October 30, 2022
Reformation Sunday

Offered by Lucy Forster-Smith, Senior Associate Pastor

O God, our help in ages past, yes, you are the one who is the steady hand that holds us through our days. You are the God who awakens the day through dawn’s light; the one who holds the world as the suns sets and darkness arrives; the Holy Arc of spangled stars; the haunting hope that awaits a new day. Yes, Creator God, you created this world and have been with us every hour. God, you are our help in ages past and, indeed, our hope for this year and all years to come. And it is in you that we, your people, put our trust.

On this day when we celebrate the heritage of our faith tradition and remember the sacrifices of so many to sustain our inheritance of faith, we are so grateful for the Reformed and always reforming tradition of Presbyterian Christians. For those who stood firm in the faith, ensuring radical inclusion of all of us as priests, yes, those who stand in the gap between heaven and earth, between your guiding life for us and moments when we lose our way, we are ever grateful. For those who sought to place in our hands your Word, O God, believing that it is only by your Word that the world was made, that your Word in scripture is our guide, and through your Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, that we know you, O God, fully. For planting your luminous Spirit within us, revealing your purpose in our conscience, yes, in our prayerful waiting, so that your world would see more fully your justice, your peace, and your deep hope for years to come.

Yet, O God, there are days when we stumble, when we diminish your vast vision for this world. We pray with all humility, O God, that all may be one as in your vision for us. Holy One, this country and this world struggle; we are a divided people and a house, a nation, a world divided cannot stand. Knit our hearts, our minds, our spirits into your one, holy, undivided people. Give us respect for each other, even if we hold different understandings. Give us resolve to look into the eyes of others and see Christ’s face in each of your beloved ones. Cure our warring madness, O God, that our planetary good would be central and that each child born on this planet would be able to live out their potential, fully.

We pray for those who have experienced harm or whose loved ones have died: for the tragedy in Seoul, South Korea. Hold and sustain the families of those who lost loved ones. We also pray for those who have experienced harm in these politically challenging times. May healing grace surround those who are victims of politically motivated violence. We know that you are a God who holds our lives in all arenas of human engagement, and most importantly, O Christ, you were unwavering in your quest for peace, enduring and unrelenting peace for all your kin.

Thank you, Jesus, for setting your sights on us, for walking with us, for singing alongside of us, for helping us and for praying with us. And thank you for teaching us to pray with these words: Our Father...

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church