that there are so many people, so many places, where people don’t feel welcomed even in the own homes, where they are experiencing lack due to no fault of their own. Here us now as offer these simple prayers for them and for us:

    Peace in Ukraine and all places violence exists,

    Enough for those who are hungry for anything from food to your justice,

    Gratitude for the beauty of your creation and remorse for how many times             we’ve neglected it,

    For all hurting, in body, mind or Spirit, as well as those grieving losses of any         kind, whether recent or long ago.We offer these prayers to your compassionate care, seeking your Spirit so that we can be part of your care.

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

 

Pastoral Prayer for Sunday March 20, 2022- Third Sunday in Lent

 Gracious and merciful God, we are grateful that you do “give a fig” about us so much that through Jesus you draw closer to us when we cannot or will not draw closer to you. You long for all your children to live lives in which they flourish, both for ourselves and for each other. Change us so that we not only can see as you do, but live as Jesus did- under your joyful, abundant reign sharing it with others.

We are having trouble seeing that reality right now, O  God. The pandemic isolated us even as the measures taken were necessary to protected the most vulnerable. The escalating rhetoric around politics, policies, race, and all the “blaming” pointing to others without looking at themselves, the shaming; all raises fears that only isolate us more. Our own hurt, feelings of betrayal, abonnement, or wrongs done against us block us, so that we think  your way can’t work and  that “worlds” ways are our only option. Reassure us that repentance is possible, that the reality of your love and grace frees us from all that would seemingly push us away from you and each other.

Not that we have completely lost that sense of connection. Our collective horror and pain over the war waging in the Ukraine remind us that we still long to live lives together that accept your love and joy. Free us from all that prevents us from reaching out with ways of welcome and care, as well as being your peace bearers there and anywhere others use violence to resolve conflicts or advance their own wants and ideals.

Show us again how to reach out to each other, to refrain from judging who does or doesn’t deserve good, as we humbly recognize that we do not have the complete view you have. Restore in us the impulse to acts of kindness and hospitality. Help us long to listen to understand and learn more than to speak and insist on our views. Bring us to reach out again for the healing you offer, to let go of our hurts and resentments no matter how long it takes, so that we may be free to reach out to others in vulnerability and love.

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