Sunday, May 10, 2015
Offered by Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor

On this Mother’s Day, loving God, we are grateful that you love us like a mother who will never forsake her nursing child, who will never leave us orphaned, whose love is steadfast and sure. We thank you that we belong to you and that you embrace us and all your people fully. We are grateful for the people in our lives who have loved us into being, who have nurtured us and stood by us, always there for us when we need it. We pray that we, too, may express such love for others. Grant the Trinity of Love among us as God above us, God beside us, God within us. In each shadow and light, each day and night, each moment of kindness, give us your Spirit to act for the well-being of others.

God of the downtrodden and marginalized, we pray for all who struggle with poverty, who are caught in trafficking, who suffer the sounds of gunshots, who are overlooked because of mental illness, who have loved ones and homes in natural disasters, who are diminished by racism. Send your liberating Spirit to bring protection and life. God of harmony and shalom, we pray for all who are victims and perpetrators of war and violence, that you would bring peace. Give guidance and courage to political leaders to move towards one another offering the highest forms of respect and regard. May they make decisions that benefit the most vulnerable and forgotten, including refugees and immigrants. God of justice, strengthen our voices on behalf of the voiceless, that your reign may come on earth.

We thank you for the powerful experience members of our church had this past week with members of Trinity United Church of Christ on the racial reconciliation trip. We pray that your protection and blessing be with those who depart this day for Cuba to show solidarity with our Presbyterian sister church in Havana. May such relationships grow to witness to your all-encompassing love. All this we pray in the name of Christ, who taught us to pray . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church