Three More Prayers for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Posted on January 8, 2024 by revlisad

Shall by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
based on Isaiah 40:1-11

The time is now, for you have called, O God
The place is now, for you have spoken

Yes, it is a wilderness, a desert even
So dry, so rough, so uneven
Yes, the gap is so very wide between the high and the low

But, you have called
You have spoken
Not an if or when or maybe
Not even a try

You have spoken shall

Every valley shall be lifted
Every mountain shall be made low
The uneven shall be made level
The rough shall be made smooth

So we will persevere in this wilderness of preparing
We will not forge a path or blaze a trail but make a highway
A highway for your coming
For your glory, O God shall be revealed in this place
And all shall see it
All shall see it together

Take Up the Cross by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny privilege
To lay down advantage and opportunity
in order to take up the cross of equity and justice

Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny comfort
To lay down ease and apathy
in order to take up the cross of unity and solidarity

Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny prejudice
To lay down discrimination and segregation
in order to take up the cross of diversity and true love

Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me
Show me what to pick up and what to lay down
So I only carry what leads to life
and give me the courage to help others do the same
Amen

Prayer for Holy Resistance by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Break our hearts Jesus
so we may weep as You weep
Love as You love

Break our hearts Jesus and raise our voices
so we may speak and act so all may be safe
so all may have opportunity
so all may know dignity and belonging

Lord Jesus
take away our fear, our apathy, our silence
Grant us
Your courage, Your strength, Your perseverance

So we may be Your sanctuary
Your safe place of presence

So we may live Your justice
and use Your power with wisdom and humility

So we may be Your whole and holy people
people of integrity and truth

So we may speak and act and love
again and again and again
till every dividing wall of hate, fear, and inequity
comes crashing down in Your Powerful Name

The congregation is invited to offer their own prayers for justice and equity

Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, Savior of the Nations,
teach us to pray and teach us to live Your prayer…
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer

For more prayers for Martin Luther King Jr Day, CLICK HERE

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Shall © 2018 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Take Up the Cross © 2017, updated 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Prayer for Holy Resistance © 2017, updated 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

You are welcome to use these works in a worship setting without asking permission. It’s always a treat to hear from you if you’re using it. Please note the source of the prayer in the following way: Name of Prayer by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com.

Leave a comment below for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog, etc.

Three Prayers for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Posted on January 6, 2024 by revlisad

Anointed for Peacemaking, a Prayer for Unity
Based on Psalm 133

How good is your unity, O Lord
How rich, how abundant, how merciful

Flowing down over our heads
as blessing and balm, wholeness and hope

Flowing down over our faces
eyes, ears, lips anointed for truth and justice
For making peace together

Flowing down over our bodies
our shoulders bearing one another’s burdens
Our strength now pulling together
bearing crosses, not weapons

Flowing down over our hands
instruments of hate no more
grabbing and oppressing no more
now open in welcome, holding all things sacred
Open in sharing, collaborating, risking together

Flowing down over our hearts
a holy ordering, ordaining our desires for the common good

Flowing down over our souls, protecting, inspiring
You alone on the throne, blessed Savior
Our Deliverer, our Reconciler, the One who makes all one

How very good is your unity, O Lord
How great and glorious your peace
Fulfill your perfect will in us and in this place
As we live the prayer you taught us …
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer

Prayer for Equity by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Mighty One
In your justice
In your mercy
bring equity to your world
raise up all who suffer from discrimination
break the rod of oppression and prejudice
free us from our addiction to violence and division

The congregation is invited to offer their own prayers for equity and justice

Jesus – the laborer, the migrant, the homeless, the oppressed
You hear their cries and so do we
Fill us with courage and conviction
Make us instruments of your peace
your justice
your mercy
Fill us with your passion and power
So we may truly live the prayer you taught us

Conclude with The Lord’s Prayer

The Way of Peace by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Based on Isaiah 59:8, NRSV
The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths.
Their roads they have made crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace.

You
You are the Way
Your way is Peace
An unbent highway of new life
Truth, Dignity, Empowerment
We will know you
We will walk in your ways

You
You are the Way
Your way is Peace
A shining path of justice
Integrity, Impartiality, Redeeming Love
We will know you
We will walk in your ways

You
You are the Way
Your way is Peace
An unbroken road of refuge
Safety, Belonging, Becoming
We will know you
We will walk in your ways

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Anointed for Peacemaking © 2017, updated 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Prayer for Equity © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
The Way of Peace © 2018, updated 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Leave a comment below for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog, etc.

PRAYER – Your Way Is Grace, A River of Life

Posted on November 27, 2023 by revlisad

Photo by Baskin Creative Studios on Pexels.com

This liturgy was written for a clergy gathering of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church following a long, brutal season of congregational disaffiliations. The prayer is inspired by Psalm 133 and Rev. 22:1-2 and is voiced as a call and response. You’re welcome to voice it in another way that best suits your needs.

Holy One, Glorious One, Maker of Heaven and Earth
You gather your beloved from the season of harm and loss,
weariness and wounds
Re-member us as your covenant people
One in baptism
One in calling
One in your abundant Gospel
Your way is grace, a river of life

Flowing down over our heads
as blessing and balm
wholeness and hope
Your way is grace, a river of life

Flowing down over our faces
eyes, ears, lips anointed for truth and justice
For rebuilding your kingdom together
Your way is grace, a river of life

Flowing down over our bodies
our strength now pulling together
bearing crosses, not weapons
Your way is grace, a river of life

Flowing down over our hands
Open in welcome, holding all things sacred
Open in sharing, collaborating, risking
So new people, young people, diverse people know you
Your way is grace, a river of life

Flowing down over our hearts, ordering our desiring
Flowing down over our souls, protecting, inspiring
You alone on the throne, blessed Savior
Our Home, our Hope
Ordaining blessing, life forevermore
Hallelujah! Your Kingdom come, your will be done
Hallelujah! Amen!

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Your Way is Grace, A River of Life © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting without asking permission. It’s always a treat to hear from you if you’re using it. Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog, etc.

Prayer for Louisiana and Afghanistan

Posted on August 29, 2021 by revlisad

As we gather for worship, we recognize the deep pain of our world- Haiti, Cuba, the fires out west, Louisiana, Afghanistan, and so many other places.⁠
⁠
We join those who mourn the tremendous loss of life and home ⁠
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ALL: Holy One, we trust you weep with us. ⁠Your healing, saving work continues. ⁠
⁠
Hear our cry for those who continue to live in destruction, violence, and oppression. Those running to a new home in a new place. And all who are welcoming the refugees ⁠
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ALL: Holy One, we trust you welcome them. ⁠Your healing, saving work continues. ⁠
⁠
Hear our cry for American and Afghan families as they cry for their loved ones who died in the terror attack on the Kabul airport, as they pray those who remain are safe, as they wonder about 20 years of war and the future of that land.⁠
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Hear our cry for those in the path of Hurricane Ida as they cry for the powerful storm to lessen, as they pray those who remain are safe, as they wonder about the destruction to come on the anniversary of Katrina.⁠
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ALL: Holy One, we trust you never abandon. Your healing, saving work continues. ⁠
⁠
Hear our cry for your work of peace to be fulfilled.⁠
No more war⁠
No more storms⁠
⁠
No more tears⁠
No more separation⁠
⁠
No more evil⁠
No more devastation⁠
No more death⁠
⁠
Jesus, save us from helplessness⁠
Strengthen our minds, our bodies, our resolve. ⁠
We trust we are part of your healing, saving work. ⁠
⁠
Jesus, save us from overwhelm⁠
Strengthen our faith, our hope, our calling.⁠
We trust the triumph of your goodness and grace.⁠
For you are the Resurrection and the Life. ⁠
Amen. ⁠
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You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Prayer for the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks

Posted on August 27, 2021 by revlisad

Image by David Mark via Pixabay

We come together with persons all over the world to remember the day our world changed. We come together in faith, in hope, in God’s infinite love.

Heavenly Father, we commend to your mercy and grace all who died in the September eleventh attacks and all who have died in the past twenty years while laboring to end terrorism.

In New York City: 2,342 persons
In Arlington, Virginia: 184 persons
In Shanksville, Pennsylvania: 40 persons
411 New York City rescue workers that day plus so many more from the aftereffects
Thousands of military personnel and civilians in the following years of war

Over 70 countries lost loved ones that day: family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, heroes. In the face of all this loss we claim your grace, your faithfulness, and your power to bring good out of evil.

Compassionate One, it’s been twenty years, yet the pain is fresh and the need is great. Comfort all who continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. Come with assurance and peace for all who remain traumatized, anxious, or fearful for the future. Come with protection and freedom for all who continue to live in the midst of hostility and oppression.

Bring wholeness and hope to every broken place- to broken bodies, broken hearts, and broken spirits. To broken relationships, broken systems, and broken faith.

Draw together leaders of every nation. Give them ears to hear your wisdom and the courage to respond. Inspire them to work together for peace, justice, and freedom. Inspire us, too.

Strengthen all who risk their lives to protect others. Guard and favor all who work to make your world a place of peace. Guard and guide us, too.

God of the Nations, hear our prayer for our enemies and for ourselves. Help us love and pray for those who hate us. We claim your abiding, your humility, and your strength as we strive to fulfill this call.

Save us from revenge, false teaching, and blind suspicion. Help us recognize our contributions to conflict. Help us understand the hurt that feeds the hate.

Change the hearts of all who seek their way by evil and violent means, by coercion and corruption and privilege, including our own. Create in us clean hearts that beat with your unconditional compassion.

Leave no one in the shadows of evil and death, O God.
Fill us all with your light and make us all instruments of your peace.

Our world remains a dangerous place, O God, but with you there is shalom and hope. With you there is persevering and purpose. You are our Rock, our Shield, our Defender forever.
Amen.
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You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Revlisad.com

Rev. Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Tag Archives: unity

PRAYER – Your Way Is Grace, A River of Life