Prayer        

Loving God,

It is our deep desire to follow you in all that we do and say, knowing that in doing so we will find our greatest joy. Yet, there are times when we fall short in nurturing our relationship with you. In those moments, we ask that you gently guide us back on this journey of love, so that our hearts may remain steadfastly focused on you. In delightful joy, we pray. Amen.

Prayer
A blessing from the Apache Nation

May the sun bring you new energy every day, bringing light into the darkness of your soul. May the moon softly restore you by night, bathing you in the glow of restful sleep and peaceful dreams. May the rain wash away your worries and cleanse the hurt that sits in your heart. May the breeze blow new strength into your being, and may you believe in the courage of yourself. May you walk gently through the world, keeping your loved one with you always, knowing that you are never parted in the beating of your heart. Amen

Prayer

God over all,

Today we gather to honor and remember the lives of the saints gone before us. We thank you for their faithful witness and the light they brought into the world through their love and devotion to you. May their examples inspire us to live out our faith boldly and to continue our ministry, serving others with compassion. Help us carry their legacy in our hearts as we learn to grow closer to you. In the hope of what is yet to come, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Merciful God,

For many of us Halloween is a frivolous excuse to eat some sweet treats, act a little silly, and build up our sense of community. For others, however, it can become dangerous or a real cause for anxiety. Today, then, we ask for safety and protection for all, especially children and their families, as they enjoy the day’s festivities. May your light shine brightly in the darkness, guiding our paths and filling our hearts with peace. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal Light,

As the festival of Diwali continues, many celebrants will focus their gaze upon a candle’s flame and take hope in its power to dispel the darkness. We thank you for making this hope secure for us who call on your name. For all those who need hope today, we pray they be granted the gift of faith and the grace to see in their lives the triumph of victory over evil, truth over ignorance, and life over death. That all might be warmed by your joy, peace, and happiness, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Source of all virtue,

We desire to see virtuous leadership worthy of our imitation, yet we often encounter leaders who are hungry for power, fame, and privilege for themselves. Heal us as a people, that there might rise up from among us leaders whose virtue is plain to see, unsullied by the temptations of this world. May we support and encourage such leaders, even as we imitate their service to the common good. As a ministry extending your mission to communities around us, empower our own organization’s leaders to stand out in our communities for the reputations they have built, serving the needs of the vulnerable with devotion, humility, and joy. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

Sometimes we turn to you only when confronting a problem we cannot seem to solve on our own. Yet we know you are always beside us, even when we take you and our faith for granted. Inspire us to practice our faith in you more intensely and deliberately, such that we daily invite you to direct and guide our words and deeds, rather than wait for a crisis to ignite our search for you. At the same time, we pray especially for those who, for whatever reason, are right now on their knees before you, crying out for help and assistance in their time of trouble. Hold and sustain them in your loving mercy, and use us to support them, as a ministry of healing and compassion. Amen.