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opening prayer–southwest senses and seasons

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Creator God, we thank you for the wide sky and the warm sun, for the bottomless lakes and the flowing rivers, for the massive mesas and the never-resting winds, for trees and for soil underfoot. We thank you for our senses, which let us hear wind blowing through trees, and see the summer clouds cast moving shadows on the rolling hills, and taste the roasted chiles in autumn, and revel in the cold touch of the snow, and smell the breath of the spring after the rain. May you open the eyes of our hearts to this beauty – and keep us from being blind to your glory burning in even the lowly cholla, reminding us of your love for all things and all people, no matter how great or small. As you have made our senses come alive, let us be attuned to your presence in worship today! Amen.

(Based on Thanksgiving Day prayer by Walter Rauschenbusch)
Submitted by Rev. Lucus Levy Keppel, Ancho + Corona Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico

Prayer: hopeful travels

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Gracious God,
without the hope we have in you
we would be pitied above all.
With hearts open and thankful,
we come before your presence to wait, watch, and wonder.
We ask that you would come to us as we are
but not leave us as we were.
May we emerge from these travels
having found your newborn son
and having found our true selves along the way.
This we pray in the name of our coming Savior. Amen.

 

Submitted by Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY

POP–we pray for…

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Living and Holy God, we give you thanks for your word of life

and the gift of your invitation to know and serve you in Jesus Christ.

Hear our prayers, in the name of Christ, the holy and blameless one.

 

We pray for those who seek you,

who work to keep your blessed way.

Teach them in the quiet and gentle voice of the heart.

 

We pray for those who teach and those who learn,

that their work together would reveal the love you have for all your people.

 

We pray for all whose way falters, due to sin, weakness, or despair.

Strengthen your people, restore the broken, and rescue the lost.

 

We pray for those who are excluded or put to shame,

that they would be strengthened by the gift of your word

and the presence of your church.

 

We pray for all who are sick, struggling, grieving, or worried,

that they might know your healing

and delight to praise you with upright hearts.

 

We pray for your will to be done,

and we offer ourselves to your service,

in Jesus’ name, saying together:

The Lord’s Prayer

 

Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids IA

 

POP–send forth compassion

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O Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

We praise you for the everlasting goodness by which you created all things,

and we call on your unchanging grace.

 

O Lord, we pray for those who are swept up in the changes of life,

that you would give comfort and confidence to all who face loss.

Everlasting God,

send forth your compassion.

 

We seek your mercy on those who feel far from your presence

on account of their own sin or the threats of religious people.

We seek your mercy on ourselves, acknowledging our own sin.

Everlasting God,

send forth your compassion.

 

We seek your wisdom as we give ourselves to your service,

that you would fill us with a sense of urgency in the face of injustice

and a sense of patience in the face of difficulty.

Everlasting God,

send forth your compassion.

 

We seek your gracious healing presence with those who are sick,

and with all who are in need of your restoring grace,

that your love might satisfy all your people

and we might rejoice and be glad all our days.

Everlasting God,

send forth your compassion.

 

Let your work be made real to us and through us,

O Lord our God,

for we pray in the timeless words of Jesus Christ,

saying together:

The Lord’s Prayer

 

Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids IA

POP–uphold and deliver

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O Lord, God of mystery and blessing,

hear our prayers and the earnest cries of our hearts.

Uphold your people in your strength,

and give your attention to doing justice in our world.

Judge of our hearts, come to us in the quietness;

examine us and make us pure so we might do your will.

Teach our mouths to speak your blessings,

and keep us walking in the paths of your perfect love.

We call upon you, O God, on behalf of those who long for your presence;

hear the prayers of your people and give an answer to those who seek you.

Protect all those who are in danger,

from those they know as enemies,

from those they knew as friends or family,

or from the unseeing forces of nature.

Gather your people under the shadow of your wings.

Rise up to protect those who suffer from sickness, resentment, oppression, or poverty.

Open our hearts to compassion for all who are in need,

and teach us to extend your mercy and healing.

Deliver us, O Lord, from all fear,

and give hope even to those who face death,

that in this world and in the next we may see your face and hear your blessing.

We pray in Jesus’ name, saying together:

The Lord’s Prayer

 

Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids IA