Sunday, September 29, 2013
Offered by Calum I. MacLeod, Executive Associate Pastor

You have blessed us greatly, Lord,
we who live in this country,
rich in natural resources,
knowing the benefits of longstanding peace,
prosperous, with opportunity abounding
for those able to grasp it;
we know the blessings of shelter, warmth, family, community,
and for this we are deeply grateful.

You have blessed us greatly, Lord,
and we pray that we will be a people
who do not take for granted
your goodness to us;
that we will exercise our gratitude
in the care of the other,
of the one sitting by the gate in need.

So open our eyes, Lord, to see:
to see the world around us;
to see the places where there is hurt and brokenness,
to see the places where people are treated as less than human—
          marginalized, oppressed, ignored;
          where women are treated as less than men, exploited, violated, powerless;
          where children are dehumanized through conscription, neglect, abuse.

And open our hearts
that we would be activists for the gospel,
the gospel of love, always love.
May we find ourselves disturbed by injustice,
angered by inequality,
moved by stories of faith, hope, and love.

Bless our church and its people,
bring healing to the sick,
calm to the anxious,
direction for the lost,
and the reality of your presence for those close to death.

Lord, hear our prayers this day,
and let our cry come to you
through Jesus Christ,
instigator and perfecter of our faith,
in whose words we pray:
Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church