In Praise of Jerusalem

Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together.

To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.

Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.”

For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.”

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.

A Day of Reflection

The day after Thanksgiving is quite possibly my favorite day of the year. It is a day full of leftovers. It is day spent in pajamas. It is a day of rest. It is a day of renewal. It is a day of reflection.

As I reflect today I am drawn to the words of Psalm 19...

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God's handiwork.

Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens God has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Take a moment today to reflect, but be sure to do it while eating leftovers in your pajamas!

The Bread of Life

John 6:25-35

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”

Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.


Eternal God, as we gather today and break bread among family and friends may we be constantly reminded of the grace that has been bestowed upon us through the works and sacrifice of your beautiful son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

A Thanksgiving Litany - Friends

For our friends,
Thank you, God.

For friends who support us,
Thank you, God.

For friends who surround us,
Thank you, God.

For friends who laugh with us,
Thank you, God.

For friends who rejoice with us,
Thank you, God.

For friends who share in joy with us,
Thank you, God.

For friends who love with us,
Thank you, God.

 For friends who grieve with us,
Thank you, God.

For friends who weep with us,
Thank you, God.

For friends who hold our hand,
Thank you, God.

For friends who teach us compassion,
Thank you, God.

Everlasting God, help us to be a friend to those as they have been a friend to us. Amen. 

A Thanksgiving Litany - Family

 For our families,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For adoptive parents,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For adopted children,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For foster parents,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For foster children,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For step-parents,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For step-children,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For mothers,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For fathers,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For sisters,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For brothers,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For aunts,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For uncles,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For cousins,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For grandmothers,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For grandfathers,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For nieces and nephews,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For daughters and sons,
We give you thanks, O Lord.

For grandchildren,
We give you thanks, O Lord. 

Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace given us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow; for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen.

*Prayer comes from the Book of Common Worship

All Lands Summoned to Praise God

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come into the Lord's presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God. It is God that made us, and we are God's; we are God's people, and the sheep of God's pasture.

Enter God's gates with thanksgiving, and God's courts with praise. Give thanks to God, bless God's name.

For the Lord is good; the Lord's steadfast love endures forever, and the Lord's faithfulness to all generations.

The Wisdom of Sharing

“Wisdom is not gained by knowing what is right. Wisdom is gained by practicing what is right, and noticing what happens when that practice succeeds and when it fails.”

― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith


From a very early age we are taught about the principles of right versus wrong. Most often (or at least in my case) this lesson came in the form of sharing. We must learn to share our toys, share our building blocks, share our books, and even share our food. As a child sharing feels like a foreign concept, much less like a compromise and much more like a punishment. Though, as we get older we begin to not only better understand this foreign concept, we begin to engage and practice in the act of sharing. Right versus wrong, sharing versus not sharing, whatever it may be, simply knowing the difference is not enough. We must engage and practice this knowledge. In doing so we are afforded the opportunity to see just how profound of an experience it is to share our toys with one another.

Loving God, provide in us a spirit of sharing. Amen.

God in the Real World

“What is saving my life now is the conviction that there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the bodily experiences of human life on earth. My life depends on engaging the most ordinary physical activities with the most exquisite attention I can give them. My life depends on ignoring all touted distinctions between the secular and the sacred, the physical and the spiritual, the body and the soul. What is saving my life now is becoming more fully human, trusting that there is no way to God apart from real life in the real world.”

― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith


So often we forget that our "everyday lives" can and should be used as a means to experience God, both in times of joy and sorrow. When "exquisite attention" is given to the profoundly simple actions of our daily lives we are then able to fully live into a life where God can be seen, heard, and experienced among our daily routines.


Almighty Creator and Sustainer, continue to open our minds, hearts, and souls so that we may not only feel your Holy presence, but that we may engage your very presence in all that we do. Amen.    

Peace in the Present

“No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of those wise about the spiritual life suggests that the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. The treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company. All we lack is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are.”

― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith


We often spend so much of our lives lamenting over all of the things we don't have. We have decided that we don't have a good enough job, a good enough car, a good enough house, and, quite frankly, a good enough life. We spend much of our time comparing our situations to those of others. We set unrealistic benchmarks for ourselves regarding "where we should be in life." Let us being to challenge ourselves to seek out the "red X" that is already so present in our lives. In this moment, we are all exactly where God has called us to be. Let us begin to live into our present situations.


The Great I Am, help us to find peace in the present. Amen. 

God's Daily Presence

“People encounter God under shady oak trees, on riverbanks, at the tops of mountains, and in long stretches of barren wilderness. God shows up in whirlwinds, starry skies, burning bushes, and perfect strangers. When people want to know more about God, the son of God tells them to pay attention to the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, to women kneading bread and workers lining up for their pay. Whoever wrote this stuff believed that people could learn as much about the ways of God from paying attention to the world as they could from paying attention to scripture. What is true is what happens, even if what happens is not always right. People can learn as much about the ways of God from business deals gone bad or sparrows falling to the ground as they can from reciting the books of the Bible in order. They can learn as much from a love affair or a wildflower as they can from knowing the Ten Commandments by heart.”

― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith


Our everyday lives are filled with moments of God's undeniable presence. They are certainly not always easy to recognize and, at times, they are not always moments where we could possibly believe God's presence to be felt. However, as God lives with us, in us, and through us, may we continue to live into our daily lives in such a way that God's presence is continually recognized and felt.


Holy One, we pray that you may continue to walk among us in our daily lives. Help us to recognize and feel your presence as we experience the daily rhythms of our own lives and those lives around us. Amen.   

Faith as a Way of Life

“To make bread or love, to dig in the earth, to feed an animal or cook for a stranger—these activities require no extensive commentary, no lucid theology. All they require is someone willing to bend, reach, chop, stir. Most of these tasks are so full of pleasure that there is no need to complicate things by calling them holy. And yet these are the same activities that change lives, sometimes all at once and sometimes more slowly, the way dripping water changes stone. In a world where faith is often construed as a way of thinking, bodily practices remind the willing that faith is a way of life.”

― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith


As you reflect upon this quote think of the daily routine of your own life. We all serve a deep and profound purpose, though remember that the purpose need not be "complicated" or "holy."

How do your daily actions and activities change lives?


Loving and Gracious God, we pray on this day that you remind us of the power in the simplicity of life. Amen.

God's Defense of God's City and People

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the
earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the
heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its
tumult.                                     Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad
the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall
not be moved;
God will help it when the morning
dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the
kingdoms totter;
God utters God's voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations God has brought on
the earth.
God makes wars cease to the end of the
earth;
God breaks the bow, and shatters the
spear;
God burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”

The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah

A Saturday Litany

Eternal God, source of everlasting light,
send forth your truth into our hearts,
and bring us into your presence with joy and gladness
in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Hear us, good Lord.

Gracious God,
in the night of distress we forget the days of sun and joy.
When we do not know your presence,
preserve us from the deep torrent of despair.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hear us, almighty Lord.

God our strength,
you give honor to the pure in heart
and uphold all who trust in you.
Deliver us from chasing after the world's illusions
that we may follow instead
the imperishable truth of your Word
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hear us, loving Lord.

God of pilgrims,
strengthen our faith, we pray.
Guide us through the uncertainties of our journey,
and hold before us the vision of your eternal kingdom,
made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hear us, gracious Lord. 

The Glorious New Creation

Isaiah 65:17-25

For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be
remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a
joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be
heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out
a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be
considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred
will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their
fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of
my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the
work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the
Lord—
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.

When Words Aren't Enough

I was struggling today on an idea for the blog... I decided to Google "When Words Aren't Enough."

Then this happened. Yes. Yes. And Yes.

Thanksgiving and Praise!

Isaiah 12

You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; the Lord has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on the Lord's name; make known the Lord's deeds among the nations; proclaim that the Lord's name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for the Lord has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Prayers for the Philippines

Take a moment today to pray for the people of the Philippines. 

God our Lord

Diyos ang aming Panginoon (Tagalog-Filipino)

Thiên Chúa, Chúa chúng ta (Vietnamese)

Shàngdì wǒmen de zhǔ (Mandarin)

The Creator of the world, the stiller of storms, our shelter and our strength:

We turn to You in this dire hour, of massive devastation and death.

Interceding for your people in the Philippines and in other parts of Southeast Asia,

Joining our hearts, our prayers, and our cries with theirs.

Hear us, dear God! We plead to You. See the suffering. Feel the tears. Come to Your 

     people in a way that only You can, God of mercy and grace.

Be the shelter for the thousands whose homes have now become debris or washed with 

     the waters;

Be the healer for the wounded;

Be the comforter for many who weep, for the many who sift through the trees, who 

     wonder, “Where is my loved one? Why us?”

Feel the pain, dear Lord, because You know our inward parts, the heart and soul of Your 

     people beat with anguish that You alone can bear, that You alone can hold in the 

     shadow of your wings.

Save

the farmers whose crops are now destroyed;

the fishermen whose boats have become parts of the seas;

the villagers whose homes are no more;

those who await to be rescued.

Lord our God, be the Savior of us all.

God, the fountain of life and the light of light,

Fill Your people with hope in these times of despair.

Be the light in what will be a long journey in darkness.

Strengthen

rescue and relief workers, with determination and courage;

doctors and nurses, who tend to the injured, who grow tired and wearied with overwhelming numbers and scarce resources.

Lord our God, be the Strength when Your people are weakened and worn.

Supply

food to the hundreds of thousands who are hungry;

water to the thirsty;

medicine to those who need healing;

hope to the hopeless.

Lord our God, be the Provider of Your people’s needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

Summon the prayers, mobilize compassion, prompt the action of all of your people here and around the world, with what You provide.

Lord, in Your mercies, hear our prayers.

Lord Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord Spirit, grant us Your peace.

Amen.

*The above prayer is found at the following website: http://www.pcusa.org/news/2013/11/11/call-prayer-philippines/ 

Prayers for Our Veterans

As we celebrate this Veterans Day, let us honor those brave women and men who have so selflessly served our country through prayers of servicemen and servicewomen.

For Peace

O God, who art the author of peace, and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies, that we surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-The Book of Common Prayer 1785, for King's Chapel


For Thankfulness (1863)

Most gracious and bountiful Lord, who fillest all things with good, and hast taught us that it is a joyful and pleasant thing to be thankful, suffer me not, I beseech Thee, to my part in that divine pleasure, but grant that as I daily receive blessings from Thee, so may I daily, from an affectionate and devout heart, offer up thanks to Thee; let Thy mercies lead me to repentance, and give me grace to improve them all to the advancement of Thy Glory, and the furtherance of my salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


In Pain 

Help us, God of Life, to bear our pain as thy beloved Son bore his trials and passion, so that we may gather strength out of weakness and suffering, and consecrate our sorrows even as he did. Enable us to bear quietly whatever hardness there may be in our lot, neither exulting in our pride, nor yielding to despondency, but always relying upon thee. And be pleased, O thou great Deliverer, to put an end at last to our suffering, whether in tranquil life, or at the coming of the final peace; and when thou callest us to give an account of our stewardship of pain, may we be found worthy of the recompense of those whose suffering was instead of work for thee. Amen.


To Serve with Honor

O God, help me to live in such a way that I will always bring honor to thee and to my uniform. Help me to be obedient to the voice of conscience and to serve the highest that I know. Amen.

-Chaplain William E. Parsons, Jr., Meditations for Servicemen, 1967


For Our Enemies

O God, the father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies; Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


A Prayer When Far From Home

Dear Lord, I am far from my loved one but not alone; Miles away from my friends but I have a Friend. My heart is filled with courage and I have hope, For thou art with me. Thou art the light that fills my soul with brightness and with joy. I shall lean upon Thee and not fall. I shall accomplish the task I have set out to do and not fail; With Thy help nobody can fail. I love thee, O Lord, my God, with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my might, And I know Thou dost love me and will care for me. Amen.

-Dr. Edgar Magnin (1890-1984), Rabbi of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple


*All of these prayers come from the text Endowed By Their Creator. 

Shining as Lights in the World

Philippians 2:12-18

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for God's good pleasure.

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you— and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.

Trust and Joy in the Midst of Trouble

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
God makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and makes me tread upon the heights.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

The Prophet's Prayer, Part II

Habakkuk 3:9-16

You brandished your naked bow,
sated were the arrows at your
command.                    Selah
You split the earth with rivers.
The mountains saw you, and writhed;
a torrent of water swept by;
the deep gave forth its voice.
The sun raised high its hands;
the moon stood still in its exalted place,
at the light of your arrows speeding
by,
at the gleam of your flashing spear.
In fury you trod the earth,
in anger you trampled nations.
You came forth to save your people,
to save your anointed.
You crushed the head of the
wicked house,
laying it bare from foundation
to roof.                       Selah
You pierced with their own arrows the
head of their warriors,
who came like a whirlwind to scatter
us,
gloating as if ready to devour the poor
who were in hiding.
You trampled the sea with your horses,
churning the mighty waters.

I hear, and I tremble within;
my lips quiver at the sound.
Rottenness enters into my bones,
and my steps tremble beneath me.
I wait quietly for the day of calamity
to come upon the people who attack
us.

The Prophet's Prayer, Part I

Habakkuk 3:1-8

A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk according to Shigionoth.

O Lord, I have heard of your renown,
and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work.
In our own time revive it;
in our own time make it known;
in wrath may you remember mercy.

God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
God's glory covered the heavens,
and the earth was full of God's praise.
The brightness was like the sun;
rays came forth from God's hand,
where God's power lay hidden.
Before God went pestilence,
and plague followed close behind.
God stopped and shook the earth;
God looked and made the
nations tremble.
The eternal mountains were shattered;
along God's ancient pathways
the everlasting hills sank low.
I saw the tents of Cushan under affliction;
the tent-curtains of the land of Midian
trembled.
Was your wrath against the rivers,
O Lord?
Or your anger against the rivers,
or your rage against the sea,
when you drove your horses,
your chariots to victory?

God's Reply to the Prophet's Complaint

Habakkuk 2:1-4

I will stand at my watchpost,
and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what God will say
to me,
and what God will answer concerning
my complaint.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so that a runner may read it.
For there is still a vision for the appointed
time;
it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
Look at the proud!
Their spirit is not right in them,
but the righteous live by their faith.

Thank you, God, that I am surrounded by a community of faith, that I am never alone. Amen.

*The prayer comes from the text, "Daily Feast," written by Pamela Cooper-White.  

The Prophet's Complaint

Habakkuk 1:1-4

The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack
and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous—
therefore judgment comes forth perverted.


We are here God, waiting to hear what you have to say to us. Amen.

*The prayer comes from the text "Daily Feast," written by Pamela Cooper-White.

Prayers for Kairos, Day III

Today we pray for trust. May the participants and the team leaders/members be trusting not only in one another, but in the connectivity and everlasting presence of God.

Loving God, you want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing you, and to lay our cares on you, knowing that you care for us. Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide from us the light of your immortal love shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God of Trust, Hear our Prayer.

Prayers for the Saints of Kairos, Day II

November 1st marks a unique day in the Christian faith. Today is All Saints' Day.

In early Christian tradition, saints’ days began as a way to mark the anniversary of a martyr’s death — his or her “birthday” as a saint. By the middle of the church’s first millennium, there were so many martyrs (particularly due to the persecution of Diocletian) that it was hard to give them all their due. All Saints’ Day was established as an opportunity to honor all the saints, known and unknown.

All Saints’ Day has a rather different focus in the Reformed tradition. While we may give thanks for the lives of particular luminaries of ages past, the emphasis is on the ongoing sanctification of the whole people of God. Rather than putting saints on pedestals as holy people set apart in glory, we give glory to God for the ordinary, holy lives of the believers in this and every age. This is an appropriate time to give thanks to members of the community of faith who have died in the past year. We also pray that we may be counted among the company of the faithful in God’s eternal realm.

All Saints’ Day has been celebrated on November 1 since the year 835. Previously it had been connected with the Easter season as a feast of all martyrs.

Today, let us honor the saints, both participants and team leaders/members, being transformed by Kairos Prison Ministry...

 We pray that they expose their lives, hurts, disappointments, and hopes.

God of compassion, hear our prayer.

We pray for safety as the participants go back to their cells.

God of strength, hear our prayer.

We pray that the team members realize their limitations.

God of wisdom, hear our prayer. 

We pray that each team member has genuine love for the participants.

God of creation, hear our prayer.