Scripps Sunday - Alaska Edition #31

 

Celtic Prayers for you today.....

For that which we ought to have done,
to bring a blessing
or word in due season,
forgive us, gracious Lord.
For that which we have already done,
which has caused a wound
or moved someone to anger,
forgive us, gracious Lord.
May these be lives that are devoted
to serving you, and all
whom you would lead us to.
 
 
You have given us each other,
that through this community of faith
others might be drawn to you.
Forgive us when, through lack of love
our lives do not reflect your grace
and our words bring anything but peace.
May this place bring a blessing
to all who enter, and this people
become the face of Christ
that they shall see today. 
 
 
 
May this be a day of hope,
of expectation,
relishing each moment
as a gift from you.
May this be a day of freedom,
of breaking free,
loosening the chains that
still surround us.
May this be a day of peace,
of wholeness,
knowing that our lives
are in your hands.
May this be a day of joy,
of blessing
living in your kingdom
as a child of God.
 
Now may the God of love
keep us safe in his arms,
The God of peace
bring us to sweet rest,
And the God of joy
let us wake refreshed.
 
God who calls us
Into difficult places
and to darker spaces where our trust
is in the strength that you provide
To you belongs our praise
God who calls us, leads us,
guides and shields us,
To you belongs our praise.
Now may God’s blessing go with us,
God’s love surround us,
God’s footsteps guide us,
and God’s strength supply us
throughout the day ahead.
 
God, who in love creates us
Come, fill our lives anew
God, who in love enfolds us
Come, fill our lives anew
God, who in love sustains us
Come, fill our lives anew
God, who in love directs us
Come, fill our lives anew
God, who in love renews us
Come, fill our lives anew
 
For this day of possibilities;
the roads that we have walked,
glances and greetings exchanged,
conversations and silences,
decisions made or deferred,
successes and failures,
prayers whispered or left unsaid,
blessings given or received,
for this day of possibilities,
and the one that is to come
we give you our thanks.
Now may the God of love surround us,
the God of love protect us,
the God of love bring us safe
through this night and all nights,
the God of love bring us awake
once more to dawn’s fresh light.
 
 
For Truth that speaks to hearts
Lord, show us your mercy
For grace beyond imagining
Lord, show us your mercy
For forgiveness from our sin
Lord, show us your mercy
 
Lord, you call us to be different
as we journey through this day,
to be a guide to those who wander,
offer help and seek the lost,
Forgive us when we fail to become
the people we should be.
Lord, you call us to be different
in the ebb and flow of life,
to see the good in all your children,
demonstrate your love and grace.
Forgive us when we fail to become
the people we should be.
Lord, you call!
Equip and strengthen
your people for the task,
that within our daily journeying
we might bless the lives we meet.
 
 
For each step that we might take
Be our guide, O Lord of life.
For each load that we might bear
Be our strength, O Lord of life.
For each mountain that we might face
Be our power, O Lord of life.
For each river that might impede
Be our safety, O Lord of life.
For each place where we might rest
Be our peace, O Lord of life.
For each sunrise and each sunset
Be our joy, O Lord of life.
 
Gracious God, who reaches out
to those who stumble,
embraces the humble,
seeks the lost,
forgive us when we lose our way.
Take us in your arms
and bring us home again,
that we might daily know your presence
and in your lives reflect your grace.
 
 
You are the shepherd
who walks the extra mile
to find the sheep that is lost,
Such is your love for us.
You are the merchant
Who sold all that he had
To buy a pearl of great price
Such is your love for us.
You are the farmer
who sows in fertile soil,
anticipating harvest.
Such is your love for us.
You are the outsider
who does not cross the road
but stops to help a stranger
Such is your love for us.
 
God of grace and mercy
present both in desert places
and green pastures,
who knows the shadows
in which we wander
and longs for us to walk in light,
whose arms embrace all those
who in despair cry out.
To you alone belongs our praise!
God of grace and mercy,
who knows the people we could be
yet loves us as we are.
To you alone belongs our praise!
God of grace and mercy,
who understands our frailty
and hears us when we call
To you alone belongs our praise!
 
 
May the God of grace
lift you from where you are
and raise you onto higher ground
May the God of peace
still the anguish of your soul
and bring you to a quiet place.
May the God of hope
who warms our fragile hearts
be the strength you find today.
 
God, who graciously brings us
through troubled times
and desert places
Embrace us with your love.
God, whose Spirit fills us,
who lifts the weak
to higher places
Embrace us with your love
God, who patiently leads us
through well known and
challenging places
Embrace us with your love
 
As this day draws to a close
we bring to your feet
those whose lives touched ours
just for a moment.
For smiles exchanged,
hasty greetings,
brief encounters
with people we may not know
but who are precious in your sight.
Bless these moments,
and may all such encounters
scatter a seed of your love
into the fertile earth of each day.
 
In our journeying with you
be our guide, O Lord, we pray.
Open our ears
to the unexpected,
to the gentle whisper
that follows earthquake and fire.
In our journeying with you
open our eyes
to the destination
and the greener pasture
that you have prepared for us.
In our journeying with you
be our guide, O Lord, we pray.
 
Now may the God who leads us
from darkness to light
illuminate our footsteps,
lengthen our stride
and strengthen our path
prepared for us,
and faithfully serve our Lord and King.
 
 
God who brings us from desolate places
and into his presence
Accept the gratitude of these hearts.
God who lifts us from despairing places
and grants to us release
Accept the gratitude of these hearts.
God who leads us to sacred places
where we can rest in peace
Accept the gratitude of these hearts.
 
 
Lord, open these eyes
That we might see this world’s beauty.
Lord, open these ears
That we might discern your calling
Lord, open our hearts
That we might be led to service
Lord, open these mouths
That we might proclaim your Word.
 
 
For a world that lives
but has yet to experience life in all its fullness
Precious Lord, have mercy.
For a world that loves
but has yet to meet with the source of love
Precious Lord, have mercy.
For a world that seeks
but forever stumbles in its searching
Precious Lord, have mercy.
 
 
Send us into the world, Lord
To speak your words of truth
Send us into your world, Lord
To proclaim your love and grace
Send us into the world, Lord
To bring comfort to the weak
Send us into the world, Lord
To be your hands and feet.
 
We shall not fear this day
for you are with us
wherever we may go,
your light to shine ahead
your footsteps to lead the way.
We shall not fear this day
for your word will be our guide,
your strength sustain us
your love revive us
this day and all days
We shall not fear this day
For you are with us
Wherever we may go
So may the God we follow
be the voice that calls us,
the feet that guide us,
the love that sustains us,
and the embrace
that welcome us home.
 
-John Birch