Reflection “When one reaches out to help another, he touches the face of God.” –Walt Whitman Prayer God of my neighbor, We all go through times and seasons when we search for you eagerly in the world around us. Yet you are not hid

Prayer

God of my neighbor,

We all go through times and seasons when we search for you eagerly in the world around us. Yet you are not hidden from us. Remind us that our days are laced with sacred encounters, if we would but open our eyes and our hearts to them. Moments in which our service to others brings us face to face with your very own image and likeness. Liberate us today from any obstacle that would prevent us from seeing you in our neighbor. May we live into your promise that by serving them faithfully, with devotion and focus, we are at the same time serving you. Amen.

Feast of Christ the King Reflection “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” –Psalm 33:12 Prayer God over all, Today, on Christ the King Sunday, we are inspired by the faith-filled conviction that your rule and reign has

Prayer

God over all,

Today, on Christ the King Sunday, we are inspired by the faith-filled conviction that your rule and reign has been established on earth. We wait for its fulfillment, and yet in so many ways we see every day how your kingdom of justice and peace is already among us. As we celebrate this life-giving truth today, we ask for your strength and endurance to embody it more and more. For the sake of our patients and families and the broader communities in which we live. Indeed, for our own sake as well. Let your dream for our world be made more and more a reality. Here and now and through us we pray, Amen.

Reflection “There’s nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend.” –Bob Ross Prayer Creator God, Let a childlike spirit be revived within us, that we may rediscover the mystery and wonder of your creation. Let the trees and rocks

Prayer

Creator God,

Let a childlike spirit be revived within us, that we may rediscover the mystery and wonder of your creation. Let the trees and rocks and streams and mountains around us speak to us again, about the delight that you take in life. Abundant life. May we feel playful again and even in love with the world you have made for us. Inspire us thereby to take better care of what we love. As those who are called to steward your great gift of creation, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Judge with true justice, and show kindness and compassion toward each other. Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the resident alien or the poor; do not plot evil against one another in your

Prayer

God over all,

Your expectations for how we should live are clear and demanding. Your heart is turned unflinchingly towards those who are vulnerable, and you call us to live in the same way, that we might serve you by serving them. Lead us to become better servants of all, but especially to those who are without material resources to provide for themselves; those without the support of family and friends, or who are away from the comforts of their cultures of origin; any who are otherwise marginalized or excluded. May we be a community of genuine care and concern for them. Because we are one, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “Rats and roaches live by competition under the law of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy.” –Wendell Berry Prayer God of justice and mercy, The world in wh

Prayer

God of justice and mercy,

The world in which we live tempts us to think supply and demand governs everything. Free us from that illusion. Free us from what hinders us from a higher rule of life and social engagement anchored in your life-giving laws of justice and mercy. Especially in this moment of economic pain and financial challenge affecting so many, we ask for the ministry we share to stand out for its commitment to ensure the shared flourishing of all people, without qualification. Amen.

Reflection “The quality of your faith will be judged by the quality of justice in the land; and the quality of justice in the land will be judged by how the weakest and most vulnerable groups in society (‘widows, orphans, and strangers

Prayer

Just Judge,

You give us every reason to conclude that our nearness to you is measured by our nearness to those who are suffering and needy. And so, we pray: let our faith and trust in you find expression in the ways we take care of all those who are weakest and most vulnerable among us. In our communities and with our patients and families, use us as your agents of justice and transformation. Heal our land today. Amen.

Reflection “The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts: to return love for hate, to include the excluded, and to say, ‘I was wrong.’” -Sydney J. Harris Prayer Lib

Prayer

Liberating God,

You did not promise us that following you would be easy. In fact, you told us quite plainly that it will be hard. And for a number of reasons. We still struggle to do as you’ve commanded: to return love for hate, to include the outcast, and to admit the things we’ve done wrong. Yet these are the moral challenges we all must face if we are to live in the liberation you have won for us, through your very own body and blood. Lead us, inspire us, and keep us devoted to the moral calling of becoming more and more your family on earth. Amen.