Faith

Faith

Prayer

Saving God, we remember in a special way this day the tremendous faith and courage of Mary, the mother of Jesus. May her willingness to do your will, with all of its uncertainty and mystery, inspire us to follow in the footsteps of your son, Jesus. Open our hearts and minds that we might imitate Mary’s openness and commit ourselves to growth in discipleship. Help us to surrender ourselves to your will as Mary did and strive each day to give ourselves ever more completely to your word. With faith in you, we pray. Amen.

Remembrance

Remembrance

Prayer

Lord of all, today is a day of remembrance, remembering a dark day in our nation’s history but also of those who sacrifice in the service of our nation. May our recollection of what occurred on this day and the memory of those who gave their lives inspire us to sacrifice in the service of our sisters and brothers, especially those who are poor, sick, and vulnerable. Amen.

2nd Sunday of Advent

2nd Sunday of Advent

Prayer

Lord, as we continue our celebration of the sacred season of Advent, we ask you to open our eyes that we might perceive your presence in our lives and world. Inspire us through your Holy Spirit to herald the good news of your love and mercy. Stir our voices that we might give voice to the truth of your presence and care. Bless our celebration of this season that we might grow closer to you and to one another.
With gratitude for your presence, we pray. Amen.

Strength

Strength

Prayer

Almighty God, we continue to struggle under the weight of the global pandemic. Yet, we trust in you. Give us the strength we need to continue to confront this deadly virus. Encourage each of us to do what we can do in our own way to limit the spread. Remind us each day that we are in this together and that together we can overcome the challenges we face. Bless us with the strength that flows from knowing you are with us always. We pray in your name. Amen.

Humor

Humor

Prayer

Creator God, sometimes life can be hard. The demands of work can pile up and our responsibilities can wear us down. It is in such times, Lord, that we are most grateful for the gift of humor. Humor can so often be a vital ingredient in our ability to be resilient. Stir within us a desire for laughter and an appreciation for the opportunity to delight each day in the joy of life. Help us always to learn to take life seriously when appropriate and enjoy humor always. We pray in your name. Amen.

Happiness

Happiness

Prayer

Gracious God, sometimes it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the troubles of the world. The news is often depressing, we can succumb to the temptation to gossip, we can feel burdened by work, and it seems everyone wants something from us. Yet, we know you call us to beatitude, to be happy. Open our hearts to the joyful presence of your Holy Spirit. Help us to remember you create us to delight in the world you fashion and the people who populate it. Inspire us each day to live from a spirit of joy and gratitude for the gift of life and for our loved ones and friends. In gratitude, we pray. Amen.

Freedom

Freedom

Prayer

Lord of liberty, you create each of us with inherent dignity and freedom. Yet we know there are still far too many in this world who are not free. Fill our hearts with the desire to work for justice and bless our efforts as a ministry to abolish human trafficking here and around the world. Remind us each day that as long as one of your children is not free, we are all not free. Give us the courage to work together to abolish slavery in all its forms and promote freedom for all. We pray this in the name of God who is the source of our dignity and freedom. Amen.