Sunday, April 24, 2016
Offered by Judith L. Watt, Associate Pastor

God of the universe, you are powerful and tender, known and unknown, close as our skin and far away as the sun, but we know you covet our prayers. You continually call us to yourself, and so we pray, not quite knowing how prayer works and sometimes wondering if there’s a point, but, O God, something inside us—is it you?—keeps calling us to speak to you. So,hear our humble prayers again, dear Lord, and please keep calling us and nudging us and whispering in our ears, so that we have courage to turn to you as continually as you turn to us.

We pray for aid workers who have already traveled to Ecuador and Japan to bring help to those affected by recent earthquakes. Thank you for the courage of our own Presbyterian Disaster Assistance staff and volunteers who deploy help and aid around the world. Gracious Lord, our hearts are heavy knowing the fragile talks of peace for Syria have broken down and military presence and might have risen up again. Refugees continue to die trying to escape; others struggle for life in camps; and nations grapple with how to take into their lands an influx of humanity. Teach your people, all of us, that love is stronger than hate, that justice is necessary for peace. Give us the will to be peacekeepers in our own lives, with our words and our actions and our willingness to understand.

We pray and give thanks for our beautiful earth, this home you have given us, and yet we know it is groaning under the weight of pollution and rhythms that have been upset because of our negligence. Thank you for the historic signing of a climate agreement by leaders of nations around the world. Make our commitment real.

In this week when we have celebrated the birthday of a queen who has served her country well and the loss of a prince who shared his art and talent with us and made us dance and sing, make us mindful of the gifts and graces of those in our own lives. Remind us to appreciate the wonderful gifts of our friends and loved ones: stability, loyalty, artistic flair, talent, eccentric ways that make us ponder, wisdom and strength—whatever those gifts may be. Give us time to appreciate one another and to say those simple words of I love you. I’m thankful for you. You have touched me. I admire you.

Thank you for our church. Thank you for each one of our children who have received their Bibles today. In your good time, dear God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, make the words in their Bibles living words of salvation for them. For you do speak your Word of truth and love, and for that we give you great thanks, praying yet again the prayer your Son Jesus taught to his disciples. Hear us as we pray that same prayer again in his name, saying, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church