Loving God,
we come this day with gratitude for the gift of life,
for the beauty of your world and your people around us.
We also come this day with hurt, with grief, with confusion—
and we lift up to you those who are in pain,
those who suffer, those who live with illness.
We ask for your comfort to surround your people who sorrow,
your peace to surround your people who live with violence,
your hope to surround your people in despair.
There are many things we do not understand,
and so we pray for your wisdom.
Even as we watch news
of riots and typhoons and shooting in our streets,
we call out for your kingdom of justice and peace and love.
And yet we do not always act as if your kingdom is at hand.
Remind us, Lord, to keep our attention on you.
Set our minds on divine things, that we may be agents of your healing.
Focus our eyes on you, that we may not be seduced by other gods.
When our hearts turn to other ways, call us back to your way.
Help us, O God, to follow you, to live like you, to seek your will,
that the world may know your grace.
Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.
(silence)
You have called us to let go of our own vision to follow yours,
and have promised to be with us on the way.
Walk with us and help us to be faithful.
We pray these, and all things, in the name of our Risen Lord Jesus,
who taught us to pray together…
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake IL.
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