3 prayers for the New Year

ending well … (Artwork: Irene Bom)

Because prayer matters, from one year to the next …

#1

O Christ,
tirelessly you seek out those who are looking for you
and who think that you are far away;
teach us, at every moment,
to place our spirits in your hands.
While we are still looking for you,
already you have found us.
However poor our prayer,
you hear us far more than we can imagine or believe.

Brother Roger of Taizé
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #13

#2

God, bless our year
giving us
time for the task
peace for the pathway
wisdom for the work
friends for the fireside
love to the last.

The Mother’s Union Anthology of Public Prayers
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #752

#3

O Lord, as the years change, may we find rest in your eternal changelessness. Help us to meet this new year bravely, in the faith that, while life changes all around us, you are always the same, guiding us with your wisdom and protecting us with your love; through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

William Temple (1881-1944)
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #749

Credits

“If you want to start well, it is deeply connected to ending well.”
from Creative Pep Talk podcast (episode #345), hosted by Andy J. Miller (alias Andy J. Pizza).

All my longings

All my longings lie open before you, Lord:
my sighing is not hidden from you.

Psalm 38:9

A prayer

My God,
I pray that I may so know you and love you
that I may rejoice in you.
And if I may not do so fully in this life,
let me go steadily on
to the day when I come to fullness of life.
Meanwhile let my mind meditate on your eternal goodness,
let my tongue speak of it,
let my heart live it,
let my soul hunger for it,
and my whole being desire it,
until I enter into your joy.

by St Anselm (1033-1109)
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #85

From the blog
United by love
Not deserted
Holy moment beneath the stars

Longing for his appearing

This past Sunday I got to preach on the topic of “Longing” as part of our Advent series, Waiting, longing, hoping and praying for the Day of the Lord.

May God increase your longing for Jesus’ return as we move through Advent and on to another Covid-coloured Christmas. According to Paul, there is a crown of righteousness awaiting “all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Prayer

In the promise which is everywhere about us
Hold us, God

In the longing for a new world and new living
Cradle us, God

In the need to see advent’s revelation in our world
Direct us, God

In the silence of memories that haunt us
Comfort us, God

In the hunger for justice that aches in us
Feed us, God

In the yearning for love in each of our days
Reassure us, God

In the setting out of truth in our political world
Aid us, God

In the call for peace in our crazy world
Hear us, God

In the search for healing in our broken world
Find us, God

In the gathering round the table
Gather with us, God

In the breaking of bread and spilling of wine
Share with us, God

In the community of faith
Reveal yourself, God

— from the archives of the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website, posted on re:worship.

Resound Worship Podcast: One of my songs got mentioned

For a sample and review of the theme song I wrote for our Advent series, Waiting, longing, hoping and praying for the Day of the Lord, check out the Resound Worship Podcast, episode 91 (from 40:35 to 45:30).

Considering considerate

James tells us the wisdom from heaven is – amongst other things – considerate (James 3:17).

Here’s a quote from a recent sermon I preached entitled Be wise in God’s eyes that references this verse:

What does genuine wisdom look like? James spells it out for us in v. 17: ‘the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.’

True wisdom, the wisdom that comes from heaven looks like Jesus: Pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

The more we let Jesus shape our lives, the wiser we will be. Pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

A prayer

Lord, help me to understand what it truly means to be considerate of others and put their needs above my own. May I recognize the little things I do that reveal I am thinking more of myself than of others. Help me to see the blessing that comes from putting others first.

May I see that everything I think doesn’t need to be said. May I understand that an affirmative smile is better than speaking my mind. Please give me insight into where others need to be lifted up and encouraged in you.

Putting others first means that I listen to others and hear what they say even if I don’t agree with them. If you would have me speak truth then enable me to do it with gentleness and compassion, not with antagonism and force. In all things, remind me to examine myself first to see if there is any wrong way in me.

Lord, teach me to keep my words few and my heart full of you. May my mind be aligned with your mind and may I see into the souls of others and know what you know. May I recognize that all people need you and may the words I speak to them reveal a little of who you are and all that you have done for us.

Lord, at the heart of putting others first is the dying to self. It isn’t important what I want and think. What is important is what you want and that should be at the forefront of my mind. Lord may my thoughts and words be considerate of others and pleasing to you. May I learn to speak as you speak and love as you love. May all that I do be done in your name and bring glory to you.

Amen

~ written by Marty Elwell, posted on www.ultimateoutcomes.org

Thank you. For fruit-bearing trees

Apples ready for harvest (Photo: Irene Bom)

Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.

Genesis 1:11

Thanksgiving Litany

For summer’s passing and harvest home —
we thank you!
For autumn’s splendor and winter’s chill —
we thank you!
For seed that has fallen, the promise of spring —
we thank you!

As a part of nature’s wondrous cycle
of new birth, growth, fruitfulness and death
we rejoice in the creation of new life.

May our lives blossom as the apple tree in Spring
May we become fruitful in thought and deed
And may the seed of love that falls to the ground
Linger beyond our time on this earth.

~ posted on Third Space blog (excerpt)

Hear creation singing

(Photo: Irene Bom)

Call to Worship

(inspired by Isaiah 35:1-10)

Listen–all creation rejoices, can you hear it?
There is so much noise and chatter, are you sure there is music?
Listen–the wilderness and desert are breaking out in song, can you hear it?
It’s been so long since we’ve heard a melody of praise.
Listen–the crocus blooms with joyful singing,
the very mountains join in the refrain. Can you hear it?
We join our voices in hope,
worshipping our God who brings forth a new song in the world.

Opening Prayer

Life-giving God, we are a blessed people.
In this moment of worship we pray that you might bless us anew.
Give us ears to hear the melodies of praise that fill the world around us.
And as we hear the songs,
      teach us to sing,
      to dance with abandon,
      to rejoice in the wonders of your grace.
Forgive us when we have passed by signs of your mercy.
From this moment forward,
      open our eyes to the places where joy is springing
      up from parched ground.
Lead us by your Spirit in the pathways of your overflowing
      peace, hope, and joy.
Amen.

~ written by Rev. Nancy J.
posted on wonderings, writings and scribbles

From the blog
Theme: Part of creation [prayer sheet]
Bright and beautiful
A prayer to the God of summer

3 Prayers for discernment

Rotterdam at dusk (Photo: Irene Bom)

To quote Paul:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:9-11

Here are 3 prayers for discernment – to better hear God’s gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12) and weigh up what is good and right and worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27).

#1

Teach me, dear Lord,
the value and importance of all things,
so that I may discern and follow Your will.
Protect me from those who would harm me
and give me wisdom in dealing with them.
Keep me steadfast in my desire to worship You
and learn from You;
to the praise of Your name.
Amen.

from northumbriacommunity.org,
inspired by the life of Benedict of Nursia

#2

Loving God,
We pray for the wisdom to discern your call in our lives.
Hear our prayer, O God.

We pray for the wisdom to make healthy choices
in the face of endless and confusing options.
Hear our prayer, O God.

We pray for the grace to redefine our relationships
with our parents and our friends as our lives change.
Hear our prayer, O God.

We pray for the grace to form new relationships
with new friends as we move forward from this place.
Hear our prayer, O God.

We pray for the courage to swim against the current of society
as we seek to follow where you lead us.
Hear our prayer, O God.

We pray for the courage to take a stand with you
for justice and peace in this world in this time.
Hear our prayer, O God. Amen.

written by Katherine Hawker, posted on re:Worship

#3

O Creator past all telling,
you have so beautifully set out all parts of the universe;
you are the true fount of wisdom
and the noble origin of all things.
Be pleased to shed on the darkness of my mind
the beam and warmth of your light
to dispel my ignorance and sin.
Instruct my speech and touch my lips with graciousness;
make me keen to understand, quick to learn,
and able to remember;
and keep me finely tuned
to interpret your word,
for you are God for ever and ever.

written by St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274),
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #150

Listen, speak

(Photo: Irene Bom)

Prayer of Petition

(1 Kings, 2 Kings)

Beckoning God,
as you moved in the lives of Elijah and Elisha,
move in our lives,
inviting us to journey to unknown territory,
to listen for your voice,
and to speak your prophetic word
in a world that does not want to hear.

Empowered by your Spirit,
grant us the courage we need
to journey, trust, listen, speak,
and accept your commission
to be your faithful servant people.
Amen.

~ from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, Vanderbilt Divinity Library

The Holy Other

Annie Dillard, writer of Holy the Firm and other books of non-fiction and poetry, said in an interview with Philip Yancey:

I often think of God as a fireball – friendly – who rolls by. If you’re lucky you get a slight glimpse of him.

from Open Windows by Philip Yancey, 1985, p. 30