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Opening Prayers
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My plate, empty now, will soon be filled with precious food. In this food, I see the presence of the entire universe supporting my existence. Many beings are struggling for food today. I pray that they all may have enough to eat. (from Ticht Naht Hanh)
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God of us all, who brought Jesus into the world a refugee, we pray for your blessings on those who are strangers in a strange land, forced to leave the homes they love because of poverty and injustice. We pray that you protect and keep them in their journeys. We pray for those who would persecute your pilgrims. Open all our hearts so that we might see and welcome Christ in all people, neighbors and strangers alike. |
God, help us to understand the way of freedom and power proclaimed by Jesus in the synagogue. May we learn how to live the Christian life that brings good news to the poor and freedom to those held captive by oppressive economic systems.
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God of health and wholeness, we pray for those who toil in conditions that result in disease, limiting their ability to be whole. We pray for those who create the conditions and for those who allow the conditions to continue. May farm workers feel your healing touch on their body, mind and spirit. We pray in the name of Jesus, the great physician and healer.
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O God of many cultures and many nations, we thank you for the gifts and talents you have bestowed upon us. Help us to recognize the value in ways other than our own, and give us guidance in accepting other traditions into our hearts. We know that in you, we are all one people.
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God, we believe that your reign is present wherever people strive to make it present. Be with us today as we seek for ways to enable the contributions of those whom we often cannot see and as we seek for ways to discover our own capabilities to reach out in new ways. This we ask in your name. |
O God of the harvest, despite the prosperity of this good earth, there are children in our fields, children who work to help their families, children who cannot go to school regularly, children who are exposed to pesticides, children whose parents cannot support them from the wages they earn. Bring a harvest of love into our hearts so that we may work for justice in our world and justice for the children in the fields. |
and Immigrants