Prayer for Daily Use

Week of June 24, 2012

 

Great and Holy God,

 

Help us Use

Our Hearts and Minds

Our Voices and Songs

To Praise You

Amen!

 

(The Cast of the Musical closed each rehearsal with this prayer)

 

Posted on June 21, 2012 at 12:09 pm in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of June 17, 2012

 

God of compassion and love,

we give you thanks and praise for fathers young and old.

 

We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation;

may they find courage and perseverance

to balance work, family and faith in joy and sacrifice.

 

We pray for fathers around the world

whose children are lost or suffering;

may they know that the God of compassion

walks with them in their sorrow.

 

We pray for men who are not fathers

but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice.

 

We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers

who are no longer with us

but who live forever in our memory

and nourish us with their love. Amen

 

 

Posted on June 14, 2012 at 9:59 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of June 10, 2012

 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

 

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

 

 

(attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, but in its present form only about 90 years old)

 

Posted on June 5, 2012 at 12:23 pm in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of June 3

 

God of grace and glory, I know that in Jesus Christ, you have called me to a new way of living. Yet as much as I know that, I still try to hold on to old ways of keeping rather than sharing, of apathy rather than compassion, of seeking revenge rather than reconciliation.

 

I know that you have given to this world the Prince of Peace, in order to bring an end to hatred, indifference, exclusive self-concern, and an unwillingness to reach out in faith and hope.  In the face of my sometimes incredible indifference, you have given me the supreme gift of your love.

 

Be with me in prayer. Help me take the Spirit of Christ into my life at this moment, on this day; and help me meet you in prayer again, each day of my life.

 

I pray in the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

Posted on May 31, 2012 at 10:08 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of May 20

 

I give you thanks, O God, for your presence with me: when I am with others in worship, and when I come to you alone in prayer.

I pray that through reading and hearing your Word, you would nurture my imagination, touch my feelings, increase my awareness, and challenge my limited and limiting preconceptions.

Through the glory of your presence: in silence and in song, in prayer and in praise, in places of natural beauty and in the work of human hands, I pray that you would bring me to a holy and good place as your faithful follower.

Through the presence of your Spirit, bless me in all my worldly interactions and spiritual practices. And through your presence, may I always be a blessing to others.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:44 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of May 13

 

God our Creator, we pray:
for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility ;
for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
for those who are tired, stressed or depressed;
for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities;
for those who have children they do not want;
for those who raise children on their own;
for those who have lost a child;
for those who care for the children of others;
for those whose children have left home; 
and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender,
and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good,
living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others.
Amen.

 

Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:21 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of May 6

 

Gracious and merciful God, I give thanks for your majesty and glory. You call the worlds into being, create humankind in your own image, and set before each of us the ways of life and death.

 

In all I do, help me to choose life:

By worshipping and praying regularly, and studying your Word;

By giving of myself – my time, talents, treasure – freely and generously;

By listening for cries of pain & need, and responding with compassion;

By sharing a word of hope with those who are depressed and despairing;

By giving thanks regularly for all my blessings.

 

Be with me this day as I pray.

 

Be with me each day of my life.

 

In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

(Includes an adapted quotation from the UCC Statement of Faith)

 

Posted on May 8, 2012 at 10:33 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of April 29

 

Gracious and loving God, give me the humility to understand that I am not above or better than other people, so I can stand with them, whatever their condition.

Give me the empathy to mourn for the pain and hurt of others, so I may experience comfort in my own mourning.

Help me listen more than speak, and offer compassion more than advice.

Give me a deep thirst for fairness and justice in all situations.

Grant me mercy, that I may offer mercy.

Grant me a singleness of focus on your presence in my life, and a deep desire to do your will each day.

Help me search for reconciliation in my own relationships, and peace among the people of the world.

Bless me as your child, and lead me in the way of faithful discipleship.

I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Posted on May 1, 2012 at 10:38 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of April 14

 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and we shall be created. And, You shall renew the face of the earth.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy Your consolations. Amen.

 

Adapted from John Wesely

 

Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:48 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Easter Sunday

 

O God of new beginnings, we rejoice that through your love, Christ has risen from the dead. Now we know that neither trouble nor persecution, hardship nor poverty, danger nor death can separate us from your love. Free us to live in the confidence that we are always your children.

In the resurrection, you were victorious over sin, violence and oppression. Free us to risk ourselves in the struggle for justice and peace.

In the resurrection, you have opened the gates of eternal life. Free us from the fear of death, that we may live and serve you with courage.

In the resurrection, you bring new possibilities out of hopelessness. Free us from all despair, that we might bring your hope to those who have lost heart.

Draw us into your community of freedom, hope and love, O God. Work your new creation among us, that we may love you without hesitation, and serve you without fear.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.  Amen.

(UCC Book of worship, adapted)

 

Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:30 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

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