Gracious and loving One, The images of crying children are seared in our minds. The frightened and shell-shocked parents make our hearts ache. The cold and cruel analytical border officials fill our minds with rage. Lord, give us strength for today, that we might be tender-hearted but ready to respond. Lord, give us strength for… Read More
Thursday Prayer: Do Not Be A Friend of Job
The Lord answered Job’s friends out of the whirlwind: “Who is this that gives counsel by words without knowledge? What have you done with your freedom, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. “What do you know of Divine Prerogative that comes forth from love? Tell me, if you have understanding. How do you… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
I’ll be honest, I don’t know today even if it’s worth it to pray. Not because of You, but because of me. Because of us. I don’t want to throw out some empty words, or desperate words, while feeling helpless. There is money to donate, protest to engage in, kindness to share, I know.… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Image by Sigurd Decroos via rgbstock.com Broken-hearted Friend, The voices of the persecuted children ring in our ears and we cannot stop them (we must not!) And we know these are only echoes of the myriad voices we have not heard over the years Refused to hear Excused ourselves from knowing about “That was then”… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Love & Mercy
God of all love and mercy, forgive us. We have failed one another — we have failed your image in each person and all creation. God of all love and mercy, surprise us. With mustard seeds, with wild dreams, with grace, replace our self-assurance with childlike wonder. God of all love and mercy, restore us.… Read More
Saturday Prayer – Prayer for Pride
Holy One, Today I was reminded again what I keep forgetting. That this kind of Pride, the Pride for which we march, the Pride we celebrate, has an opposite, too. This Pride’s opposite is not humility, it is shame. So we gather and we march and we revel not because we lack humility. But because we stand… Read More
Friday Prayer: Persist
Oh Holy One, As we persist we find the strength to grow despite the pain despite the worry and as one day rolls into the next, we can look back and see your faithfulness, your strength in our weakness, your love in the hardest places, and your promises new every morning. Surprise us again with… Read More
Thursday Prayer: Being present
As the day begins with all that lies ahead of me you, O God, are present. Help me also to be present. In morning routines, or morning chaos, you, O God, are present. Help me also to be present. In difficult conversations, in comforting words, you, O God, are present. Help me also to be… Read More
Monday Prayer: Into
Into your hands I commit today’s concerns, Into my hands you place strength and forbearance. Into your heart I dive for comfort and compassion, Into my heart you place peace and mercy. Into your song I yield to the melody, Into my song you weave harmony and lilt. Into your light I reach for renewal,… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Simply
For breath, and wonder, and community, simply: thank you. For peace, and healing, and possibility, simply: please. For hope, and delight, and purpose, simply: amen. Rachel G. Hackenberg is a United Church of Christ minister, blogger, and soccer mom. Her newest book is Denial Is My Spiritual Practice (and Other Failures of Faith) with co-author Martha… Read More
