May God bless you With discomfort with easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships. . . so that you will live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people. . . so that you will work for justice, equity, and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war. . . so that you will reach out your hand to...
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Creator God, There are so many who wander, without family, without home, without purpose or dreams or name. But you, who knit each of us together in the womb, are Father to the fatherless. In you, the orphan, the lonely child, finds comfort, peace, belonging. Father in Heaven, you draw the little children to your side. You call each one by name. You alone can give them all they need. We pray that we will not forget the forgotten. Or...
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God of all people, We bring before you all who work for the fullness of justice, All who long for the widening of welcome To which your Gospel calls us: Open hearts, open arms, open doors in welcome! Displaced God. Born in flight to parents anxious and weary, Born anew in those who flee oppression, leaving home and loved ones behind, And staking their lives on the hope of abundant life, we pray: Open hearts, open arms, open doors in...
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God, our refuge, our ever-present help in trouble, your promises hold true. This we know. This we pray: For the widow. The refugee. The orphan. Those who are too weak, too tired, too broken to cry out to you. When mountains shake, when leaders fail, When all seems absolutely, irretrievably, impossibly lost, You enter. We thank you for your presence. We pray for your deliverance. Your eyes are on the righteous. Your ears are attentive...
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Lord Jesus Christ, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love. Where there is injury, let us offer pardon. Where there is discord, let us build peace. Oh Divine Lord, you taught us that those who work for peace are called the children of God. Help us to persist in establishing justice and truth as firm and lasting foundations of peace. Lord, you offer us peace as a gift and peace as a responsibility that...
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