This week in the liturgical churches, we commemorate the death of Saint Julian of Norwich and her “Revelations of Divine Love”, the first known book in the English language written by a woman. And Sunday is sometimes called “Good Shepherd Sunday”, reminding us of God’s unbounded providence and grace. In the United States, it is […]
Prayers for the United States
Prayers naming the United States have followed storms, tornadoes, wildfires and floods across many states, along with elections and political tension, gun violence, and questions of migration and race. Health, mental health and the well-being of ordinary households appear often, as do thanksgivings for its landscapes and wild places.
Expanding the Borders of Our Prayers: For Central African Republic, Ukraine, and a Post-Easter World (May 1, 2014)
God of Easter and beyond, You have dared us to take Your story “from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth.” You have asked us to lay claim to the world in the name of Love, and You are Love. It is with Your call that we expand the borders of […]
A Good Friday Vigil: Prayers for the Korean Ferry, South Sudan, Forgiveness, and New Beginnings (April 17, 2014)
I write this during the long vigil between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The time when those who follow the ancient traditions of the Christian church year stay up and keep watch with Jesus, as he prays in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. We have, once again, been present as he washes the disciples’ […]
Teach Us Patience: A Prayer for Clean Water, the West African Ebola Outbreak, and Talks on Ukraine (April 10, 2014)
Loving God, by your grace teach us patience – and renewed hope when we face such disappointments as: the failure to date to address human rights abuses in Syria; the failure of any sub-Saharan African country to meet Millennial Development Goals of cutting in half the number of people not having access to clean water […]
In the Presence of Holy Mystery: Prayers for Chile’s Earthquake and Guinea’s Ebola (April 3, 2014)
In the presence of our Creator, we seek renewal, wisdom, and inspiration. In the presence of our Beloved, we bring our true selves, our desires, and our fears. In the presence of the Holy Mystery, let us gather our hearts in prayer. O Beautiful Presence, open our eyes to all that surrounds us so that […]
Families Who Grieve Without Bodies to Bury: A Lenten Prayer for Oso and Flight MH370 (March 27, 2014)
As we stand with Jesus in the wilderness during this Lenten period, we pray for the whole world. For those fighting cancer: may they have support and access to quality medical care. For parents: may they be confident in their childcare and schools. For pregnant women and for those who are trying to build families: […]
Come Down, Come In, Come Among Us: A Prayer for the Marginalized and Flight MH370 (March 20, 2014)
Thursday, March 20th 2014 “If God is your co-pilot, swap seats!” (cartoon) “Purity does not come in separation from but in deeper penetration into the Universe … Bathe yourself in the ocean of matter; plunge into it where it is deepest and most violent; struggle in its currents and drink its water. For […]
Our Coming In and Our Going Out: A Prayer for Flight MH370, Cyclone Lusi, and Japan Three Years On (March 13, 2014)
Lord, our creator who neither slumbers nor sleeps; Lord, our protector, guide and help, be in our coming in prayer and our going out to the world in compassion. This week is the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web, giving us such a great ability to know more about our world and to share with […]
Searching for Olympic Goodness: A Prayer for Sochi, the Mogadishu Bombing, and UK Floods (February 28, 2014)
Creativity God, we search for wholeness because your energy within us desires such. With this in mind, we see the incessant news from our world that seems to portray more brokenness than ever before. A week ago, those in the United States were reminded by one Olympic national news correspondent that “…no amount of Olympic glory […]
Calm Me, Lord: A Prayer for Storm-Battered Britain, the Homs Ceasefire, and the Sochi Olympics (February 13, 2014)
Calm me, Lord Calm me, Lord, as you calmed the storm; Still me, Lord, keep me from harm, Let all the tumult within me cease, enfold me, Lord, in your peace. Text: David Adam What a maelstrom of events is present in the news this week. Torrential unseasonal rain in Indonesia has affected the Pacific […]