Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Today, we invite you to reread, rest and reflect on the prayers of the past week.

Lectionary Readings for Today:
Psalm 67
Isaiah 56:1-5
Matthew 14:34-36

How wonderful we feel in your presence in this sacred prayer space. We want to know you more and spend more time with you. You invite us to come to you as we are. We feel Life-giving Spirit’s embrace. We hear you whispering: “Bring your cold hearts, loneliness, doubts, and worn hands. Bring your weariness, feelings of low self-worth, and fear. I will carry your burdens and lighten your loads.”

Lord, we turn to you and hear you. In you alone, we find strength and deliverance. Thank you, Yahweh, for longing for relationship with us and wanting to save us. We bow down and worship you.

We see the signs of your love for us. Dry places bring forth fruit, rough spots on our path are made smooth. All things occur because of your loving hands upon creation, like a potter’s hands upon the clay. We join in songs of joy, as we all worship you in the time of harvest.

We gather in assemblies and at your Beautiful Gate. We greet and are received by many who are also journeying. We are refugees, wanderers, and outcasts; we are established and blessed when we are in your sacred prayer space. We bear witness to your presence as our everlasting God.

Thank you, Jesus, for revealing to us God’s love for us, and how we are to love one another. We are a part of your community; we are called to love one another. Thank you for your compassion, love, grace, peace, and mercy that encompasses us. May we receive your grace, mercy, and love so we may love ourselves and your creation.