Prayers of the People: The Presentation of Jesus

40 Days Later...  Sunday, February 2, 40 days after Christmas, is packed with theological and liturgical significance. A special Feast day in the Church calendar, it is sometimes overlooked when, as in most years, it falls on a weekday. The official name is: The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. It is also recognized as The Purification of Mary  because the Law of Moses required that she – like the Infant Jesus – participate in a rite of purification 40 days after childbirth. Some Christians marks this as the official end of the Christmas season - because beyond the “12 Days of Christmas” between Christmas Day and the Epiphany - this day concludes the 40 Days of the Incarnation. The day is also Candlemas, a traditional time to bless candles for liturgical use. And of course, the period of time of “40 Days” in itself is frequently used throughout the Hebrew and Christian Testaments of The Bible to highlight auspicious activities.

               The focus of today’s readings for us is the Infant being presented for purification in the Temple in Jerusalem – a fulfillment of prophecy, a revelation. The holy Simeon, an aged, righteous, and devout man is waiting for sight of the Messiah before he will know death. How many times has he looked at a child and wondered – is it him? Yet this time he knows. He takes this Child in his arms; his joy is palpable. Another aged prophet, Anna, breaks out in praise of God and tells everyone about this special Baby. We can easily get caught up in the moment – remember the excitement of special births, baptisms or christenings in your family?

              Then in the midst of the all the elation, Simeon gives Mary a hint of things to come when he says, “This Child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel…a sign that will be opposed…a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Given all that Mary and Joseph have experienced so far – Angel announcements, the difficult journey to Bethlehem, the birth in less than ideal circumstances, shepherds, heavenly choruses, Wise Men, and prophetic dreams…one can barely imagine what the young new mother, Mary, is thinking. Perhaps Cornish poet Charles Causley’s words gives voice to Mary’s thoughts and to every parent’s hopeful yet anxious wish:

Vivid upon her tongue

Unspoken prayers

That she may not outlive

The life she bears.

Readings:  Malachi 3:1-4, Ps 84, Hebrews 2:14-18, Lk 2:22-40  

                                                                                                       Let us, God's People, Pray


Leader: ~ Jesus, the Joy of Simeon who knows Your arrival is a cataclysmic event!  Keep us always surprised and joyful at your sudden arrivals in our hearts and minds and let our lives radiate the exhilaration of being in Your Presence.

                   O Lord of Hosts

Response: We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, we present ourselves to you as pilgrims on Your Way.  Refine and purify our hearts and souls so that we may find favor as servant messengers of Your Covenant.

                  O Lord of Hosts  

                  We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, attend to those who present themselves in the world’s temples of government.  Fill their hearts with Your wisdom, justice, and mercy and diverge them from paths of greed and inhumanity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
                O Lord of Hosts 

                   We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, we ask Your Healing for all who are seriously ill, frightened, or exhausted, and for those who tend to their needs.  Care for them as sparrows nesting by Your altar and give their wings renewed flight in hope. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                    O Lord of Hosts 

                    We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, open our eyes to Your Place of Springs in the desert of sorrow, as the ones whose loss we mourn are set free in peace to a new life in the fullness of Your Salvation and Glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                     O Lord of Hosts 

                     We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, Grant continuous discernment, wisdom, and prophetic understanding to those who guide Your Church and those who worship within it.  May the Spirit Most High keep us all merciful and faithful servants of Your Word.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                      O Lord of Hosts 

                      We put our trust in You

Celebrant adds:  Lord God of Sun and Shield, we, the humble hosts in Your Creation, rejoice with Simeon and Anna, Mary and Joseph, and prepare ourselves for the many risings and fallings yet to come in our own lives.  We re-dedicate ourselves to You on this day and ask Your blessings for strength, integrity, and faithfulness through Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit who live and reign with You as one God, now and for eternity.  Amen.

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Prayer for S'no Trouble (again)

               Thank you, Lord - the snow is falling 
  (again) and it is lovely to watch.  The sounds of life outside are muted with the cushion of several more inches of unique multi-faceted crystals (again).  The driveway is completely covered (again), the roads are treacherous (again), especially when other drivers feel that the posted speed isn't fast enough and I am driving  on ice 10 mph below that (again).  Not that I'm complaining, Lord (again).  I just always want to be thankful for all that Creation gives.  However, I'm finding that very difficult at the moment (again).   SO, I'm praying to ask that if it isn't any trouble, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP (again)!   sigh But, ok, whatever, thank you, Lord, for listening  (again).  amen.











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Prayer for the Bookmark-er

           To the Patron Saints of Libraries:

       Please send a special blessing to the Reader who left this pretty sticky-note as a bookmark in a library book I recently borrowed.  As I turned the page and saw it I thought of the person who put it there and wondered....what did you find on that page?  Did you finish the book?  Did you find it inspiring?  Whatever your life circumstance is, I pray that you truly experience the grace of God and all the Saints.  Go well, be well.  Enjoy and be inspired by your reading, especially things like the Anne Lamott we've now shared.  I hope all of the Stitches in your life repair, renew, and add lovely, surprising new patterns and designs.
                I've kept the bookmark as a remembrance that in God's creation we are never truly alone. Somewhere someone is reading what I'm reading. amen.







Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayer from Inside

Skylight in my home
covered with snow

          Spirit in the Sky ~ My skylight is blocked with frozen snow but I know that You are still there. I may not get out tomorrow, or even the next day, but I will soon and the sun will shine through my skylight again. Please send Your light, warmth, and comfort to those who are always inside and will never get out especially prisoners in jails or of wars, the chronically sick and elderly, those lost in the darkness of mental illness or addiction or in the endless grip of grief.
              Remove the ice of doubt from their hearts and give our prayers flight to lighten their spirits.  Fortify each of us to take an extra moment to defrost the loneliness of just one person today.

              We lift our prayers to You, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier ~ our Spirit in the Sky, the breath in our bodies, the lifeblood of our Faith.  amen. 

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

The Good News is Jesus.  

                    The Other News is that we're the ones who are called to proclaim the Good News. Jesus is the Light in the Darkness, our Teacher who has come to guide us, show us the way, and to shine His brightness along our path.  WE are the ones who are to till the fields, fish the waters, feed the sheep, and lead God's People home.  So the saying goes, "We may be the only Bible some people ever read." WE are the hands, feet, eyes, and ears of Jesus! 

Readings:  Is 9:1-4; 1Cor 1:10-18; Mt 4:12-23; Ps 27 1, 5-13

Let us, God's People, Pray:

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness of fear and sin, You call us, as everyday people, to be the proclaimers of your Good News.  Give us the courage to be Your faithful messengers in all areas of our lives.

        Hear our voices, O Lord.
        Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, You want us to follow and cast Your nets to gather all peoples to Your Saving Power. Grant us the desire to beckon the world to Your Shore and be among those caught in the Glory of Your Salvation.

        Hear our voices, O Lord,
        Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, we pray for You to reveal Your Healing Sight to those who are ill, weary, and frightened, as well as to those who care for them. Dismiss despair and all fear of abandonment by shining Your Holy Face upon them. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

        Hear our voices, O Lord,
        Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, stay with those who are bereaved and give them rest from their grief. Help them and all of us to turn toward God and follow the radiance of You beyond the fog of anguish and gloom. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

           Hear our voices, O Lord,
           Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, turn the hearts of our political leaders toward You and toward ridding this world of endless war and violence. Help us all work toward the care of each other as brothers and sisters in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

                 Hear our voices, O Lord,
                 Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus our Light in the darkness, renew the zest and joy for Your presence to Your Church and her leaders. Reinvigorate the appetite and enthusiasm for spreading Your Gospel and shepherding Your people to Your life eternal. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

                 Hear our voices, O Lord,
                 Have mercy and answer us.


Celebrant adds: O God, our Creator, Your Servant Paul admonished Your followers in Corinth to be in agreement with each other, and have no divisions or quarrels that diminish the power of the Cross. Endow us, in our own day, with faithfulness and fortitude. Let us not divide Christ among us. Let us be as living proclamations of Your Gospel and follow You, O God, our Refuge and our Strength. AMEN.

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Prayers of the People: 2nd Sunday after Epiphany and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

           Holiday for Holy Purpose?

         In this country we have converted many federally recognized commemorative dates into "Monday holidays" on which schools, federal, and state offices are closed. For example, we used to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12th and George Washington's birthday on February 22nd. Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day to remember the dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves) was May 30th. Now they and others all fall on a Monday close to the original date - with the exception that Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays were combined for a single day known now as "Presidents' Day."

        When a holiday/date was selected, and Congressionally approved, to honor Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr., his birthday of January 15 was so designated. It, too, has become a "Monday holiday" however, there has been a considerable amount of effort by his family, those who literally walked with him, and newer generations to make this more than a "day-off" from work and school but rather that it be a "Day On" of community service in Dr. King's name. But for many it's still a day off to play. The purpose is especially lost among those who despise his memory and what that must require of us as equal human beings.

         It is critical that we carry Dr. King's message forward to uphold people of all colors, creeds, national origin, sexual orientation, and for any reason that any one is targeted for oppression, brutality, bullying, and discrimination. We are all equal in the Eyes and Heart of God. And, as Dr. King said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."  What service will you do in holy purpose for God's People?

Let us, God's People, Pray:

Readings:  Is 49:1-7, 1 Cor 1:1-9, John 1:29-42, Ps 40:1-12, MLK “I Have A Dream”

Leader:  ~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, You called us before we were born and named us in the womb. We have spent our strength for nothing and vanity.  We now must turn toward You and answer. Our cause is with the LORD,

       

Response: Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, You gave us a new song and often we sing it out of tune and use our own words.  Help us to learn Your words, love doing Your Will, and keep Your Law in our hearts. Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, You have given us all the gifts we need to proclaim Christ’s glory to the world.  Your Servant Martin used his gifts to show the way to freedom for all of Your people - those who are still terribly oppressed and brutalized in our own day and even those who mistakenly believe that freedom is achieved through power and greed.  Help us to compel our governments to demand equality for all, to put an end to the evil acts of those who inflict intolerance, oppression, and terror to Your People.  Let us be Your light to the nations. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions.  Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, let Your Holy Spirit descend upon and give hope to all who are sick, troubled, and weary of life, and also upon those who care for and about them.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions.  Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, lift those who are desolate from the loss of loved ones.  Fill their hearts with peace and comfort as they feel the Lamb of God in their midst and know those they love have indeed found the Messiah.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions. Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, inspire the leaders of Your Church to know, feel, and share the dream of Martin Luther King.   Exhort them to bring Christ among us, to walk with us to restore the dignity of every human being, and to seek and serve Christ in all.  Let us all work together to see to it that   “…the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together…” inside and outside of our temples of worship.    We pray especially for:  add your own petitions.  Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

The Celebrant adds:  Almighty God, we see and hear again the example of Your Servant, Martin Luther King, Jr, in his powerful vision and compelling certainty that together we can all live in freedom from fear, oppression, intolerance and hatred.  You have called us to carry this vision, to stop our own thoughts and acts that disrespect and bring harm, and to make certain that Your People will know the peace and freedom of Your Salvation.  We ask Your grace to do Your Will through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who with the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, today and always.  Amen.   

An Excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I have a Dream speech

from August 28, 1963, Washington, D.C.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Full text:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/17/i-have-a-dream-speech-text_n_809993.html

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Prayer in the Fog

Mystical Shepherd,  


I am enveloped by the opaque vapor created where warm and cold collide.

 

A cinereal ceiling obstructs my sense of sky and I seem no longer to stand but rather to levitate over a groundless cloud.  

My dimmed vision sees neither ahead nor behind, neither above nor below.

 

The silence penetrates my soul. 

YOU are HERE.  

I can live in You.

amen.

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Prayers of the People: The Baptism of Jesus

            BAPTISM ~ is a Sacrament, a Rite of Initiation, or admission, or adoption into the Christian faith. A simple definition is that the word comes from a hybrid of Latin and Greek and literally means "washing." John, who Baptizes Jesus in today's Gospel reading, used it as a sacrament in his messianic rituals and it has roots in the Jewish tradition as a ritual of purification.          
                 Depending on denomination, there may or may not be infant baptism sometimes called Christening, or there may be no baptism for anyone at all. In those churches that do baptize, baptism may be by immersion - standing in water while water is poured over the upper body, submersion - one's whole body being dipped under and out of the water three times, aspersion, or affusion with aspersion as the sprinkling of the water, while affusion is pouring water over the head. As there are many methods, there are as many reasons given for and against the ritual that is sacred to some. 
                                                     The Gospels are pretty clear that Jesus was baptized by a somewhat reluctant John who thought that Jesus should baptize him. Jesus prevails - as he does with the footwashing and Peter later on - and we hear the words of God directly who announces "This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Of course we don't know if everyone present heard God, but isn't the warmth and satisfaction within all of us when we think about a moment (maybe exceedingly rare) when a parent announces pleasure or pride in us or for something we've done? Let it be so with us again, that we may please the One Parent who matters most!  Jesus rises for the first time from the waters of Baptism.  Let us walk with Him through to the time he rises again...

Prayers of the People:  Baptism of the Lord, Jan 12, 2014        Readings:  Is 42:1-9, Ps 29, Acts 10:34-43, Mt 3:13-17

The Leader: ~ Blessed Jesus, Beloved of God, in Your immersion into the Living Waters of Baptism by trusting the hands of John, we discover that our path to righteousness is through You. Help us to live our lives as a reflection of that trust, purified by the inspiration of Your Goodness and Peace.

 Jesus, Fount of Living Water, sanctify our hearts and cleanse our souls,
Response: We put our trust in You.

~ Blessed Jesus, Beloved of God, You are the Covenant God has given even to the lowliest of us; the Wellspring of Glory and Splendor that can reach into the darkest of hearts and blindest of eyes. Open our hearts and eyes, and animate our wills and feet to answer our call to follow You.

Jesus, Fount of Living Water, sanctify our hearts and cleanse our souls,
We put our trust in You.

~ Blessed Jesus, Beloved of God, anointed with the Holy Spirit and the Power of Goodness, we find in You the Perfect Example of humility and the Ideal of Servant as Leader. Impart this special grace to all those who govern in this world in order that they may work together and with us to seek peace, equity, and healing mercy for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions here.

Jesus, Fount of Living Water, sanctify our hearts, cleanse our souls and strengthen us to do as You will us. 
We put our trust in You.

~ Blessed Jesus, Beloved of God, we ask You to shower with Your healing mercies all those who are ill or filled with worry and dread and for those who care for them. Let them feel Your Glory within and know the Spirit of Hope has descended upon them. We pray especially for: add your own petitions here.

Jesus, Fount of Living Water, sanctify our hearts and cleanse and heal our souls. 
We put our trust in You. 

~ Blessed Jesus, Beloved of God, we mourn the loss of those we love who have returned to the Source of all life. We know they live again with You, yet we ask for Your strength and peace to find solace in our hearts and joy in the memories. We pray especially for the repose of: add your own petitions here.

Jesus, Fount of Living Water, sanctify our hearts, cleanse and soothe the sadness in our souls. 
We put our trust in You.

~ Blessed Jesus, Beloved of God, Your Presence is gentle enough to cajole us and strong enough to cause the oaks to whirl and shake the wilderness. Speak in gentle tones to those who would lead Your Church so they will be moved to whirl the oaks in Your name with grace, wisdom, and strength of spirit. We pray especially for: add your own petitions here.

Jesus, Fount of Living Water, sanctify our hearts and cleanse our souls, 
We put our trust in You.


Celebrant adds: Jesus, our Christ, You rise first from the Living Water of Baptism to bring New Life to carry us through to the time that You will rise again to carry us through eternity. You cleanse us with Your Holy Water, anoint us with the Holy Spirit, and walk with us on the life-path you set before us. We pray that You will be well-pleased with who we strive to become in Your Holy Name. Amen.

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Prayer to just "be"

       
                    In the misty gloom of the woods today, I suddenly discovered a moment to just be.  I was able to breathe in the all-too-rare silence and experience the peace of the real world that is Creation. I spend too much time inhaling and absorbing the noise of the artificial world, the world that doesn't contain You, the world that chips away at my soul. YES, there are exponential multiples of grief and need in that other world, the one that I live in ~ war, poverty, brutality, hunger, anger, and so   many   -isms.  I get lost in trying to sort out where I'm called first.  And yet, there are as many moments of love and beauty ~ grandchildren, family, friends, music, art, nature, and, even memories.  Today, I remembered You and took a moment to just be in the real world where there is always You.  I must come back more often for quiet, peace, solace, joy, and soul-fueling for the other place.  Maybe I can even learn to bring more of You with me.   amen. 

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Prayer for Feeling Helpless

                          OMG, All I can do is wait.     Waiting is one of the most difficult things in life to do.  I cannot help.  I cannot do anything useful. I cannot change the outcome.  All I can do is wait.  Please help me get out of what I'm feeling and be available for what is coming.  The clock is ticking; the time is passing, what is the answer?  OMG, help me DO whatever is best.  Help me get out of the way and BE what and where I'm needed.  amen.

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Prayer for Bitter Weather

                     Dear Ruler of the Universe ~ how do we cope with such extreme weather?  Please send your warming grace to those whose very lives are at stake from homelessness and poverty in this brutal, frigid weather.  We pray also for those who respond to their needs by being outdoors - Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics, Police.  Care for those whose livelihoods also require them to be outside - postal workers, utility workers and repairers, sea rescuers, and all others we can't name.  Bless all the caregivers who are doing what they can to care for the elderly, the sick, and others not able to care for themselves. Where it is flooding, let the waters recede. Where the wind howls, may it be calmed.  And where the ice overwhelms, let the thaw be gentle. Please help us keep the heat on, the pipes warm, and the children safe.  Dear Lord, we beseech You.   Amen. Amen.    

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Prayers of the People: Epiphany!

              EPIPHANY! 

      The dictionary definition is a sudden intuitive understanding; an appearance of God. For Christians, it is the celebration of the sudden appearance or manifestation of Jesus.  The traditional image for many are the "Three Kings", the "Magi", or "The Wise Men" who traveled to present their offerings in recognition of the Divinity of the Infant and unwittingly giving Herod a heads up that something dangerous to his power was nearby.  The travelers' gifts were symbolic of their understanding of the momentous occasion of the long-awaited birth of the King of the Jews:  gold to symbolize Kingship, the sweet burning frankincense honors the Child's Divinity, and the bitter myrrh as a foretelling of what is to come. 

        Once a significant marker of the end of the Christmas season as the Twelfth Night, in recent times the "holiday" celebration of Epiphany is more often merely a mention on the calendar. There is the occasional parish that centers on children and youth searching for the token inside a "Three Kings Cake."  It's time for us to engage again.  The glory of God is with us!  Let us each experience an Epiphany and grow along with this Holy Child.  Find the Light of Christ, even if only a single beam, and Follow.  Where is the Star leading YOU?

Prayers of the People 2^nd Sunday after Christmas, Readings for Epiphany

Readings:  Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Mt 2:1-12

~ Holy Child of God, the darkness of our past is pierced by the brightness of Your dawn.  Lift our eyes to see, and open our hearts to feel the blessings of Your Radiance.

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, You have come to us that we may rejoice in the blessings You bring and flourish in Your love as we humbly and gratefully serve You. 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, the Wisest of the Wise came to You with profound joy to acknowledge this auspicious Birth.  May those who govern in our names also come to You to receive and deliver Your Rich Wisdom to this world with peace, justice, and mercy, and rid the world of brutality, poverty, and despair.  We pray especially for those we have elected for our local and national positions: (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, shine Your Healing Light on those who are ill and on those who love and care for them. Shield them from fear and pain and guide them to Your peace and comfort.  We pray especially for: (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, even in our Joy at Your Sacred Birth, we are saddened by the loss of those we love.  Shepherd us through our grief and warm our hearts with Your Grace until we come to know that those we mourn live again with You. We prayer especially for: (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, sanctify the Leaders of Your Church and give them Your Vision and Strength to defend the poor and provide deliverance to the needy.  Let Your Leaders enfold and embolden the rest of us to live our lives in order to prosper all of Your People, for Your Glory and with all confidence in our Faith in You.  We pray especially for:  (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, we know we are precious in Your sight.  Let us feel the Love in Your Holy Heart written on our own from the rising of Your Star until the moon is no more.

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

 

The Celebrant adds:  Blessed and Holy Child of God, Your Glittering Star shows itself again as the Compass for our lives.  Let us follow the Light of Your Guidance to fulfill God’s Perfect Mystery for our lives and seek the bold path that will lead us to Eternal Life.  We ask this through Your Grace and for the Glory of God and the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

 

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space.

You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com 

 All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution

as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

 

 

Prayer for the Time of Waiting

A   N   T   I   C   I    P   A   T   I   O   N

   What is calling you to just wait?  Out of work, new baby, test results, the next paycheck, loan approval, diagnosis, good news, bad news, someone to love you, delayed flight...Will you cope, accept, deny, light up, flame out, smile, cry...tick,tick,tick,tick,tick,tick,tick...

Holy Spirit, Breath of God ~ breathe Your gentleness into my worried heart, my anxious head, my shaking hands.  As I inhale You deeply and slowly into my body and hold  1,   2,   3,   4,   5,   6  Your lightness fills my soul and soothes the fever of my impatience. As I exhale deeply and slowly out  1,   2,   3,   4,   5,   6     the turbulence of uncertainty is calmed and the ticking of time passing is quieter.  I repeat this process as long as I must while Your soothing presence enfolds me; Your cooling countenance carries me.  Whatever the outcome, You walk with me and strengthen my resolve.  Breathe on me Breath of God, fill me with life anew...  

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space.

You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com.

 All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution

as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.