Sunday, October 11, 2015
Offered by Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor

God of all creation, you are our trust. You are our hope.
     And you constantly bring that hope to us.
You bring it with the sight of our children
     making their way to the baptismal font.
You bring hope in the sounds of quiet greetings
     as we find a seat on the pews.
You bring hope through the taste of hot coffee
     in Anderson Hall for anyone who needs to be warmed up,
And, Holy One, you have brought this congregation
     deep hope, generous hope,
     through the ministry of Joyce Shin over these last nine years.
May your hope be dispersed to the world
     like rays from this morning’s sun,
     shining on all people.

We pray for you to be with those who are sick or trapped at home,
     who need hope in the struggle against loneliness and illness.
We pray for your strength to be in those who live with disability
     or with chronic pain,
     for whom it takes great courage to make it through
     the normal routines of a day.
We pray for you to be with the loved ones of all those
     who have lost someone in this ongoing time of war and strife—
     soldiers and civilians, our allies and even our enemies.

We pray for your peace to shower down amidst tensions in Jerusalem,
     the holy city, and in Turkey following the attacks there.
By your healing hope, may we all see a new way, a different way,
     a lasting way to peace.
We pray for those still reeling from the violence that unfolded
     on campuses this past week, for young adults who don’t feel safe,
     for families who feel helpless.
God, we will keep praying
     for an end to this violence until it comes to pass.

Give to our leaders, give to us, the vision and the courage
     of what needs to happen so all children,
     all people are safe and get to grow up,
     regardless of their zip code.
We pray for you to show us the way to be your eyes, ears, and hands
     in a world that needs your hope.

God of all creation, you are our trust. You bring us hope
     in the sight of a changing leaves,
     in the sound of children’s laughter,
     in the taste of hot coffee,
     in the mingling smells of frankincense and fresh hay,
     in the touch of a newborn baby’s fingers in Bethlehem
    wrapping around ours tightly and never letting go.
May we awaken to the miracle of your love.
We pray in the name of our Savior,
     your love made flesh, who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father . . .

(Note: I am grateful for the imagery, in the closing stanza, sparked by a pastor at Lakeshore Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, in 2003.)

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church