Sunday, July 29, 2007
Offered by Calum I. MacLeod, Associate Pastor

Holy, holy, holy, Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest.

Who are we to come into your presence God most high?
Who are we to invoke the presence on the creator of all things?
Who are we to think that the source of all being and all good
would deign to dwell among people of unclean lips such as us?

Yet you promise to us your presence and care and love in all things
for in Christ you identify with our human condition.

And so with thanks we place our hope in you, O Lord, with whom we know steadfast love.

Lord God,
because Jesus has taught us to trust you in all things,
we hold to his word and share his plea: your kingdom come,
Your will be done.

Where nations budget for war,
while Christ says, “Put up your sword”;
where countries waste food and covet fashion,
while Christ says, “I was hungry . . . I was thirsty”:
your kingdom come,
Your will be done.

Where powerful governments
claim their policies are heaven blessed,
while scripture states
that God helps the powerless;
where Christians seek the kingdom
in the shape of their own church,
as if Christ had come to build
and not to break barriers: your kingdom come,
Your will be done.

Where women who speak up for their dignity
are treated with scorn or contempt;
where men try hard to be tough,
because they’re afraid to be tender: your kingdom come,
Your will be done.

Where we, obsessed with being an adult,
forget to become like children;
Where our prayers falter,
our faith weakens,
our light grows dim: your kingdom come,
Your will be done.

Where the hurt of illness, pain, and death
threaten to overcome your promise of life abundant:
your kingdom come,
Your will be done.

Where Jesus Christ calls us: your kingdom come,
Your will be done.

Our Father . . .

(The second part of the prayer, beginning with “Lord God,” is taken from a prayer of the Iona Community.)

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church