God who sees all spaces,
you see the space between
what we need and what we get,
the space between the hunger
and the nourishment provided,
the space between our hopes
and what actually happens.
You see the cracks in our lives
out of which tears flow.
Help us live through these spaces
with courage in the face of emptiness,
From the angel’s first appearance
I’ve waited for this moment.
Confident in your plan,
confident that all generations will call me blessed.
Confident, when Joseph doubted me,
when my parents did not understand,
when my friends laughed at me,
and turned the other way.
Confident, in the face of a journey
decreed by Rome’s power,
a journey to this city of David….
God our Creator, thank you for giving us life and breath and work.
You expect us to do what we can with what we have,
to work with peace and patience,
to balance busyness with rest, work with Sabbath.
Give us healthy bodies, and the nourishment we need.
Help us to do our jobs without complaint,
with all our strength and might.
You see what we do, even when no one else is watching.
Every day, in every task, give us wisdom to remember who we are,
your children, your workers.
Hear our prayer today for all women and men, boys and girls who are homeless this day.
For those sleeping under bridges, on park benches, in doorways or bus stations.
For those who can only find shelter for the night but must wander in the daytime.
For families broken because they could not afford to pay the rent.
For those who have no relatives or friends who can take them in.
For those who have no place to keep possessions that remind them who they are.
For those who are afraid and hopeless.
For those who have been betrayed by our social safety net.
For all these people, we pray that you will provide shelter, security and hope….
This is the wrong good-bye.
At thirty, death stands on the threshold
ghoulish as an x-ray
staring straight through all our hopes and plans.
We will not welcome this grim usher
who comes before the play’s half-done.
Against the injustice,
against the desperation,
against the running out of time,
against the fear of my body’s demise,
against all these,
Love stands.
We crave your presence, Lord,
even in the wrong good-bye.
At the last, let it be a sweet good-bye.
All business finished.
All affairs tidied.
All loose ends attended.
All regrets squared away.
All loved ones gathered.
All words of love spoken.
All life lived fully.
One last look,
Summer sun sends its heat
and the earth lays wide.
Flat fields shimmer, tall wheat ripens,
the earth bakes.
All creatures seek shade
as the haze builds and thickens.
This summer day compels repose.
This heat a benediction,
a heavy warm hand
pressing down….
I weave a circle of prayer around this sanctuary
Protect, dear God, this space from sin.
Let evil thoughts be dropped in the parking lot
along with petty quarrels and all bitterness.
Let selfishness be relinquished on the steps
and pride be renounced at the threshold.
Let quarrelling be left at the door
and all hard feelings be hung up in the cloakroom.
Help us enter this hour of worship simply,
as children, eager to meet you here….
God who sees the heart of things,
who sees my heart,
you know the love still lodged
for friends long absent.
Once, long past,
we found a home
in each other’s presence.
A genuine meeting then
a parting of ways,
the currents of life and time…
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
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