God of steadfast promise, you are the ground of our being, the place of our longing, the home of our living. Your love animates every moment of this life and carries us through all its changing seasons. Thank you for loving us, even in our imperfect yet hopeful human ways.
Through the gift of your Word and words, you proclaim a future with hope.
For one day, o God, you will wipe every tear from our eyes.
One day, Giver of Life, death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.
But one day has not yet come to pass.
On this day, we long for our beloveds no longer with us due to death or distance.
On this day, we lament the sufferings of chronic illness, hunger, anxiety, or isolation.
On this day, we confess our addiction to substances, screens, urgency, or work.
On this day, we howl with righteous anger and growing despair when people are stolen from families, when millions wonder how they’ll find food or hope, when greed and lust for power seems the only fuel for economies and leaders, companies and countries alike.
On this day, we plead for the returning to ourselves and the turning of repentance.
On this day, God of all the saints, we offer these prayers once more to you, trusting that you hear them as you did yesterday and as you will tomorrow, and asking you to hold us accountable for our part in their answering.
One day, Alpha and Omega, this life will give way to a new heaven and a new earth. Rest from our labors. Blest communion with the saints. All things made new. At home finally and fully with you. Oh what a glad reunion that will be!
Until then, make louder the saints who cheer on our race of faith.
Meet our despair with hope, our fear with joy.
Give power to the faint and strength to the powerless.
Keep the veil thin between this day and one day.
We pray all these things in the name of Jesus, your humble servant who came to this earth, walking around and telling stories and bearing witness to your kingdom, your love, your new day that dawns like the rising sun… Jesus, who taught us how to pray, saying…