Prayer

God of time,

We live in a time when we speak of work-life balance. Yet, we often fail to achieve that balance. In response to a question about taxes, your son Jesus replied, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.” Help us to achieve work-life balance by giving to work what belongs to work and to our relationships what belongs to our relationships. Amen.

Prayer

Triune God,

Today, we celebrate the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost commemorates the day when the fullness of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples of Jesus, empowering them to proclaim the good news of your reign to the ends of the earth. We thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit in our own hearts and lives. May the same Spirit that empowered the first disciples inspire us to respond with generosity and courage to your call to be the good news for all we meet. May our celebration of Pentecost renew within us our commitment to the mission of your son Jesus, extending his compassionate mercy to others, especially people who are poor and vulnerable. We make this prayer to you, through your son, and in your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer

Almighty and ever-living God,

You call each of us to service in the cause of your kingdom. Fill us with a spirit of generosity and energy that we might work tirelessly on behalf of others. Bless us with the gift of wisdom to learn from our mistakes and give us the courage to dedicate each day to serving our sisters and brothers, especially those who are most vulnerable. We pray in God’s name. Amen.

Prayer

Liberating Lord,

Your word in scripture reveals humanity to be a necessarily social being. We are made for you and for each other. Help us to see that our freedom is linked to the freedom of others. As we strive to be people of your liberating word, give us the courage to stand for the freedom of all people, knowing that only when all are liberated will we be truly free. We pray with confidence in your love and presence. Amen.

Prayer

Loving Lord,

So often, it seems all we hear is bad news. The pandemic, violence, racial injustice, and threats to our planet dominate the news. Yet, in faith, we know that you are with us and will never abandon us. Give us the strength to trust in you and the courage to lead our lives knowing our future is in your hands. May our confidence in your saving plan fill us with hope and inspire us to contribute to the future you are even now in the process of realizing. We pray in the name of our ever-present and ever-living Lord. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God,

Inspire us to be people of integrity. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may be the people you create and call us to be. May our actions always be consistent with the values we cherish. Give us the courage to practice the principles you call us to embody rather than simply profess them. May we strive always to live an authentic life, dedicated to serving others and making the world a better place for all. Amen.

Prayer

Merciful God,

Too often we pendulum between the extremes of granting cheap forgiveness as if nothing wrong really happened and being unwilling to forgive from a lack of humility and self-knowledge. Help us to recognize that we too make mistakes and hurt others just as others make mistakes and hurt us. May we never seek cheap forgiveness but rather pursue reconciliation, which is the path to a new and better future. We pray in God’s name. Amen.