By Bruce Lindgren of Independence, Missouri, USA
This covenant entails sacramental living that respects and reveals God’s presence and reconciling activity in creation. It requires whole-life stewardship dedicated to expanding the church’s restoring ministries, especially those devoted to asserting the worth of persons, protecting the sacredness of creation, and relieving physical and spiritual suffering.
Our Gracious God,
We pause at this moment to offer a prayer that peace may reign within your creation. As we contemplate the world you have made, we stand in wonder of its beauty and its starkness; of its power and its tranquility; of its mighty rushing winds and its moments and places of quietness.
We recognize that we, the people you have created to live here, have expressed both the best and the worst of the potential you have placed in us. We have attempted to dominate others for our own ends, and we have made great sacrifices on behalf of other people; we have taken far more than our fair share of the Earth's resources, and we have striven to live simply; we have stood by and allowed others to suffer, and we have given our own lives on behalf of those we have not even known.
Give us eyes, O God, to see ourselves in the light of your vision—eyes to see ourselves as we truly are and as we may become. Give us ears to hear—ears to hear ourselves as we sound to others and ears to hear the deep expressions of another’s heart. Give us minds to understand—minds that perceive things as they are and minds that perceive things that are possible. Give us hearts with which to love—hearts that forgive offenses against us and hearts that inspire us to reach out to others.
Give us peace, O God, and make us agents of your peace. Let us act with love, justice, and true insight. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Phrase
“giving thanks to God…at all times and for everything” (Ephesians 5:20)
Spiritual Practice
Practice Gratitude
[Adapted from A 7-Day Guide to Gratitude by Diana Butler Bass]
Often, we feel we have to escape from everyday life to embrace the mysteries and blessings of God. But we don’t need to go far, we can look inside ourselves. The greatest gift is the one we most often take for granted: that we are alive. Take ten minutes today for silence. Sit somewhere you will not be disturbed and set a timer. Reflect on the words, “I am. We all are.”
What happened in the silence?
Did a sense of gratitude emerge in this exercise?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.