Pastoral Prayer
Many of our congregations have a time of communal prayer that is led by the minister or an elder. Often this is called the “pastoral prayer.” A time when words are shared on behalf of the entire community. It is one of those times when the minister represents the people to God. Sometimes when I fill the pulpit (guest preacher) I’m invited to serve in all the roles that the settled minister does during worship. Last Sunday, that included preaching, presiding at the communion table, and offering a pastoral prayer. Here are my words that borrowed from some of Psalm 27.
We pause, O God, to be embraced by our prayers. Personal prayers, communal prayers, and intercessory prayers trusting that you hear and that we hear the abundance of our sorrows, suffering, and blessed-ness. It is hard to wait, O Lord, when there are many to pray for and so much that we can do.
Teach us your way, O Lord. Give us the courage to seek your face, to see you in the eyes that call us enemy and neighbor alike. Give us the wisdom of one who could conclude that after conflict it is our responsibility to look after the defeated with dignity and respect, and to tend to their needs as if they were our own needs.
In this time of strife in our Nation, and around the world, we cry out “be gracious and answer us.” Give political leaders and religious leaders the tools necessary to recalibrate their moral compasses as the arc of history bends down a path, but a just course is not yet fully known.
A course away from greed toward goodness.
A course away from hate toward acceptance.
A course away from fear toward love of God, toward the light and the salvation of the Lord.
Forgive us the injustices we participate in that are within our control. Do not turn away from us in anger, O Lord, as we humans often do. Cleanse us of the grievances that devour us, our neighbors, and our enemies.
We want to believe like Jesus, that we shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. So, open your heart to us, O Lord, as we open our heart to you. Hear our prayer and embrace us as we follow the example of Jesus in our living and in our prayer.
Amen.