Sunday, January 9, 2011
Offered by Thomas C. Rook, Parish Associate

Holy Lord, we come to you in these quiet moments, seeking your presence. How often our noisy hearts drown out so much you would have us hear, including your own voice. We come with our regrets of yesterday and anxieties about tomorrow. Lord of our lives, although we cannot know what lies ahead, we can have confidence that you will be there in our tomorrows, faithfully walking beside us.

We thank you today, gracious Lord, for those among us who enjoy a sense of accomplishment, finding your blessings in their work and play. Equally, we are mindful of those of us who are dispirited in life and feeling unsure about purpose and direction. Wherever we find ourselves, we pray you refresh our spirits and strengthen our sense of assurance in our worth as your own beloved children.

We thank you, Lord of life, for those who are blessed with good health this day. And we pray your special care for ones whose health is uncertain and those who live with bodily or emotional pain or disability. Reassure us that we can lean with confidence on your strong arm to hold us. We are grateful that your divine care also comes to us through those who extend a hand to help and a heart to care.

Even in the midst of our gratitude, gracious Lord, we also experience dismay as we live within a conflicted world—the human tragedies in Afghanistan and the Middle East, violence in Arizona and our own city of Chicago. Save us from despair and cynicism as we yearn—often in vain—for responsible political leadership to cope with the problems of city and state and nation.

Now, remembering your promise that you will never forsake us, baptize us anew with a profound sense of our dependence on you in this venture of life, trusting, as your people, that, while the way may not be easy, you will always be with us.

So fortify our courage for the difficult places.
Grant us hope for the way ahead.
Give us assurance within our doubts and uncertainty.

And mindful that, at the last, our security lies in you or nowhere, relying not so much on our faith as on your faithfulness, we now pray in one voice the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church