Reflection “All things are inventions of holiness—some more rascally than others.” –Mary Oliver Prayer Holy God, Where did we get the idea that holiness somehow means becoming other worldly, aloof from the concrete realities that

Prayer

Holy God,

Where did we get the idea that holiness somehow means becoming other worldly, aloof from the concrete realities that surround us in life and work and all in between? You are a good creator who loves all that you’ve made, just as it is. May we have eyes, then, to see how all things are held together by your loving attention. Even those things that to us seem most unwieldy, edgy, and “rascally.” May we become more holy by loving it all, fully, just as you made it. Amen.

Reflection “The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.” –Charles Schulz Prayer God who care

Prayer

God who cares,

We can all get sidetracked by the accoutrements of life. Influence and income and accolades. Yet if these are pursued for the own sake, apart from a life animated by the care and concern of others, we have sadly missed the boat. Help us be people who know how to care for others and are ready to make a difference. Amen.

Reflection “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Sadly, too often, creativity is smothered rather than nurtured. There has to be a climate in which new ways of thinking, perceiving, and questioning are enco

God of the new,

We are often very good at finding the path of efficiency and sticking to it, even if it means shutting down new ideas. Yet who knows how many useful innovations have been left by the wayside because we are consistently afraid to take risks, choosing instead to lean in to the tried and true? Teach us to embrace the “both/and” embedded between creativity and stability. Help us nurture creative thinking, even as we preserve and hold on to the means and methods that can reliably sustain the ministry you have given. As we strive to move forward, we pray. Amen.

EMS Week

EMS Week

Prayer

Merciful God,

We celebrate EMS Week by recognizing the faithful devotion of our emergency responders. May they be blessed with joy and affirmation this week and beyond, for we are truly so thankful for their readiness to be there in times of need. We also come before you in prayer and concern for the ongoing crisis of burnout affecting every sector of healthcare. We call upon you for grace and strength, asking that you would protect and provide for those associates who are especially at risk of exhaustion and distress. With gratitude and a readiness to act on their behalf, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt

Prayer

All in all,

Our attitude matters so much in life, for it has the power to transform even those experiences we are tempted to see as distractions or obstacles into occasions for joy and discovery, as we bring them to bear on who we are choosing to become, in the course of the life you have given us. May we use all our experiences this way. To become more and more human, better able to sympathize with others, and more expansive in spirit, ready to lead others to wholeness. For those who are especially struggling with some cause of suffering today, we pray that you would accompany them, have mercy, and send us to show them compassion. Amen.

Reflection “Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near” –Philippians 4:5 Prayer Divine kindness, Save us from thinking that the schedules we keep and the things we have to do are so important that we no longer have tim

Prayer

Divine kindness,

Save us from thinking that the schedules we keep and the things we have to do are so important that we no longer have time for common courtesy or decency or to give a genuine gift of kindness to another. Keep us focused, especially in high-pressure moments when it’s hard to be present, on showing care and concern for everyone you send into our path. Open our eyes to your presence among us in the faces of neighbors, that we might build a reputation of kindness among the people we serve. Amen.

Reflection “Why did God create swarms of bees, prides of lions, herds of deer, schools of fish, and flocks of birds, and only one human couple? So that no one can say to another ‘My ancestry is superior to yours.’” –The Mishnah Praye

Prayer

Love over all,

We are one human family, and we are called to act like it. We often do not. Heal us, therefore, of every inclination to assert division rather than embrace diversity. May we commit to respecting and loving our unity, precisely because it is so wondrously varied, colorful, beautiful. Give us grateful hearts and happy eyes, as we behold all the unique intersections of identities and backgrounds and families that make us the people we are. You see it and love it and call it good. Help us do the same. And we beg for your mercy, when the unity we seek is otherwise fractured by the unholy blindness of pitiful souls still trapped by hatred. Have mercy on us all, we pray. Amen.