Reflection “The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience.” –Flannery O’Connor Prayer Abundant Life, Every day we see pain and suffering. In the lives of our patients and families, in our own lives and communities

Prayer

Abundant Life,

Every day we see pain and suffering. In the lives of our patients and families, in our own lives and communities, in big ways and small we are close to a lot of brokenness. As caregivers, we know that we can try to deal with the trauma all on our own, yet more often than not we simply shut down and try to push the door closed on all this experience. You have called us to more. You invite us beyond such despair and into the stream of your abundant life. Lead us to this stream again today, so we all might live deeper and richer and freer in the experiences you give us. For the life of the world, nourish our souls as we seek to serve others in need. In your mercy we pray, Amen.

Women's Equality Day

Women's Equality Day

Good Creator,

Today in the U.S. we celebrate the passage of the nineteenth amendment and the broader recognition of women’s equality in every area of civil society. We know there is still so much more to be done so that women will enjoy equal treatment, compensation, and opportunity alongside men. As we continue our commitment to building a new community in your name, we are nonetheless glad to be able to celebrate the progress already made. And we pray moving forward that discrimination and separation will only continue to give way to unity and mutual respect, for we have all been created in your image and likeness. Amen.

Reflection “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones.” –Hebrews 6:10 Prayer Just God, The complaints people raise alw

Just God,

The complaints people raise always stand out more than their praise. Meanwhile much of the good work that we do goes unnoticed. As we strive to continue extending your healing ministry, help us take comfort in knowing that you are always fair, that you see us when others do not, and that you do not forget the many ways we help those in need. While none of us are here to gain external awards, we are nonetheless thankful for this reminder from your word today: you are always attentive, and you see our good deeds performed in your name. Amen.

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” –Nelson Mandela Prayer Liberating God, You call us to embody some radical vir

Liberating God,

You call us to embody some radical virtues, perhaps none more radical than forgiveness. As you have shown us, forgiveness means more than simply ignoring or overlooking the harms we have suffered. It means surrendering our rightful claims of justice to you, so you can transform our wounds into freedom. So challenging! For our own sake today, give us the strength to forgive those who have wronged us, that we may be freed of bitterness and hatred and filled with your transforming love. Amen.

“What you do on your bad days matters more than what you do on your good days.” –Kevin Kelly Prayer Always Good God, May we never take for granted those rare and precious days when everything seems to go right. Because we know that

Always Good God,

May we never take for granted those rare and precious days when everything seems to go right. Because we know that it is precisely when times are tough that you call us to rely on our inner strength and character to make it through. Help us, then, to be ready for the bad days, by devoting ourselves daily to the habits and practices that nurture our inner foundations. Amen.

“I like an escalator because an escalator can never break. It can only become stairs.” –Mitch Hedberg Prayer God of the new, Different perspectives can alter our expectations about even the most ordinary experiences. We need people a

God of the new,

Different perspectives can alter our expectations about even the most ordinary experiences. We need people around us who can refresh our vision in such ways. People who are blessed with unique insight and creative thinking. People who help us to see the world through new lenses, so that we might find new and accessible solutions to the problems we face together. Inspire us all towards new perspectives and fresh ways of thinking today, so that our work in this ministry can better serve the needs of our patients, families, and our broader communities. Amen.

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

God our refuge and strength,

We unite with others across the globe today, to remember those whose lives are upended by terrorism year upon year. We give them voice today and renew our commitment not to look away from the injustice they suffer. May we honor the memory of those who have died—those we have known and those who will never be known—by lending concrete support to those who presently live amid fears and threats of violence. In solidarity with them, we pray for your kingdom to come, with its healing and liberation, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.