Prayer

God of today,

Empower us to live each day in joy. May we cultivate gratitude for this present moment, wasting not a breath on the days we can’t change and looking ahead only in hope, for the new things you have promised to do through us. As those who are called to awareness and attention, to serve and to love those neighbors you send us today, here, and now, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious shepherd,

For every opportunity you give us to enjoy respite within your beautiful world, we thank you. Yet we are also mindful today of those who are far removed from any “verdant pastures.” Those who must strain and toil to find any water at all, as the earth struggles to flourish in the way that it should. For these, our fellow citizens in this one common home, we pray you would shepherd and guide them with special concern. Help us to love them better by loving the earth that we share together. No matter where we live, may your shepherding spirit provide refreshment of souls, so that we may follow your lead and restore health and well-being to rest of the earth and its inhabitants. For our sake and the sake of all people, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Conversant silence,

Beneath the incessant noise that fills our lives, in the depths of our souls, you call us to return to the solace of silence. May we make every effort to enter that soul-space. A place of both rest and attention. Paradoxical though it may seem, give us stamina to remain there. Still, expectant, and open to the gentle voice with which you are always speaking to us. Transform us there, that we may become people who exemplify peace and patience; people whose souls have been well-trained by silence. Amen.

God of creation,

It’s easy for us to take for granted the blessing of the Earth and its vegetation. The plants and flowers, trees and shrubs, and all the other flora that surround us. On National Arbor Day, help us to be more mindful of our calling to cultivate the Earth, including its plant life, knowing that our collective well-being depends on the vitality of all creatures in harmony. Plus, the world just looks more beautiful filled with green! Amen.

Prayer

God on the move,

The world advances at such a rapid pace it can be hard to keep up. Enable us, therefore, to cultivate a spirit of openness that is perpetually childlike, eager to learn, ready to develop and grow. Give us beginners’ minds to complement the expertise and precision we otherwise bring into our decisions and planning. As those who strive to do your good work each day for the sake of those who are vulnerable and in need, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of life,

Slow and steady wins the race. Keep us mindful of the need for steady devotion each day to the work that we’ve been given to do. When we grow restless or feel uninspired, suffuse us with your very own spirit, that we might keep our heads down and press on. May we be surprised by the wellspring of joy and delight that rushes upon us in the midst of an otherwise routine encounter with another. With gratitude for our part in your ministry, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God of those who are poor,

Our interconnectedness across the globe affords us so many blessings. May it also engender a greater sense of responsibility on our part. For we who enjoy the world’s finest gifts are obliged to bridge the distance between our own state of life and the plight of those who are poor and vulnerable. Ignite a passion within us to overcome the disparities we see. Here and around the world. May we use the good gifts we’ve received to establish conditions of justice and peace for those who are more in need. As people of conscience, we pray. Amen.