Reflection “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” –Dale Carnegie Prayer Loving God, As we serve those you put in our path today, we pray for the grace of a deeper camaraderie within our teams and amon

Prayer

Loving God,

As we serve those you put in our path today, we pray for the grace of a deeper camaraderie within our teams and among our colleagues. The kind of camaraderie that makes our work a source of joy, satisfaction, and even at times, fun. May the compassion we offer our patients and families extend to each other as well, that we might create a workplace culture that prizes “success” in terms of our faithfulness to improve the health and well-being of all. With gratitude that such a calling includes all of us, too, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.” –Philippians 2:3-4 Prayer Se

Prayer

Selfless love,

Even in the midst of doing good our motives are so often mixed. We like the recognition that comes from success and achievement, sometimes too much. Help us purify our hearts more and more, so that all we do and say comes from an authentic spirit of humility. A spirit that recognizes our interdependence upon one another and is always on the lookout for ways to meet the needs of others, especially those who are most vulnerable among us. Amen.

Reflection “If beating ourselves up worked, we would all be thin, rich, and happy, wouldn’t we?” –Cheryl Richardson Prayer Loving God, Lead us into a healthier form of self-regard than we often possess. To love ourselves with the

Prayer

Loving God,

Lead us into a healthier form of self-regard than we often possess. To love ourselves with the kind of love that you have for us and that we are right to have for ourselves. Yes, we make mistakes, yet you forgive us freely and lovingly. May we receive that forgiveness as we should, so we can stop beating ourselves up and learn to move on, having grown somehow through our weakness, by the power of your grace. In the hope of transformation, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.” –Josh Billings Prayer Always good God, As our parents used to say, we can learn life’s lessons the easy way or the hard way. Most of us

Prayer

Always good God,

As our parents used to say, we can learn life’s lessons the easy way or the hard way. Most of us know the latter path of foolishness already. Empower us, therefore, to walk in the way of wisdom and to encourage those around us to avoid our past mistakes. Forgive us for those times when we remain bullheaded, that we might embrace a deeper humility. A readiness to learn from those gone before us and to locate our place in a much broader tradition of wisdom. As we strive together, to follow your way above all, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” –David Augsburger Prayer God who hears us, We often overlook the most basic gifts of love that we can offer each

Prayer

God who hears us,

We often overlook the most basic gifts of love that we can offer each other. To be heard in the presence of another’s sincerity and attention—this truly is an act of love. Help us to be more loving in this way towards those around us today. Our colleagues, our patients and their families, and especially those who are at their most fragile. Whether they seem like strangers completely different from us or whether they’re the closest relations we risk taking for granted, help us truly to hear, understand, and be present to the people we encounter today. Amen.

Mawlid

Mawlid

Prayer

Spirit of charity,

As our Muslim colleagues celebrate the birth of Muhammad today, we give thanks for the treasures of the Islamic tradition, including the calling we all have been given as creatures before you, to steward creation responsibly. Help us better protect creation’s goodness so that we can be charitable with creation’s abundance, sharing its harvest with all those who are hungry, vulnerable, and needy. As a ministry and as individuals, may we find creative ways to advocate for equitable food access within our communities. As one human family, united before you, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” –Robert Louis Stevenson Prayer God of the harvest, We pray today for all those who may be discouraged by what seems like the slow pace of

Prayer

God of the harvest,

We pray today for all those who may be discouraged by what seems like the slow pace of progress or an unending stream of needs. May they be freed from the burden of feeling so directly responsible for the fruit of their labor. As we all commit to doing what we can for the sake of our mission, help us also take comfort in the limits of our calling. Remind us today that we are ultimately called to be faithful in the planting of seeds, and may we always trust you for the harvest. Amen.