Sunday, August 9, 2009
Offered by Adam H. Fronczek, Associate Pastor

We praise you, God, for the gifts you have given us: the waters of baptism and the bread of life, reminders of what you want for us—a life washed clean of the dirt of our past; a life of courage, that we might stand in the midst of anxieties and depressions; a life of good work that strengthens others; a life of rest when we find our rest with you.

We are not there yet, O God, and we must make a stand for the life to which you call us. Out of the very depths of our lives we cry to you. We cry out for your presence in the midst of the spaces between us.

There is space between us because of race and language, sexual orientation and financial circumstance. Let us pray for those who are different from ourselves.

There is space between ourselves and those who should be closest to us. There is space between us and our companions. We hold grudges and carry resentment; we need control and we fear rejection; and we keep ourselves us at arms’ length of friends and parents, partners and spouses. Let us pray for those whom we should love the most.

There is physical space between us; it is measured in city blocks and country miles; it is marked by graffitied walls and barbed wire. Even with the information in the palm of our very hands, we forget brothers and sisters not only in faraway lands, but across our city and at our very doorstep. Let us pray for those who are often forgotten.

There is space between us and you, God. Our fear of you has kept us from loving you. In our shame and guilt, our pride and our schedules, we have crowded you out of our lives. Let us pray for ourselves.

We pray, O Lord, for your presence in any space that keeps us apart. We pray that, gazing deeply into the eye of both friend and stranger, we would find the treasure stored in every human life. In the face of a stranger, might we find the face of Christ? Might we see a companion?

God, remind us of our common life. You have given us common gifts of water and of bread, gifts to make us clean, to strengthen us, and to unite us.

May we seek out any place in the world where water is tainted or bread is scarce and provide as you have done. For you have said, “I am the bread of life.” Like you have done, may we provide clean water and good bread. May we provide life and sustenance and purity of heart with the words we speak and the embraces we share. May we forgive others. May we forgive ourselves.

Deliver us from that which keeps us one from another. Where there is space between us, please, Christ, our companion, come in. Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church