Prayers & Creeds

Contentment

blync77 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:00:03 +0000

O Lord, by your dealings with us, whether of joy or pain, of light or darkness, let us be brought to you. Let us value no treatment of your grace simply because it makes us happy or because it makes us sad, because it gives us or denies us what we want; but may all that you send us bring us to you; that knowing your perfectness, we may be sure in every disappointment you are still loving us, in every darkness you are still enlightening us, and in every enforced idleness you are giving us life, as in his death you gave life to your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)

Prayer from Martin Luther King Jr.

davebayne — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:56:45 +0000

A New Day of Justice and Brotherhood and Peace
God grant that we will be participants in this newness and this magnificent development. If we will but do it, we will bring about a new day of justice and brotherhood and peace. And that day the morning stars will sing together and the sons of God will shout for joy. God bless you.

(One of King’s very last public prayers, recited at the end of his sermon “Remaining Awake through a Great Revolution.” This sermon was preached at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 1968, five days before King was assassinated. King paraphrases Job 38:6–7.)

Taken from: http://www.thekinglegacy.org/books/thou-dear-god-prayers-open-hearts-and-spirits

An Epiphany Prayer

davebayne — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:19:45 +0000

Lord Jesus
may your light shine our way,
as once it guided the steps of the magi:
that we too may be led into your presence
and worship you,
the Child of Mary,
the Word of the Father,
the King of nations,
the Saviour of mankind;
to whom be glory for ever.

~ Frank Colquhoun

Taken from: http://www.churchyear.net/epiphanyprayers.html

stop, look, listen

arthur — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:00:43 +0000

Father, help me stop today
right in the middle of what I am doing, what I am saying
and ask You what you want me to know

What do you want me to see?
What do you see?
Grant me eyes into the invisible
so I can work alongside you.

What do you want me to hear?
I know your voice-
speak and give me insight I need
to love well like you do.

remind me to pause,
to tune myself in to you,
aligning myself with your heart
in the midst of this day.

Amen.

I see you and I love you

arthur — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:00:36 +0000

I see you and I love you-
God’s words to you today
whoever you are
wherever you are
whatever you are doing…

What a God!
One who loves you no matter what.

May you receive this truth today,
and pray/live it to others as well.

Amen.

Orthodox Morning Prayer from the Elders of Optino

davebayne — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:32:49 +0000

Lord, grant that I may meet the coming day with spiritual tranquility.

Grant that in all things I may rely upon your holy will.

In each hour of the day, reveal your will to me.

Whatever news may reach me this day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul, knowing that all is subject to your holy will.

Direct my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions.

In all unexpected occurrences, do not let me forget that all is sent down by you.

Grant that I may deal firmly and wisely with every member of my family and all who are in my care, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone.

Give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.

Direct my will and teach me to pray,
to believe,
to hope,
to be patient,
to forgive
and to love.

Amen.

New Year’s Prayer for 2012

davebayne — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:14:51 +0000

God the eternal rock is with us,
From year’s beginning to its end,
In hard times and in good,
God is with us from year’s beginning to its end.
God almighty is faithful,
Present in each day and every moment,
Drawing close in every act and deed,
God is faithful through all eternity.
God is trustworthy,
Yesterday, today and forever,
Sustaining, enlivening, making all things new,
God the eternal rock is with us this day and evermore.

From Christine Sine on GodSpace
http://godspace.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/a-new-years-prayer-for-2012/

Nativity Prayer ~ Hymn of St. Ephraim the Syrian

davebayne — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:35:27 +0000

The feast day of your birth resembles You, Lord
Because it brings joy to all humanity.
Old people and infants alike enjoy your day.
Your day is celebrated
from generation to generation.
Kings and emperors may pass away,
And the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse.
But your festival
will be remembered until the end of time.
Your day is a means and a pledge of peace.
At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled,
Since you came from heaven to earth on that day
You forgave our sins and wiped away our guilt.
You gave us so many gifts on the day of your birth:
A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick;
Spiritual light for the blind;
The cup of salvation for the thirsty;
The bread of life for the hungry.
In the winter when trees are bare,
You give us the most succulent spiritual fruit.
In the frost when the earth is barren,
You bring new hope to our souls.
In December when seeds are hidden in the soil,
The staff of life springs forth from the virgin womb
~ St. Ephraim the Syrian (AD 306-373)

Taken from: http://www.churchyear.net/christmasprayers.html

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

davebayne — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:47:08 +0000

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.