Sunday, October 15, 2017
Offered by Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor

God of grace and God of glory, yours is the voice we can scarcely hear because you speak to us about grace and forgiveness, chosen-ness and unconditional love, and about suffering, dying, and new life. We are impacted by so many other voices that have to do with power and competence, success and failure, diminishment and judgment, voices that tempt us to try to earn your acceptance or prove ourselves to others.

We do know that you are the voice that gives us life, that you are the voice that opens futures to people who are hopeless. We are a part of a people who are hopeless, or at least cynical or complacent, because the other voices eat at our hearts. We are immobilized, and we become deaf. So we pray for new ears. We pray that your voice may be made more audible to us, that we may be able to sort out the death-dealing from the life-giving voices among us.

We pray that your voice is loud and clear to our nation’s leaders so that the power they wield may be wise, measured, compassionate, for the benefit of the common good. Guide our direction as a country, that we may be peacemakers instead of instigators of violence, good stewards of your creation instead of abusers of the environment, generous in coming to the aid of others rather than allocating resources and policies so that the rich get richer.

We pray for your healing and comfort with all those who are grieving, who are ill or struggling with chronic health conditions, who are suffering from trauma or uncertainty. Bring stability and renewal to families who have been hurt by recent natural and violent disasters. Grant all your people your peace that surpasses all human understanding. We pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church