Carol Penner, Author at Leading in Worship

Heavyhearted Prayer

November 11, 2009

My heart is heavy.

Heavy like a bulky suitcase carried too long,

Heavy like the pressure at the bottom of the pool’s deep end,

Heavy like feet at the end of a long day’s walk,

Heavy like carrying bad news to a friend,

Lifter of the heavyhearted, hear my prayer.

Help me to remember the strength that first lifted

and bore the weight easily.

Help me to remember the sweet surrender of diving

and the adventure of going deep.

Help me to remember the lightness of step…

God Save the Children

November 11, 2009

God, save the children tonight.

Save them from empty stomachs and hunger pangs.

Preserve them from beatings and harsh words.

Protect them from bullets and bombs.

Shield them from sexual abuse.

Guard them from pain and disease.

Shelter them from anger and discord.

In their innocence, grant them peace.

God saves the children tonight.

Saves them when someone sends food for body and soul.

Preserves them when a neighbour intervenes….

Old Friends

November 11, 2009

Thank God for old friends

who take the long view—

who are not startled by temper flares

or momentary lapses of judgement.

The ballast of high regard

floats all ships:

you think well of me

and I strive not to disappoint.

Thank God for old friends

who see the lighter side,

Anniversary Prayer

November 11, 2009

God of love, thank you for marriage

and the way love’s face

changes with time.

Thank you for love’s beginning;

the tidal pull that draws together

as sure as sea and shore,

the beauty of that meeting,

its strength and intense fragility,

sweet as an apple blossom

pale in the moonlight….

Saved

November 11, 2009

Today we pray for the sorely tempted.

When the body aches for one thing alone

when the mind longs for one thing alone

when the spirit knows one thing alone

when we are on autopilot for disaster

lined up for the sweet siren rocks–

your voice in our headsets

calm and firm:

“Alter course. Pull up. Engage.”

You lift our glazed eyes to a distant horizon

and talk us through to a different landing.

We step on solid ground, shaking,

Sixteen Prayers

November 11, 2009

God, hear these sixteen prayers

that I am praying for sixteen good reasons.

I’ve loved her sixteen years,

protected and nurtured her each and every day.

Sixteen birthdays she’s made wishes

on cakes baked by my hands.

Sixteen years of trying to give good advice

and about a million “Be carefuls.”

And now, at this age of sixteen

when all the world is coming up roses,

my prayer for her is “Be yourself.”

Down Day Prayer

November 11, 2009

On the other side of the mountaintop experience

on the day I lose my footing

on the quick way down

when nothing I grasp at holds

when all the world’s a blur

when all I can feel is this steep descent

here is where I need you most

here is when I call your name

here is where doubt and faith collide

can your hand stop

this quick slide

Bitterness

November 11, 2009

Bitterness, like some evil intravenous

drips into each day

from a clear bag of memories.

He said, she said,

he did, she did,

he was, she was.

Daily, nightly, a steady dose

poisoning the soul.

Too many times the body convulses

shaken with anger

racked with sorrow

When You Can’t Hold It Together

November 10, 2009

God, you know I hold my family together:

balancing the needs of everyone,

the schedules of everyone,

the health of everyone,

juggling each ball with dexterity

and not dropping one, not one.

I give thanks for strength and stamina.

But there’s a haunting sense

that I’ve reached my limits

and that even this camel’s back

will not take one straw more.

One morning will I stand on the road

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

Carol Penner

Heavyhearted Prayer

God Save the Children

Old Friends

Anniversary Prayer

Saved

Sixteen Prayers

Down Day Prayer

Bitterness

When You Can’t Hold It Together

About Carol Penner

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