We gather in the gloom and chill of a new season, O God.
Even in the blustery days, the driving rain,
the dry leaves on the ground, and the dead stalks in our gardens,
we know your hand is at work.
As you give rest to the earth,
grant us thoughtfulness, peace, and perspective.
Help us to seek you and to find you in both good times and bad.
As we pause for prayer this morning,
we lift up to you ourselves, our families, our friends, and our neighbors.
We pray for our neighbors to the north,
who celebrate thanksgiving tomorrow:
Grant them grateful hearts, love for each other,
we know your hand is at work.
As you give rest to the earth,
grant us thoughtfulness, peace, and perspective.
Help us to seek you and to find you in both good times and bad.
As we pause for prayer this morning,
we lift up to you ourselves, our families, our friends, and our neighbors.
We pray for our neighbors to the north,
who celebrate thanksgiving tomorrow:
Grant them grateful hearts, love for each other,
and a renewed commitment to share their blessings with the world.
We pray for our neighbors to the south,
whose holiday tomorrow celebrates the coming together of diverse peoples
to create a new humanity:
Grant them unity, equality, and justice.
And we pray for our own nation, increasingly divided.
Some will celebrate an age of exploration and discovery tomorrow.
While others will pause to consider the pain and destruction
brought by explorers who took on the rôle of conquerors.
Grant us better understanding of our past,
help us to reach out across dividing lines,
and grant us a will to celebrate discoverers,
but also the indigenous peoples of the lands we inhabit.
Thus may our prayers be not only for family and friends,
for ourselves and our neighbors, but also for those we don’t understand—
even for those we are told should be our enemies.
We lift up to you peoples in difficulty and conflict this day—
especially earthquake victims in Afghanistan,
We pray for our neighbors to the south,
whose holiday tomorrow celebrates the coming together of diverse peoples
to create a new humanity:
Grant them unity, equality, and justice.
And we pray for our own nation, increasingly divided.
Some will celebrate an age of exploration and discovery tomorrow.
While others will pause to consider the pain and destruction
brought by explorers who took on the rôle of conquerors.
Grant us better understanding of our past,
help us to reach out across dividing lines,
and grant us a will to celebrate discoverers,
but also the indigenous peoples of the lands we inhabit.
Thus may our prayers be not only for family and friends,
for ourselves and our neighbors, but also for those we don’t understand—
even for those we are told should be our enemies.
We lift up to you peoples in difficulty and conflict this day—
especially earthquake victims in Afghanistan,
the people of Ukraine and Russia, of Syria,
of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and of Israel and Palestine.
Let the prayer on our peace pole outside be constantly on our lips—
not just this day, but every day—that peace may prevail upon the earth.
All these prayers we offer to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, God forevermore. Amen.
of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and of Israel and Palestine.
Let the prayer on our peace pole outside be constantly on our lips—
not just this day, but every day—that peace may prevail upon the earth.
All these prayers we offer to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, God forevermore. Amen.
