Sunday morning prayer

Just because this is where I put many of the things which I write, here is the prayer that I used yesterday in church. As you may know, I often write prayers before delivering them.

Morning Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Heavenly Father;

With your Word you created us. We are creatures of your imagination, breathed into being. Today we come before you, and in one voice, united as a family of God, we bring you praise.

Our hearts full of gratitude, we lift our prayers to you as we remember our mothers. Thank you for the mothers in this family who have loved us into maturity, and thank you, God, for the fathers, who have been partners on this journey.

May we remember that you hold us close, like a parent with a new infant, surrounding us with love and care. Awaken in us an awareness of how much you love us, and help us to respond to that love, sharing it with those around us.

We lift to you this morning those children among us – inside this room and outside this building – who don’t feel loved -- who feel hungry or hurt, who need to feel you embrace them through us. May we reach out to them with open arms and open hearts.

Forgive us, God, when our efforts to nurture others fall short of your grace. Enable us, through your forgiveness, to reach out, again and again, blessing others with your presence.

We remember, Father, your son, who showed us your nature, who taught us how to live, and through dying, granted us life eternal. Hear our prayer, God, as we lift to you the prayer that he taught us:

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, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.