Pastoral Prayer for April 14, 2024

Loving God, we pray for peace.

This morning, we pray specifically for peace in the Middle East.

We know that you, Loving God, embodied peace, lived peace, died for peace.

We know that you taught us humans how to live so that there could be peace on earth.

But how do we pray for peace when you have shown us the way,

but we refuse to live according to the way that you have shown us?

Knowing that peace is not within our power, we pray for yours.

Loving God, we pray for peace.

The rest of our pastoral prayer this morning is from Ted Loder.

Please allow his words to become your own personal words.

O God, empty me of angry judgments,

and aching disappointments,

and anxious trying,

and breathe into me

something like quietness

and confidence,

that the lion and the lamb in me

may lie down together

and be led by a trust

as straightforward as that of a little child.

Catch my pride and doubt off guard

that, at least for the moment,

I may sense your presence

and your caring,

and be surprised

by a sudden joy

rising in me now

to sustain me in the coming then.