Prayer

Merciful God, sometimes, our culture seems to think of repentance as a bad thing, as reflective of low self-esteem or a failure to accept our own goodness. Yet, we know we are not always who we are created and called to be. Fill our hearts with a spirit of honest repentance that we might grow beyond those attitudes, perspectives, and dispositions that bind us to a lesser version of ourselves. May our willingness to repent free us to embrace a fuller vision of who we are and the life we are called to lead. We pray with confidence in your mercy. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God, we know the apostle Paul began as a persecutor of the early church. Yet, he became one of the church’s most powerful and eloquent preachers. We live in a time of great division in which we struggle to find common ground. Today, may St. Paul remind us of the possibility of transformation, even in the darkest of times. May his conversion give us hope that we can bind up the wounds of our nation and rededicate our efforts to strengthening our unity as a people committed to freedom, justice, and peace. We pray in the name of our Lord who called Paul to a new life. Amen.

Prayer

Almighty God, our culture often encourages us to pursue success without providing an accompanying definition. Open our minds and hearts to your presence and love that we might be mindful of the substance of true success even as we strive to attain it. Help us to see that true success flows from an unwavering commitment to our cherished values. May our dedication to the things we believe are truly important allow us to grow and develop both as individuals and as a ministry. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God of goodness, it is often in the midst of difficult times that we are reminded of the power of faith: faith in you, faith in one another, faith in ourselves. Send your Spirit upon us that we might be strengthened in and through faith. May our trust in you and in one another renew our hope as we strive to confront the challenges of our times with compassion and resilience. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal and everlasting God, how often has a gesture or act of kindness renewed our faith in humanity? How often has someone’s goodness on our behalf given us hope for the future and shaped our appreciation of the present? Fill our hearts with love and compassion for others that we might become the source of renewal for others, that we might give others hope. Help us to be mindful of the many blessings you bestow upon us. Inspire us to share the fruit of those blessings with all those we meet each day. In your name we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious Lord, it is commonplace to think we live at a hectic pace. There is always one more phone call to make, one more email to send, one more post to read. We have been trained to respond immediately every time our phone buzzes. We have become so accustomed to noise and busyness that we often avoid quiet time spent in silence. Inspired by the example of your son Jesus, grant us the wisdom to realize how important time spent with you is. Help us not only to desire it but to actively seek such time in our lives. Stir within us the desire to be with you and the discipline each day to consciously enter prayerfully into your presence. We pray in the name of your son Jesus. Amen.

Prayer

God of freedom, as our nation celebrates the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we give thanks for the many blessings enjoyed by our country throughout its long history. We also know there is still much work to be done. Guide our thoughts and actions that we might resolve to rise above the divisions and hostility to embrace the promise of our nation, to reject the false narratives that lead us to demonize each other, and instead commit ourselves to advance the blessings of liberty and justice for all. We ask you to bless our new president and vice-president, inspire us to dedicate ourselves to the work before us, and grant us the will to work together to realize our nation’s promise as a beacon of justice, truth, and freedom. Amen.