October 22, 2023

Offered by Lucy Forster-Smith, Senior Associate Pastor

We come to you this day, O God, with so much that resides in our lives. In this season of autumn, with magnificent color bursting forth from trees, shrubs, mums, and foliage, we are reminded of the seasons of our own lives. The lively spring with buds bursting, that light air that lifted our spirits, the new life awakening through Easter’s dawning — this seems just yesterday and long past. We realize that we are people of promise in the spring of life. And summer’s quick, generous lingering: warm days, star-spangled nights, glowing sunrises and sensational sunsets. It went too fast, and we basked in the ease, the connections with family, friends, lovers, loved ones. We do not want to hurry to winter, O God, though the barren landscape, the silhouetted branches, the radiant glory of night skies, the season of waiting and watching. But today is autumn. And we are so grateful for this day. We are so grateful for this season of our own lives with vibrant hope, awakening brilliance. And we give thanks for this season in the life of this congregation.

We live through the generosity of seasons, O God, also realizing that there are seasons of our life together on this planet when we grow anxious; we worry; we feel so out of control; and it makes no sense, O God, that so many must suffer. We pray with all our might and with your mighty promise, O Christ, that you will always be with us, to the very close of the age. We pray for those who are in situations of terror from the horrific violence. We pray for Israeli and Palestinian siblings who live each day in harm’s way. We pray for the innocent ones in Gaza — for children, parents, grannies, and grandpas. Hold them close to your heart, O God. And prick our conscience this day, O God, that we will never forget the daily struggle that holds so many in risk.

In this season when we dare to imagine your new day in this congregation, this city of Chicago, the reach of your loving spirit to the many of this congregation who are scattered throughout this nation and world, give us hearts alive with joy, unified by your giant vision of springs of living water, summers of gentle engagement, blazing and life-giving autumn, and winter, when we huddle close and give thanks for your blessings, made known in the gift of your Son, Jesus. Make us glow as glistening trees in the low light of autumn. Give us courage to live out the full glory that you have planted in us individually and collectively. And may our witness be mighty, never diminished by fear or failure but undergirded by the power of nothing other than your Holiest Spirit, O God!

For it is in the power and presence of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, that we join together praying the prayer he taught us saying, Our Father …

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church