A WORSHIP PRAYER

 

[The following is a prayer I gave in worship some years ago. I found it in my notes just days ago.]

 

Oh, just and merciful God,

Who has provided us with numerous chances

and opportunities-

May we be just and merciful when

·       A child cries out in hunger

·       A woman seeks safety from abuse

·       A teenager discovers she cannot read

·       A man wrestles with his meth addiction

And may we also respond with justice and mercy when

·       A prisoner yearns for freedom

·       An immigrant crosses borders for a better future

·       A Muslim young man questions his place in the world

·       A migrant worker picks the grapes of wrath

Our good lives and prosperity are created by

your blessings, our talents, and the labor of those

who serve our needs by picking our fruit and

vegetables, patching our roofs, and generally

cleaning up our messes

Thus, remembering our Baptist roots as working

class people we seek your wisdom and power to

treat these folks with kindness and consideration,

to tip generously, and to pay a fair wage for their

honest and hard work

A wise poet was correct in his observation-

No man is an island, entirely unto himself

and our Lord Jesus was adamant in his command

to love our neighbors- these people- as ourselves

 

So, as we pray we remember that justice and

Mercy denied to one is justice and mercy denied

To all because we are all in this together

In Christ’s name

Amen