Prayer

Gracious God,

Your comfort among us is a true gift, in the sense that it doesn’t stop giving! It is a grace that empowers us and restores us so that we can be agents of comfort to others. Today, make us into better conduits of your comfort. For those who are especially weary, bless them with an abiding sense of your comforting presence. May they receive such a great gift in full, and thereby find themselves refreshed and encouraged to extend the blessing they have received to others in need, especially those who are most in need a comforting presence beside them. Amen.

Prayer

God,

It is easy to talk about loving all people and this one human family. Yet to express love concretely in our daily interactions takes more than just words and sentiment. As the world around us struggles to find unity and cohesion, help us as a ministry to be faithful in revealing your own love for humanity, in the specific ways we show respect for every one of our patients, their family members, the vendors and partners we work with, and of course with each other. That the “love” we profess might go far and rise high, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God of those most vulnerable,

Today we recognize the ongoing impact of leprosy and other diseases that for much of our history have caused untold suffering. Not just physical suffering, but the emotional and relational suffering that attends these illnesses, as they become laden with stigma and prejudice. As those who have partnered on mission with you, help us to recommit ourselves each day, to touch the wounds of those ostracized by illness and to serve all people as you served them, with compassion, love, and inclusion. Amen.

Prayer

God of new beginnings,

You call us out of the comforting places we create for ourselves and into the wider world where we must exercise faith and take risks. Yet we often drag our feet, and the first steps are always the hardest. Inspire us today to stop the cycle of worry, of turning plans over in our minds, that we might get out of our heads and be brave. May we respond to your calling by remaining always beginners, eager to step out and follow you in new directions. Amen.

Prayer

God of all kindness,

So many stories attest to this truth: it only takes one real encounter with genuine kindness to change a life. Help us to never underestimate the value of a kind word or gesture. Inspire us to take more advantage of the many creative and sincere ways we can show our love and respect for others. Regardless of how the world prefers to measure “success,” let those of us who extend your compassion today always measure success by the kindness we’ve shared with those we serve, and also towards those with whom we serve: our colleagues and partners. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

Too much noise in our lives crowds out your voice. Too much distraction makes it hard to sit still, let alone sit still long enough for the fullness of solitude to be felt. Nevertheless we pray for the freedom to find moments of stillness, silence, and solitude, where your voice can be heard in the quiet of our hearts, speaking words of life that we need and can share with others around us. We pray this for the sake of those who serve so faithfully in this healing ministry, devoting so much of their time and energy to the care of our patients and families, and our wider communities. Indeed we pray this for all our sake—lead us into more frequent moments of life-giving solitude. Amen.

Prayer

God our help,

Today we celebrate the 200th anniversary of that momentous day in Paris, when twelve brave young women entrusted themselves fully into your service, establishing a foundation from which to continue bringing bon secours, “good help,” to neighbors in need. Bon Secours Day is a testament to the sisters’ perseverance and to the abiding hope that comes from your call. As we reflect gratefully on their legacy of healing, compassion, and liberation, empower each one of us to respond to your own call in our lives and bring good help to others, sharing your light with a world in need. Amen.