Prayer

Spirit of love,

Today, as your Church begins its celebration of Holy Week, we pause and consider the courage and stamina of Jesus throughout his journey to the cross. With a hope beyond hope, he obeyed your will and trusted you every step of the way. Give us his stamina and his courage, too, this week and every day, to accompany you as you accompany us, as we each walk our own journeys of faith, hope, and love. Guide us and empower us to follow your will in our lives, for the praise and glory of your name. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of unity,

Many of us still live under the illusion of independence, as if we weren’t in fact dependent on the help of so many others, relying on resources and support far beyond what we ourselves can secure. Help each one of us remember that we are always embedded in much bigger circles of belonging and fellowship than ourselves alone; and that the kinds of goals worth pursuing are those that promote the common good—through real cooperation, collaboration, and the involvement of a wider community. Amen.

Prayer

Refreshing Spirit,

Across the globe we know so many are suffering the lack of basic necessities, like water, which many of us take for granted. Even in advanced nations we have too much experience with natural disasters and inordinate city planning to assume that safe, potable water will always flow from our faucets. As a ministry called to embody good stewardship of resources, including the Earth, we recognize World Water Day and we commit to continue our founding sisters’ legacies, advocating for access to the most important elements people need to secure their own flourishing. May we continue that good work, as an expression of your healing compassion. Amen.

Prayer

God over all,

What an inspiring thought, to know that each of us is already capable of seeing and knowing you just as we should. We don’t need advanced degrees or big bank accounts to grow closer to you. In fact you are already nearer to us than we realize! In everyday encounters with people and things, and often when we least expect it, you make yourself known and touch us with grace. Help each of us become more willing to slow down and be still, and to listen to your voice in the world, especially in the small things we often look over. Amen.

Prayer

God in the details,

All across our departments, service lines, sites of care and facilities we are responsible for a truly remarkable array of duties, obligations, protocols, and policies. Inspire us to perform these tasks in such a way that we always connect them to our greater purpose, extending your compassionate ministry to all those most in need. As we keep that ultimate vision close in mind and heart, empower us all the more to make our daily operational habits more efficient and intuitive, so that all our tasks might become transparent to the common good we are building each day. Amen.

Prayer

Creator,

As we mark these new first steps into Spring, open our eyes to see your creation for the wonderful gift that it is. A gift that you are intimately and personally involved with each day, however much we may overlook the natural cycles we have grown so accustomed to. You spoil us with beauty! As we strive to restore our vision of your glory in creation, empower us to do all that we can to protect and preserve the natural beauty around us. For our own sake and for the sake of generations to come. Amen.

Prayer

Healing God,

Our priorities and pursuits in career and society often belie the reality of our creation: we are still and always are bodies—creatures of the earth, ever dependent on nutrients the ground provides in the form of healthy and accessible food. During National Nutrition Month we grieve that so many in our communities and our world struggle to access healthy food options, even as the rest of us take such access for granted. May we all, therefore, commit ourselves to stop now and take the time to put our priorities aright, focusing together on advancing our health and well-being through food that’s nutritious and accessible for all. With thanks and recognition for the many who are devoted to such a cause, we pray. Amen.