Prayer: Ephesians 2: 20-22

Here’s a beautiful prayer reflection on Ephesians 2: 20-22.  It was written by Thom Shuman.

House Building

“We are his house,
built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets….”
Ephesians 2:20

me -
a dwelling place for God?

my roof
leaks
with wayward
and wanton thoughts . . .

my windows
look out on a world
lusting for more
and caring for less;
if any dare peek in,
they will see the same hungers . . .

my furnace
is filled
with the ashes
of dusty dreams
and hapless hopes . . .

my foundation
cracks
under the weight of loneliness,
ravaged
by the storms of sadness.

i would build you
a house,
my God;

rebuild me
instead.

Amen.

~ Copyright © 2006 Thom M. Shuman.  Posted on Prayers4Today.  http://prayersfortoday.blogspot.ca/

Call to Worship: Ephesians 2

Here’s a call to worship based on Ephesians 2: 11-22.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Call to Worship
(based on Ephesians 2:11-22)

We are here....
In the name of Jesus Christ.

He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near.
We are no longer like outsiders in a foreign land,
but are fellow citizens with the saints in the household of God.

Let every one praise the Lord!
The Lord’s name be praised!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Prayer for God's Presence

Here’s a prayer of petition inspired by Psalm 23.  It was written by Michael Perry.

Praying for God’s Presence
(inspired by Psalm 23)

Lord, you are our Shepherd;
you give us all we need,
you make us to rest in green pastures,
you lead us beside still waters,
you restore our soul,
you guide us in paths of righteousness.
Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death
you will be with us to comfort us:
let your merciful goodness
and your unfailing love
follow us all the days of our life,
until we live in your presence for ever. Amen.

~ written by Michael Perry, and posted on The Jubilate Group website.  http://www.jubilate.co.uk/  Visit that website for many other free worship resources. If you use this prayer in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license.

For other worship resources based on Psalm 23, click on Psalm 23 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

Prayer of Confession: Ephesians 2: 11-22

Here’s a prayer of confession based on Ephesians 2:11-22.  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Prayer of Confession
(based on Ephesians 2: 11-22)

Merciful God, we celebrate the way that you chose to bring unity and peace to people—through the gift of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. He broke down longstanding walls of prejudice and hostility between Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free. He abolished rules that restricted life and replaced them with the new commandment to love as he did. Where have we gone astray?  Walls of prejudice still exist and barriers of racism still hold people back from reaching their true potential. We hear the great message of Jesus reconciling people to you, O God, and to one another, and yet we still hesitate to reach out to people when they are different in some way from us.  

Forgive us when we create barriers rather than tear them down.

Jesus has made us members of the household of God and he holds us together through the power of his Spirit.  Maybe it is because we like to do things the way that we’ve always done them that creates barriers and excludes strangers, preventing them from ever having the opportunity to experience the reconciling power of Jesus in their lives.  

Forgive us when we fail to take risks for the gospel’s sake.

We remember with gratitude how people shared their faith with us so that we are no longer strangers and aliens.  So we pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to bind us together in love and peace, building us up as a witnessing, welcoming and forgiving community of grace.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Assurance of Forgiveness (Ephesians 2:13, 10)
“In Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  
“In him we have been reconciled to God through the cross,
made citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
Hear then, the good news that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.

Prayer of Intercession: Compassionate God

Here’s a prayer of petition and intercession from Rev. Abi.

Prayer

“And he had compssion for them,
because they were like sheep without a shepherd….” Mark 6:34

Compassionate God,
You have compassion enough for all.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

Jesus, out of your compassion for us,
you invite us to come away with you
to a place of rest and quiet.
Help us to say yes and then
to be able to come away with you.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

Lord, out of your compassion you care for
Those who are harassed, helpless, and
Lost. Sometimes we feel that way ourselves
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

Lord in your compassion teach us to follow you,
to trust you, to love you and to love as you love.
Lord in your compassion feed us who are hungry;
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Lord in your compassion heal us in the places we need healed.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

And Lord in your having compassion for us
Teach us to have compassion for others as you do.
Help us to show compassion in action the way you did.
And remind us when it is time to come away with you
for quiet and rest.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

— written by Rev. Abi and posted on her Long and Winding Road blog. http://vicarofwadley.blogspot.ca/


Prayer: Good Shepherd

Here’s a prayer from John van de Laar’s Sacredise.com website.

Prayer:  Good Shepherd

“…he had compassion on them
because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”  Mark 6:34

Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
to care for all that are close to us,
to protect those who are threatened,
to welcome those who are rejected,
to forgive those who are burdened by guilt,
to heal those who are broken and sick,
to share with those who have little or nothing,
to take the time to really know one another
and love as you have loved us.

Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
to spread compassion to those who are far away,
to speak for those who are voiceless,
to defend those who are oppressed and abused,
to work for justice for those who are exploited,
to make peace for those who suffer violence,
to take the time to recognise our connectedness,
and to love as you have loved us.

Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
and to be faithful to calling you gave us
to be shepherds in your name.

— written by John van de Laar, and posted on the Sacredise website.  Visit his site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.

For more worship resources on the shepherd theme, click on Psalm 23 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.  You could also explore the resources for Easter 4 (A, B or C) – often known as “Good Shepherd” Sunday.


Call to Worship from Psalm 23

Here’s a call to worship litany from Rev. Quentin Chin. 

Litany
(based on Psalm 23)

As God is our shepherd we need nothing else.

We rest in green pastures and walk by still waters,
which renews and refreshes our spirits.

God guides us along paths of righteousness

And walks with us through shadowed valleys so we are not afraid. 
The shepherd’s staff comforts us.

God set the banquet table for us in the presence of our enemies. 
There we’re anointed with oil and our cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy shall never depart from us
as long as we dwell in the house of God.

— from The Whole World our Neighborhood:  Service Prayers for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost  was written by the Rev. Quentin Chin Posted on the United Church of Christ Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

For other worship resources based on Psalm 23, click on Psalm 23 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.


Benediction: Ephesians 2: 14

Here’s a benediction about the peace of God.  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Benediction

“For he is our peace….”  Ephesians 2: 14

The peace of God which is beyond all our human understanding, be upon you,
The peace of Christ which breaks down barriers, be within you, and
The peace of the Holy Spirit which creates true fellowship, be among you.

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.

Confession: Ephesians 2: 11-22

Here’s a beautiful prayer of confession from Thom Shuman.  Its inspiration comes from Ephesians 2: 11-22.

Call to Reconciliation

Do we really want God to dwell within us, or
are we only willing to 'rent out' space for a
brief visit? Our actions, our words, our silence,
our fears all show the presence, or absence, of
God in our lives. Let us empty ourselves of all
which burdens us, and welcome the One who
lives with us forever. Please join me as we pray,

Unison Prayer of Confession

Steadfast God, we confess that we are so busy
putting up walls between ourselves and others,
we cannot see the home you are building for all
of us. We spend so much time noting the differences
between us and others, while you are embracing
everyone as your child. We run to welcome those
who look, talk, and act like us, and you throw open
your doors to the stranger, the alien, in our midst.

Forgive us, Faithful Heart. By your grace, help us
to see the household your are building for all people:
there are no plastic protectors on the furniture; there
are no rooms that are off-limits; and even the smallest
child is welcome to sit at the big peoples' Table and
be fed by your grace. We pray this in the name of
Jesus Christ, our peace, our hope, our Lord, our Savior.

Silent Prayers may be offered

Assurance of Pardon

Do you remember? At one time, you were without
Christ; you were the stranger, the outsider, the alien.
But now, in Christ, you have been brought home,
living in God's household of hope and peace.
God's covenant with us is everlasting; God's
steadfast love is forever; God's forgiveness
makes us new and whole. Thanks be to God.
Amen.

~ written by Thom Shuman (2006), and posted on Lectionary Liturgies.  http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.


Opening Prayer: Proper 10 B

Here’s an opening prayer from Bruce Prewer, inspired Ephesians 1:3 and Psalm 24, two of the suggested scripture texts for Proper 10 B (Ordinary 15 B).

Prayer: Seeking God’s Help
(inspired by Ephesians 1:3, Psalm 24)

Let us pray.

God of secret purposes and extravagant blessings,
we come to praise you.
We come because we want to,
we sing our songs because we are glad to,
we pray for your grace because we need to,
and we ask for the love of Christ in our hearts
because without it we are a dead loss.

Please lift every shutter within our mind,
and open every door within our soul,
that you, the Lord of glory, the God of countless hosts,
may come in.
Through Christ Jesus, the joy of loving hearts.  Amen!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Litany: Lord of the Dance

Here’s a litany from Nancy C. Townley, using the metaphor of dance….

Lord of the Dance

In the beginning......
The dance began to swirl and ponder.
In the beginning, all was dark.
And the dance cast forth bright light.
In the beginning, the earth burst forth with wondrous things,
creatures of all sorts, mountains and hills,
vast seas and rivers, valleys and desert areas.
And the Lord of the Dance saw that it was good
and blessed it all.

In our beginning, God blessed us.
And the dance went on,
through our lives, into all that we have done.
Sometimes the dance was slow and plodding;
at other times it was sprightly and fast.
Yet in the midst of it all,
the Lord of the Dance is with us.
This dance, called Life, is everywhere—
in the light and in the dark.
It is in places of hope and in places of deepest sorrow and tragedy.

How shall we dance our dance for God?
We shall live lives of hope and peace,
bringing the good news of Jesus Christ
and all that he taught to us,
so that others may join the dance.
Praise be to the Lord of the Dance,
the Lord of Creation, the Lord of Life! Amen.

~ written by Nancy C. Townley, and posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Prayer: Ephesians 1: 3-14

Here’s a beautiful prayer inspired by Ephesians 1:3-14.  It was written by Thom Shuman.

 

Only

 

“How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms

because we belong to Christ.” Ephesians 1:3


we sit down
with our sharpened pencils,
to chart out the
longitude and latitude
of your grace
only
to keep running
out of paper;

we tie a string
around each sin,
dropping them into
your sea of forgiveness,
only
to discover we can
never plumb its depths;

we scrabble and scrape,
push and pummel ourselves
from Land's End to John o' Groats
on our self-planned journey,
only
to find
we are at the
starting point
of your Way;

how foolish we are
to try to limit you
by our imagination
only.

— copyright © 2009 Thom M. Shuman. Posted on Prayers4Today.  http://prayersfortoday.blogspot.ca/


Opening Prayer: Psalm 85

Here’s an opening prayer inspired by Psalm 85: 8-13. It comes from the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren.

Opening Prayer
(inspired by Psalm 85:8-13)

Lord God,
speak your peace to your people, gathered here in Jesus’ name.
We confess that our faithfulness to you,
our obedience to your calling,
our righteousness is not steadfast and true.
In living out our praise, we too easily falter after the first page.
Were it not for the lavish gift of your Son, we would be lost.

Through him, however, we turn to you in our hearts,
knowing your steadfast love and faithfulness,
your righteousness and peace.
In him your salvation is at hand.
We thank you.

May this worship reflect your goodness,
as we respond to you with our heart, soul, and mind.

Make a path in the middle of this congregation today,
and walk among us through your Holy Spirit.

This we pray in the name of the One who is your peace, your salvation—
Jesus Christ. Amen.

~ posted on the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website.  http://rockhay.tripod.com/

Benediction: Proper 10 B

Here’s a closing commission inspired by 2 Samuel 6:12-15, where David dances before the Lord as the ark is brought to Jerusalem.  It was written by the Rev. Dr. Bertrice Wood.

Sending for Proper 10 B
(inspired by 2 Samuel 6: 12-15)

Go forth into the world in faithfulness. 
Join all those who have danced with the Lord
throughout the generations.
Take the song and rhythm of God’s Word into the world
and invite others to celebrate the joy with you.
[And may....]

— from God Inspired Joy: Service Prayers for Pentecost Seven was written by the Rev. Dr. Bertrice Wood of Cleveland OH. Posted on the United Church of Christ Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/


Benediction: Spreading the Secret

Bruce Prewer has written by wonderful benediction based on the beautiful passage in Ephesians 1:3-14.

Spreading the Secret
(inspired by Ephesians 1:3-14)

It is time to go out and share God’ secret purpose
which has been disclosed in Jesus Christ.
With God’s help, Amen!

Share that secret with others by the way you live:
   with the words on your lips,
   by the deeds of your hands,
   with the prayers in your minds,
   and through the love in your hearts.
With God’s help, Amen!

The grace of Christ will redeem you
the enduring love of God will support you,
the friendship of the Holy Spirit will accompany you,
this day and ever more.
Amen!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Call to Worship: Ephesians 1: 3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world,
who destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ,
who has forgiven our sins according to the riches of his grace,
and has made known to us the mystery of his will.
This is our God! 
Let’s worship him together.


Opening Prayer: Psalm 24

Here’s an opening prayer that uses Psalm 24 as its inspiration.  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Opening Prayer
(inspired by Psalm 24)

We rejoice, O God, that the earth and all who live in it are yours. We who live in the world count this a privilege beyond all other. We therefore ponder the question—who can stand before you—for we know that we do not always have clean hands and pure hearts. Yet we also know that you have reached out to us in Jesus and have reconciled us to you and to one another in him. So we lift up our heads and praise you for coming into our hearts through the risen Christ and the power of your Spirit. May this time of worship here today leave no doubt that you are the King of glory not only in our hearts and lives but also in our witness to those around us in this part of the world in which we live. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.


Call to Worship, Prayer: 2 Samuel 6

Here’s a contemporary call to worship and prayer inspired by 2 Samuel 6—the story of when King David dances before the Lord as the Ark of the Covenant is brought to Jerusalem.  These readings come from the Ministry Matters website. 

Contemporary Call to Worship
(inspired by 2 Samuel 6: 1-5, 12-19)

We come here shouting, our voices lifted in praise.
We come here singing, our songs full of joy.
We come here dancing, our hearts rejoicing.
To the Holy One who is worthy,
all praise and glory forevermore!

Opening Prayer

Lord of the dance,
creator of whirling winds
and shimmering flames,
move in us this day.
Breathe life into our songs of praise.
Set our hearts ablaze to your word.
May our worship
bring joy to you, Lord.
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

~ Adapted from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009, © 2008 Abingdon Press.  Posted on the Ministry Matters website.  http://www.ministrymatters.com/


Contemporary Call to Worship: Proper 10 B

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Psalm 24 and Ephesians 1:3, two of the suggested scripture readings for Proper 10 B.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Contemporary Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 24, Ephesians 1:3)

Lift up the gates of your soul,
open the closed doors of your mind,
that the King of Glory may come in!
Who is this king of glory?
The God of countless hosts,
this is the King of Glory!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing
that is available throughout the whole of time and space.

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/


Confession: Proper 10 B

Here’s a beautiful act of confession from Thom Shuman.  He’s based it on the suggested scripture readings for Proper 10 B (Ordinary 15 B)—the seventh Sunday of Pentecost.

Call to Reconciliation

Peace is the heirloom promised to us,
forgiveness is the inheritance
passed on to us through Christ.
May we know God's peace,
and be healed of our brokenness,
as we confess our sins to God, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession

Why are we always willing to descend into the
worst areas life offers to us, but reluctant to come
into your presence, Holy One? Why can we stand
on sin's shaky foundations, yet find it impossible to
dance in your joy? Why are we so quick to trumpet
our hollow achievements, and do not seem to be
able to hear your whispers of hope for us?

Forgive us, Grace's Glory, and fill us with your mercy.
May we set our hope in Jesus Christ,
who came so we might become your children,
inheritors of love, peace, and faithfulness forever.
Silent prayers may be offered.

Assurance of Pardon

In Christ, God's salvation has come;
God's peace kisses our cheeks, wiping away our tears,
and faithfulness takes us by the hand
to lead us home to God.
God has called us,
God has claimed us,
God has redeemed us.
This is good news for all of creation!
Thanks be to God. Amen. 

~ written by Thom Shuman (2006), and posted on Lectionary Liturgies.  http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.

Call to Worship: Psalm 85: 8-13

Here’s a call to worship from Psalm 85. The paraphrase was written by Leslie Ann Billhimer Frye.

Call to Worship
(a paraphrase of Psalm 85: 8-13)

For those who will listen, let them hear:

God will speak peace
     to God's people,
     to God's faithful,
     to those who turn to God in their hearts.

God's salvation is at hand
     for those who fear God.

When our living is right in God's eyes,
When justice makes a path for God's steps,
     Steadfast love and faithfulness meet.
     Righteousness and peace kiss each other.
     Faithfulness springs up from the ground.
     Justice looks down from the sky.
     The LORD gives what is good.
     Our land yields in abundance.
     God's glory dwells among us.

— written by Leslie Ann Billhimer Frye.  Posted on the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website.  http://rockhay.tripod.com/

Opening Prayer: Ephesians 1: 3-14

Merciful God,
we come before You with praise and thanksgiving!
Through Jesus Christ,
you have lavished on us every spiritual blessing
    we could possibly imagine!

Before the world was created,
you already knew us and loved us.
You adopted us as your own children,
and redeemed us through the blood of Christ.

Even more, you have made us your heirs,
and given us your own Spirit as a sign and guarantee.
How we praise you!

Open our hearts and minds to your presence among us here.
May our worship this morning bring you honour and glory,
for you alone are worthy of our praise. Amen.


Prayer of Intercession: Proper 10 B

Here’s a prayer of intercession based on the scripture readings for Proper 10 B (Ordinary 15 B)—the seventh Sunday of Pentecost.  It was written by Paul Sauer.

Prayer of Intercession: Proper 10 B

Heavenly Father, you call ordinary people, like Amos, to witness. Help us to discern the message of those called by the church to speak, and to be open to hear your direct, personal call to serve.
Loving God, you hear our prayers: You live among us.

Holy Spirit, help us sense the Psalmist's joy in our lives. Let joy and faithfulness meet together. Let righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Loving God, you hear our prayers: You live among us.

Lord Jesus Christ, we know that our highest calling is to be children of God. Help us live as your adopted sons and daughters, as inheritors of your grace.
Loving God, you hear our prayers: You live among us.

Holy Spirit, although King Herod liked to hear John the Baptist preach, he was neither convinced nor converted by John's message. Guard us from careless listening to the Word of Life.
Loving God, you hear our prayers: You live among us.

Lord God, the desperate poor in this world, the deserted, the homeless and the hopeless are ever present. As we seek to meet basic needs for all, help us recognize that the face of our brother or sister in need is your holy face.
Loving God, you hear our prayers: You live among us.

Lord Jesus Christ, the poor in health need our prayers and our presence. Hear us name those we know who need your intervention _____.
Loving God, you hear our prayers: You live among us.

The love of God has won. The new life has begun. Amen.

— written by Paul Sauer, and posted on the Lutheran Forum website.  http://www.lutheranforum.org/


Call to Worship: Psalm 85: 8-9

People of God,
open your hearts and minds!

Listen carefully to what God is saying,
for he comes to us today speaking peace,
   and offering life to all who love him,
      and honour him with their hearts and lives.

Let’s worship God together.

Benediction: 2 Samuel 6

Here’s a benediction inspired by 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12-15, where David dances before the Lord as the ark is brought to Jerusalem.  It comes from the Ministry Matters website.

Benediction
(inspired by 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12-15)

Children of God,
go forth dancing, singing, and praising.
Dance joy into sorrowful places!
Sing hope into places of despair!
Praise God this day and always!

~ Adapted from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009, © 2008 Abingdon Press.  Posted on the Ministry Matters website.  http://www.ministrymatters.com/


Litany of Confession: Ephesians 1

Here’s a prayer of confession based on Ephesians 1:3-14.  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Litany of Confession
(inspired by Ephesians 1:3-14)

We read in Ephesians that we were chosen by God
before the foundation of the world
to be holy and blameless before God in love.
Such a privilege...
Such a responsibility....
God chose us...to be holy and blameless.
We do try, but being holy all the time is not easy.
Forgive us Lord, when we fail.

We read that we are destined for adoption as God’s children through Jesus Christ...
Such a privilege...
Such a responsibility....
Our identity as members of God’s family should be apparent to others...
That means being recognizable as Christians through our words and deeds.
Forgive us Lord, when we fail

We also read that we were marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit
which is the guarantee of our inheritance as God’s own people...
Such a privilege...
Such a wonderful privilege,
knowing that the burden of living up to such an inheritance
has been taken off our shoulders
because of the grace which has been lavished upon us.
For God also promised that in Jesus
we have been forgiven according to the riches of his grace.
May we always be aware of the tremendous privilege
which has been bestowed upon us by God
and may our response to such blessings
be to live as grace-full and joy-full followers of Jesus,
our Lord and our Saviour. Amen
Assurance of Forgiveness
Hear again the good news:
Because of the riches of God’s grace:
in Jesus we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses—
all gifts of God’s generous and amazing grace.
Thanks be to God!

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.


Prayer for Our Land: Psalm 85

Here’s a paraphrase of Psalm 85 from Leslie F. Brandt’s Psalms Now. It seemed like a good addition to the collection of National Prayers on this blog.

A Prayer for Our Land
(a prayer paraphrase of Psalm 85)

O God, You have indeed been good to us.
You have prospered our land.
You have opened Your heart to us in love.
You have forgiven our sins
   and adopted us as Your sons [and daughters].

But now our country is in turmoil.
We no longer have confidence in our leaders.
Our citizens are in revolt.
Our young men [and women] are spilling their blood
   in foreign wars.
People are turning away from You
   and are being ensnared
      by strange doctrines
      and godless philosophies.

We know that You have not turned away from us.
You touch with joy and peace
   the hearts that are open to You.
You stand ready to show Your salvation
   to all who will trust in You.
As we speak to You in faith,
   You respond in loving concern.
You will give us what is good
   and will prosper us
      with gifts from Your hand.
You are holy and just.
You love Your children
   and will guide them
      in Your course for their lives.

Renew our faith, O God.
Forgive us our many failures and infidelities.
May our land continue to be a place
   where we can be free to love and serve You.

~ written by Leslie F. Brandt, in Psalms Now.