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Prayer about Sexual Attraction

November 10, 2009

Thank you God for sexual attraction,

for the pull of thoughts and emotions and bodies.

Thank you that we are creatures

who feel for each other and with each other.

Give us wisdom in this give and take,

to give our best with kindness,

to take what’s given graciously.

Preserve us from dangers of intimacy,

from giving ourselves too hastily,

from taking without reverence.

In the flesh and blood of our relationships

may integrity and fidelity kiss.

Age-old Chorus

November 10, 2009

In the hospital for sick seniors

each pillow cradles a face

framed with white hair

underscored by bony knuckles

clutching white sheets.

Bodies, getting older together

join in a choir of symptoms;

the deep voice of bones broken

the tenor of organs failing

the soft alto of senses dulling

Doubtful Prayer: Don’t Go

November 10, 2009

Blank disbelief was my reaction

the day faith disappeared into the black hole.

My life’s experience of God,

a rich storehouse of meaning–

suddenly and inexplicably empty.

There was no painful grappling

with an angel from God,

no kicking and screaming as religious certainty

was dragged out the door,

no intellectual duels agonizingly lost,

no moral crisis to point to

Prayer for Farmers

November 10, 2009

Thank you God for farmers.

Help us to recognize the importance of those

who participate in your creative work

by growing and raising food.

We pray today in particular for farm families

who suffer from crises in the agricultural industry.

Help us to walk with those who must sell their products

for less than the cost of production.

Help us to walk with those who face uncertainty

because of disease and government restrictions.

Help us to walk with those who are burnt out

Prayer for Playing

November 10, 2009

As children, as young people, and as adults

we thank you God for time to rest and play!

Help us to choose activities in our leisure time

that re-create us and diminish no one.

Tune into TV programs with us.

Listen to music with us.

Surf websites with us.

Play sports with us.

Party with us….

Advent Peace Prayer: Behind Bars

November 10, 2009

Emmanuel, God with us,

Saviour to captives and prisoners everywhere,

at this celebration of your birth

be with each lonely soul

exiled behind bars.

Emmanuel, God with us,

Saviour to prison guards and wardens everywhere,

at this celebration of your birth

protect those with power

from temptations of tyranny.

Glimpsing God

November 10, 2009

At the very edge of hearing,

at that fine line

between what is in and out of reach,

in the wondering moment

where a fragrance is apprehended

but unrecognized,

when you gaze intently

and in the shift between seeing nothing

and seeing something (who knows what),

there,

God arrives.

Smooth Hollow of Worship

November 10, 2009

gather the eyes in

stand and seek them out

the tired, the hopeful,

the sad, the skeptical, the inquiring eyes

gather each pair

with these upraised arms,

this gaze, these words

I gather you in

gently patting you into place

this place

this place here

this smooth hollow

of worship

The Best Christmas Gift

November 10, 2009

Christ comes as a gift into your life,

but he doesn’t come

wrapped in shiny paper and ribbons

and you can’t say

“Isn’t that nice,”

as you quickly slide him under the bed

or store him in a dark closet

thinking that someday you’ll find a place to put him.

Christ is a gift that you can’t

pack away neatly in a box,

bringing him out for special holidays

About Carol Penner

I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.

I love to write and to lead worship! If you are finding my writing helpful, I would love to hear from you! Feel free to use or adapt the material here, it is all written by me. If printing material, please credit “Copyright Carol Penner www.leadinginworship.com” (and say whether you modified it). If publishing, please contact me for permission. Contact me at carol@leadinginworship.com

Prayer about Sexual Attraction

Age-old Chorus

Doubtful Prayer: Don’t Go

Prayer for Farmers

Prayer for Playing

Advent Peace Prayer: Behind Bars

Glimpsing God

Smooth Hollow of Worship

The Best Christmas Gift

About Carol Penner

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