This prayer, by St. Francis, is one of my favorites because it gives such a vivid, full picture of God. I also like how he holds together several paradoxes (i.e. God is wisdom and humility, joy and justice, etc.).
You are holy, Lord, the only God,You are strong.
You are great.
You [...]
Tags: prayers · spirituality
Prayer is a very important part of our worship services. Every week different people take turns praying for us and with us. At the beginning of the service we have a congregational prayer that reflects on our lectionary passages and the world around us. Later in the service we have a time for individuals to [...]
Tags: prayers
I had a couple of other prayers in mind for today, but then I came across this one this morning and it seemed especially fitting for today, Martin Luther King Jr. day. I’ve thought about racism from the perspective of Ephesians 2:14-16 or Revelation 21:24-26, but this prayer makes the point that just looking [...]
Tags: prayers · spirituality
I wrote a benediction for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Please feel free to use it, adjust it, or tell me why it’s wrong.
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As the apostle Paul says in Philippians, “The Lord is near” (4:5). We are witnesses of the dawning of that great light come into the world—Immanuel, God with us. May we depart [...]
Tags: prayers · spirituality
A celtic prayer today, or at least a part of it since it’s very long. It’s one of my favorites, perhaps because of its earthiness. Many prayers seem so other-worldly or ethereal that I find them hard to connect with every-day life. Translation from The Celtic Way of Prayer.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
For my [...]
It seems only fitting that for thanksgiving the weekly prayer be one of giving thanks. The line that saves the prayer, for me, from coming off sappy is the next to last. That I am loved and that I love—those are things I find myself being increasingly thankful for as the years go [...]
I’m continuing on with trying to memorize a prayer weekly from the Oxford Book of Prayer; this week one by Augustine of Hippo. I took a class on Augustine in college that gave me an appreciation for his depth and wisdom as well as the remarkable impact he has had on Western Christianity. In addition [...]
I decided today, after reading Lee’s post about Praying with St. Francis, that I want to start memorizing prayers written by others. My goal is a prayer a week from The Oxford Book of Prayer. I’ve been going through the OBP for six months now and find it one of the best aids [...]