Category Archives: Uncategorized

God of Grace,

We are a people who are being stressed and stretched to our limits…

even if all we are doing is staying in the shelter of our own homes–our imaginations can run wild. 

We gather virtually because we long for community,

A sense of normalcy,

And a sense of your presence.

We trust you when you say that wherever two or three are gathered, even virtually, 

you are with us.

Open our hearts to be sensitive to your presence with and among us. 

Our fears and concerns are not unfounded.
Our reliance upon you allows us to face them responsibly

With a kind and generous spirit.
Remind us of that when we need it…

When we are tempted to panic

Or act out of fear.

As we live in isolation from some, we live in close quarters with others.
Remind us to be forgiving.

And don’t let us forget those who don’t have the luxury of physical companionship in our isolation.

Inspire us to reach out creatively.

Convict us of our tendency to hoard resources.
Teach us to hold with a loose grip those items we should share
And a tight embrace those who are truly precious.

You commanded us to love our neighbors.

Teach us how to best love one another.

And remind us that new every morning is your Love,

Oh great God of Light.
All day long you are working for Good in the World.
Let us not forget this.
Stir up in us a desire to serve creatively (even in this strange time)

And to devote our days to walking in the living traditions of Jesus
Who sought out the poor, the disenfranchised, the lonely…

And remembered them, and tended to their needs.

Inspire us to live faithfully in Light of the Resurrection, even in this Lenten season.
We withdraw for the sake of being able to gather Later.

Amen.

Gracious God,

We gather in the quiet and calm
of this sanctuary
in this week
feeling war-torn and weary:
from the news
from our work
from our relationships.

We gather each week in need of safe space–
in need of refuge.
In need of time and space to sit
and to re-set.

We need your sanctuary.
We need your peace.

And coming together, we trust that as we share together
our burdens grow lighter
when many help shoulder their load.
And our joys run deeper
when they are acknowledged and celebrated by the community.

So we lift up our joys and concerns now:

[read aloud the prayer cards]

And we have learned together to listen as a community
to our silences.
Our silence betrays some of our most pressing concerns
and our most private and intimate thoughts.

Hear our silent prayers:

[pause for silent prayer]

Lord, let our desire for peace
function as a call to action,
instead of a retreat into ourselves.

Remind us that our peace is
inextricably linked to justice.

Send us as agents of your peace,
your grace,
your mercy,
and your justice.

Amen.