Prayer

God of Possibility,

We so often take our freedom for granted. We feel ourselves bound by circumstances beyond our control and start to feel trapped by them. When such feelings befall us, open our eyes to see the horizons of possibility all around. May we dwell again in possibility, looking to you and welcoming your liberating spirit. Empower us again to walk in freedom and love, joyful for the mere sense of living. Amen.

Prayer

God our defender,

You call us to affirm every person’s inestimable value, for we are each made in your image and called into being by your own design. Inspired by your call, help us affirm human dignity in all that we say and do. Even when that means defending it against the attacks of those who would threaten, intimidate, and demean someone else. Whether assaults or displays of harassment are directed against our own associates, or our patients, or their families, or wherever we serve in the community, give us courage as a ministry to say “no” to bullying in all of its forms. Amen.

Prayer

Love who loved us first,

Every day we are challenged to embody the values we hold as a ministry. We sincerely believe in respecting others’ dignity; expressing integrity and sharing compassion; practicing good stewardship as we strive to offer the highest quality service. Yet despite our convictions, we still need your help to make all this real in the lives of our patients, their families, and our wider communities. When interacting with the annoying client, an ungrateful patient, or the vendor making things harder than they need to be, help us show love to those we encounter, the kind of love that transforms even enemies into neighbors and lets our values shine bright. Amen.

Prayer

Word of Life,

It is not always convenient to carve our own way through life’s biggest questions. To go with the flow and follow the crowd is always the easier path. Yet when we are tempted this way, help us remember that uniformity is not the same thing as unity. Give us courage to follow our convictions and take responsibility for our sincerely held beliefs. May we harbor the hope that a more genuine experience of community awaits us, as we embrace the harder but more rewarding path of dialogue, mutual respect, and listening well to the voices of others. Above all else, may we each have the wisdom of St. Polycarp—to know when we must forsake the crowd so as to find you again, in the quiet of our hearts. Amen.

Prayer

God in the ordinary,

How wonderful it is to be human. You made us unique in creation, as “ensouled bodies” or “embodied souls.” We occupy this wondrous space in-between angels and animals. We can sing with the hosts of heaven while working the ground, preparing the earth for seedlings to grow. We can worship your glory while breaking bread with each other and telling laughter-filled stories. As we look at the calendar today, as we consult this device that sometimes feels a lot like a taskmaster, let Today’s “Twosday” be just weird enough that it’s easy to be amused. Thank you for the thought that perhaps you smile along with us. Amen.

Prayer

God over all,

Today is cause for double celebration. With our American colleagues, we honor and celebrate the legacy of presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, whose birthdays we also acknowledge this month. At the same time, we give thanks for the remarkable diversity of languages spoken across the globe, which give voice and expression to the cultural riches of the whole human family. As the world’s many tongues are threatened by globalization, we pray that the American ideal of unity-in-diversity might be more and more realized, within its own borders and beyond. With thanks for those leaders who have championed the strength of our diversity, we pray, Amen.

Prayer

Mighty God,

On this day we unite our cries for justice and stand up together for victims of oppression all over the globe. Help us be the ones who dismantle structures of sin and build our communities so that all can flourish. You alone are worthy to judge human hearts, and for that we are thankful. For even as we strive to defend those who are vulnerable, we know that we too are in need of forgiveness and kindness, mercy and grace. Give us courage, this day, to welcome your healing and make pathways of peace for our neighbors—highways of justice all over the earth. Amen.