International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland
inspired by Genesis 12:1-7
Lord, help us answer your call as readily as our father Abram, that we might extend your blessing throughout our community. Remind us that the places where we find you become altars in our world. Amen.
from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro, p. 91
From the blog
Continually ever-present
Walking the labyrinth
Sabbath rest
This final post for 2023 has an intriguing title, something to chew on, and features a prayer of reflection by Tim Watson for the end of a day … or year …
In the silence
we hold before God the day now passing into history
and we give thanks
silence
Lord, for this day
we give you thanks.
Lord, for the moments when we encountered grace and beauty
we give you thanks.
Lord, for conversations that have made an impact on our lives
we give you thanks.
Lord, for the times when we have seen you at work
we give you thanks.
In the silence we hold before God the hurts of the past day
silence
Lord, we remember the times
when we have not shown love
through our thoughts, words and actions.
We seek forgiveness.
Lord, we remember the times
when we have been hurt by the words and actions of others.
Help us to forgive.
Lord, we remember the times
when we have been distracted from seeking after you.
Lord, make yourself known to us,
help us to see you
in the midst of the noise and clamour of this world
In the silence we hold before God tomorrow
and the opportunities it bears
silence
Lord, we pray that your Holy Spirit would guide us
into the ways of righteousness
that you would give us strength for the journey.
Lord, you know the shape of our lives at this time,
you know the delights we enjoy and the pressures we endure.
Guide us and give us wisdom to know your will,
strengthen our resolve to discern your call.
Lord, make yourself known to us in the daily pattern of our lives.
Help us to see the fruit borne out of small actions.
Lord, help us to live faithfully amidst uncertainty.
Fortify us to be followers in your Way.
Lord, help us to not live as autonomous units,
but as fellow travellers on a journey.
Lord, build up the community of which we are part,
and shape it around the cross of your Son Jesus Christ.
Lord, as we sleep tonight,
may we rest in the knowledge of your relentless love.
When we wake tomorrow,
may we be prepared for all that lies ahead.
~ written by Tim Watson, posted on Lighting Beacons Liturgy.
From the blog
Pause for breath …
3 Prayers for endings and beginnings
People of the way
David Adam writes,
“Every now and again ‘our eyes are opened’ and we see beyond the narrowness of our day-to-day vision. This was expressed by Jacob when he awoke out of sleep, a sleep he felt he had been in all his life up to that point: ‘Jacob awoke out of sleep and said, “How aweful is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”‘ (Genesis 28:16-17). Jacob had not been looking for his experience, it had suddenly opened before him. I believe that such experiences are offered to all of us at one time or another in our lives. But we in our turn have to be open enough to receive them. … If we face the unfamiliar it may open all sorts of gates for us.”
from The Open Gate: Celtic Prayers for Growing Spiritually
by David Adam, p.2
O Lord,
Open our eyes to your Presence
Open our minds to your grace
Open our lips to your praises
Open our hearts to your love
Open our lives to your healing
And be found among us.
by David Adam,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #15
From the blog
Turn to the light
Holy moment beneath the stars
Slow learners and bright ideas
inspired by Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11
Holy God,
open our eyes to the presence of your Spirit
upon us, within us, among us.
For our apathy in the presence of oppression,
Forgive us.
If we have contributed to the brokenheartedness of anyone,
Forgive us.
For our participation in systems that enslave,
Forgive us.
When we are deaf to your good news,
Have mercy and open our ears.
When our mouths remain too tightly closed,
Loosen our lips with songs of praise.
Hear our prayer, O God, and forgive our sins.
Hold us in your mercy, now and forever. Amen.
~ author unknown, posted on re:worship
From the blog
Theme: God makes all things new [prayer sheet]
3 Prayers for Advent
Hard of hearing
View of the Depot from the Chabot Museum, Rotterdam
Father, we praise you for the gift of words:
the words we hear and read,
the words we speak and write.
As we handle and use the Holy Scriptures,
make us more sensitive to what they say,
more appreciative of the life and truth in these pages,
and of the love and courage of those who wrote them;
and open our ears to your voice,
and our lives to yourself,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source unknown,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #170
From the blog
Word study: Shema
Treasure for our times
Circle me, Lord
loosely inspired by Psalm 118
Though we have known hardship and pain,
though life has not always turned out as we had hoped,
we will stand here and say:
God’s steadfast love endures for ever!
Though life becomes more complex,
the deepest questions remain unanswered,
and the mystery of faith deepens, we will say:
God’s steadfast love endures for ever!
And though the pain of the world
often seems more than we can bear or address,
we will stand firm in our faith and say:
God’s steadfast love endures for ever!
~ written by Ann Siddall, posted on re:worship
This prayer also appears in an earlier blog post:
Theme: Rejoice in the Lord always [prayer sheet]
From the blog
imagine … no war …
In the school of prayer with St Francis of Assisi
Mightier than the crashing waves
Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters
who are in prison because of their stand against injustice,
and for all the other people who have ‘disappeared’.
I pray for those undergoing torture;
Lord, give them strength, and the sense that they are not alone.
In particular I hold before you
those who believe that the world has forgotten them.
May they know that there are people who care,
and who are praying for them.
Jesus, arrested and tortured yourself,
be with them now,
and hold them in your wounded hands.
~ written by Angela Ashwin,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #457
Uphold, O God, all who are
persecuted or imprisoned for their beliefs.
Be to them a light showing the way ahead;
a rock giving them strength to stand;
a song singing of all things overcome.
~ written by Richard Harries,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #461
We pray justice
for the falsely accused,
freedom for the wrongly imprisoned,
healing for the tortured or abused,
care for the orphan and widow,
concern for the refugee and dispossessed,
and above all forgiveness
for our emotional detachment.
May we weep as you weep,
love as you love,
and not be afraid to be angry
for the sake of your children,
wherever they might be.
In our helplessness we ask,
Lord, enfold them in your love.
~ written by John Birch,
posted on faithandworship.com
From the blog
Song in the night
People of the way
Theme: He heals the brokenhearted [prayer sheet]
Namaqualand daisies, West Coast National Park, South Africa
based on Micah 6:1-8
Children of God,
it’s time to take off your shoes,
step out of your comfort zone, and
wade with trust into the stream of God’s mercy.
Stand still for a moment, barefoot, on holy ground.
Let the healing waters wash your feet.
Take a deep breath as Love soaks into your soul.
Be silent and listen for God’s word to us today.
Read Micah 6:6-8:
How shall we worship our God?
We have heard what the Lord requires of us.
Leave empty talk and pride behind.
We must walk the walk.
Prepare to step out in faith, even into troubled waters.
Only God knows where we might need to go.
Don’t be afraid.
Jesus will guide our steps along the way,
teaching us to walk humbly,
to love boldly,
to serve God with body, soul, mind, and strength.
Let us pray for the humility and courage
to follow where the Spirit leads.
~ written by Mary Jo Bowman, posted on re:worship
From the blog
Say grace
3 Prayers for courage
In the school of prayer with the Celtic Saints
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
Where are things heading, God of wisdom?
Unless you are a God of justice and judgement,
the future of this arrogant world is dismal.
Unless you are a God of grace and mercy,
our place in your future is hopeless.
With the anger of a temple cleansing,
overthrow greed and scatter our indifference.
With the suffering of your crucified Son,
forgive our sins and heal our diseases.
With the mercy of justice and the justice
of your unique mercy, lead us on towards
the consummation of your kingdom.
You alone are our help and hope.
You alone are our health and happiness.
Through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen!
~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on www.bruceprewer.com
From the blog
Yield as sacrifice
Prayer poem: Not unless
On Writing Prayer-Poems
Where we stand – or fall – the ground is holy
based on Exodus 3:5
Come take off your shoes
For where we stand is holy ground
Come love your neighbour and do good to all around you
For where we stand is holy ground
Come and respect the planet
For where we stand is holy ground
Love all that God gave us,
for we are all standing on holy ground
sourced from the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website
posted on re:worship
From the blog
Perfect balance of grace and truth
Inspired by trees
mud mud mud