Sundays after Easter
Prayer
Pastoral Prayers For All Seasons
Object:
It was a morning last week, our Creator, when the sun, preceded by a multi-colored sky, rose with such a purity of light that we stood transfixed. In those moments we were utterly convinced that your creation was beyond our grandest dream of beauty and power. That day we entered into our activities filled with awe and hope.
Nature has long been your faithful cheerleader. Countless are the times we have been gladdened simply because the sun came streaking through the clouds. We never weary of looking at the plants and flowers of our lawns and gardens. When the harvest season approaches and we hold in our hands the green pepper with its satiny finish, the ear of corn with its perfectly formed rows of kernels, the potato still smelling of the warm earth, and the pumpkin so bright in color, then we know happiness. We possess all the evidence we need to take joy in your world.
Then one day when the thunder reverberates across our fields, the snow piles high upon our streets, the tornado smashes our homes, schools, and churches, the flooding destroys all our possessions in one rise and fall of water -- we are stripped of our hope for the future. This is when we need to dig deep into the nature of life to find there a wisdom and power that sustains even when the sun fails to shine, the beautiful flowers die on their stems, and our possessions are blown away. At last when we tally up all the experiences of our lives we become keenly aware of our dependence upon you -- and you do not fail us.
It seems nearly impossible, but bright days and dark days are both occasions for the revealing of your love and truth. May your name be praised.
We come to you in the name of your Son. Amen.
Nature has long been your faithful cheerleader. Countless are the times we have been gladdened simply because the sun came streaking through the clouds. We never weary of looking at the plants and flowers of our lawns and gardens. When the harvest season approaches and we hold in our hands the green pepper with its satiny finish, the ear of corn with its perfectly formed rows of kernels, the potato still smelling of the warm earth, and the pumpkin so bright in color, then we know happiness. We possess all the evidence we need to take joy in your world.
Then one day when the thunder reverberates across our fields, the snow piles high upon our streets, the tornado smashes our homes, schools, and churches, the flooding destroys all our possessions in one rise and fall of water -- we are stripped of our hope for the future. This is when we need to dig deep into the nature of life to find there a wisdom and power that sustains even when the sun fails to shine, the beautiful flowers die on their stems, and our possessions are blown away. At last when we tally up all the experiences of our lives we become keenly aware of our dependence upon you -- and you do not fail us.
It seems nearly impossible, but bright days and dark days are both occasions for the revealing of your love and truth. May your name be praised.
We come to you in the name of your Son. Amen.
