Sunday, March 24, 2002
Offered by John Buchanan, Pastor

Dear God, you are the mystery behind all that is, the creator of the universe, the giver of life, the source of all being. You have fashioned a world, perfect in its rhythms and balances, pregnant with life and potential. O God, you are beyond our ability to think and understand and imagine.

And today, O God, you have come to us out of unfathomable mystery; you have come to us in a way none of us can mistake: to the city, the capital, riding on a donkey. As we hear the story again, of glad pilgrims spreading their coats in his path and children singing and waving palm branches to welcome him, keep us from trivializing the day. And help us understand what it meant to you and what it means to us.

Because you came to the city with such high and holy intentionality, we would bid you come to our city, our community. We pray, O God, for this city—for its politicians and merchants, for its businesses and universities and hospitals, for its artists and musicians and dancers and athletes. We pray today for those who serve the city—for those who clean its streets and maintain its mechanical systems, for those who fight its fires and direct its traffic, for those who protect its people. We pray particularly for those who serve as police officers and whose bravery and commitment face frequent mortal danger. We pray today for the family of Officer Donald Marquez, who lost his life performing his duty.

And because you came to the capital, we bid you come to the heart of our political order. We give you thanks for those who stood for election last week and pray your blessing on them in the days ahead. We pray for our senators and representatives and for President Bush and his advisers. And, O God, because you came to Jerusalem, so today we pray for that troubled city. Bless those who are working for peace. Bless Israelis and Palestinians willing to risk laying aside hatred and violence. Bless politicians willing to rise above the easy and tragic recourse to violence. Bless our diplomats with tenacity and patience. And be with those who suffer—young men and women, the children, the adults, who innocently suffer and die and who live in fear.

And because you came to the city, we pray for those whose needs are urgent. Be with those who are ill, those who anxiously await surgery. Bind up the wounds of those who have lost someone dear and hold in your arms the dying. Be with those who await new birth and those struggling with difficult relationships. And make us here a community of healing and reconciliation.

On this day of new beginnings and high promises for the future, we pray for this congregation of your people. In its mission and ministry, its witness and worship, may it be a light in this city. We thank you for its faithful past, for its strength and compassion and commitment and its welcome extended to all, and for its new leader, Joanna. Bless this church, its people, its ministers, its larger family with your gifts of hope and courage and brave faith in the days ahead.

And because of what happened, long ago on this day, we pray for ourselves. Come to us, O God, and help us to know this day your urgency, your passion, your great love for all of us and each of us, love willing to suffer and die for our sakes. Remind us all week long of that redeeming and saving love, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church