Category: prayer

Thank you. For taste buds

 
In Hidden Art, Edith Schaeffer writes,

“God could have created all food as a bland mixture of proper nutrients: something like wheat-germ, yoghurt and honey in a cake form, or some sort of fruit that would have contained everything necessary to good health. However pleasant the mild flavour might be, we cannot imagine eating just one single flavour all the time, the reason being that we have been created with taste buds, a delicate sense of smell, and a sensitive appreciation of and response to texture and colour.”  (p. 114-115)
 

Invitation to the Banquet

based on Psalm 23 and Matthew 22:1-14

Gracious God,
in love You open wide the doors
and welcome us into Your presence —
saints and sinners alike.
You spread a table before us,
filled with the richest fare —
a feast of love and mercy
for the body and soul.

We come with joy to meet You here,
to eat and drink at Your table,
to taste and see Your goodness,
to celebrate Your grace and mercy in our lives.

May Your Spirit inspire our praise and thanksgiving,
our prayers and petitions
as we worship together in Your presence.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our host and Lord, Amen.

from re:worship

From the blog
A new nature
Winter = long nights
In the school of prayer with St Francis of Assisi
 

Taste the goodness

 

Litany

based on Psalm 34:1-10

Living Rock of Abundant Life,
the poor cried out;
you heard, and saved them from all their troubles.

To those who have nothing,
your promise is this:
whatever is needed will be given.

Your eyes are on those who do justice,
and your ears are open to their voice.

To those who yearn for peace,
your promise is this:
whatever is needed will be given.

Your arms enfold the brokenhearted,
and rescue those whose spirits are crushed.

To those who fear the future,
your promise is this:
whatever is needed will be given.

ALL:
O taste and see how good God is!
Happy are those who take refuge in the Living Rock.

 
— from Stone Soup, a liturgy on the Seekers Church website.

COMING SOON

“Hope for today: Daily reflections for Advent”
A collaboration between Irene, Rev. Graham Austin and Irma Gevers of Scots International Church Rotterdam, with daily posts from 1 to 24 December.
 

A taste for beauty


Powerpoint and natural light  (Photo: Irene Bom)

Prayer of Thanksgiving

O God,
We thank you for this earth, our home;
for the wide sky and the blessed sun,
for the ocean and streams,
for the towering hills and the whispering wind,
for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses
by which we hear the songs of birds,
and see the splendour of fields of golden wheat,
and taste autumn’s fruit,
rejoice in the feel of snow,
and smell the breath of spring flowers.

Grant us a heart opened wide to all this beauty;
and save us from being so blind
that we pass unseeing
when even the common thorn bush
is aflame with your glory.

For each new dawn is filled with infinite possibilities
for new beginnings and new discoveries.
Life is constantly changing and renewing itself.

In this new day of new beginnings with God,
all things are possible.
We are restored and renewed in a joyous awakening
to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be.
Amen.

 
~ written by Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918),
posted on re:worship
 

From the blog
Theme: Spurred on by prayer  [prayer sheet]
Prayer poem: Sweet words
Grace notes
 

3 Prayers for a fruitful life

 

The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this.

Gal 5:22-23

 
 

Let us pray for fruit like this in our lives …

#1 | inspired by Isaiah 5:1-7

Let us pray the Lord to keep surrounding us
with his care, till we bear rich fruit.

Pause

Lord God, our Father,
you ask of us today:
“My people, answer me:
What more could I have done for you?”

Teach and help us to respond with our whole being
to your daily forgiveness and patience,
to the riches of life brought us by Jesus,
to the prompting of the Holy Spirit,
that we may be a people that bears lasting fruits.
May we bring to all a justice animated by love,
may we learn to share as you do with us.
Show us your mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
 
~ from Liturgy Alive
 

#2 | inspired by John 12:20-33

God of thundering glory and wondrous love,
you lifted up Jesus Christ from the earth
to draw all people to your holy name.
Like grains of wheat that fall to the dust,
teach us to die — and so to bear much fruit,
giving our lives for the sake of the gospel,
following and serving Christ Jesus forever.
 
— from the Presbyterian Church USA website,
posted on re:Worship
 

#3 | inspired by Colossians 1:10-14

Gracious God,
Give us spiritual insight and understanding,
so that we would be able to see things from your point of view.

May our words and actions bring credit to Your name
and joy to Your heart;
may all that we do bear fruit for Your kingdom,
and may we come to know and love You more each day.

Strengthen us with Your power
so that we would be able to joyfully endure whatever comes our way,
and give thanks to You even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Thank You for rescuing us from the power of darkness,
and bringing us into the glorious light of Your kingdom.

All praise to Jesus Christ, our Lord,
in whom we have found redemption and forgiveness.
Amen.
 
~ posted on re:Worship
 

From the blog
Check out the Index for more posts in the 3 Prayers series.
 

Blessèd be God who makes us fruitful


 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

 

Litany of Adoration

Blessèd be God, the only God,
three Persons in one eternity of love:
      Blessèd be God.

Blessèd be God, the lover of humankind,
our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier:
      Blessèd be God.

Blessèd be God, the Fount of human love,
by whom all our common life is made fruitful:
      Blessèd be God.

Blessèd be God for all that He is:
      Blessèd be God.

Blessèd be God for all that He has done:
      Blessèd be God.

Blessèd in the fellowship of His Church
and blessèd amid the celestial host:
      Blessèd be God.

Blessèd by the chorus of all people,
and blessèd by the whisper of each single soul:
      Blessèd be God.

Blessèd from everlasting,
blessèd now, and blessed for ever.
      Blessèd be God.

 
Ancient ‘Agape’ Liturgy,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #198

From the blog
Blessed assurance
Balm to heal the world
In the school of prayer with Brother Lawrence
 

Fruitful space

A prayer of self-dedication

Lord,
let my life be a space
in which you can work in the world.
Clear away my inner rubbish,
and fill me with your Spirit
of healing, delight and peace,
so that everything I do
may be the fruit of your life in me.

by Angela Ashwin,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #19

From the blog
A Peace Garden
Theme: Breath  [prayer sheet]
In the school of prayer with Angela Ashwin
 

Deep connection


 

A prayer

O Lord, how hard it is to accept your way. You come to me as a small, powerless child born away from home. You live for me as a stranger in your own land. You die for me as a criminal outside the walls of the city, rejected by your own people, misunderstood by your friends, and feeling abandoned by your God.

I am trying the overcome the feelings of alienation and separation which continue to assail me. But I wonder now if my deep sense of homelessness does not bring me closer to you than my occasional feelings of belonging.

I don’t have to run away from those experiences that are closest to yours. Every time I feel this way I have an occasion to be grateful and to embrace you better and taste more fully your joy and peace.

Come, Lord Jesus, and be with me where I feel poorest. I trust that this is the place where you will find your manger and bring your light. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

 
by Henri Nouwen
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #299

From the blog
In the school of prayer with Pádraig Ó Tuama
Theme: Good news  [prayer sheet]
A holy space
 

Go deep

Franciscan blessing

May God bless you with discomfort…
at easy answers, hard hearts,
half-truths, and superficial relationships.
May God bless you so that you may live
from deep within your heart
where God’s Spirit dwells.

May God bless you with anger…
at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may
work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…
to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that you
may reach out your hand
to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with
enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference
in this world, in your neighbourhood,
so that you will courageously try
what you don’t think you can do, but,
in Jesus Christ you’ll have all the strength necessary.

May God bless you to fearlessly
speak out about injustice,
unjust laws, corrupt politicians,
unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,
and senseless wars,
genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.

May God bless you that you remember
we are all called
to continue God’s redemptive work
of love and healing
in God’s place, in and through God’s name,
in God’s Spirit, continually creating
and breathing new life and grace
into everything and everyone we touch.
 
from Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine, posted on re:worship

From the blog
Theme: Change my heart, O God  [prayer sheet]
In the school of prayer with St Francis of Assisi
Sister moon
 

Open time for pause and restoration


 

On the seventh day — with the canvas of the cosmos completed — God paused from His labor and rested. Thus God blessed day seven and made it special — an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping, because God rested from all the work He had done in creation that day.

 

Morning prayer

Lord God, the source of all good things,
we pause in your presence and hold our day before you.
Still us, calm us, guide us as we enter this day.

~ posted on Third Space.
 

From the blog
More to come
Open ending
3 Prayers while waiting
 

Pause/Pray


 

Let me tell you about …

“Express” prayers to fit into your day

My friends at engageworship.org have this great resource, a podcast they call Pause/Pray. The latest season (Season Three) contains thoughtful reflections around 3 minutes long you can fit into your day.

Currently available from Pause/Pray season Three:
Pause before meal
Daily transition moments
Prayer during stressful moments
Short breather
As I begin to work
Short anxiety prayer
Short morning prayer
 
Also check out Pause/Pray seasons One and Two, and the many other resources Engage Worship has on offer, including a free video series for worship teams in local churches, entitled How Would Jesus Lead Worship.

From the blog
In quietness and trust is your strength
Time together
Quiet near a little stream