An Anthology of Prayers

A Prayer for Slowness of Heart

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:41:09 +0000

Gracious Lord, who rose through the shadows of death into resurrection life: when our hearts are dull, hopes deferred and eyes constrained from recognizing your nearness; walk alongside us in our despair, unfold the story of salvation and encounter us in the breaking of bread, so that with opened eyes and burning hearts we may boldly testify to the liberating, life-giving power of your resurrection.

RML

Prayer for the Love of Life

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:35:10 +0000

O God, who deemed the creation exceedingly good, richly supplies us with all things to enjoy, and through the raising of Jesus from the dead infuses the world with life ever new: awaken in your people an undreamt-of love for life, loosen the shackles of cynicism and jaded despair and lighten upon us the daybreak colors of the new creation, that being open to the world, faith, hope and love would once again flow freely in the risky endeavor of whole-hearted living, expecting the rebirth of everything that lives, and with this expectation, experiencing our own rebirth, and the rebirth we share with everything else, through Jesus the Messiah our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

RML

Prayer for True Community

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:47:31 +0000

Triune God, who perpetually exists in self-giving love and poured out your life for the redemption of the world: Free us from the fear that by detached analysis seeks constantly to control, reducing your world to a machine and people to mere tools for our use. Give us the courage needed for opening ourselves to encounter the unique ‘divine, magical, terrifying and ecstatic’ existence in the world and each person you created with delight and gave your life for in love, that by your grace, we might overcome our self-wrought alienation and in your love forge true community in the image of your triune nature, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Inspired by writings by Jurgen Moltmann, C.S. Lewis and Martin Buber

RML

A Prayer for Wisdom

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:39:58 +0000

Father of glory, whose countenance is like the rising of the sun on a cloudless morning: let your word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, guiding us in right pathways for your name sake, that we, finding ourselves in the darkness of doubt and confusion would know your way to be like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until the fullness of day, through Jesus the Messiah our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

RML

A Prayer for Ordinary Time

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:32:47 +0000

O God, who sanctifies time by the Sabbath, space by your presence, and life by your blessing: in the midst of everyday life, in the routine and mundane, may we know your glory in the witness of creation, your guidance in the still small voice, your love in the fellowship of believers, and your nearness by the indwelling of the Spirit, that day by day we may be ever re-kindled in love, renewed in spirit and faithful in service for the sanctification of all things under your gracious will, through Jesus the Messiah our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RML

Collect for Proper 11

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:13:20 +0000

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our
necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have
compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those
things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our
blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for Proper 10

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:50:21 +0000

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who
call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand
what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for Proper 9

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:48:23 +0000

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments
by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your
Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole
heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for Proper 8

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:38:30 +0000

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together
in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a
holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for Proper 7

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:37:38 +0000

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your
holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom
you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving kindness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.