Prayer

God of all our fathers,

You are the prime example of how to care for your children, as you show such love and compassion for your family.  We are thankful this Father’s Day for all fathers, past and present, and for all men who are like fathers to the children of this world. A father’s love reaches deeply into the hearts of those he loves, and that love is then spread onward in numerous ways through his children.  We ask your blessing on all those that celebrate Father’s Day today. Amen.

Prayer

God of all beauty,

The grace and beauty of a butterfly can bring such joy if we are willing to take time to notice. Never aiming to hurt anyone or anything, this delicate creature of yours flutters its way from flower to flower and in the process spreads joy and beauty all around.  May we do the same in our own lives. As we go through our days interacting with our patients and co-workers, may we exhibit beauty and grace with the purpose of spreading your joy to all those we meet. For this we pray, Amen.   

Prayer

God our helper,

On World Blood Donor Day, we pause and thank you for the gift of life we carry within us in the form of blood. Inspire us, and use us to inspire others, so that this rather simple gesture will be elevated as a great way to help those in need. May we be able to connect the dots between opportunities for blood donation and the incredible impact it makes in the lives of others. And may we all benefit from practicing such a concrete expression of our solidarity as one human family. Amen.

Prayer

God of the new,

We long to see healthy changes come to our communities and neighborhoods and in the lives of those we have the privilege of serving. Yet we also know that the most constructive way forward sometimes requires us to let go of some things. We have to let go of old habits or broken mindsets that may be preventing needed change from coming. Give us the strength and the wisdom to do so, so that fresh creativity and innovation might open new doors to advance health and well-being, especially for those most vulnerable. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of service,

For a number of reasons, there will be people today that we work hard to help and yet they will offer little by way of gratitude or thanks. Make us okay with that. Even more, help us to cultivate your heart of compassion for all those we serve, so that we might be the ones feeling grateful, that we are in a position to be able to bless those that can do nothing in return for us. Empower us by your own spirit of service, so we can act as your hands and feet and be especially attentive to those who are poor, dying, and underserved. Amen.

Prayer

God of belonging,

You made and call each one of us to belong, with and for others. Yet there are many today who are struggling with loneliness. As we strive to extend your compassionate ministry, help us to be a community of healing for those who are suffering from a lack of connection. May we see the lonely, attend to them, and do what we can to provide connections and options that can help them flourish in relationship with others. With gratitude for the privilege of sharing your abundant life, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

We are not invincible, however much we may try at times to act like it. It can be hard for us to endure the pain and suffering we see in our facilities and in the world beyond. We need your strength and resilience to go on over time, loving and cherishing the world we’ve been called to serve. And so, we pray especially for those struggling to endure today. May they find new hope and power in their work and ministry, and may we be there to support them in their time of need. Liberate us to love the world as you would have us do. Amen.