The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of […]
For the Healing of the Nations: A Prayer for the Children of Syria (July 31, 2014)
Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14 Healing of the nations. I watched a documentary on BBC TV called “The Children of Syria,” which followed children for several months from all sides in the war. Watching them parrot the hate for their former friends as taught them by their adult family and community […]
So Many Treasures Are Hidden: Prayers After MH17 and the Taiwan Plane Crash (July 24, 2014)
So many treasures are hidden Lord: When we gave thanks along with the mother whose 2 sons were saved by the actions of a stranger, Reis Leming, in East Anglia in 1953, we were not to know that one would became a professor in Cambridge, England; the other a professor in MIT. Lord, we […]
Precious Lord, Lead Them Home: Prayers for Typhoon Rammasun and Gaza (July 17, 2014)
Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home. Even as we sing, even as we pray, Precious Lord, our thoughts turn to […]
The Middle East Is Not a Playing Field: A Prayer After the Murder of Four Teenagers (July 10, 2014)
Lord, we love our sports, games, competition. Winners and losers, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, we love it all. But Lord, we mix our metaphors, we mistake life for games, we use the language of war for the playing fields. Remind us, God, that the Middle East is not a playing field. […]
How Can We Ask Forgiveness: Prayers for South Sudan’s Children and the Rohingya (June 19, 2014)
Dearest One, How can I ask forgiveness for letting a person die? How can we ask forgiveness not just for ourselves, but for the whole world? Not just for this moment in time, but for all of human history, for all lives to come? Four sleeping homeless people were run over – apparently deliberately – […]
A Game That Transcends Language: A Prayer at the Opening of the World Cup in Brazil (June 12, 2014)
Creator God, in the midst of economic, political, and social turmoils, we thank you for the opportunity to gather for another World Cup. We thank you for open fields that ignite children’s imaginations, for communities and governments that promote healthy activities, for the opportunity to teach teamwork and sportsmanship. We praise you for giving us […]
With Ashes on Our Foreheads: A Lenten Prayer for Freedom, Hunger, and Human Rights (March 6, 2014)
Morning Psalm I open my heart, Loving God… I place myself in your hands… I breathe in the beauty of the rising sun… I savor the gift of another day of life. Wherever this day leads, let me rest in the assurance of your presence with me, in me, around and under me. Let me […]
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: An Advent Prayer to Set the Captives Free (December 19, 2013)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. We are still waiting for you. We are waiting for the Prince of Peace. We are waiting for the Wisdom from on high. We are waiting for the King of all nations. O come and set the captives free. Free those who are captive to violence. The people of Syria, […]
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind: An Advent Prayer Remembering Nelson Mandela (December 12, 2013)
This week, Dear Lord, has been one where the contrast between what is right and what is convenient or what we choose to do has been held up to scrutiny. We give thanks for the example that change is possible through the life journey and work of Nelson Mandela. We pray for honesty, humility, and […]