Sunday, May 17, 2009
Offered by Alice M. Trowbridge, Associate Pastor

O Lord our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have made us and blessed us with the gift of life, you the great shepherd of our souls, who leaves the many to reach for each one of us when we wander astray. You sent your Son, who has opened the way to heaven and enables us daily to catch a glimpse of the glory of your design: where the last are first, the afflicted find hope, and all who turn back toward you discover that all along we have been held in the hallow of your hand and we did not always know it.

How can we thank you, dear Lord? You ask us to lead lives of love and service. You invite us to partake of the fruits of your mercy. You command us to love one another the way you have loved us.

Teach us not to neglect the gift that is within us, O God. Guide us to be bold in our thinking, to ponder your mysteries and point to new horizons of truth and understanding. Guide us to press on with purpose and hope, to fulfill the kingdom’s goals.

Quiet the fears of your people throughout the world, O God. Where there is disease, your healing; where there is war, your peace; wherever your precious creation suffers, we pray for your love and compassion to be made known through your serving people, even us, to build the common good and, in the spirit of Christ, to offer all the prodigals welcome. Grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide us from the light of your immortal love.

For you, O God, comes our praise in the great congregation, where brave and believing people throughout the generations have gathered in these pews and brought your message of love and grace to this city and to the world. May we follow, as they followed, in the example of your Son, our Lord, who taught us to pray together saying, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church