Christian prayers

The prayer becomes carried in the heart even when the mind is unaware of it, invading even our sleep as well as other activities. All who are familiar with the prayer life. every person of goodwill. Many feel helpless to make a constructive contribution, the influence of faithful prayer is incalculable. like mercy, it blesses him that gives and him that takes. Peace to All! please pray for an end to all wars, violence, injustice ,famine

Strong and merciful God, You crush wars and overthrow the proud; banish violence from all the earth, the Middle East ,Afghanistan and wipe away the tears of those who suffer. May all people, made in Your image and likeness, find in Your love and mercy, a pattern for their lives. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with YOU in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever, Amen

http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/prayers-w.htm

prayers to end war

God of power and might, wisdom and justice,
through you authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed.
Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude
the President and other government leaders of these United States.
May they always seek
the ways of righteousness, justice and mercy.
Grant that they may be enabled by your powerful protection
to lead our country with honesty and integrity.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Turn me over,"
he said to the judge.
"I'm done on this side!"
And just before he died, he said,
"It's cooked enough now."
Then he prayed that the city of Rome
might be converted to Jesus
and that the Catholic Faith
might spread all over the world. - St. Lawrence, Martyr

The Episcopal Peace Fellowship
                       
Please include Peace Prayers in Prayers of the People every Sunday and especially the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, November 11th. Armistice is a cessation or suspension of hostilities by mutual consent. On this day in 1939, the Rev. John Nevin Sayre and others founded the Episcopal Peace Fellowship to pray, study and work for peace.

Lead Us Into Your Peace:

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your love – You sent Jesus as a token
of that love.

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your JUSTICE. You sent the Prophets
and gave us The Law to show us your justice.

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your RECONCILIATION. You showed us how to forgive and reconcile.

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your PEACE. Your LOVE and JUSTICE and your way of reconciliation. Amen

A Prayer for the Bombed Out, Burned Out, Driven Out:

Lord God, we pray for all the bombed out, burned out, driven out, relocated, wondering , wandering, unwilling pilgrims in this world.  Forgive us for our part in uprooting them.  Restore their lives, make us partners with in the rebuilding of their lives.  We pray in the name of the Son of Man, who had no place to lay His head. in the name of YESHUA. Amen.                        
Open Our Eyes:

Take all hate from our hearts, O God, and teach us how to take it from the hearts of others.  Open our eyes and show us what things make it easy for hatred to flourish and hard for us to conquer it. Then help us to change these things.                

A Christian Prayer of Confession

Spirit of God, forgive us. For 2000 years, we Christians have failed to live the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Instead of sharing with our sisters and brothers, instead of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and healing the sick; we have stored up treasures and sent the vulnerable, sick, hungry and homeless from our door. Instead of forgiving , we have sought vengeance retribution, harsh punishment and death.  We have asked the state to kill in our name. Instead of crying out against injustice, we have dominated, discriminated and demeaned; and we have benefited from the economic oppression of our neighbors. Instead of holding your Creation in sacred trust, instead of respecting the inter-connectedness and beauty of our universe; we have wasted and polluted, disrupted the balance, and ignored our responsibility to those who come after us. Instead of loving our enemies, we have demonized them.  Instead of peace, nonviolence and reconciliation; we Christians have unleashed in your name, violent crusades, slavery, the Holocaust, and nuclear war.  We have killed through landmines, depleted uranium, bombing runs, smart weapons and economic sanctions. We confess that we have neglected our prayer life and community building.  We have lost our way and are not the people you called us to be.  Accept our prayer and restore us.  In your mercy, forgive us.  Forgive us. Forgive us.  Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, whose perfect love met death by violence and was not extinguished; so enter the hearts and minds of those affected by violence that frailty may give way to your strength, loss to gain, bitterness to your total and victorious love.                              
by Susan Williams

A Prayer of Intercession

O God, who called the peacemakers your children, we beseech you that as you
did send Your Son with the heavenly voice of peace on earth to be the Prince
of Peace to men, so you will keep our hearts and minds in his peace, and make
us both to love and defend the same.  Guide the counsels of the President and
of all leaders, in equity and steadfastness, to establish unity and concord  
among the nations, that all mankind may render you the fruits of peace and
righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.                    
Diocese of Canterbury

Peace Prayers of the People:

Love is Stronger than Hate:

Oh GOD, we stand before you with so many fears and uncertainties–imagined and real.  Come into us and all people who truly seek your way.  Bring into creation the chaos that is war and use us as your sons and daughters to show and live the way of peace and love.  For we take our stand on your promise that love is stronger than hate, kindness greater than revenge.  Turn our hearts, ever convert us to this truth and make us more whole as your Body in the world.  Through your child, Jesus, who overcame violence and death with love and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit now and for eternity. AMEN

Gift of Shalom/Salaam:

Gracious God, after the Resurrection Jesus bestowed upon the disciples the
gift of Peace by proclaiming “My Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give
to you.”  Inspire us with that hope in the gift of shalom and salaam, the
gift of wholeness and the promise of your presence.

Give us wisdom to seek nonviolence as an answer to the violence of our
lives and world.  Give us courage to seek wholeness in a fractured and divided
world, to find reconciliation rather than revenge, to interfere with the
madness of militarism and war.

May your presence fill us and others with the thirst for unity, wholeness,
and a desire to see all people valued as created in your image.  May we
and others receive your shalom and salaam, that we might be instruments of
your love.  Blessed be your name forever.  Amen.

World Peace Prayer:

Lead us from death to life
Lead us from falsehood to truth
Lead us from despair to hope
Lead us from fear to trust
Lead us from hate to love
Lead us from war to peace
Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our Universe.

Pax Christi  Prayer to End the War Against  Iraq:
Loving God,
We beg your forgiveness for the war that the U.S. is waging against the Iraqi people,for destroying Iraq’s infrastructure by massive bombings, for using highly toxic weapons that contaminate Iraqi land and water, and are causing major increases in cancers among children.

Forgive us for imposing economic sanctions that have killed over one million Iraqis, mostly children.

Forgive us for placing oil interests above human welfare.

Heal us of our moral blindness and fill our hearts with love.

Help us to renounce all killing, to stop demonizing our adversaries, to value all life as sacred, and to see the Iraqi people as our brothers and sisters.

Empower us to engage in nonviolent action to end this slaughter of the innocents.

O God, make us channels of your peace and reconciliation.   Amen

by Art Laffin
Calm Our Angry Hearts:
Christ, no one on earth really wants the pain and horror of war.  We do not want to kill or be killed, to hurt or be hurt.  But we all see injustice, and sometimes it makes us angry and we see no other way to right the wrong except by war.  Christ, teach us the ways of peace!  Calm our angry hearts and grant to all peoples and their leaders patience in the search for peace and justice.  Help us to be ready to give up some of our comforts and power and pride, so that war will leave the face of the earth and we may work for you in peace.    

by Avery Brooks, in Plain Prayers in a Complicated World

Prayers for Peace

Eternal God, the Creator of all, we commit to YOU the needs of the
whole world:  where there is hatred, give love; where there is injury,
pardon; where there is distrust, faith; where there is darkness, light.  We
pray for those who out of the bitter memories of strife and loss are seeking
a more excellent way for the nations of the world, whereby justice and order
may be maintained and the differences of people be resolved in equity.  
Bestow your blessings, we pray You, upon all who labor for peace and
righteousness among the peoples, that the day may be hastened when war shall be no more and  Your will only shall govern the nations upon earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Almighty God, Creator of all people upon the earth, most heartily
we pray that you will deliver your children from the cruelties of war and
lead all the nations into the way of peace.  Teach us to put away all
bitterness and misunderstanding, both in Church and State; that we, with all
the people may draw together as one community of peoples and
dwell evermore in the fellowship of that Prince of Peace, who lives and
reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and ever.  Amen.

Prudence, Wisdom, and Humaneness:

Grant us prudence in proportion to our power,

wisdom in proportion to our science,

humaneness in proportion to our wealth and might.

And bless all races and peoples

who travel in friendship along the road to justice,

liberty and lasting peace.

CHRISTIAN PRAYER OF HOPE

Beloved God, we give you thanks for the life and message of Jesus, Jesus the Rebel, who remains our guide and inspiration and the promise of Hope in our time. For Jesus calls us to love in a time of indifference, to nonviolence in a time of injustice, and to life in a time of death.  He teaches us not only how to live, but how to die; how to transform not only the world but our own broken hearts, as well.  His revolution transcends all our dreams for a better world and declares your reign here and now, at this very moment in human history.     In Jesus, we meet You, our beloved God.  We see your true face.  From now on we know that you are not a god of despair but of hope, not a god of wrath but of mercy; not a god of condemnation but of compassion; not a god of imperial power but of suffering; not a god of domination but of loving service; not a god of oppression but of liberation; not a god who blesses injustice but the God of justice; not a god of war but of peace; not a god of violence but of nonviolence; not a god of death but of Life.  From now on we know that we all have been created to share in the fullness of life, in your love and unending mercy. We step forward into the future, supporting each other, building community, making peace, practicing nonviolence, resisting the forces of war, and reconciling with our enemies, come what may.  We have met Jesus the Rebel.  He is alive and goes before us, summoning us to carry on the mission of nonviolence.  We have been changed forever. Beloved God, you have begun the revolution within us. Our hearts burn with the fire of hope. Amen.

prière du pape jean paul II a TOI YAH, Père des homme et des nations, nous confions , avec foi, l'humanité enitère avec ses craintes et ses espérances, ne la laisse pas manquer de la lumière, de la vraie sagesse. Guide la dans la recherche de la liberté et de la justice pour tous. Conduis ses pas sur les routes de la pax. Fais que tout rencontrent YAHUSHUA, voie, vérité, vie. Soutiens , o YAH, notre chemin de foi, et obtient nos la grace du salut éternel, o clément, o doux Père de YAHUSHUA, et notre Père, YAH!

loué soit le Père de miséricorde, nous somes ses enfants, lousé soit JESUS, l'image du Père, nous somes ses frères, loué soit l'Espit d'unité et d'amour, nous sommes ses téoins, loué soit tout homme sur la terre, crée a l'image du DIEU Trinité, appelé a vivre la counion universelle, tout homme est une histoire sacrée

heureux les artisans de paix !

SEIGNEUR YAHWEH DIEU, TU aimes tous les hommes de la terre, pour leur annoncer TA Bonne Nouvelle, TU Te choisis des disciples de tous pays, de toutes races, de toutes langues. Merci de nous appeler, a vivre en témoin de Ton Évangile. Aide nous a y être fidèles chaque jour, et apprend nous a partager, avec nos frères lointains, pour que les peuples du monde entier puissent Te connaitre et T'aimer.

CRISTO misionero te quiero misionero

yo ;;; misionero con CRISTO Misionero me comproeto a vivir toda i vida fiel al bautismo que he recibido en la iglesia cristiana que fundo JESUS. me comproeto a colaborar con la diocesis y parroquia a la que pertenezco en la meidda de is fuerzas porque sé que de esta mnera glorifico a DIOS y hago fecunda i vida;; para ello : recibiré los sacramentos con frecuencia. Leeré la Biblia, Palabra de DIOS. Viviré al serviscio de los hermanos, especialmente de los mas humildes. Confio en la poteccion de CRISTO para ser fiel a DIOS. queridos hermanos que DIOS los cuide y los ayude a seguir simpre fiel a EL. gracias por haber colaborado con nosotros. nos llevamos un lindo recuerdo de ti. Tus hermanos;

Merciful Father, I offer You the Wounds of Jesus Christ for those in agony today.
AMEN

prayer for those in their last agony

O Most Merciful YAHWEH, lover of souls, I pray Thee by the agony of Thy son's most Sacred heart, wash in Your son's blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony, and are to die this day. Amen.

YAHWEH, pity the dying. YAHWEH, I live for Thee; YAHWEH, we die for Thee; YAHWEH, we are Thine in life and death. In the name of YESHUA. Amen.

Almighty and merciful God, who hast bestowed upon mankind saving remedies and the gift of everlasting life, look graciously upon us Thy servants and comfort the souls which Thou hast made, that, in the hour of their passing, cleansed from all stain of sin, they may deserve to be presented to Thee, their Creator, by the hands of the holy angels. Through Christ. Amen.

Remember, most merciful and loving Father, all who are sick and dying, and grant that in the solitude of suffering each may truly “come to himself,” and like the Prodigal of the Gospel may at last discover Thy love and return to a Father’s heart. That most bountiful Heart has given them joy of life and youth, hope and desire; and from it all good and pleasant things, all enduring comfort and true delight, descend in copious benediction. Feed them before they die with the Body and Blood of Thy beloved Son, that nothing may be wanting to Thy love nor to their eternal beatitude. Amen,

Everlasting Father YAH, for the sake of the love which Thou didst bear to St. Joseph, whom Thou didst chose above all to occupy Thy place on earth, Have mercy on us and on those who are dying. In the name of YESHUA. Amen.

Our Father, Glory be to the Father, etc.

Everlasting God, for the sake of Thy love towards St. Joseph, who didst protect Thee so faithfully on earth, have mercy on us all and on those who are dying.In the name of YASHUA. Amen.

Our Father, Glory be to the Father, etc.

Everlasting Divine Spirit, for the sake of Thy love toward St. Joseph, who so carefully protected Mary, Thy most holy and beloved daughter, have mercy on us and those who are dying.

Our Father, Glory be to the Father

Bedtime Prayer

Loving Father, put away
All the wrong I’ve done today;
Make me sorry, true, and good;
Make me love thee as I should;
Make me feel by day and night
I am ever in thy sight.
Heavenly Father, hear my prayer,
Take thy child into thy care;
Let thy angels pure and bright
Watch around me through the night. in YAHUSHUA's name. Amen.

Prayer for Those in Authority I Timothy 2:1-4, 28 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

For Those Who Suffer From Substance Abuse

Our most loving God who are seated on the throne in Heaven, may You shower Your blessings on those who suffer from chemical dependency. You know how much of a battle it is to stay clean and sober. Lord Jesus, adonai YASHUA , please watch over us every day and this day and smile upon those who are addicts and alcoholics. In Jesus' name. Amen

For Our neigbhours

Father, I'm praying for our neighbours

May we always have beigbhours who are men after Your own heart. May integrity and uprightness protect them because his hope is in You. Help him to live a blameless life, to trust You without wavering. May he walk continually in Your truth, and may he not neglect his time with You, no matter how busy or whatever the crisis. Help him to hear You clearly as You guide him through decisions that can affect our nation and the world. (1 Samuel 13:14; Psalm 25:21; 26:1b, 3b; Matthew 6:6; Isaiah 30:21)

Keep those who are deceitful or hypocritical away from our neibhgours. When others are trusting in military might and power, may he trust in You and Your holy name; keep him on level ground as he leads. Hide him in the shelter of Your presence from the intrigues of men; keep him safe from accusing tongues. (Psalm 26:4; 20:7; 26:12a; 31:20)

May he know You as the Lord, his rock, his fortress and deliverer. Be his stronghold, his refuge and Savior. May he call to You, who is worthy of praise, and be saved from his enemies. Be his shield, and help him turn to You for wisdom without doubting; give him Your wisdom generously as You have promised. (2 Samuel 22:2–4, 31; James 1:5–6)

In Jesus' name, amen.

Christ Be With Me
St. Patrick
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, Lord, be ever with us.

Prayer After a Therapeutic Abortion

God, Abba Father of us all, we ask Your blessing upon _______.

Bless all who face the choice of abortion. Thank You for granting them the wisdom to make their choice and the courage to act upon it, all the while embracing the knowledge of Your love. Grant unto all people the support and love we offer unto ______ this day and always. Bind us close in Your love and keep us faithful in our friendships. Hear our prayer, O God, our Father Abba and grant us mercy and forgiveness upon all our lives. Amen.

Table Grace

Back of the bread is the flour,
And back of the flour is the mill,
And back of the mill is the wind and the rain,
And the Father's will.

Prayer to Do What's Right

O Almighty and Everlasting God, Creator of Heaven, Earth, and the Universe, help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it is right. Make me truthful, honest, and honorable in all things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me the ability to be charitable, forgiving, and patient with my fellow men. Help me to understand their motives and their shortcomings, even as thou understandest mine! Amen.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Galleries/Top-10-Bible-Foods-that-Heal.aspx?source=NEWSLETTER&nlsource=38&ppc=&utm_campaign=Prayer&utm_source=NL&utm_medium=newsletter

Graduation Blessing
Proverbs 4: 1-13
Hear, O children, the instruction of a parent,
And give attention that you may gain understanding,
For I give you sound teaching;
Do not abandon my instruction.
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.

Enlighten the Darkness of My Heart
St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart,
and give me right faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
wisdom and understanding,
Lord, that I may carry out
your holy and true command.
Amen.

Make Me Brave for Life
Author Unknown
God, make me brave for life: oh, braver than this.
Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,
Shining and lovely again.
God, make me brave for life; much braver than this.
As the blown grass lifts, let me rise
From sorrow with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.
God, make me brave, life brings
Such blinding things.
Help me to keep my sight;
Help me to see aright
That out of dark comes light.

Bedtime Prayer
Anonymous
Loving Father, put away
All the wrong I’ve done today;
Make me sorry, true, and good;
Make me love thee as I should;
Make me feel by day and night
I am ever in thy sight.
Heavenly Father, hear my prayer,
Take thy child into thy care;
Let thy angels pure and bright
Watch around me through the night. Amen.

Protect Them

Father Abba in Heaven , I'm praying for (name one or more) and those who are serving with him/her, and for everyone and the living creatures who love them.The Bible tells us You're our rock, our fortress, and our shield— and these people on my heart need You to be all these things and more! They don't have to be in the heat of battle to be in danger; the world is a dangerous place wherever they are. (Psalm 18:2)

Grant them new life, that they may run under Your wings when they face danger of any kind; cover them with Your feathers. Help them stay in constant touch with You, living in Your presence. Then send Your angels to surround them and guard them wherever they go! ( John 3:3, 5; Psalm 57:1; 91:1–2, 4, 9, 11; 2 Kings 6:17)

Help them turn to You as their refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Go before them and protect them from behind. Be their shade from the heat, their shelter from the storm, their hiding place—protect them from trouble. Watch over them, for You never sleep. Their lives are in Your hands; may they trust in You and not be afraid. (Psalm 46:1; Isaiah 52:12; 25:4b; Psalm 32:7a; 121:4–5; 31:15; 56:11)

In Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer on Being Made Redundant

Redundant’ – the word says it all - ‘useless, unnecessary, without purpose, surplus to requirements.’ Thank you, Heavenly Father, that in the middle of the sadness, the anger, the uncertainty, the pain, I can talk to you. Hear me as I cry out in confusion, help me to think clearly, and calm my soul. As life carries on, may I know your presence with me each and every day. And as I look to the future, help me to look for fresh opportunities, for new directions. Guide me by your Spirit, and show me your path, through Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. Amen.

Seeking Healing From God

O God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Enlighten the Darkness of My Heart
St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart,
and give me right faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
wisdom and understanding,
Lord, that I may carry out
your holy and true command.
Amen.

Prayer for Students
Anonymous
Father of Light and Wisdom,
thank you for giving me
a mind that can know
and a heart that can love.

Help me to keep learning every day of my life--
no matter what the subject may be.
Let me be convinced that all knowledge leads to you
and let me know how to find you and love you
in all the things you have made.

Encourage me when the studies are difficult
and when I am tempted to give up
Enlighten me when my brain is slow
and help me to grasp the truth held out to me.

Grant me the grace to put my knowledge to use
in building the kingdom of God on earth
so that I may enter the kingdom of God in heaven.
Amen.

Make Me Brave for Life
Author Unknown
God, make me brave for life: oh, braver than this.
Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,
Shining and lovely again.
God, make me brave for life; much braver than this.
As the blown grass lifts, let me rise
From sorrow with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.
God, make me brave, life brings
Such blinding things.
Help me to keep my sight;
Help me to see aright
That out of dark comes light.

The Burial of the Dead: Rite One
Anonymous
I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord;
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live;
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

I know that my Redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth;
and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God;
whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold,
and not as a stranger.

For none of us liveth to himself,
and no man dieth to himself.
For if we live, we live unto the Lord.
and if we die, we die unto the Lord.
Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord;
even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.

As I Go From Health to Illness
Maureen Pratt
As I go from health to illness, Lord,
I am fearful that I will not be able to withstand
the journey.
Help me to trust in you completely,
and be my support and strength as I let go
of all denial and accept my situation
so that I can do something positive about it.

I Have All in God

God of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are sufficient for me.If I were to ask anything less I should always be in want, for in you alone do I have all.

Nighttime Prayer

My God, I love You with all my heart. I thank You for having kept me safe this day. Pardon me the evil I have done, and accept the good I have done. Take care of me while I sleep and deliver me from all danger. May Your grace be always with me and with all my loved ones. Amen.

Guide Me Through These Dark Days

O Lord, I am torn up with grief.
I know you are there, but I cannot see past
my sorrow and tears.
Be with me, Lord, and do not take
my unhappiness to heart.
Rather, work within me to guide me through
these dark days
and bring your light to my life,
so that I may see your goodness, even in my mourning.

Prayer for the Earth

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

Prayer for All Fools' Day
Anonymous
Give me a sense of humor,
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some pleasure out of life
And pass it on to other folk.

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/Prayers/Protestant/Holidays/Prayer-For-All-Fools-Day.aspx#y65sIfclLhkt70UV.99

Prayer

Lord Our God,
the heavens are the work of Your Hands,
the moon and the stars You made;
the earth and the sea, and every living creature came into being
by Your Word. And all of us, too.
May this tree bring cheer to this house
though Jesus Christ Your Good and Holy Son,
Who brings life and beauty to us and to our world.
Lighting this tree, we hope in his promise.
Amen.

Prayer

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise You for the great wonders You have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise You for the Word made flesh in a little child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.

Be with us as we sing the ironies of life, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before You shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen. Help us to rise bigger than we are.
Amen.

Prayer For those who work

Lord. As I spend today going about my work, help me to put aside any bitterness that I'm not celebrating at home with loved ones. I ask You, Loving Father, to give me a special sense of Your Presence as I meet people, that I may shed on them the light of the Bethlehem Star, the Spirit of GOD.
Amen.