Sunday, March 13, 2016
Offered by Judith L. Watt, Associate Pastor

Thank you, God, for small things—small things that often go unnoticed. For rain drops and the further assurance they give that spring is on its way. For conversations with cab drivers and store clerks and doormen and strangers on the street, conversations that reassure us that the innate goodness of humanity still exists. Thank you for those fleeting times when our eyes are opened to beauty, the grace of this sanctuary, the colors of the lake, the wonders of the sky, a new leaf unfolding in the midst of a plant, the dignity of the trees that stand bare throughout the winter, always signaling strength and patience for what will surely unfold. And we thank you that no matter our size or stature in this world, you call to us, just as you called to Zacchaeus. You call to us because you want to live with us; you want to stay with us, to reside in our hearts. So help us to come down from wherever it is we are viewing you from afar and find the courage to welcome you into our hearts again.

Holy God, we know this world and our nation are groaning with unrest and anger, frustration and discouragement. Give us wisdom and the ability to hear the cries for justice that are in keeping with your cries for justice. Allow voices to be heard so that anger can be transformed into renewed energy for change, change that leads to opportunity for work and safety in neighborhoods and equality in educational opportunities and regard for all people and so much more.

We pray for so many in all parts of the world, people still suffering because of losses endured in natural disasters. We hold in our prayers the innocent victims of governmental unrest, especially in South Sudan and Libya, Somalia and Nigeria. We pray for people of faith who cannot express their belief in freedom.

O God, you know the troubles in our own lives, and you know our worries and concerns. For those with dissolving relationships, please hold out your comfort. For those struggling with dark thoughts, break in with light. For those who yearn to have children, bring your love. And for those struggling with faith, bring patience and a listening confidante. Wrap your arms around those for whom grief seems overwhelming.

We thank you, dear God, for the gift of your Son and our brother, Jesus, who came to show us the way, who calls us into a life of transformation, a life of being given over more and more to love and to loving. We pray all of this in his name, saying together, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church