Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of October 21, 2021
Rev. Jan Buxton Wade
Blessed are you, God Over Us, for each autumn morning you bring us a breakfast tray brimming with glories. Green leaves, veined with bronze and gold, wave their quiet hellos, using blue heaven as a pristine backdrop. Fluffy- tailed squirrels scurry about, carrying crunchy brown treasures released by heavy oaks, while sweet apple fragrance fills the air. In this season you command our attention, Lord; from the crunch of twigs underfoot to the bracing breeze that stings the spine, you speak to us! Forgive us, we pray, when we squander your offerings – favors from your heart that tell us we are beloved. As the earth turns according to your divine will, turn our souls in your direction. May we be poised to discern your wooing from every stone and bit of stubble in the field.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Blessed are you, God Beside Us, for your step is in tandem with ours. In these erratic times, however, we confess that we often feel insecure, ungrounded, and alone. We remember your Son was also clothed in humanity, and that he experienced those dark nights of the soul, enduring so much more than we. Yes, we believe, Lord, that the Resurrected Christ is our Hope and our Redeemer. Yes, we believe; yet we need you to shore up our belief. When our dreams fade, our bodies let us down, when our loved ones pass on, when friends forget us, when society is increasingly splintered, steady our steps, we pray. Guide us toward that place of peace within yourself. And there may we rest awhile until we are strong enough to walk along with you again, down that unwavering path of faith.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessed are you, God Around Us, for Jesus said he had flocks of which we are not aware. That truth alone reveals the immense breadth of your benevolence. It underscores the fact that neither this world, nor this universe, is the property of one nation or people, no matter how powerful. Might those flocks include those we pass every day, yet do not see? Do they live in communities which we are afraid to visit? Are they the throngs who exist behind bars, hemmed in by hopelessness? Could they be those who are yet to be born? You are the God of no boundaries, whose plan encircles all time and space and whose mercies are immutable. Our questions are many and answers elude us. Nevertheless, may we live secure in the knowledge that those whom you love we are also called to love and to serve. By your grace, might we grow in respect and friendship with all, until that day when all flocks shall be gathered with you in your all-encompassing community.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Receive now, we pray, these praises and petitions from our church family, for you are always ready to listen to your children. We sense your working among us and trust in your sustaining mercy.
- Gratitude for prayers: member has received a new job
- Praises for prayers – daughter with Covid now removed from ventilator
- Family thankful for support during a father’s death
- Thankful that husband with ALS has had a good week
- Family celebrates a new daughter-in-law
- Grateful that two family members are now vaccinated
- Cancer sufferer is thankful for her wise physicians
- Thanksgiving: grandson (17) dealing well with chemo
- Member thankful hip surgery will not be required
- Healing prayers for member who suffered injuries in a fall
- Prayers for young mother adjusting to new medications
- Courage & guidance for member beginning cancer treatment in Nov.
- Children of Grace School in Uganda, for guidance, opportunities
- Blessings for two young women in final weeks of pregnancy
- Healing prayers for two sons in treatment for addiction
- Healing prayers – father (92) suffering from Covid
- Friend whose mother died last week
- Easing of grief for 3 recently widowed
- Mother in treatment for thyroid cancer; father with leukemia
- God’s grace for three fathers suffering from Parkinson’s
- Prayers for daughter burying her father this week
- Healing for best friend: Aggressive cancer treatment
- Recovery for cousin on ventilator
Blessed are you, O God With Us, in this season of splendor, we witness nature taking on its own work of pruning and nourishing the earth. Still, it is a time to plant that which will burst forth when spring arrives. Along with the tulip bulb, may we bury thoughtfulness and kindness, that they might spread their roots far and wide underneath the raven earth. May we bury generosity, that it might permeate the soil along with the winter rain. And may we sow seeds of peace, that they would multiply, becoming extensions of your holy peace. And when warm winds blow again, may all flourish, bringing honor to the One who taught us to pray:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
All are welcome at Church Street! We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We welcome and celebrate the gifts God has given to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation. We respect diversity of opinion and expressions of Christian faith. We believe God loves everyone unconditionally! As God loves us, so let us love and serve in the name of Christ.
The Wonder of Hope
advent, FeaturedDaily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Monday, November 29
By Therese Zaltash
The Wonder of Hope
Read Romans 15:12-14
Advent is “The coming of Christ” and the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas.
This time of year invites us to step away from the chaotic times of holiday preparation, such as shopping, parties etc. It allows us to prepare our minds and hearts for the celebration of the true meaning of HOPE that comes through the birth of the baby Jesus.
The 1st candle of Advent is the color purple, symbolizing HOPE. It is sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah. The expectation and flourishing of HOPE builds as each day passes.
Our world today is brimming with social issues, in part from the pandemic and lingering isolation. Yet perhaps we could spend this season focusing on our faith, our HOPE of the coming of Christ and all the wonder that includes.
It is very easy to succumb to fear, depression and complacency, since we are more isolated than years past. However, with HOPE we are also more fortunate than generations past. It’s all about the visual lens you choose.
Look to others to spread the gospel of Christ and the wonder of HOPE. Be encouraging to a struggling friend, strike up a conversation with a stranger, check on a neighbor that may be alone … show others that the spirit of Christ forever lives within you.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, You are the HOPE in our troubled world. This Advent help us to slow down, listen to your voice and focus on what’s truly important. Show us how much we have received through your abundant generosity. Ease our hearts with the assurance of your love for us.
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Wait
advent, FeaturedDaily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Sunday, November 28
By Rev. Catherine Nance, Senior Pastor
Wait
Read Nehemiah 9:6-15
“You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. To all of them you give life, and the host of heaven worships you.” (Nehemiah 9:6)
Wait for it … wait for it ….wait for it … It’s what we say when we know something is going to happen and WHAM! There it was!
I am writing this devotion in mid-September while taking some time away at the beach. It is the perfect setting for thinking of Advent!
Waiting for a wave. Waiting for the waves to break on the beach. Waiting for the water to come all the way to my toes. It’s an endless waiting – there are always waves. There is always water running up to where you are, spreading out in front of you, sometimes reaching your toes and sometimes deciding at the last second to stop and return.
I love to ride the waves. No, I am not a surfer. But I do walk out just far enough to wait for the right moment and swim ‘on top’ of the wave towards the beach. Sometimes I end up crawling, sometimes I get knocked under, sometimes I imagine I am as graceful as a dolphin! Each one elicits joy! But there is never one that is the final one; the beach is the perfect place to wait, and wait, and wait. The endlessness of the waves, the subtle changes in rhythm, the hypnotic flowing back and forth, and the surprising crash!
We sometimes countdown Advent … wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, and then hope to experience the most joyful, beautiful, perfect, happy Christmas day. Children will say, “I don’t want Christmas to end.” Adults will say, “I wish I had more time.” My prayer this year is that I do not miss Advent by waiting on the ‘perfect Christmas.’ The scriptures and hymns of Advent are faithful, and the words come at us – sometimes knocking us down, sometimes gently carrying, but always pointing us towards the Christ. This Advent, I will say, “Here it is.” Here it is. Here it is.
The psalmist says, Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. While we wait, we are being led and are being taught. God calls for an active waiting!
Prayer
Christ who comes, you are the one who has come, who is, and who will be. May we marvel in all these verb tenses and not miss any of your revelation. Amen.
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Weekly Prayer – November 24
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of November 24, 2021
Rev. Jan Buxton Wade
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that has made us and we are his; We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
(Ps 100:1-5)
Today indeed we make a joyful noise before the Lord and raise our voices in song! O One of Unsearchable Greatness, we remember how your breath wafted over the chaos, bringing a sublime calm and order. We remember how you fashioned from nothingness the heavens and the earth, both teeming with life. We ponder your terrifying power that created the mountains and called forth the waters, giving them shape and order and purpose. And in your own loneliness, you gave life to humankind, counting us as your beloved companions. How mystifying is your universe, O Lord, and our words fail to touch its grandeur. And how privileged we are that we might join our voices with all generations past in blessing your Holy Name!
God of All Goodness, hear our prayer.
You have honored us with Jesus Christ, whom you sent to reveal the truth of your love, your hopes and dreams for your people. And even when he was ignored, abused, and crucified, he told us he understood and that we were forgiven. How astonishing is the depth of your affection and the wideness of your mercy, O Lord!
God of All Goodness, hear our prayer.
We give you thanks, O Guide Above and Beside Us, that we can bring our prayers to you, for you are the God who listens to our lives; and we know there have been moments when we have chosen the wrong over the right. We remember those instances when we could have helped others, but we attended to our own priorities. There were those persons we could have befriended, but we hurried past. There were times we could have shared a loving thought with someone who was hurting, but we remained silent. There were occasions when we could have expressed our faith in you, yet we uttered mere platitudes. We thank you, Merciful One, that it is not too late for our transformation. Blot out the sullied parts of our past and cleanse our motivations. We can never reach perfection, but we trust in your Spirit to take everything that we do and use it for your good purposes.
God of All Goodness, hear our prayer.
Spirit of Wholeness, pour out your balm of healing upon your people who are in pain and sorrow. Heal the divisions and brokenness within our own nation, we pray. Our hearts also break when we hear of migrants from the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia who endure freezing temperatures and deprivation as they seek a place to call home; when we learn of the increased violence against the innocents in Sudan; as we receive news that 14 million people in Afghanistan now face daily hunger; and as another Covid19 wave sweeps across Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Russia. Forgive us when we separate ourselves from the suffering of others near and far. May all who are hurting cling to you even when their hope has grown thin.
God of All Goodness, hear our prayer.
And as we offer petitions on behalf of our friends at Church Street, strengthen our sense of kinship with all whom you love:
God of Goodness, we celebrate your presence with us and pray you would wrap us all in your peace each night, as you turn down the lights of heaven. May our dreams be filled with memories of your eternal grace. We lay these prayers at your feet in the name of your most caring Son Jesus, who taught us to pray in this way:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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Weekly Prayer – November 17, 2021
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family*
Week of November 17, 2021
Rev. Tim Best
Most Caring God, as we approach the holiday of Thanksgiving, remind us that true thanksgiving is not a single day of the year, but an eternal season of gratitude, a lifestyle that we practice our entire lives. Fill our hearts to the brim with a sense of the magnitude of your grace in our world. And give us the courage to respond to that truth by spreading it around.
Caring God, provoke us to love and good deeds.
We pray this day for our community. As the weather grows colder we think of our neighbors with unreliable heat, poor insulation, those who work outdoors, and those who live without walls or heat. We pray for our neighbors who experience any sort of violence, and those who live as if they have no hope. We pray for all those who work to ensure the well-being of others within our community.
Caring God, provoke us to love and good deeds.
With love and concern we lift up our nation, the world, and all those who seek to lead. We know the problems that face our world are many, but we do not live as those without hope. As our community has sought to honor veterans this past week, may we commit to hold the needs of those who have served constantly in our prayers.
Caring God, provoke us to love and good deeds.
We lift up thankful hearts for all progress made against Covid. We are grateful for all doctors, nurses, caregivers, administrators, and support staff that have kept hospitals and clinics running. We are thankful for vaccines that are now available for elementary age children. We are thankful for ongoing research and development of medications and treatments for this disease. We are thankful also for the work we have been given to care for one another and our neighbors during this season.
Caring God, provoke us to love and good deeds.
We pray this day for those in our congregation who are struggling with health issues, those who are alone, and those who grieve. Be an ever-present companion to them. Give us eyes to see the pain of others in our midst and the courage to respond in love. Especially, we ask that you would look with kindness and mercy upon all your children at Church Street who bring to your door a world of cares. And also receive the gratitude that is expressed by those who have profoundly felt your mercy in recent times:
Today we recommit ourselves to the work and ministry of this local church. Guide our hearts as we discern how to most fully and faithfully give to you, O Christ. Bless the gifts that have been offered this commitment week, and bless those who pledge to support the church financially in the year ahead. May our gifts always be used for the work of your kingdom.
Caring God, provoke us to love and good deeds.
Hear us, Heavenly Father, in all that we ask, for we pray as your Son taught us:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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Thanksgiving Baskets Project
Children, Church Street Events, Featured, Missions, YouthWeekly Prayer – November 10, 2021
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of November 10, 2021
Rev. Jan Buxton Wade
And what do you have that you did not receive?
And if also you did receive it, why do you boast
as not having received it? (I Cor. 4:7)
Ah, the apostle has rightly spoken – for what have we acquired that did not come to us from Divine beneficence? What do we possess that was not provided by the hands and sacrifice of others? Forgive us, Lord, for our narrow thinking and for our failure to respond fully to your grace. We confess we have withheld that which is rightly yours, spending mainly to satisfy our own limited interests. We have withheld even ourselves, ignoring your continued offer of fullness of life through Christ. We know we can do better; by your grace, may it be so.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Enduring Cornerstone, remind us that we are the living stones which form your Church. We are bound together by your very self, who gave your all that we might live. Your gifts cascade so freely we are prone to forget they come with responsibility. Chip away our rough and selfish edges, we pray, that we might fit more tightly together, adding strength and shape to your holy edifice of benevolence. We would be known as believers with open hands and open lives, willing to sacrifice so that the nameless and forgotten ones are drawn into your fortress of love.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Nearest Friend, this week we pray for our friends and neighbors, near and far. Comfort and deliver especially all who are living with grave losses, those who live in the throes of poverty and need, others who are oppressed by violence, and those who flee war and devastation in their homelands. Guide us and all in power to work for the common good. As scripture has taught: those whom much is given, much is required.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of the Circling Years, your faithfulness spans generations, and your mercy never fails to astound us. In Jesus, you walked where we walk, shared the burdens of life, were touched by the same joys, temptations, and sorrows as we. We need hide nothing from you, for you are aware of our longings, our pain, our hopes, and our fears. Therefore, we turn again to you on bended knee, acknowledging you as our Source of all healing and wholeness.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Aware that you accept every prayer uttered in earnest, we lay before you these that come from the hearts of your people at Church Street. In your mercy, accept the praise of those who bring thanksgiving and touch the souls of those who are bruised and afflicted:
In addition to these, O Lord, we ask that you would gift us with wisdom and patience as we strive for that peace which passes all understanding. And now, as you are the God of All Good Gifts, release in us the spirit of new life – that life which is in full relationship with you and your Blessed Son who taught us to pray in this way:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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Weekly Prayer – November 3, 2021
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of November 3, 2021
Rev. Jan Buxton Wade
O Lord of Tender Mercies, we have only human words to utter when we turn to you; but the truth is that words fail, never fully capturing what is in our hearts. So listen closely to those longings that live beneath our words – those longings which even we ourselves cannot name. Bend low, we pray, and hear us as we open our hearts in the stillness of these moments: . . . . . . . . . . Comb through our desires, we pray, discarding what is unworthy, and enriching what shows promise. Our lives are not our own, Trusted Friend, so grant that our desires may come to reflect what you, in your goodness, wish for us.
God of Grace, hear our prayer.
O God Without Boundaries, forgive us for taking your abundance for granted, for presuming that your gifts are ours by right. Since you love all the same, how audacious of us to believe we deserve the first fruits. Truly there is enough for everyone: for every race and nationality; for every gender, class, and culture; for every religious group and political party. You have little knowledge of margins and perimeters, for your kingdom is bounded solely by compassion and love of humankind. In this season of harvest, loosen our grip on whatever has come to us through your largesse. Help us to learn what it really means to love our neighbor as ourselves.
God of Grace, hear our prayer.
O God of the Watchful Eye, you note every fallen sparrow and hear the cry of the loneliest creature; but sometimes we become discouraged when we survey the despair and pain that plague your people. So many are shadowed by tragedy and loss, by physical and emotional maladies, and we confess that we feel too weak to carry the burdens of so many others. Renew our resolve, Good Lord, and remind us that when we feel helpless, your Spirit is always sharing the load. You ask that we do solely what we can, and somehow, you will make our efforts sufficient.
God of Grace, hear our prayer.
Therefore, with hearts full of hope in your faithfulness, we offer these specific needs and thanksgivings on behalf of your people at Church Street:
Praise to you, Lord of All, for your sustenance arrives at the moment it is most needed, assuaging the cares that weigh upon us. Thank you for heeding our longings and accepting our prayers that are beyond words, for we offer them in the name of Jesus, your Trusted Son and our Redeemer who taught us to pray in this way:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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November Youth Update
YouthCome and join us!
A Thanksgiving Practice
November Dates
Advent Missions Night
This Sunday, we are hosting our annual Advent Missions Night during NightLife! Join us from 5:00-7:00 in the Youth Area as we wrap gifts for Wesley House kids & grannies, write notes to Church Street homebound members, and make care packages for the staff of the ER and PICU floors at Children’s Hospital.
We’re going to have a great time of fellowship and mission as we kick off the Christmas season focused on what matters most!
SLA Info
Weekly Prayer – October 27, 2021
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of October 27, 2021
Rev. Jan Buxton Wade
This week, O Lord, our hearts turn to you as we remember all those saints whom you have called and who have walked among us throughout the years. We remember your disciples who spent their time in this realm empowering the meek, encouraging the poor, and lifting up the forlorn. We recall how they honored the neglected, respected the desires of the disadvantaged, and valued the least and the lost. For their wisdom and witness, we praise you!
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And still in this era, your saints walk alongside us: bringing peace where there is discord, sowing goodness where there is distrust, spreading hope where despair has taken root. In your own mystifying way, you call ordinary folk to carry out your ministry in extraordinary ways. We pray you would sustain your saints who are in ministry this very day, and particularly these blessed ones who have made such a difference in our individual lives: . . . . . . . . . . We know you as our Forever Guide, so empower us, that we also might shine as these who live in brightest faith even when tribulations descend.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of the Dismayed, some days we are simply unable to take in all the pain that thrives in our world, communities, and in our own households. We confess that our own faith grows dim when we consider all the misfortunes that are holding your people hostage. Our own efforts seem so paltry, and we tire so easily. Draw close and make yourself known to those who are overwhelmed. Gaze upon those who are ill or frightened as they face a diagnosis, illness, surgery, poverty, or any sort of loss. And as our arms are too short to wrap around those whom you love, we pray you would embrace all those who believe they have been forgotten.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As the apostle has written, we see through a glass darkly. We cannot comprehend your will and your ways; nor can we fathom the manner in which you are moving in our world. But, Good Lord, we do know you hear the cries of our hearts, that you will never leave us comfortless, and that one day we shall see clearly. Until that day, we believe your grace covers all, and that you are attending each one who prays in your name. Therefore, we bring these praises and pleas offered by members of the Church Street family:
Grant this day, and each day ahead, Beloved Presence, that we might make a quiet space in our hearts for you. Join us in those silent moments, reminding us that you are ready to wipe away our sins, offering us the privilege of making a fresh start with each dawn. Wrap us now in the peace of your Spirit as we offer this prayer in the name of Christ, our Savior:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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Weekly Prayer – October 21, 2021
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of October 21, 2021
Rev. Jan Buxton Wade
Blessed are you, God Over Us, for each autumn morning you bring us a breakfast tray brimming with glories. Green leaves, veined with bronze and gold, wave their quiet hellos, using blue heaven as a pristine backdrop. Fluffy- tailed squirrels scurry about, carrying crunchy brown treasures released by heavy oaks, while sweet apple fragrance fills the air. In this season you command our attention, Lord; from the crunch of twigs underfoot to the bracing breeze that stings the spine, you speak to us! Forgive us, we pray, when we squander your offerings – favors from your heart that tell us we are beloved. As the earth turns according to your divine will, turn our souls in your direction. May we be poised to discern your wooing from every stone and bit of stubble in the field.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Blessed are you, God Beside Us, for your step is in tandem with ours. In these erratic times, however, we confess that we often feel insecure, ungrounded, and alone. We remember your Son was also clothed in humanity, and that he experienced those dark nights of the soul, enduring so much more than we. Yes, we believe, Lord, that the Resurrected Christ is our Hope and our Redeemer. Yes, we believe; yet we need you to shore up our belief. When our dreams fade, our bodies let us down, when our loved ones pass on, when friends forget us, when society is increasingly splintered, steady our steps, we pray. Guide us toward that place of peace within yourself. And there may we rest awhile until we are strong enough to walk along with you again, down that unwavering path of faith.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessed are you, God Around Us, for Jesus said he had flocks of which we are not aware. That truth alone reveals the immense breadth of your benevolence. It underscores the fact that neither this world, nor this universe, is the property of one nation or people, no matter how powerful. Might those flocks include those we pass every day, yet do not see? Do they live in communities which we are afraid to visit? Are they the throngs who exist behind bars, hemmed in by hopelessness? Could they be those who are yet to be born? You are the God of no boundaries, whose plan encircles all time and space and whose mercies are immutable. Our questions are many and answers elude us. Nevertheless, may we live secure in the knowledge that those whom you love we are also called to love and to serve. By your grace, might we grow in respect and friendship with all, until that day when all flocks shall be gathered with you in your all-encompassing community.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Receive now, we pray, these praises and petitions from our church family, for you are always ready to listen to your children. We sense your working among us and trust in your sustaining mercy.
Blessed are you, O God With Us, in this season of splendor, we witness nature taking on its own work of pruning and nourishing the earth. Still, it is a time to plant that which will burst forth when spring arrives. Along with the tulip bulb, may we bury thoughtfulness and kindness, that they might spread their roots far and wide underneath the raven earth. May we bury generosity, that it might permeate the soil along with the winter rain. And may we sow seeds of peace, that they would multiply, becoming extensions of your holy peace. And when warm winds blow again, may all flourish, bringing honor to the One who taught us to pray:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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