Prayer: Our Small Difference

Here’s a thoughtful prayer from John van de Laar.

Our Small Difference

We may not be able to confront queens,

or challenge presidents;

We may not have the capacity to divert resources,

or uplift communities;

We may not have the voice to silence the noise of war,

or the words to negotiate peace between armies;

But, as we follow you, O Christ, we are able to do something.

And so, we pray that you would inspire us

to commit to and act on

the small difference we can make:

May we bring peace

through small acts of gentleness

and reconciliation;

May we bring wealth

through small contributions

and collaborations;

May we bring safety

through small acts of consideration

and acceptance;

May we bring wholeness

through small acts of care

and service.

And in the small ways, O God,

may our small difference make a big contribution

to your saving work in our world.

Amen.

~ written by John van de Laar.  Posted on his excellent Sacredise.com website.

Prayer of Confession: Mark 4: 26-34

Here’s a thoughtful prayer of confession based on Mark 4 (or Matthew 13:31-32)  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Mark 4:26-34, Matthew 13:31-32)

Lord Jesus Christ,

we remember with gratitude those people

who generously sowed the seeds of faith in our lives. 

Pause for a time of reflection

Above all. we recognize how you have blessed our lives

with the gift of the Holy Spirit

so that our faith has miraculously and mysteriously grown. 

We confess the times we fail to involve ourselves

in planting any seeds of faith in the lives of others;
the times when our personal agendas become more important than yours;
the times when we have denied others the opportunity to expand their faith

through our lack of interest or involvement;
the times when our lives become so entangled with the values of the world

that we forget what you have said and done and promised.
  
Lord Jesus Christ, we know that when we become disconnected from you,

our lives becomes parched and unfruitful and our faith becomes stunted and dry. 

Bless and renew our lives, we pray,

so that we remain connected to you at all times and in all places, 

strengthening our faith to expand and, growing strongly and vigorously, 

to bear the fruit of your mercy, your love, your undying life.  Amen.

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

Prayer for Renewed Strength

Here’s a prayer from the Sacred Pauses website.

When Astonishment Turns to Singing: A Prayer

Holy Spirit:

With astonishment,

we see that you renew our strength

constantly.

Allow us not to forget

your presence,

Even in adversity.

And,

in our turn,

we will renew our gratefulness

and we will sing

for your love.

Amen

~ posted on the Sacred Pauses blog. http://www.sacredpauses.com/

Advent Reflection: Working for Good

God is with us in our suffering,

loving us, walking with us, comforting us.

I do not believe God is the cause or author of such suffering,

I do not believe God “allows” bad things to happen.

I can’t imagine why God would “allow” us to suffer.

I believe in a God who is always working for good,

a God who is somehow able

to take horrible, rotten things

and create something out of the rubble.

God came into the world

amidst violence, oppression, and despair

and was able to bring life from that darkness,

and I believe that God is with each one of us

in our challenges and suffering,

comforting us and consoling us

and trying to bring good

out of that which was so bad.

And that is what I think makes God, God.

~ written by Loren Richmond. Posted on Worship Words. http://worshipwords.co.uk/

Prayer: Bringing our Treasures

Here’s a prayer inspired by Mark 10:17-27. It was written by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl, and posted on bjhlog (see link below).

Prayer

(inspired by Jesus’ words in Mark 10:17-27

and Matthew 6:19-21; 13:44-46)

O God,

Jesus taught that where our treasure is,

there will our hearts be also.

In this hour, we come bringing our treasures—

all that we have and all that we are.

We come seeking your treasure—

treasure that does not fade, decay, or disappoint.

Share with us the treasure of heaven,

that we may boldly share it with others. Amen.

~ written by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl, PC(USA) pastor and liturgical scholar. Posted on bjhlog.

https://bjhlog.wordpress.com/2020/02/19/nl-mark-1017-31-the-rich-young-man-march-1-2020/

Prayer of Confession: Walking with God

Here’s a prayer of confession from Rev. Mindi’s Rev-o-lution website.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God,

You have set before us the path

but we have wandered on our own

to try to find our way.

Sometimes we are like toddlers

and we hear Your call and come back.

Other times, we are children testing boundaries,

ignoring Your call until fear finally makes us look back.

And still other times we are full of youthful rebellion,

demanding to be cut loose and set free,

not knowing how much we still need

to seek Your wisdom and guidance.

But most of all, too often we think we are adults

and have figured it all our and know our own way,

only to stumble and stray so far. 

Remind us, parental God,

that we are always Your children,

that we are never fully grown up in Your sight,

that we always have much to learn.

Help us to seek You every day,

to acknowledge that we need Your wisdom and guidance,

and help us to return to the path and walk with You.

In the name of Christ,

who is our companion on this journey of faith, we pray. Amen.

~ written by Rev Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/