Pastoral Prayer 1/8/12
Loving God, give light to our eyes: let us share in Your eternal vision, knowing with certainty that You will bring our hearts to joy. Help us with every pain we bear in our souls, when we struggle with illness, poverty, injustice, homelessness, disasters both natural and manmade. Help us to always be aware of Your merciful and loving justice.
Help us, too, to see in every joy the reflection of Your infinite love, and let us always be thankful for the wonders we experience every day, in others, and in nature. Every tree and flower, every loving family, all these are signs of the goodness of creation and signs of your presence.
Continue your work of redemption in our faith community, that we might grow more and more in love with you, our Father, and proclaim your love more faithfully. We thank you for the ministry of Reverend Jane Lionberger, for the lives that she touched, for the compassion, care, and leadership that she has given to the Stephen Ministry, the Congregational Care, New Members, and the Adult Education committees. We pray that you bless her next step in ministry and continue to guide her way.
We pray for this nation, its leaders and those who serve to protect us both here and around the globe. Give wisdom and grace to those who lead us, and protect those who serve us. We pray for those who are ill or dealing with ongoing medical problems, that your presence and joy might be with them, and that you would use us as instruments of your peace to minister to them with love. Bless all families. Help us to live in love and listen to each other. Give us grace and patience as we live as this church family. We pray for those whose relationships need your healing hand. Help us, Lord, to hear your word to us, so that we might not speak before we have first listened to others. Teach us by your love and patience to continue to pray for all our relationships, so that you might be reflected in them.
We pray for those who teach, both in the church and in the schools. Thank you for those who have said yes to this often daunting task. May they know your delight in them and may those whom they teach find you reflected in their lives. Thank you for this new year, and for the joy we have because of you. Hear now our silent prayers for our joys and concerns. And now, we offer you the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, praying…