Prayers: always we begin again

a prayer for morning & evening

The Lord's Prayer              
I am tired                          
African Blessing                                            Canticle of Brother Sun                                            God's presence in my world                                     I have no idea where I am going                         Prayer for the day                                                 Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier     
Prayer of St Francis
Searching for God
The Carpenter’s Prayer
Prayer for seafarers and travelers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father,
  Who art in heaven,
  Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
  on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive our trespasses
  as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom,
  and the power,
  and the glory,
  for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (another translation)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come your will be done
  on Earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil
For the kingdom the power and the Glory
  are yours now and forever.  Amen.  

 

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I am tired
a prayer paraphrased and attributed to Pope John XXIII

Lord, It has been a long day and I am tired.
I have not done everything I wanted to do today, but I am going to bed because after all. . .                   it is your church.

 

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African Blessing
from An African Prayer Book, Desmond Tutu

May God free you, may God guard you night and day.
May God set you in your right place,                                          and may you spread out like the grass of a prairie.

Spread out like palm leaves; continue your walk,                        and may life be with you.

May God place you where God’s stars are placed at dawn and at night. Spread out like water of a lake.
Be numerous like the feet of a millipede.

Samburu, Kenya

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Canticle of Brother Sun
St Francis

Most high, all powerful, good Lord, to you alone belong all praise, glory, and honor.
No one on earth is worthy to speak your name.

Praise to you, my Lord, for all your creatures, especially Sir Borther Sun, who brings us the day and gives us light.  How beautiful he is, how bright in all his glory.

Praise to you, my Lord, for Sister Moon and the Stars.  You have set them in the heavens, clear and bight and fair.

Praise to you, my Lord, for Brother Wind and for air and cloud and all weather by which you nourish all you have made.

Praise to you, my Lord, for Sister Water, who is so useful and humble, so precious and pure.

Praise to you, my Lord, for Brother Fire, by whom you light up the night; How beautiful he is, how fair and merry and strong.

Praise to you, my Lord, for Sister Earth, our Mother, who feeds us and produces all sorts of fruit and colored flowers and herbs.

Praise and bless the Lord.  Give him thanks and serve him with great humility.

 

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God’s Presence In My World
a prayer of Jacob Astley (1579-1652)

Help me today to realize that you will be speaking to me through the events of the day, through people, through things, and through creation.  Give me ears, eyes and heart to perceive you, however veiled your presence may be.  Give me insight to see through the exterior of things to the interior truth.  Give me your Spirit of discernment.  O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day.  If I forget you, do not forget me.

 

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I have no idea where I am going
a prayer of Thomas Merton

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

from "Thoughts in Solitude", Abbey of Gethsemani

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Prayer for the Day from Celtic Treasures                             by J. Philip Newell

When it seemed there was no hope                                         you showed us new ways forward, O God.

When it seemed there were only endings                                  you showed us new beginnings.

Strengthen our belief in the power of life over death.
Strengthen our belief in the force of truth over falsehood
that we may be bearers of hope in the world,                         that we may be bearers of hope.  Amen.

 

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Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey
I asked for wealth that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I had asked for,
but everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;
I am, among all men, most richly blessed

 

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Prayer of St Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 

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Searching for God
A prayer of Saint Anselm (1033-1109)

O Lord my God,
Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,
where and how to find you.
You have made me and remade me,
and you have bestowed on me
all the good things I possess,
and still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek you,
for I cannot seek you unless you teach me,
or find you unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
let me desire you in my seeking.
let me find you by loving you,
let me love you when I find you.

 

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The Carpenter’s Prayer

Jesus, Master Carpenter of Nazareth, who through wood and nails has wrought our full salvation: wield well they tools in this thy workshop; that we who come to thee rough-hewn may be fashioned to a truer beauty and usefulness.

 

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prayer for seafarers and all travelers

Round our skiff be God’s aboutness
Ere she try the deeps of sea,
Sea-shell frail for all her stoutness
Unless Thou her helmsman be

Hebridean Altars

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a prayer for the morning & evening

“If I ascend to heaven you are there O God,
And if I make my bed in hell,
Still you are with me”
                                                 psalm 139-8

Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence
within you and all around you

Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
In the beginning O God
You shaped my soul and set its weave
You formed my body And gave it breath
Renew me this day In the image of your love
O great God grant me your light
O great God grant me your grace
O great God grant me your joy this day
And let me be made pure In the well of your health

Free Prayers of Thanks

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come your will be done
  on Earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil
For the kingdom the power and the Glory
  are yours now and forever    

A short reading from the Bible
If you don’t have a Bible, think of a Bible story you know.

Reflect on the story.
Reflect on the love of Christ for all who
suffer in the world and all who are broken

Intercessions
For those living with the sky as a roof,
For those whose food is the generosity of others,
For the lonely the sad the sick and the
  desperate- We pray

Give them Peace Hope and Love

For our friends and families-
For those who hate us-
For our parents, teachers and all who hold authority- We pray

Give them Wisdom Grace and Love

For everyone whose life will touch ours today-

For every situation we will have to choose good or evil-     

For every weakness and temptation- We pray

Give us strength and courage to love you
and to love each other as you have loved us

 

Free Prayers for special concerns

 

Closing Prayer 

A prayer of Saint Anselm (1033-1109 AD)

O Lord my God Teach my heart this day

where and how to see you

where and how to find you-

You have made me and remade me

and you have bestowed on me all the good things I possess and still I do not know you-

I have not yet done that for which I was made-

Teach me to seek you for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, or find you unless you show yourself to me-

Let me seek you in my desire

let me desire you in my seeking-

let me find you by loving you

let me love you when I find you

Amen

 

Questions for the morning
How would you like God’s help today?
How can you help God today?

Questions for the evening
Where did you see God today?
When was it hard to feel God’s presence?
What did you do to help others see God?

 

Wherever you are,
God is with you

Whoever you are,
God loves you