Prayer

Crucified God,

On the night before he died, your son Jesus stated that no greater love existed than the willingness to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You showed your limitless love for us through the willingness of Jesus to give his life for us on the cross. Fill us with gratitude for the suffering he endured that we might enjoy newness of life. And give us the courage to serve all those in our day hang on crosses of sickness, injustice, and violence. May we strive always to do your will as Jesus did, even when such service requires great sacrifice. We pray in the name of Jesus, our crucified Lord. Amen.

Prayer

God of the saints,

Saints are often portrayed in ways that can make them difficult to relate to as people. They are serious people without humor. As we celebrate the memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, may his belief in the refreshing power of humor transform our appreciation of the witness of the saints. And may it renew our dedication to doing the will of God, a commitment that found such unique expression in the life of Saint John Chrysostom. With appreciation for the gift of humor, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Almighty God,

Recognizing the myriad problems we encounter in the world can tempt us to despair of a better future. In such times, it is all the more important that we turn to you in faith and prayer. Fill us with the hope that, despite the challenges confronting us, the future is in your hands. Renew within us the gift of hope and give us the courage to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the construction of God’s future. We pray in God’s name. Amen.

Prayer

God of remembrance,

Today is a solemn day for our community as we recall the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Hold close to you, Lord, those whose lives were lost, the families who continue to mourn their passing, and all whose lives were changed on that sad day. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we might gain inspiration from the sacrifice and dedication displayed by so many that day and in the days since. Open our hearts to your love that through memory we might renew our commitment to building a world of justice and peace, shaped by love and compassion. May we never forget as we strive to lead lives that will honor the memory of the loved and lost. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus, our resurrected Lord. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal and ever-living God,

Our lives are constantly moving at a breakneck pace. Due to advances in communication technology, our workday often breaks the limits of appropriate boundaries. We try to fill each moment of the day and often turn being busy into a competition. In the midst of our busyness, we risk failing to appreciate the depth and profundity of life. We maintain such high levels of noise and distraction; we often fail to encounter you in the silence. Help us to avoid the trap of constantly doing things but achieving nothing. Strengthen our commitment to you, that we might devote time and energy daily to nurturing our relationship. May we seek not to be busy but to be faithful, finding true meaning and purpose in our lives. We make this prayer in the name of the Lord who is with us always. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal God,

It can sometimes be difficult to do your will. Fear, despair, and unbelief can often prevent us from giving ourselves more completely to your hopes for us. May the example of Saint Peter Claver strengthen us in faith and hope that we might be encouraged to overcome the obstacles that prevent us from more readily doing your will. May our renewed faith keep our eyes on you and our hearts of building your kingdom. In faith and hope, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Loving Lord,

Today, we celebrate the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Open our hearts that our lives might reflect the faith of Mary. Her willingness to do your will changed her life and transformed the life of the world. May we, too, cultivate a faith that does your will, that we too might contribute to the building a better world for all. We make this prayer through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.