Prayer 677

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, for You have lifted me and restored me, and I will sing your praise forever! 

You have placed me in the cleft of the rock as the tumult tore against me. You have gathered me under your wing; You are my shelter against the heat of midday and the chill of the night watches. When I stumble in weariness or blindness, your hand is upon my shoulder to steady me. 

May my feet commit themselves to following your way, that I may stand upon the foundation of your mercy and love. May I reach out my hand to my brothers and sisters, remembering that in your grace, You tend me in my hour of need. May the cares and concerns of those who call upon You ascend to You like soaring birds.

Amen.

Prayer 676

Joy comes in the morning, as the Light of Christ illumines the world! Lead us, O Holy One, anointing us to your service for your Name's sake. Make us beacons of hope and trust in a world too often rent by division and faithlessness. Shape us as steadfast servants of your Truth, that we may give all of our selves-heart, mind, and soul- to You. Draw us into the holy mystery of your abiding grace and mercy, that our lives testify to your goodness. Spread the canopy of your protection and blessing over the hearts and minds of those who seek You.

Amen.

Prayer 675- Thanksgiving Day

A few of us lead the delegates in singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" at the 175th Convention of the Diocese of Missouri. Those singing or performing are, from left, me, Bishop Wayne Smith, Eliza Lynn, Marshall Crossnoe, and Clay McKinney. Photo by Beth Felice.

For Thanksgiving Day
Almighty God, we lift our hearts to give thanks to You. Our cups overflow with all You have given us: we are blessed indeed! Happy are those who act with justice, and always seek what is good and right! 

Uphold us in your embrace, for You are the source of all good things, our Creator and Companion. Make us a blessing to our brothers and sisters, kith and kin, remembering the blessing of love in our lives. 

Thank You for the sure foundation of love and companionship that reminds us of Your unfailing love for us. Extend your hand of blessing over us, O Holy One, and make us a holy people, drawn together in harmony. 

Protect us, guide us, inspire us, and nurture us as we journey through this precious life You have given us. Shield, guard, and protect those for whom we pray this day.

Amen.

Prayer 674: for justice and mercy

Clergy, including seminarians, diocesan youth missioners, Deaconess Anne House interns, and seminary professors, march through the streets of Clayton, Missouri arm in arm at dawn on November 25 to protest the refusal to indict in the Mike Brown case. Photo from the New York Times.

In silence and humility we come before You, O God Most High. 

Merciful God, bring us all to repentance of the ways that we have failed to honor You and one another. Give us the strength to own our faults, and the courage to ask forgiveness and reconciliation from our brothers and sisters. 

From the deeps of our souls we cry out to You, and You are with us. Waves of pain and oppression may crash over us, O God, but the tide of your mercy is strong, and will bear us up. 

Help us kindle the light of your love to a world that reels in the darkness of despair and the blindness of pride and anger. Yet, in creating us, You have sealed us as your own, and called us to always act in empathy. 

Make us instruments of your peace, O God, and coax from us a tune of justice and holiness. Holy One, bend near your people, and let the light of your countenance shine upon those who call upon You.

Amen.

Prayer 673

Clergy march through Clayton, Missouri, the seat of county government, in protest of the failure of the grand jury to indict in the killing of Mike Brown.

Almighty God, we worship You and love You with all our heart, strength, and mind. Let us show our love for our neighbors who are rich and poor, friends and enemies, next door and across the world. Let us show our love for our neighbors, whatever their race or religion, as much as we love ourselves. Let us show our love for our neighbors, those in trouble who need us to care for them, for in loving them we love You. Bend to help these, our brothers and sisters, O Loving One, for whom we pray this day.

Amen.

Prayer 672

Creator God, we come before You in awe for the works of Your Hands which sustain us in each moment and breath. You set the stars in their courses- help us follow the paths of peace and justice this day. You clothe the lilies of the field in beauty-- help us to put on the raiment of righteousness and walk humbly with our companions. Your eye is on the sparrow- watch over those who are in need, sorrow, or pain, especially these we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 671

The Rev. Mike Angell and I sing during sabbath time at convention with some great friends!

Holy One, we bow before You, and come into your courts rejoicing in the power of your Spirit, singing praises to your Son. Let us tell out the wondrous story all creation sings: the love of God endures forever! 

Each gust of wind flutes through each blade of grass, singing a hymn of praise to the God who makes us one. The canopy of the sky spreads its azure testimony before us, revealing the handiwork of the Most High. 

Let us sing out before your altars, O God, placing our cares before You, that we may worship You night and day. 

We are God's beloved: what have we to fear? Our help comes from God, whose mercy endures forever! 

Loving one, extend the hand of your blessing upon us especially over those we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 670

Moi and the newly Rev. Chester Hines after his ordination yesterday at the 175th Diocesan Convention of the Diocese of Missouri.

We raise our voices in praise and song to You, O God, our Creator and Light.
For our manifold blessings-- community, hope, faith, and love-- we give thanks to You, O Lord.
For all who are gathered as disciples, seeking to discern your will in our lives, we give thanks to You, O Lord.
For the Light of Christ, which uplifts our hearts and minds, bringing us into communion with You, we give thanks to You, O Lord.
For all who seek You, or a deeper knowledge of You, that your kingdom may be glorified on Earth as in heaven, we pray to You, O Lord.
For all who travel this day, for traveling mercies, that they be returned to their homes safely, we pray to You, O Lord.
For wisdom and justice to be strengthened and restored in our land, we pray to You, O Lord.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble, that the awning of your mercy shield and shade them, we pray to You, O Lord.
For those struggling against illness or pain, that your healing hand may uplift them, we pray to You O Lord.
Holy One, we pray especially for these, your servants we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 669

O God, You are our refuge and our rock: we put our trust in You. Help us to work together in harmony in the work You have given us, and let our deeds bring honor to Your name. Let us make your Word and commandments our sure foundation, and seek always to forgive rather than condemn. Let us remember the generous love You have given us, and uphold each other in our trials. Break the chains of fear and enmity we carry, and help us lift up the banner of love and compassion. Extend the shelter of your mercy over those for whom we pray this day.

Amen.

Prayer 668- for justice, unity, and strength

God of Mercy, bend near to hear the whispered prayers of your people, who come humbly before you. Give strength, O Holy Spirit, to all who fight for the oppressed and downtrodden, and let us take our place beside them. Amplify the prophetic voice of the ones crying out in the wilderness: may their words and deeds cause a garden of justice to bloom. Direct us to self-examination of how well we love each other, that we honor each other, all made in the image of God. May we treasure those who love us and pray for and love those who hate us.  Strengthen us to fight against all that diminishes us as your children, starting with our own fears and faithlessness. Encourage those who press against fear, sorrow, or illness, Most Holy God, and envelop them in your mercy and care. We pray your grace be made abundantly manifest in the hearts of these, your children.

Amen. 

Prayer 667

The sun gilds the clouds in the eastern sky, and praises for the Creator ring from our hearts! Holy One, we are blessed to be able to come before You, and to proclaim the wonders of your love. Heal us of our pride and our enmity; call us into remembrance that You, O Christ, are in the midst of us. Clothe us in your grace and mercy, that we may be renewed and energized, charged by your blessing. Hold our loved ones in the hollow of your hand, and shield them from every foe.

Amen.

Prayer 665

God is our shelter and our security: let us give thanks to God for all our blessings. Holy One, you set us within the lee side of the rock: protect us from the chill eddies of fear and uncertainty. Kindle our hearts with hope, and let us blaze anew with the fire of zeal for your good news. Place your hand beside us, behind us, and before us, that we may be enclosed within your holiness, knowing You as our Companion. Give refuge under your wing to those who are anxious or despairing, and refresh those with flagging spirits. Let us see your handiwork and claim your blessing upon us, trusting in your mercy and lovingkindness. Hear the cries of those we now name, and bear them up in your embrace.

Amen.

Prayer 664

The Trinity in a flower.

Holy One, we give thanks to you, and with joy gather around your altar, bonded through your love. Let us sit in the presence of God, the source and root of all our being.

Let us sing praises to the Light of Christ, who calls us into fellowship with one another and sustains us in all our journeys. Let us be lifted by the Spirit of God our Savior, who fills us with wisdom and joy.

Let us fasten upon the Word of God, and place ourselves under the sway of Love that never ends.

Let us give thanks for the mercy and forgiveness of God, and seek to go and do likewise. We bring our intercessions before You, O Loving One, and raise up the needs of those whose cry is to You.

Amen. 

Prayer 663

Precious Savior, we turn our eyes, our hearts, and our minds to You, opening ourselves to your call in our lives. We kneel before You in love and humility, and ask that You send us to serve You and each other. Help us emerge from the valley of bitterness and doubt to trust in You as we seek to truly love each other. Tune our hearts to the song of the Spirit, and may our prayers ascend as joyful song. You, O Holy One, are the center of our being, and may all we are be drawn into the orbit of your grace and mercy. Reach out to the searching hearts of your children, O Loving One, and spread the balm of your love upon those we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 662

In silence, we wait upon the Lord, who abides with us and calls us to love and discipleship. Hear us, O Holy One, as we lift our prayers to You, for You are the God of truth and call us to holiness and humility. 

O God, let us not put our faith in our own power, but put our hope in walking in justice with our brothers and sisters. Let us ground all we do in the commandment to love You and our neighbor as we love ourselves. 

Heal us of our hardness of heart and our thirst for the cup of anger and bitterness. Guide us instead to drink deep of your mercy and compassion, and to remember all that we have been forgiven. 

Soothe the brow of all those who suffer, O Savior: strengthen and refresh their bodies and souls. Send your Spirit and pour out your peace as a balm on the troubled, that all may find their rest and home in You. Rest your healing hand upon those we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 661

Leaves on a tree in front of Press Hall at Eden Seminary. November, 2014.

O God, we give thanks to be able to come before You, O Source of all blessing, for You have claimed and redeemed us. 

All-Merciful One: we place ourselves within your hands today. Guide us into the ways of wisdom, lovingkindness, and grace. 

All-Loving One, let us place each other in our hearts today. Let us seek to convert our hearts with generosity and empathy, tenderly cherishing those around us. 

All-Beneficent One: help us align our wills within your call to us today. Guide us into true discipleship and service in openness to your reign in our hearts.

Most Holy God, accept our prayers and sacrifices, and bless and consecrate us, renewing our spiritual strength. Grant, we pray, your tenderness and favor to those we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 660

We thank You, Loving One, for the gifts You have given us in your generosity and everlasting love for us.
For the blessing of this new day, that we use it to the glory and worship of your Name, we thank You, O God.
For the blessing of our talents and abilities, for we all can do something in service of You, we thank You, O God.
For the blessing of friends and loved ones, and for those we will meet today to see your face before us, we thank You, O God.
We lay our prayers and petitions before your altar, O Loving One, for You uphold us always.
Grant us the wisdom to seek your will, not ours, in all we do.
Grant us the will to fight for the weak, the outcast, the poor, and the lowly, and fulfill your command to establish justice and peace.
Grant us the strength to meet our challenges and trials with grace and perseverance, especially for these we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 659 For peace and healing

Leaves blaze in the afternoon sun, Eden Seminary. November 2014.

Holy, holy Lord, source of all goodness, we place ourselves within your care today. Make us instruments of the peace for which the world longs and prays. 

We seek your wisdom, that we be better disciples and stewards of this one precious life you have given us. Refine and gentle our hearts, that we may seek to love each other with gratitude for the gifts that each person brings into our lives. Make us mindful and patient in choosing our words and actions, we pray, for your love's sake. 

May we embody your love in the world, as your Son embodied your love in a living sacrament of faithfulness. Through your abounding love, make us seekers of all that is good, all that is compassionate, all that is true. Help us work for healing and grace, filling up the broken places of the world and renewing the spirits of those clinging to hope. Give your kiss of benediction and blessing to those whose names we raise before You.

Amen.

Prayer 658

O Lord, You are our God, and we put all our trust in You. Bless us and keep us as we begin this week. Watch over those who travel, that they may safely arrive to the hearths of loved ones. Help us to be truly thankful for all we have received. Help us not to allow small things to make us forget the blessings we have been given by those in our lives. Help us to remember and open our hearts to those in need at this time and give generously that we all may be blessed. Hear the prayers of your people, O Light of Life, as we pray for these beloveds.

Amen.

Prayer 656

Holy One, we lift our eyes to you in prayer and thanksgiving: make your countenance to shine upon us. Hallow the works of our hands and of our hearts, that they may be fully dedicated to You. Consecrate us to your service, O Christ, and with loving and resolute spirits we may work together in building your kingdom on earth. You make us glad with abundant blessings: may we always lift up our thanks to You, the source of all goodness. Teach us to love each other generously, making each other's cares our own. Place your hand of blessing, we pray, upon those whom we lift up to you today.

Amen.