Invocation
God
of open invitation beyond our ability to comprehend, we do not mean to come to
worship with so many expectations of control and so little anticipation of
surprise; but it is sometimes hard for us to trust that you have a plan for us.
When we feel helpless, remind us that we never really were in control. When we
feel lost, insignificant, and hopeless, remind us that you have found us, you
have declared us to be of great value, and you love us. If we are capable of
invoking anything this morning, O Lord, let it be our willingness to accept
your gracious invitation to let your will unfold its hope and promise into all
of the places where we are broken open; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Illumination
When
we close our eyes, O God, the light, no matter its source, becomes nearly
invisible to us. We might as well be in a deep cave whose twisting tunnels have
blocked every lumen. Is that why this is such a good posture for prayer? Do we
close our eyes so that all of the glorious visual stimuli of creation won’t
distract us from the light that you’ve put in our hearts?
Give
us courage, this day and every day, to step toward the shadows of life, to
struggle with the stories that connect us to you and one another, and to do so
as those whose faith mortars the vast expanse between our tiny bricks of
understanding; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Extraordinarily beautiful.
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