Reflection “The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her

Prayer

God of justice,

As your word proclaims, so we shall pray: Let the prayers of the lowly pierce the clouds. Let the cry of the oppressed inspire your action on earth. Without partiality, use us to minister justice in our relations, neighborhoods, and world. For the sake of those most in need, Amen.

Reflection “The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.” –Tacitus Prayer God of life, We know the life of faith involves risk, yet we often find reasons to hunker down and remain in our respective zones

Prayer

God of life,

We know the life of faith involves risk, yet we often find reasons to hunker down and remain in our respective zones of comfort. Give us courage instead to step out more. Lead us to become more like Peter your disciple, who followed your voice and walked on water. Yes, may we follow the examples of all of those who stand out in our ministry’s history, risking their own sense of safety and security, so that your compassionate ministry could freely reach those most in need. Amen.

Reflection “Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available.” –Jim Beggs Prayer God our joy, May we never underestimate the power of a smile. A face shining with joy can be such a genuine comfort to p

Prayer

God our joy,

May we never underestimate the power of a smile. A face shining with joy can be such a genuine comfort to people in pain, experiencing loneliness and isolation, all those who are desperate for hope. As we gather our hearts and minds in prayer today, we ask that each one of our associates might have a new experience of your indwelling spirit and the joy that it brings. Let it spring up from within, so that every patient, family member, colleague and neighbor might be graced with the gift of a hospitable smile. For our sake as much as for those that we serve, Amen.

Reflection “A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” –Grace Hopper Prayer God of our journeys, So often you call us, out of the harbors of safety and into uncharted waters. It can be hard to follow that c

Prayer

God of our journeys,

So often you call us, out of the harbors of safety and into uncharted waters. It can be hard to follow that call, whether in our personal lives or in the organizations that we form together. And yet we have seen and believed that it is better by far to answer your call, stay close to your voice, and let you lead the way. Therefore, we ask you: lead us. May we always remember that our safety depends not on the stability of the familiar, but on our constant pursuit of who you made us to be. Amen.

Reflection “The order of society is based on two virtues: justice and charity. Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveler who has been attacked. It is justice’s role to prevent the attack.” –Frédéric Ozanam

Prayer

God of order,

We live in a society where it seems increasingly difficult for our politics to embrace the “both/and” of justice and charity, together. And yet in your vision of persons in community, these virtues together form the one foundation of any society that hopes to cultivate deep and genuine peace. Help us to work towards a more peace-filled social order, as we respond compassionately to the wounded and the vulnerable that you put in our path. And may we be just as proactive in protecting our neighbors from the forces that would try to inflict harm. Amen.

Reflection “Nature gave us two ends—one to sit on and one to think with.  Ever since then, a person’s success or failure has been dependent on the one they used most.” –George R. Kirkpatrick Prayer God of all wisdom, In our p

Prayer

God of all wisdom,

In our personal and professional lives, we are often beset by a lack of self-awareness. In times of stress and anxiety especially, we make decisions and respond to others without even thinking, basing our words and deeds on instinct and reflex, rather than self-conscious attention and foresight. Heal us of our weakness and lead us to be more conscientious, level-headed partners with the people around us. You saw fit to gift us with such powerful minds—help us to use them rightly! For the success of your mission, together we pray, Amen.

Reflection “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” –Abraham Lincoln Prayer God of our plans, Perhaps the biggest challenge we face with respect to any big task is the question

Prayer

God of our plans,

Perhaps the biggest challenge we face with respect to any big task is the question of proper preparation. As we take on tasks that sometimes feel so daunting, give us your wisdom and insight to guide us in the planning. Give us patience and deliberation, so that when it comes time for execution, we can be all the more confident that the job will be done and done well, sparing ourselves and our colleagues the undue burden of fatigue and exhaustion. Yes, may we continue thinking creatively together, about how we can better meet the needs of our patients and communities by innovating with the resources you have already given. Amen.