MorningPrayer

Dear God,     What a day, such frenzy, what a flurry.  You wouldn't believe it God, all the activity, and all in your name. Well... some of it in your name.  We do tend to get carried away and leave you behind in the dust of people, presents, wrapping paper and boxes.  But, we figure once a year or maybe a few times more you really don't mind, do you?  I mean you have said you are with us, regardless.      But then, there is a relief when we can settle down and look around the room in the stillness and there you are; sleeping quietly in the manger, nestled in the boughs of the pine tree, sitting in the Bible on the table... I guess you were with us all along,it was  just us who strayed and forgot. Thank  you for being with us.  It really matters and we really  need you.  Be still and know God. AMEN

Dear God,     We have been gathered by you, as a mother eagle gathers her babes.  You have pulled us from afar into the safety of your wings and the shelter of your heart.  Protected by you, we feel loved and we love, forgive and slowly stretch our wings. We are ready to fly into the wonders of creation and the mystery of life.  We are ready to soar and experience awe and praise, thanks and grace. Silent flight of faith. AMEN

Dear God,     By the fireplace blazing, the dog sleeping, the cat whispering, in our easy chair tea sipping,  watching  lights twinkling  in the village on the mantle--we know the hush of the silence of the day and the holy of the night.  In serenity gather us, in peace hold us, in tranquility lead us, in belief transform us into new creatures of prayer and gentle souls of the spirit.  In the eternity of now stretching in all directions, we live in this moment of infinity. AMEN

Dear God,     Following stars is no easy task; sometimes the light wavers or the star is hid by a cloud of dismay. Sometimes we stumble and fall and our eyes grow dim with doubt or fear. We pray for the vision to keep the star alive in our mind and heart and for our eyes to follow the light of belief. In the darkness of night or the brilliance of day, may the star of faith burn brightly, a beacon in our soul of love and eternal grace. AMEN

Holy Lord God,    We are in the final week of our journey to Christmas day; a time of profound meaning and beauty for some and  meaningless or painful for others.  Whatever our mindset, may we walk in tranquility and contentment with you as our guide.  May you be present with us, "Emmanuel",  and immerse us in the mystery, wonder and hope of this walk and this season.  May we recommit ourselves to love and peace in heart, soul and actions. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN

Dear God,      We sing Gloria and Love born this crystalline morning. Son rays pierce our heart out of the risen sky and we hold the new dawn in our breath. What wondrous opportunity lifts us up as we celebrate your loving grace in the voice of the angels and the community at prayer. What miracle awaits us if we but see and hear?  Gathered in your arms of Joy  and your blood of Hope we are ablaze in your Peace.  Silent in anticipation. AMEN

Dear God,    The tradition of prayer is found in the constancy of our habit.  Let us not stop praying for presence, for peace, for wellness and wholeness.  Let us be open to mercy both received and given.  In the mystery of your being may we find the routine of our daily bread and gratitude.  It is not magic that we seek, but rather your hand holding ours that we desire. In the hand  of Jesus we pray, AMEN

Most Holy God,     Our mind turns towards you with the clarity of a new found morning, splitting the night apart. We awaken not just in belief but in the attitude of seizing the day, and opening ourselves up to the larger world.  What a wonderful day to experience you, God, entering into our world and caring in love and compassion.  May our attitude of life become ever larger in the mystery of transcendence and the grace of transformation. AMEN

Holy God,     As we move ever closer to Christmas, we notice how caught we are  in the rush and bustle of this season.  Help us to slow down, pause and be still amidst the necessities of doing and acting.  There are many items needing our attention, but don't let this agenda get in the way of our being present with one another and of our inner joy and happiness. Help us to not just focus on the meaning of Christmas but to be that meaning. In Jesus name, we pray. AMEN

                                             Creating God, Redeeming Son, Sustaining Spirit,                                                                            Remake us                                                                            Remold us                                                                           Rekindle us.                                                        Create in us  endless cells of life.                                          Carve in us a self born out of our inner potential.                                       Celebrate in us, the fresh voice of the flaming dove.                                                  Holy art thou, O God, Son and Spirit.                                                                                 AMEN

Dear God,     What gift can we bring to you and our loved ones?  What gifts mean the most of who we are and what we believe? If we have neither gold, frankincense or myrrh.  If we  have neither nobility nor power.  If we have neither creativity nor vivid imagination.  What gifts can we bring?  May we bring love and ourselves as simple as we are.  May we bring  visions and dreams of peace and joy gift wrapped  with hope.  May we bring peace in our heart and peace for the world.  May we bring faith and prayers of life lived in grace.  Are these suitable gifts for you and our loved ones? AMEN

Lord,       Consider the rain, the mountains flinging wind the clouds flapping and churning and the sun peeking through thin slits in the chaos. Consider our hopes and dreams, our visions of harmony, peace and tranquility. Consider us, O, God, your people caught between earth and sky. May your Son and the Holy Spirit embrace us and bring us to the valley of beauty and gentle peace. AMEN

Dear God,    Sometimes we are on automatic pilot, like a robot programmed to our daily tasks. Sometimes, this is the best we can do--just function. But with a little encouragement, perhaps from a loved one, or a little help from a friend or a helping hand from you, we can do better than just function. We can live. We can see and know beauty.  We can feel love and harmony.  We can be awake, aware and alert. So, please lift us up on eagles wings, caress us with a song and be the pulse in our souls, O God. AMEN

Dear God,     If our lives are like a flea market of memories, thoughts, experiences and discards then help us to walk through the aisles and be transporters of ourselves.  Maybe we can flip a few thoughts and dispose of the discards.  Maybe we can transform , redo and re-experience the junk. Maybe we can be made over and come alive in a new color, shape and use.  With your help and in your way and will we can be born again into a new life of potential.  Thank you God. AMEN

Holy God,    We sit by still waters in the comfort of our living room.  We close our eyes and breathe in the forest pine and hear the quiet waters slide in between the song of the wren. In the reality of our imagination is the mystery of creation bubbling and gurgling.  We are part of the ancient humming, tasting and smelling the burning atoms and the fermenting cells of life. Our skin tingles and our hair flames in the movement of angel wings.  We are part of the dance of Jesus and the plummeting Holy Spirit. AMEN

Lord,        In the darkness of our night and in the fog of our morning, we know you are there, silently reaching out a hand and whispering in the hush and gloom.   Be strong, fear not, you intone and your eyes light the pathway of righteousness , faith and safety. You hold our stretched and straining heart and the fabric of our selves so we won't split in two. In confidence and security, we lay down, knowing your angels  hold us in their arched wings and your voice soothes our soul. Blessed are we in this vessel of love and grace. AMEN

Oh God,     Sometimes we long to escape all the noise; the radio, TV, hum of fans and generators, chain saws, I-75 traffic, sirens, voices... and retreat into silence that cruises like a distant cloud through our mind.  Like prophets and seers of old, we want to escape to the silent cave or the endless desert and become saturated in the void.  Perhaps, there, we will hear your voice, the quiet whisper of revelation and insight and find our own voice of tranquility.  A voice of discernment and gentle wisdom. Hush, be still...AMEN

Lord Most High,    To you we turn in prayer, for all sorts of reasons. We are not necessarily looking for a miracle or  for magic to occur, though there are times that would be nice. We turn to you to give us strength to face our world.  We come in prayer because sometimes we need reminders about how to behave and what direction to move and you help us look in the mirror. We are prayerful because the change we seek is often in us and the transformation we long for is our own. In our words and in our faith, we become humble and and at the same time, our own self-esteem grows.  We long for wholeness and wellness, God. AMEN

Dear God,     When the world overwhelms us and we are sinking in the mire, please send a few dozen angels to help out, or maybe the hand of Jesus.  We need some patience and tolerance. Some kindness and understanding. We need to slow down and stop and pause and be still.  We need some patience, (oops, I already said that) and maybe a deep breath or several. Help us to remember to stop and pray.  That is very helpful. Then help us with what we need, whatever that might be. (we are not always sure.) We need to regroup and fold our hands gently and lift our eyes to heaven and pray.  We do. AMEN

Dear God,     Angels have brushed the sky this morning with flowing tendrils of pink paint.  Beauty flows like a river and the song of creation washes the earth and sky clean and bright.  We pause in the rush of our lives.  We are still in the presence of the Holy, breathing in the possibilities and remembering the angels like a dream in the fog.  May our spirit be in harmony with your love, and in the unfolding grace of the day might we be serene in heart and soul. AMEN

Dear God,  The embers of sunset are blazing in the fireplace and dawn casts a golden glow across your face. Morning beckons quietly through the frost as we unsnarl our tendons and slide into coffee and yogurt, the granola of the night digesting in the dreams of our mind. What will this day require of us? In gentle grace will we respond as the lessons of love and care have taught us? Once again, with your loving attention,in the footsteps of the elders we will rise to the mountaintop of beauty and harmony and be people of your image. AMEN

Holy God,      How do we do it God; both take care of ourselves and humanity at the same time.  How do we attend to our own joy and sorrows, laughter and tears, and still pay attention to others who are suffering, in pain, or laughing in the spirit of holiness. You hold us all in the palm of your hand at the same time and whisper sacred truths in our ear.  How can we image you and reflect your loving grace?  Can we? Shall we? Should we? Listen, you say, be aware and awake.  Be of compassion, sensitivity and caring.  It is a lot to ask, and yet, we shall try.  The people of earth deserve no less and we in our own space deserve our fullest attention.  Thank you for your love. AMEN

Dear God,      In the silent still meadow where the deer drink from the reflecting pond we peer into the mystery of faith.  We see ourselves in the depths of the earth and the vault of the firmament.  The saints embrace us in the flowing liturgy, the chants of Jesus, the newborn King. The water ripples in the splash of a star and we are reformed to purpose and vision, slipping into space and breathing the earth with love. Come, Holiness and sacred space, in serenity we are one with the Prince of Peace. AMEN

Dear God,     We ask for courage to touch this day in grace and humility. Courage of the butterfly to fly against strong winds and go home. Courage of the sapling to loose its leaves in the fall and gain them again in the spring.  Courage of the public servant to enter into danger in order to help someone else.  Courage of the wounded soul to face again that which has caused such distress. Courage of Jesus to face the trial and cries of, "Crucify, crucify!" Please be with us all, this day in strength and spirit. AMEN

Dear God,     Joy in the morning of opportunity. Wonder in the light that flows through the trees and coasts over the hills, washing our land in warmth and possibility.  Praise to you, God, for your Spirit of love that affords us new life and embraces our potential as children of Holiness. Mystery is in the hope that comes to us fresh, today, like a fresh new birth or an empty tomb. Alive! We breath, breathlessly. We are Alive!  AMEN