Tag Archives: progressive Christianity

A Prayer for Freedom to Use My Voice

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Lent Prayers, Life, Pop

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Beloved God, Divine Tongue-

As the years pass,
I’ve kept my mouth quite closed.

You have asked me to share the Good News,
And I kept your love to myself.

You have asked me to share your message of justice and equity,
And I worried about what others would think.

You have asked me to be to be the most authentic version of myself,
To share the truest me with the world,
But I kept that self hidden too many times.

It would have been lovely to speak my truth along the way-
To those who downgraded me,
To those who have doubted me,
To those who tried to destroy my soul.

Yet as I learn about my worth,
And continue the journey of healing and growing,
My voice continues to be freed by the constraints of this world.

The song I sing in this new chapter
Reflects a version of myself that has hidden in the depths of my spirit
That once fled to the Sheol of my mind.

And now I stand in the warm sunlight with you, Spirit of Wonder-
On top of the escarpment overlooking the lands I’ve previously walked.
I know what needs to happen now
As I warm my voice at dawn of this brand new day.

Amen.

A Prayer for Rest

01 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Health, Lent Prayers, Life

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Holy Deliverer of Downtime,

As the evening takes its place within the skies,
And the winds cool after the sun sleeps for the night,
May I find my rest.

The day has been long.
I often wonder, Holy One,
Why I no longer have the mental energy
To create profound writings
Or even clean the kitchen.

My energy comes from you, God.
But maybe you’re telling me to rest.

So, I pray what is closest to my mind and heart.
The words fail to be painted in a multitude of colors-
Instead appearing in neutrals and grays.

Thank you for this day.
Forgive me for the ways I fell short,
And may I know your grace.
Bless this evening.
Bless the ones I love.
Comfort the hurting.
Bring peace to the ones who struggle.
May each of us know your love and light.
May I rest well tonight.
And may I rise tomorrow feeling your strength.

Amen.

A Prayer for Times of Twigs and Ashes

22 Wednesday Feb 2023

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God of the sticks, the dry grounds, the damp tears, and the gritty ashes:
Oh how we yearn for the spring to arrive.
The days of the sweet mild breezes carrying the scents of your creation.
The boldness of the sunrise which will awaken our souls
Instead of the chilly winds swirling below the thick cloud cover.

But for now, God, we sit under the tree full of twigs and surrounded by ashes.
We sit with the grief that comes from unbearable losses.
We settle knowing that today may not go well, that tomorrow is not guaranteed-
Yet hope still illuminates the sky in the distance.

So we live with that hope:
The hope that the phoenix will rise from the ashes
And Christ will rise from the tomb.
We live with the hope that the twigs on the trees
Will bear leaves when the time is right.
We know that after the longest nights of our lives
That the sun will rise again,
And that you, Holy Comforter,
Will follow us to the depths of Sheol if we flee.

Even when hardships encroach our space
And afflictions invade our bodies,
The hope found in the realm of God-
The dirt-filled, ash smeared
Tear-damp realm of God
Is still hope.
This is the hope that drives away despair,
That warms our hearts,
That give us moments of cheer.
And in that we offer God our praise.

Amen.

A Prayer for Fogginess and Focus

08 Wednesday Feb 2023

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Divine Dweller in My Heart,

As we abide together in the middle of this week, the grayness has plunged from the skies to accompany me on earth. The fogs from above are wrapping themselves around my tired brain.

Focus! I tell myself again – FOCUS!

And yet, my skull is filled with haziness instead of the concentration that’s much desired.

God, I ask you again to help me focus. And help me stop criticizing myself for fogginess that’s taken over my brain. My body is human, my mind is human. May I realize that my humanity is needed and which you have created to be a superpower.

Amen.

A Prayer of Gratitude for Nostalgia

18 Wednesday Jan 2023

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God of Yesterday, Holy Hope for the Future,

Running through my head throughout today is a moment from years ago.
I was young with friends I had left in the past.
The laughter was loud and our smiles were widening across our faces.

As a song from yesterday lifts my spirits-
It’s reached into my soul in a way that I just can’t explain.
But it’s transported my mind back to being a young one again.

These are the moments that are worth more than gold.
But I can’t abide in yesterday-
Otherwise I’m gonna turn into a pillar of salt.

Today I thank you for the flashes from yesteryear,
For the joys of nostalgia, and the stories which I carry.

Help me to savor the joy of memories but to leave them in the past.
Give me the drive to live fully into today’s realm
And to dream about a future with hope.

Amen.

A Mid-Winter’s Prayer

12 Thursday Jan 2023

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Divine River of Light,


As days expand and the colors stretch upon the horizon, my spirit celebrates the growing glow across the hours. This light fills our spirits with gentleness as the chilly winds whisper while it whips throughout its frigid path.

May we ignore the chill and the shadows. Even when the nights are cold, may we turn to what warms us: love, laughter, friendships. May your glow expand in our hearts- even when nights are long.

When extreme weather shoves milder temperatures out of the way, we know you are here to warm our souls and cool our spirits when needed.

Amen.

A Blessing on the Last Days of Christmas

04 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by in Epiphany Liturgy/Prayers, Holidays, Prayers

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Divine Glimmer-

The strands of lights are unhooked from the eavestroughs,
And the metallic garland removed from tree’s branches.
January’s shadows prevail when Christmas is removed.

Yet you are the Great Light.
When the brightness of Christmas has been erased from our sight,
The Epiphany glow in our souls brightens.

May the Epiphany Glow expand from our hearts
to reach our neighbors hurting from the cold nights,
short days, and seasonal silence.

May the Epiphany Glow draw us together
even greater than the parties of December
and the hustle of Advent.

May the Epiphany Glow kindle kindness,
knowing that the Christ is present in our midst,
as you, Holy Light, are eager to build your bright realm in our shadowed world.

Amen.

A Prayer When Delighting in Hope

30 Wednesday Nov 2022

Posted by in Advent prayers, Holidays

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Holy Cultivator of Visions and Dreams-

As the sun rises on this new season, we seek your presence in the ordinary and extraordinary.
We gaze to the light growing in the east, knowing that hope is beaming in our world.
We look for the warm rays of hope to thaw our frost-glazed hearts.

So we celebrate cautious optimism-
Even when the chills of winter have slowed our souls,
Even when the disappointments of frigidness have turned us against the hope of the Holy Winds.

Warm us to your visions, God.
Kindle the spark of your dreams in our hearts.
May your presence refresh our weary spirits again.

Amen.

Wednesday Prayer – Searching for Gratitude

16 Wednesday Nov 2022

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God of Great Delights,

On days of bleakness, our eyes focus on the fog surrounding us instead of the warmth from your Spirit nearby.
On days of aches from the chilly climate, we search for relief from the balmy Christ in our midst.

Distractions get the best of us.
Whatever ails our bodies and minds and souls wins our attention.

We attempt to shake off any malaise as we turn onto a new road-
A path in which our senses reach for your presence.

As we see you in the light, notice you in laughter, feel you in the mild temperatures,
We turn our fields of emotions into gardens of appreciation.

In seasons of gratitude, may we express our sentiments freely.
May our hearts open to share words of encouragement and thanksgiving to you, God, and to our neighbors.

Shorten our nighttimes of despair and return the bright daylight of joy to our souls.

Amen.

All Souls Day Prayer

02 Wednesday Nov 2022

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God of the early morning inhales and the deep evening exhales-

We remember the souls who have gone to the other side of heaven- to your realm, where all souls, or saints as we often call them, bask in your light for all eternity. For your grace which welcomed them from near and far, and your mercy that gave them comfort upon their last breaths, we give you thanks.

We remember the souls who are here among us, dining with us at tables, sharing with us their extravagant love, quarreling with us, challenging us. Through Jesus the Christ, we work to forgive them. And while reconciliation may not happen on this side of heaven, we trust in the healing space of eternity to find everlasting peace.

We nod to the souls of the future who abide with and in the Divine energy. Through their time with God, may they carry wisdom and love into this world when their time comes to abide on this side of heaven. May their love radiate beyond the bounds of heaven to shower our earth with light and love.

Amen.