Pastoral Prayer for November 19, 2023

Our prayer this morning is by poet Rich Orloff, and is called THE BIG ASK:

To God

To anyone who will listen

I ask and pray for this:

Bless me with a peace

That’s deeper than happiness

That makes room for profound sorrow

That accepts pain and loss

That’s not dependent on good news

Bless me with a peace

That comforts me when I feel anguish

That steadies me when I feel uncertain

That expands me when I think small

That finds a way through my fiercest

resistance

Bless me with a peace

That stretches beyond my horizons

That heals even if I can’t explain why

That offers delight as an everyday gift

That allows me to see blessings

Bless me with a peace

That is a refuge from torment

That is an oasis from yearning

That is a sanctuary from trauma

That transcends all else

But never denies all else

Bless me with a peace

That renews my gratitude for life

And that I can access

Every time I let you in