Prayer

Gracious God,

Life presents us with plenty of opportunities to learn how to hold things loosely. Help us each day, to grow in our discernment of what in fact needs to be taken seriously and addressed, versus what we can and should let go of, as we strive to keep our balance and move forward with grace. Make us slow to take offense and quick to forgive, either way. As we pursue your calling today, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God,

We all face challenges in the course of a day. Yet sometimes we compound them by shutting our eyes to the beauty and grace you are constantly, faithfully, and needlessly offering us. Day in and day out, you have laced our worlds with moments that have the power to refresh us for being so gratuitous, if only we would notice. Who are we to demand this morning’s sunrise? What right have we to see new life spring forth among us, in families and nature, or in the lives of those we see restored to wholeness? As people called to extend your compassion, empower us to be present and attentive to the beauty and grace you are performing all around us, sometimes when we least expect it. Amen.

Prayer

Source of rest,

Many of us serving in health care are chronically deprived of that soul-satisfying, life-giving, body-renewing kind of rest that we need to feel whole and complete. We pray especially today for colleagues who are especially weary right now. Bless them with peace beyond understanding and remind each of us again of your own example of labor followed by rest. Help us discover new opportunities to enter your sabbath, even if only in brief spans of time. Maximize every opportunity by your spirit, so that our service for others will be as life-giving for us as it is for those we have the privilege of serving each and every day. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

What a gift it is to realize, in the depth of our being, that you love us simply for who we are and who you made us to be. It is truly “good news” to live in the truth that we don’t have to earn your affection or satisfy a list of demands before we receive your attention. Heal us, then, from the fallacy of thinking our identity is a function of our performance and that our value as persons depends on what we do. Instead we pray for good works to flow from us naturally, like fruit from a tree, as we commit to being true to who we are and living authentically before you. Amen.

Prayer

God our creator,

You have designed us in such a way that, as we align ourselves with your will, we naturally become all the more aware of life’s miraculous gift reflected like a kaleidoscope in all that surrounds us. Our tradition attests to this, as so many saints have spoken of seeing your goodness, truth, and beauty reflected in even the most humble forms of life. May we learn from their example and more faithfully embody your will for us and the rest of creation. May your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, through us, today. Amen.

Prayer

Divine Protector,

As we celebrate Patient Safety Awareness Week, we lift up and affirm its theme of “safer together.” We know already that our collaboration together makes all the difference in securing better patient outcomes and protecting them from unintended exposure to harm. In moments that are vulnerable enough as it is, help us go above and beyond all expectations in keeping our patients safe and comfortable and free from undue burdens caused by preventable mistakes. May we earn their trust and give them every reason to believe we have their best interests at heart and will do whatever we can to secure their well-being. As a ministry called by your name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God over all,

As our Muslim brothers and sisters enter this season of Ramadan, we can all take inspiration and consider for ourselves how we do or do not create special opportunities for prayer and fasting, exercising the muscles of spiritual discipline. Not from a desire for reward or a certain outcome, but simply to draw closer to you. And so we invite you to bless us with moments of greater intimacy with you. Let it be your spirit within us giving strength and endurance, to continue reflecting your compassionate mercy to others. With thanks for your presence among us, Amen.