Hovering Spirit, who often touches our lives while we are unaware,
As we wake to activity, we pause to attend to your Presence, finding rich blessing in the depths of silence. Expand our ability to carry the peace of this moment wherever the day takes us. Rather than personal striving, guide us to new understandings of our connectedness. Remind us that gentleness is an expression of your power and strength. Make our every encounter, a gathering of love for the benefit of another.
Whispering Wind, whose language unifies us across boundaries and borders,
As this morning begins with the tending of kitchen fires, we pause to listen for the gift of softly cooing hens or the quiet rush or river water, any sound that creates a desire in our hearts to turn toward your Presence. Make it our intent to be open to new learning in our work and play. Use the voices of others to help us to see the poverty of our ways. Transform our experience to encounter your many riches in place we thought poor. Amen.
Gentle Restorer, who provides the rhythm for activity and for rest,
As darkness deepens, we pause to abide more fully in your Presence. Help us to become aware of how much is happening below the surface of our vision. Sometimes things are not as they appear at all. Sometimes the night is where our creativity emerges. Give us the sense to trust your wisdom even when our understanding is dim. Remind us of the promise of light that arrives when the new day dawns. Amen.
Lover of Life, who awakens us with the light of day,
Breathe into us anew as we attend to your holy Presence. Hold us in this moment, carrying us in the fullness of your love. Give to all who are in pain or grief, a sense of comfort through the monotony of hours. Remind us that even as Spring blooms fade into yesterday, you renew us with strength to persevere in difficult places. Provide all that is needed for your peace to shine in places of conflict. Most of all, give us clarity to know that sometimes even when we suffer, you use us to be part of your plan to relieve another’s burden. Amen.
Creator of Love, who inspires passion for living and serving,
Use this silent moment, giving us pause to consider the canvas of this new day. With each breath, fill us with promise for the fullness that is ahead. Thank you for providing for us and inviting us to live creatively. Use our words, like paint on the palate, to create light and shadow naming the reality in front of us. Give us courage to see truth and express ourselves in life giving ways, each a paintbrush that illuminates the need for one another in community. If one brushstroke goes beyond alignment, use it to become the foundation for an element of focus and beauty in our midst. Remind us there is no failure in love. Amen.
Mother Earth, whose renewing power enlivens, heals, and sustains us,
As the day begins, bring our breath into an unhurried rhythm. Focus all our senses on the natural world around us, thankful for the energy we receive from your creation. Open us again to the wonder of life unfolding after darkness, of new found activity in places of dormancy. Throughout this day, let us show our appreciation for the earth by making our footsteps gentle ones and our touch, caring and compassionate. Strengthen us to a further commitment for using only what we need and sharing our excess with others. We celebrate your goodness, today and everyday. Amen.
Revealer of Treasure, who gives us a glimpse of hidden things,
This new day begins with blue birds flirting on the window sill and flowering trees boasting of their beauty. Amongst creation’s commotion, we encounter your peace filled Presence. In the course of our responsibilities today, awaken our hearts to uncover the potential for love and emerging beauty you bring to every circumstance. Plant us as beacons in your garden so others might encounter your fullness where they thought there was nothing. Amen.
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Budding of New Life,
whose evidence surrounds us in this season,
Center our souls on your Presence to discover within whatever is struggling toward birth. As we explore new depths of intimacy with you, help us to admit how we fail at ceasing doing what is wrong and fall short of doing what is right. Then, guide us to your grace resurrecting our lives, bringing us out of dark discontent into freedom and glorious light. Strengthen us to bear this witness for others. Amen.
Renewing Power, who refreshes the earth in Spring time,
In this silence, we welcome your loving Presence and loosen our hold on things that don’t matter. Guide us to spiritual truths found in your creation. Remind us that transformation and humility come quietly and slowly. Nudge us forward when our patience and hope are worn out. Broaden our view to see the mystery of your work in the whole of it. Thank you for turning the earth and changing the seasons without any effort on our part. Remind us that we are all invited to work toward your purpose which brings new life. Amen.
Sustainer of Grace, whose wisdom is found in the rhythms of the earth,
Draw us toward your active Presence as we set our intent for this day. No matter what is needed, move us away from self sufficiency to surrender. In each encounter and circumstance, open us to notice your beauty and truth. Use the interruptions to simplify our efforts to only that which is essential. Fill us with the kind of gratitude that reaches out to support those around us. When the day is over, help us to rest satisfied in all that You accomplished to bring your creation to new wholeness. Amen.
Janet Salbert 