Prayer, day 1789: On my son's 18th birthday

Come to us, O Light Divine, and fill our hearts with knowledge of salvation! We thank You, O God, for the beauty of the Earth, and we laud and magnify your Name! 

Help us to welcome love and hope into our hearts as we welcome the Christ child into the world, O Spirit of Truth. 

Guide us into paths of righteousness, and lead us into unity and compassion for all living things. 

Give us the faith to do your will, O Holy One and serve you in peace and concord. 

Extend the hand of your blessing over all who call upon you, O Merciful One, and grant your peace to those we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 1062

It's someone's 16th birthday!  Doesn't seem possible....

Come to us, O Light Divine, and fill our hearts with knowledge of salvation! We thank You, O God, for the beauty of the Earth, and we laud and magnify your Name! 

Help us to welcome love and hope into our hearts as we welcome the Christ child into the world, O Spirit of Truth. 

Guide us into paths of righteousness, and lead us into unity and compassion for all living things. 

Give us the faith to do your will, O Holy One and serve you in peace and concord. 

Extend the hand of your blessing over all who call upon you, O Merciful One, and grant your peace to those we now name.

Amen.

Prayer 960

This schoolgirl joyfully danced on the beach in St. Lucia as her mother worked at her refreshment stand.

We rise from our rest and place our hands and hearts into the hands of our Savior, who blesses us beyond all measure. 

Loving One, we thank you for the gift of a new day: let us use it to your glory. Let us sing out our joy to the world, and be a people of justice and peace. Turn our hearts from bitterness and anger, O God, and fill us instead with the light of your love, making us beacons of mercy. Let us dedicate ourselves anew to your gospel, Lord Christ, and serve you in constancy and hope. 

Lord, let your hand of blessing rest upon us and anoint us, to renew a right spirit within us. Secure in your mercy, we ask your blessing upon those we now name.

Amen.