Called or uncalled, bidden or unbidden, God you still speak…
Sometimes in thunderous glory, but most often in hushed whispers
and in silent places
For in the quiet your still, small voice speaks…
And I suppose that is why we are here, praying
Praying because the silence may overwhelm us
Praying because sometimes praying is really just another way of listening Listening to the cries of our hearts and hoping to hear some good news
Listening because we need to be set free…
From the noises and the voices,
From the worry and the hurry
that crowd out your voice…
Called or uncalled, bidden or unbidden, God you still speak…
Help us to listen, help us to hear your voice,
which often sounds like the voice of those in need…
Tune our hearts and minds to hear your voice in the prayers of others: those in hospital beds, or on street corners longing to be home
those in prisons—longing for liberation
those who worry about money—longing for enough
those who are hungry—longing to be fed
those who we thirsty—longing for something more
those who feel lost—longing for direction
those who feel like outcasts—longing for acceptance
those who can’t forgive themselves—longing for mercy
those who stand at the edge of something new—longing for a fresh start
God, you meet us in our longings… we who are still learning to listen, still learning to pray, listening and praying as Jesus is still teaching us, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.