prayer – Wandering and Wondering

Prayer Creation and Expansion

One of the ways that I often “create” a prayer for a season is by choosing a prayer that someone else wrote. I use their version the first week and then adapt it each week moving forward. This way the thread runs in a way that keeps consistency, AND it offers variety.

This season I have been working with a prayer offered by Howard Thurman, “I Confess” from Meditations of the Heart. Here is the original:

Prayer of Confession:

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Here are the many ways I altered it. Some perhaps better than others:

Week 2 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

Some have money that stretches beyond imagination and cannot be used in a single lifetime, while others struggle to fill their needs.

Some have multiple homes while others live in only a cardboard box.

Some throw their food in the dumpsters as excess, while others scrounge the same dumpster for dinner.

All claim a hope for the future and yet we bicker and get stuck in details, often moving no plan forward.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in all of my decisions.

I have left to others a real work of blazing Jesus’ way in the world.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace in sustainable ways; and sometimes confuse peace for ignoring those who are being crushed under the foot of injustice.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 3 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

We are blessed with more than any generation before us; and yet, we focus on what we lack rather than what we have.

We have made incredible technological breakthroughs; and yet, we use our accomplishments to break people’s spirits and diminish their value.

Our lifespans are longer than ever; and yet, instead of focusing on enriching our time, we worry about age spots, grey hair, and hold each other to unrealistic youthful expectations.

In a time where transportation allows us to traverse the world, we simultaneously try to bar the world from our door.

We are made up of series of contradictions; and sometimes we fail to realize the gaps between what we believe and how we act, between what we say we want and how we live;

And so, in this moment,

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities.

I have not always been wise in my ways.

I have left others to suffer for my benefit.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have worked and acted against it.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 4 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There are houses that sit with empty bedrooms,

There are people with empty houses,

There are dorms and hotels with empty beds

and yet there are people without a place to rest their head.

There are meals left uneaten,

There are garbage heaps filled with so called out-dated food that is still good to eat,

There is food rotting in barns and storage containers,

And yet there are people without enough food to sustain them.

There are children who need families

and families who want children but too much red tape between the two for them to meet.

There are cures for illness and disease and people suffering,

but there is not the desire or inclination to make sure that all have the access they need.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities.

I have not always been wise.

I have left to others what I should do.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 5 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

Instead of true joy – people seem to act as if projecting “joy” and “happiness” is enough.

Instead of deep personal relationships – people seem satisfied with likes, shares, and follows.

Instead of looking into a person’s heart- too often people are judged by their hair, their clothes, or their car.

It seems that we have replaced reality with facade.

I confess my own share in these ills

Through the judging of others; and on trying to present ourselves, rather than just be ourselves.

I have shirked my own responsibility in creating and responding to authenticity.

I have held my own biases and prejudices without deeply challenging them.

I have have failed at being as welcoming as I could be.

I have been concerned about my own appearance, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not fully created spaces where people can be fully themselves.

I have not worked as diligently for inclusivity as I should; I want diversity, and yet there are still areas that I get caught up in societal norms and expectations.

I have dimmed my own self that I may not rock the boat and in doing so, I have not made space for others to themselves.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 6 – Adapted Version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

Where some live grand lives; others barely eek out an existence,

Where some voices are amplified; others are muted and silenced,

Where some have freedoms abounding; others are treated as objects and slaves.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities to both learn our history and speak on behalf of others who are being mistreated.

I have not been courageous enough to look glaringly into the injustices that others proclaim.

I have left to others the responsibility to teach, to speak out, and to advocate.

I have been too self-centered to concern myself with how inexpensive products are made or how coffee makes it to my table, or who is mining the precious ores from our earth.

I have not adequately concerned myself with what others are forced to do for my convenience and comfort.

I have not really cared about the lives of others, but have been content with overlooking process in exchange for product.

I must acknowledge that there are ways that I have not worked for peace; but I have worked against it.

I have kept silent when I should be speaking out.

I have stood back when I should be standing up.

I have enjoyed the benefits of the world, when perhaps I should be limiting my take.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 7 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

We suffer from isolation; and we’re the first to retreat to our homes and shut the door.

We all experience heartache and pain; and we’re the first to hope some will not really respond when we say, “How are you today?”

We have experienced loss and often deal with bouts of grief; and sometimes we are the ones wondering if someone is feeling better yet.

We know the world can feel overwhelming; and sometimes in words and actions we tell others to have a stiff upper lip or ourselves hide our true feelings.

I confess that I struggle both with my own feelings and sometimes with the feelings of other – sometimes I push down my feelings, sometimes I don’t make space for others feelings, sometimes I perpetuate a world where everything seems like it should be bright and shiny.

Help me, O Lord, to be express my own feelings with truth and to make space for others.

Help me to find connection rather than executing cut off.

If I want peace and wholeness, then I have to work toward honesty and allow for others to be their whole selves and be my own full self.

I pray today that you will let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to both live in light and in shadows and to allow for the space for others too to express both the good and the challenging. I courageously pray for a kind and accepting world that aims toward love and acceptance. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 8 – Adapted Version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I see confusion.

I see discomfort.

I see struggle.

I see despair.

AND

I see hope.

I see beauty.

I see repair.

I see joy.

I confess that sometimes I magnify the trouble, and minimize the hope.

I confess my own share in the turmoil of the times.

I acknowledge that I forget to bring my troubles to you. I forget to stop and breathe. I forget to pause before I respond.

I acknowledge that sometimes it is easier to retreat; and sometimes it is easier to ignore.

I acknowledge that sometimes I forget to look for the ways that are available to me to rewrite the story or reframe what has happened.

Sometimes I get so caught up in what I am experiencing that I forget to look at my siblings in the world or the world itself.

I know that I cannot always change what has happened, but often I have more power than I know to change whatever happens next.

I want peace and wholeness, but I become paralyzed.

I silence my own voice assuming that what is is what is.

I pray this day that you might let your light burn in me so that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers. I pray that I might seek the light, reflect the light, and be the light. May I courageously stand in the tempest knowing you are with me. May I, to the best that I can, live into the world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

Life is not easy AND God never leaves us to face it alone. Emmanuel – God with us – reminds us of God’s great love and presence especially in times of trouble. Know you are loved.

Week 9 – Adapted Version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 10 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 11 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 12 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

As you can see, I began playing with it more and more, letting the words of Howard Thurman himself push me deeper and deeper into the ideas he lifted up. I almost what it might look like if I continued to play with it into the future. Alas, we will move onto another season.

Prayer of Transformation w/ Assurance of Love

Prayer of Transformation

God of love and liberation, soften my heart.
Dissolve my walls of resentment.
When time, money, or resources are short,
do not tighten my fist or make excuses for why I deserve
what is being withheld from others.

Inspire my compassion.
Encourage my creativity.
Help me find mutually beneficial solutions
that do not rely on the binary: in/out, with/without, worthy/unworthy.
Remind me of the kingdom of which you dream.
Call me into its creation. Amen.

Affirmation of Love

Hear God’s call in your heart.
Jesus said, “Follow me.”
Set down your prejudices, your pre-determined ideas, your perception.
Remember: all who abide in God abide in love,
and all who abide in love abide in God.
Be love.

Incarceration Sunday

Here is a Call to Worship, Invocation, and Prayer of the People from our Incarceration Sunday, when we consider the issues around incarceration and our prison system. This weekend we focused on a wonderful program in MA, called Partakers and the long standing relationships that can come from mentoring someone who is incarcerated.

Call to Worship (DMA)

Pastor: Jesus could have spent time only with the rich and the powerful;

People: instead, he knelt on bended knee.

Pastor: Jesus could have spent his time gathering prestige and power;

People: instead, Jesus sought out the troubled, the wayward, the lost, and the least.

Pastor: Jesus could have reached out for the crown of an earthly king;

People: instead, he lifted up the lowly.

Pastor: Jesus made straight the crooked path

People: and smoothed out the rough road.

Pastor: Jesus looked to the margins and welcomed all in.

ALL: Jesus reminded us that all are worthy of God’s love and redemption.

Invocation: (DMA)

Holy One of Grace and Mercy, We come before you to learn the way of Christ. We come before you to ask forgiveness for the times we wandered and stepped in front of our siblings in need. We come before you to offer praise and thanksgiving for all you are and all you have done. Meet us here in this time and place that we might, through community, get to know you more fully. AMEN

Prayer of the People (DMA)

Our prayer, O Lord, extends today beyond unexpected borders – not national borders, but borders that we create right here in our country: borders that come in the form of bars and borders that take the form of quiet exclusion.

We pray for the youth that are caught in juvenile courts. We pray that at least one adult will be able to get through to them. We pray that they might know their value and worth. We pray for their future and their safety.

We pray for the youth that get tried as adults, who are pressed up into a system that fails to take into account the psychology of development. We pray for their protection, for their ability to endure a harsh system, for their resilience.

We pray for the first time offender – for all the steps that brought them to this place. We pray for their future. We pray for the possibility of restorative justice that might allow them to reintegrate with the community.

We pray for the reoffender, for the many who do not see options or have alternate opportunities. We pray for a system that sometimes looks for the slip up. We pray for the challenges they face once the word “criminal” or “felon” is attached to their name.

We pray for the lifers – especially for those who have used the time well and done the work that needed to be done and yet are not eligible for release.

We pray for our criminal justice system which often puts more weight on retribution than on restoration and rehabilitation.

We pray for the families of those incarcerated and the challenges they face because their loved one is behind bars.

And of course, we pray for the victims and all who have been hurt and harmed.

May we work toward a world where pain and suffering are no more.

Lord, hear our prayer. We pray in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together saying: (Insert the Lord’s prayer as your church says it)

The Human Buzz and a Prayer for Purpose

A poem and prayer from our trip to Ghana

The Human Buzz

By Dawn M. Adams

Zip

Click, click, click, click, click

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“Boarding Zone 5.”

“Have your passports ready.”

Shufflelllllll

Whir, whrrrr, whir

“Hurry up.”

“They’re boarding.”

Mmmmm mmmmmm Mmmmm

“#57”

“How will you take your coffee?”

Bing

“Have a good trip!”

The human ants march

and run the maze seeking

their boarding gate.

They go here and there with

maddening intensity

and yet with little

purpose to anyone

but them.

Jesus said follow, but they

scurry and hurry about:

each thinking their mission

to be of the greatest importance.

To their estimation the

first will be first and the

last will likely be left behind.

And so they rush and bump

and might step over you

or on you if you

dared to stop and look

and notice your sibling

beside you . . . equally

agitated . . .pressing

and stressing like

rats in a labyrinth

trying to find the hidden gift of

the wafting perfume

of cheese long since

taken away and

boarded off but still

enticing to those that

smell the tasty possibilities.

They move like individual cells through our veins,

thinking they each have a mind of their own,

but acting as one flowing mass –

A river of humanity.

One and yet all;

all and yet one.

Murmur. Murmur, murmur.

“I need to stop in the restroom.”

“We’re on time.”

“We’re late.”

Clip, clop.

Hhhhhhph

Peal me from the chaos of humanity, O God. Remind me to slow down, to follow, to notice why you sent me to this place at this time. Remind me simultaneously of my autonomy and my communal responsibility. Use me wherever I am toward your good. Help me to set aside what I perceive as my purpose and make room for whatever you imagine my purpose today. AMEN

Prayers for a Graduation

Creative Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Graduation-cap-g6c3c0e4d0_1920.jpg

As we edge toward many a graduation, I thought you might appreciate some graduation prayers.

Here is an invocation and benediction that I will be offering this year:

Invocation

Holy Divine One, whom we know by many names,

Today we gather to celebrate the accomplishments of the outgoing class of 2026. We honor the years of work that have gone into reaching this mark and give thanks for the family, teachers, friends, coaches, mentors, and staff that have supported them on their way. As we watch them each receive their diplomas and move their tassels from the right to the left, we ask that you bless each one of them. May they know their own belovedness and potential. Let us with glad hearts recognize and praise these accomplished young adults on this auspicious day of graduation. AMEN

Benediction

As our time concludes here today, and each of you graduates head out onto new adventures, receive this blessing:

May the culmination of your time at [insert school name] be not the end of your [school name] story, but the grounding from which you will continue to develop and grow.

May the ideas and ideals that you’ve learned here provide you with the foundational tools that you need for tomorrow.

May you continue to thrive and grow, recognizing evermore your role and responsibilities in an interdependent world.

May you each be brave enough to imagine and live into a world where all have what they need and where all care for each other and the world itself.

May God bless you and keep you.

Go with the blessing of God upon you, now and forevermore.

Here is what I offered last year:

Invocation

God of the heavens and the earth and all there within and without,
We gather here on this day to celebrate the lives of these students who are graduating today.
As we hear of their accomplishments and watch them receive their diplomas, we ask you to bless them. Bless them as they begin their journey into an even wider world. Bless their family and friends who have supported them along this journey. Bless this place and this day.
May your Holy Spirit be a gentle prescence throughout this ceremony this morning. AMEN

Benediction

As we go from this place
and you, newly graduated, begin to explore the next chapter of your life,
May you remember your time here at [school name] and in [town name] fondly.
May it give you the strength and fortitude to stand up for what is right and good.
May it offer you the wisdom to lean in with curiosity
and the ingenuity and creativity to build bridges of connection.
May you live into the character that you developed here
always looking out for
and standing up for
those who are in need.
Go with the blessings of God upon you
and be the change you hope to see in the world.
Peace be with you.
God bless.

And here is what I offered in my first year here. This was one of my very first acts in my newest setting:

Invocation

Holy God, who is known by many names,
as we gather here to celebrate the accomplishments of these students,
we ask for your blessings.
May our time together be rich with meaning.
May we listen intently with open ears and open hearts that we might notice stories of courage, perseverance, creativity and kindness.
May we recognize each individual and also the community which has surrounded and supported them.
Through our time together today,
may we be filled with hope for the future
and be inspired to go back into the world bringing with us all the goodness we witness and partake in today. AMEN

Benediction

As we end our time together today, I ask for God’s blessing upon all the students, their families and friends, the teachers and staff of Brewster Academy, and the wider supporting community of this institution.

May the grace of the Holy One be upon you all.

May the Spirit lead you out into the world and encourage you to be bold.

May you not shrink back from the enormity of the troubles of this world

but instead be empowered to know that you are just what the world needs in this time.

May you be courageous and creative in developing your dreams.

May you be kind and compassionate in all of your interactions.

May you find mentors who will continue to press you in your pursuits and others who will share in your passions.

May you continue to learn and create, daring to share your full self with this world,

and may the world receive your gifts with joy and appreciation.

Go with God’s blessings creating love, peace and justice wherever you go.

And may we all trust that the world will be better place because you all are in it. AMEN

Traveling mercies upon you all.

One thing that I found helpful in writing these was reviewing the school’s website to search out their mission and vision for their students and looking for other values that the school held up as important.

NOTE: All rights are reserved for these prayers. Permission is given for use in educational or religious setting with citation.

Annual Meeting prayers

Picture by me as well from a writing group I participate in.

Here are four prayers (two opening and two closing) that I have used for annual meetings. Please feel free to recite them directly, adapt them, or use them as jumping off points for your own creation.

Opening One –

Holy One, As we enter into our meeting today, let us turn our attention to you. Let us listen with the intent to understand, even if we disagree. Let us wonder about purpose. Let us ask questions to learn. Let us look for the Spirit who guides us and for your son’s footprints in our work. Let us, with intention, seek you in all we do. We give thanks for all that you have done through us and look forward to where you may lead us next. AMEN

Closing One –

Gracious God, We thank you for this time together. We are thankful for the good work that these gathered people have done over the past year. We pray that as we go forward, we will continue to serve you well and, in your name, the community of Wolfeboro and beyond. May you bless all who are here today and those that were not able to be present. May we all work together to continue to manifest your kin-dom* in this world. AMEN

*For information on the use of the word “kin-dom” see the work of Ada María Isasi-Díaz.

Opening Two –

Holy creator God,

As we gather to do the business of the church, we pause to pray.

Remind us of our purpose.

Encourage us to listen and speak with good intention.

Help us to honor those who came before us without being shackled to bygone ways.

Inspire us to make your church new for every generation.

May we translate numbers and columns into people and missions and may we honor your and each other in our time today. AMEN

Closing Two –

Wondrous God, who weaves creation,

Thank you for the attention and intention we brought to today’s meeting.

We give thanks to all who worked toward, wrote for, and reported in today’s meeting.

We celebrate the mission and ministry this church.

We pray for our continued work in this particular place and time.

We praise you and hope that all we do and say honors you.

Bless all who gave up their time to be here today.

May we all continue to be church in all we do. AMEN

A Thanksgiving Thought –

Liturgy from our Thanksgiving Worship

This was not from this week but last. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the beautiful final altarscape with the vessel completely returned to wholeness. We have been putting it together throughout our journey in Exodus and now that they have crossed the Jordan, it is completed.

Call to Worship – based on Psalm 22

Pastor: There are days God feels far away from us

People: God, my god, why have you forsaken me?

Pastor: There are days we wonder if God hears the groanings of our hearts.

People: God, why does it seem you are so far from me?

Pastor: There are times we may wonder if there is a God at all.

People: O God, I cry day and by night, but you are silent and I find no rest.

Pastor: Do not fear, beloved, God is as close as your breath. God is seeking the way of good in every moment. Trust in the Lord your God.

Invocation

Creator, Sustainer, and Protector, make yourself known to us. Do not be far from us, but gather our tears and allay our fears. Let us know you in our hearts. Let us hear you cry out, “ Peace!” in our soul as Jesus did in the storm. Help us to still ourselves and take respite from the world long enough to remember that you are God. AMEN

Preparing

Prayer of Transformation

Teilhard de Chardin offered the ideas that in all our dark moments, God is present. God is in the parting of the fibers of our being and penetrating the very marrow of our substance . . .

Stop.

Listen.

Absorb in the silence the active stillness of a God seeking to work in your heart.

Moment of Stillness

AMEN

Response to Stillness –

May the movement of God within and through you not only work to heal you, but may it heal the whole of the world.

Pastoral Prayer

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, when Christians everywhere proclaim Christ is King, may we give thanks for the people in our lives:

Those who brought us to life,

Those who cared for us when we were young,

Our teachers,

Our mentors,

Our bosses,

Our partners,

Our friends.

Let us give thanks for those who make our days easier:

our mail delivery person,

the person who makes us food or coffee,

the bank tellers,

neighbors,

garage mechanics,

the grocery check out person,

and the bagger.

Let us give thanks for those who seek to make our lives healthier:

our doctors,

physical therapists,

chiropractors,

dentists,

cardiologists,

nurses,

physicians assistants,

mental health professionals,

and nutritionists.

Let us give thanks for those we forget to acknowledge who make life go smoother:

the road workers,

the tree trimmers,

the traffic directors,

the civil engineers,

water treatment staff,

electricians,

plumbers,

carpenters.

We are thankful for all the people who give of their time and talents to make this world a better place. God, may you continue to inspire them in their calling and let them know how their work is truly a ministry in the world.

We pray also this day for those who are feeling down on their luck and for whom giving thanks seems more like a joke than a possibility. May you strengthen their reserves. May you move helpers into their lives. May you make level their path. May you give them concrete and palpable hope that there are those who see them and understand their need.

We pray also for those on our minds today. Hear as we lift their names to you:

(Have people speak the names of those who are on their heart)

We pray all of this in the name of Jesus, our King of Kings, and your son, who taught us to pray saying:

& Lord’s Prayer

Prayer of Illumination –

O Lord, speak to our hearts. Let your words move beyond our ears and take root in the deepest corners of our soul so that it might grow and transform our ways. AMEN

Invitation to share –

Today, we are invited to not only put in our weekly offering, but to dedicate the pledges that have been coming in for weeks. We honor the thoughtful consideration that has gone into deciding how much to pledge to the mission and ministry of this gathered body.

As the plates are passed, please put any final pledges in the plate. We give not out of necessity, but out of desire; not out of confidence, but out of humility; not out of what is left over, but boldly from our first fruits. We give knowing that we together with each other and with God truly can change the world.

Prayer of Dedication

God of the Ages, receive today both our offerings for the day and the promise of tomorrow. Unify us in spirit. Unify us in ministry. Unify us in mission. May you receive our pledges and our gifts. May they show honor to you, and may they go to serve all of the world in your name and to your purpose. AMEN

Gravestone Blessing

I have been asked to bless a gravestone. The funeral was almost a year ago now. The family would like the “service” to be relatively brief.

Here is what I will offer. I hope that it might help you if you are asked for such a liturgy yourself. I had a hard time coming by one online, so perhaps this may inspire you.

The opening and the benediction are original pieces with the prayers coming from AI after I fed the entirety of the memorial liturgy into it to create the blessing.

Blessing of a Gravestone

WELCOME AND PURPOSE
We are here today to bless the headstone that marks the resting place of [Name]—wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

We are here to again remember and give thanks for her life,
and to honor the grief and the loss that still sits in our hearts as a result of her death.

We come knowing time goes on,
and not wanting to forget her or let her be forgotten.

This is a day of marking this space and this place in her name.
This is a day to remember the love that she imparted and the life that she lived.

Throughout history, stones have been a way to mark the final resting places of those we love.
In fact, some say that the placing of rocks upon the graves of those we love marks a turning point in human evolution:
a point where emotion and connection overtook utility.

Over time, simple acts to mark a grave were enhanced with more formal commemorative markers—
meant not just for those who already knew the one who had died,
but also to proclaim who they were to the world for all time.

One of the earliest burials in our sacred story comes from Genesis 35,
where Jacob buries his wife Rachel and sets a stone to honor and remember her.
The scripture says:
“So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),
and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day.”

And so today, we bless this stone which has been set in honor of our beloved [Name].

PRAYER
O God,
We pray for your presence in this place,
for your Spirit to rest upon this stone,
and for your love to surround all who gather here.

Bless this marker, O Holy One,
that it may stand as a witness to a life well-lived—
a life of beauty, of kindness, of devotion,
of gardens tended and homes made warm,
of dogs rescued and meals prepared,
of love poured out in quiet, steady ways.

Let this stone be a signpost of memory,
a place where grief is honored and love is rekindled.

May it speak not only of death,
but of the life that continues in those who remember,
and in the communion of saints that surrounds us still.

MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE
Let us take a moment to be still—
to remember [Name]’s laughter, her labor, her love.
To recall the way she made a house a home,
the way she moved through the world with purpose and grace,
and the way her life continues to shape our own.

(Silence)

BLESSING OF THE STONE

Holy and Loving God,
by your mighty power you gave us life,
and in your love you have given us new life in Christ.
We now bless this stone,
set here in memory of [Name].

May it stand as a testimony to her life and legacy,
a place of peace for those who mourn,
and a reminder that nothing—not even death—can separate us from your love.

May all who pass by this place feel the warmth of her spirit,
the strength of her devotion,
and the beauty she cultivated in every corner of her life.

Benediction
May this gravestone stand as a reminder to all of [Name]’s love and life,
and may each of you be living stone, which also speaks of her to the world.
In her honor,

may you go and live life to the fullest,
enjoying nature, each other, and each day that you are blessed to continue to walk this earth.
May her memory live through you and may it continue to be a blessing to you.
Go with God’s blessing and peace. AMEN

A Blessing for Your Journey

For those times when goodbyes are necessary, it is important to mark the occasion so that the community can both celebrate and grieve.

You are each a blessing.
We have been richer for your presence.
We are thankful for the time you have shared in this gathered body.
A part of us weeps at your absence,
but a greater part of us celebrates with you as you take this next step in life.

As we send you off, we offer you this blessing:

Go with our love in your hearts.
Go knowing you have made an impact here.
Go knowing you will always be a part of us.
Go with our blessings—

May God bless you and keep you as you reestablish your roots.
May you build community and find a new church home.
May you create new memories and be filled with joy
as you grow into your new life.
And as you are blessed, may you share that blessing
with all whom you meet.

We send you with love.
We send you with hope.
We send you with our support, if ever you need it.
May God watch over you,
and may this be a wonderful new adventure.

Amen.

You go with our blessing—and our love goes with you.

An Easter Blessing / Devotional

I thought this was such a wonderful idea that I asked the deacon of my church if I could share it. She said, “of course!”

At each of our deacon meetings, we start with a devotional or simple prayer. She entwined the two by having us each choose an egg. Inside each egg was a delicious piece of chocolate or jelly beans and a tiny little scroll that she tied closed with a piece of the green grass.

On each of the small scrolls was a line of blessing that when read in any order created a beautiful prayer.

It didn’t matter if all the eggs were taken or only some. It didn’t matter who started or who ended. The prayer in the form of a blessing just continued to unfold.

What blessings can you think of:

May we . . . .

May God . . . .

May the world . . .