May God our Father increase your understanding of what it means for you to be His child and to have reserved for you an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and will not fade away. May the Holy Spirit take you deeper into the depths of Christ’s love, and lift you to the highest heights of His glory and grace, enriching…
We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this holy gift. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and our love for one another. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
O the Lord is good to me, And so I thank the Lord For giving me the things I need, The sun and the rain and the appleseed, O the Lord is good to me! (Amen) – This grace was commonly sung to the old traditional tune by my country cousins! (Matt)
Holy Spirit, giver of life to life, moving in All. You are the source of all things living, washing away all impurity, scouring guilt, and anointing wounds. You are luminous and praiseworthy, Spirit of Life, awakening and re-awakening all that is. Amen. – Hildegard of Bingen 1098–1179AD
Oh God, the father of all, you ask every one of us to spread Love where the poor are humiliated, Joy where the Church is brought low, And reconciliation where people are divided. . . Father against son, mother against daughter, Husband against wife, Believers against those who cannot believe, Christians against their unloved fellow Christians. – By Mother…
Forgiving God, when we notice how many things are still undone, and begin to regret, Restore our hearts. Forgive our mistakes. Bind up wounds of past mistakes. Transform our guilt into love and by your grace make us whole. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Jesus, Lord of light and darkness, Find us in the darkness, Find us in the light. Jesus, Lord of work and stillness, Make our work of worth, Make our stillness yours. Jesus, Lord of our past and future, Cover our anxiety with love, Cover our hopes with grace. Jesus, Lord of everything, Fill those who have nothing, Fill us with…
Creator God, you make all things and weave them together in a tapestry of life. Teach us to respect the fragile balance of life and to care for all the gifts of your creation. Give wisdom to those who have power and authority, that life may be cherished and a good and fruitful Earth may continue to show your glory…
God of the universe, We thank You for Your many good gifts – For the beauty of Creation and its rich and varied fruits, For clean water and fresh air, for food and shelter, animals and plants. Forgive us for the times we have taken the earth’s resources for granted And wasted what You have given us. Transform our hearts…
You are chosen! You are adopted! You are graced! You are saved! You are forgiven! You are known and loved! You are guaranteed an inheritance that will never spoil or fade! May the beauty of Christ be seen in you, May you be with Christ May you become more like Christ And may you live for Christ for ever. Amen.
Lord God, Without those before us, Without our mothers and fathers in faith, We would not know you. We remember our parents and our parents in faith. God of Zechariah and Elizabeth, God of Mary and Joseph, God of John the Baptist, God of the angels Gabriel and Michael, God of Ambrose and Augustine, God of all martyrs and…