Holy God, we thank You for guarding us through the night: we come before You in humility and repentance. Forgive us for straying from your pastures into the wilderness of our own making, and then wondering where You are. Too often You have called to us, but we have stopped our ears and stubbornly continued on. Too often have we derided the sins of our neighbors, yet continued in our own pettiness and disregard. Too often have we turned away from those seeking help, yet forgotten our own answered prayers in times of need. Too often we have asked for forgiveness, yet been unwilling, ourselves, to forgive.
Holy One, move us from tolerance to acceptance to affirmation to celebration of those who are different from us. Help us turn again to your never-failing embrace, O Lord, and help us to embrace others, even those who oppose us. Let us remember that God's compassion never fails; let us remember your unmerited grace in our lives. Let us be inspired by your Spirit to newness of life as the year draws to an end, and choose this moment to begin anew. Now, we pray, send your angels to guard and guide those who seek You, and bend near those who need You, especially those we now name.
Amen.
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