Renew our Hope

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Mover of Mercy, who leads us to places of renewed hope,
The time is come. Help us be still without running away as you expose our futility, our selfishness and emptiness. Your morning light reveals our darkness. Help us to bear these holy days with patience. Make our prayer one with the numerous refugees trying to escape the powers that condemn life. You have shown us the way that leads to life, increase our obedience to live in the purpose for which you created us. Make us those who live in the power of your resurrection. Amen.

Fill us with Mercy

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Rock of Ages, who carries us to places of refuge.
Use this silence to draw us deeper into the canyon of your love. Bring us low enough to soften our rough edges and fill us with your mercy. Then, direct us to footholds that elevate us to a place of your perspective. When we cannot see ahead, move us to simply listen, waiting upon your guidance for our discernment. Like all those who have gone before us, give us confidence to explore the mystery of your Presence today. Amen.

Fullness

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Creator of Clarity, whose light reveals magnificence in each detail of every hour,
Shine gently upon us as we take in the first breath of morning. We so often manage our stress by doing more. Our lives are starved for time, for a moment of stillness to see the reality around us. We blindly fill our days with activity and don’t recognize or receive the abundance you provide. Use this silence to help us make peace with our circumstances. Guide us in discerning how our energy can best bless the world around us. Give us the wisdom to let go of all that is unnecessary. Make the gift of this day be our attention in the fullness of your Presence. Amen.

Strength after Darkness

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Giver of Guidance, who watches our growth through every season,
In the middle of Lent, we tire of dealing with dark winter nights, the cold rain and snow. Spiritually we are fatigued as well, none of us have escaped the impact of a harsh word, the feel of a forceful arm, or fear in a tough crowd. It is not that we cannot see the light, perhaps we are too slow to admit our own darkness, for in the light of Divine Love, we all cast shadows. Help us to notice how often the most delicate things of creation come to life revealing their strength after a time of darkness. Let us move through the rest of this season, trusting in that. Amen.

 

A Simple Prayer From a Snowstorm

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Divine Maker of Wind and Snow, who fills us with wonder and awe,
As we begin this day, use this blanket of white to erase any need for words. Bring us an assurance that your Presence is made real in the silent winter landscape. Help us to practice this trust in the interruption of our lives, today. Warm our hearts and widen our interiors as we breathe in the beauty of the snowfall.  Rather than increasing our anxiety over our lack of control, let this time of quiet bring peace in our souls. Indeed, help us learn that even in when we perceive we are lacking, you provide all that truly satisfies. Amen.

Embody the Word

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Ancient Author, whose Word creates life and hope,
Our intent is to leave space on the page and time in our calendar to open ourselves to your living Presence. Yet, we are distracted by many things and pulled in many directions. Quiet us in this moment, wherever we may be. Remind us that a simple breath brings peace, a wordless moment allows us to listen. Bring to the surface a recovery of the word you have placed in our depths, with the sure knowledge that those around us are part of how you provide the very thing we desire most. Keep us this day, from ignoring those who complete the Living Word in us. Amen.

Simple Hope

Future realities

Carrier of blessing, who meets us in both dreams and realities,
On this last day of the calendar year, rather than brooding about past failures or worrying about future actualities, quiet us to ponder the blessing in here and now. Help us to understand the only way to face our circumstances is to soak in your love, to open up to your mercy, to still ourselves long enough to be saturated with your goodness. We are all hungry for something, but only some of us need food. We all experience rejection but only some of us are truly alone. Increase our ability to become hospitable and kind to those who are left out. In the year ahead, make our dreams a reality and our realities distant dreams. Amen.

Breaking into Darkness

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God-With-Us, whose living Presence is over, amongst and within us,
In the fullness of Christmastime, we find ourselves looking back, reveling in memories past. Remind us of the reality of your arrival, breaking into a world of deterioration and suffering in the face of dominating human powers, that we might trust your plan comes to us increasing real light, and truth and joy on earth. Usher us into a quiet resting place to savor a few moments of dwelling with you until we find ourselves dwelling in you. Bring to birth new hope for all that is ahead. Amen.

Respond with Thanksgiving

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Nurturing Mother,
who brings comfort to the lost, lonely and to the self-sufficient,
Our anxiety for the losses in our world has been high these last few weeks. Our questions bring us to our knees. Do you really know each hair on our head? Have you counted of every blade of grass? Slow us for a few hours so that we can count the grasses with you. Reposition our hearts and minds so that the world glows with life-giving mystery again. Rather than a moment of attending to your Presence, use as long as it takes to remind us that your creation is good and your wisdom is merciful and just. Make us people of prayer, saturated in your compassionate love to respond with thanksgiving for this life and the next. Amen.

Transform Paths with Peace

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God of Day and Night,
whose wisdom invites us into divine collaboration,
We are grateful every day begins with change, for this new day is different from the last. Yet, in these silent moments, our breath in yours, assures us of the constancy of your loving Presence. Steady our souls to meet the challenges ahead. Guide our steps to gently transform hardened paths with peace. You have made this day different than the last, and have given us freedom in how to live it. Deepen us through experiences that move our minds toward our hearts. Help us to learn we are most free when we are bound with you and one another. Amen.