This prayer sheet is a response to these words by Christian theologian and author, Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner):
“Go where your best prayers take you.”
The words appear in Buechner’s book, Telling Secrets – A Memoir, about his encounters with God’s presence in both the scary and sad as well as in the joyful moments of his life.
See the Spirituality and Practice website for a lengthy excerpt from the book showing the words in context.
“Grow through helping others”
A. CALL TO WORSHIP
(based on John 3:16)
For God so loved the world;
The sparrows, the mountain lions,
the fish and the people.
For God so loved the world;
In success and failure,
in sickness and health,
in mediocrity and extraordinary.
For God so loved the world;
Enough to become one of us,
enough to suffer along with us,
enough to offer new life for us.
For God so loved the world;
Let us worship God!
B. READING
C. THE CALL OF COMPASSION
If we’re honest, compassion does not come easy to us, God.
We see others who struggle;
those without homes, or food;
those dying from curable diseases,
simply because they can’t get access to the medicine they need;
those who have lost loved ones through death or circumstance,
and long for human companionship;
those who are persecuted and judged because of their difference;
those who are facing the awful consequences
of bad choices they have made;
and those who must live with the consequences of choices
that others make that impact their lives.
It all just feels like it’s too much, and there’s nothing we can do.
But, we know that’s not true
We know that compassion is enough;
that when we allow ourselves to feel,
compassion will lead us to do what we can,
and that this will make a difference.
And so, we pray first for ourselves:
soften our hearts, and still our fears,
and lead us into those acts of compassion that we are capable of doing.
And then we pray for all of these others
whose lives can be changed through small, simple acts of care.
Disturb us, and others like us,
until we finally step up and play our part in the saving of your world;
and that enough of us would answer your call,
that the needs of the hurting ones may be met.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
D. LET US PRAY
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)
Let us pray …
E. PRAYER OF DEDICATION
(inspired by Psalm 23)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
We believe in the goodness of God.
We believe God hears and responds to our needs.
We believe God responds to all children everywhere.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.
We are grateful that we’ve been blessed with enough water.
But we know that many do not have enough.
Not enough water, not enough food, not enough peace.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Too many children do not see God’s righteousness.
Too many children watch violence, taste hunger, feel fear.
Too many children cry from the unspeakable horror of war.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
To become involved is risky.
Pain is often contagious.
Our hearts may be broken and our lives may be threatened.
Yet we hear God calling and we can no longer hide.
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Our steps may be small and timid.
We may read a book, write a letter, or make a gift.
But each tiny step is blessed by God and multiplies.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
God is more relentless than war.
God is more pervasive than hatred.
God is more insistent than despair.
Amen.
F. BENEDICTION
God is good
All the time
All the time
God is good
CREDITS
A. written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on her Liturgies Outside website. (adapted)
C. written by John van de Laar, from the Sacredise.com website. (adapted)
E. written by Katherine Hawker in 1994, and posted on Liturgies Outside website. (adapted)
Other prayer sheets:
Sharing in Jesus’ ministry
Ever sustaining
God makes all things new
Do not lose heart
Come to the waters