Strength after Darkness

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Janet Salbert

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 for Lent

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Common Communion

Constant Companion, who walks down every path we take,
Slow our hurried steps and steady our anxious souls in these moments. We seek your guidance on our Lenten journey. Help us to let go and carry only what is needed. Turn us to face ourselves admitting our tendencies toward greed and pride. Relieve our condemnation of others transforming our hearts with understanding. Restore our common communion. Illuminate our paths with the life giving words of those who walk in the ways of the One who is above us, within us, beneath us, behind us and beside us. Amen.

A Simple Prayer From a Snowstorm

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Snowstorm

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

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Janet Salbert

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

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Janet Salbert

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

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Dwelling in

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.

Shine Bright

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Gentle Rhythm of Life, who brings creation forth through a pause,
We confess our pace is frantic in this season, we are all strangers looking for a place to rest in unfamiliar surroundings. We don’t quite know where our journey is taking us. Slow our breathing in this moment. Hold us until we become quiet and aware of your Presence. Rather than being lost in the world, help us lose ourselves in you that we might be recreated, as you bring to birth the Word made flesh. The peace on earth we long for will shine bright when it happens first in us. Amen.

Respond with Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Janet Salbert

glowinggrasses

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

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Janet Salbert

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.

Fresh Perspectives

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Beam of Blessing, who sends sparkles of light into every moment,
Our first morning breath, as we attend to the fullness of your Presence, gives us focus. Our hearts fill with gratitude by the way your creation nurtures us each day and yet, is often overlooked when there is much imperfection in our world. It is easy for us to find the broken branches, the shadows and woundedness in our midst. Help us to not only see from fresh perspectives but to act with renewed hope. Strengthen us to persevere and give us eyes of grace to see the beauty that is emerging in difficult places. Amen.