February 5, 2022

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God of justice
God of the oppressed
God of those who have been shut out,
we pray for your justice
we pray for repair,
we pray for
respect
dignity
power
love,
and it begins with naming the truth–
because your truth, justice, and grace
will prevail.

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Psalm 89:14 The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits.

Psalm 25:4-6 & 8-10 Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my savior, aren’t you? Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; Rebuild the ancient landmarks!…God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, and leads them step-by-step. From now on every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs, read the chartered directions.

Isaiah 1:17 Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so that I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.

January 29, 2022

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God of breath,
I don’t know what to pray,
so I breathe in and out
this air
that connects me
with all who breathe.
Let the rhythm of breath
and heartbeat
and open palms–
my just being
here–
be my prayer.

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Psalm 33 6-9: The skies were made by God’s command; he breathed the word and the stars popped out. He scooped Sea into his jug, put Ocean in his keg. Earth-creatures, bow before God; world-dwellers–down on your knees! Here’s why: he spoke and there it was, in place the moment he said so.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

January 22, 2022

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Creator of all life,
teach us to see our own bodies
and all bodies
the way you do–
beautiful and bright,
glorious in our uniqueness,
deserving of respect and reverence,
for our bodies are your sacred creation.

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1 Corinthians 39-40: You will notice the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies–humans, animals, birds, fish–each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies–sun, moon, stars–all these varieties of beauty and brightness.

January 16, 2022

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Jesus, writer in the dirt,
your way is not one of shame.
Help us move
through our feelings of shame, inadequacy and brokenness
toward your true story
of acceptance, wholeness, grace, and love–
for you are greater than our worried hearts,
and know more about us
than we do ourselves.

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John 8:1-11 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”

1 John 3:18-20 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

January 8, 2022

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God of restoration and renewal
I pray for your healing
for all of us
who are sick
in body, mind, heart, or spirit.
Walk with us on the path of illness
because deep healing is found in you.

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Matthew 9:35-38 Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”

January 4, 2022

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Jesus,
you called the children to your side
and acknowledged their beautiful spirits
and curious simple faith,
may I remember
that my children are children–
your children–
because sometimes I forget
and I have so much to learn from them,
if I pay attention.

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Luke 18:15-17 People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”

December 25, 2021

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Author of the cosmos,
writer of the universe,
may we live the stories you have written for us,
because no one can spin a yarn like you.

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Luke 2: 8-12
There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!


December 22, 2021

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Jesus,
teacher of Martha and Mary,
help me accept your invitation
to just be with you,
to sit in your presence,
listening–
for if I have the discipline
to make the essential choice,
it will never be taken from me.

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Luke 10:38-42
As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”

The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thin is essential, and Mary has chosen it–it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

December 18, 2021

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God of peace,
God who created the world and then rested,
may you quiet all those
with anxious minds
and troubled hearts
tonight.
May you grant them rest–
restorative, replenishing, peaceful rest–
for you know how good rest is.

Genesis 2:2-4:
By the seventh day God finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work. God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy day because on that day he rested from His work, all the creating God had done.

December 14, 2021

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Jesus,
you are a respite for the weary
who come to you worn out–
exhausted by the brokenness of the world,
battered by violence, disaster and destruction,
groaning within systems and cultures of oppression.
We ask for your mercy.
We ask for your justice.
We ask to live freely and lightly
because we yearn for the unforced rhythms of your grace.

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Matthew 11:28-30
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.