Pause for Prayer: VETERANS DAY

This post includes my Veterans Day Prayer followed by two more from Alden Solovy at To Bend Light. You might want to share these prayers with veterans you know...

A Prayer for Veterans Day

God of peace,

we pray for all who have served our nation,
    protecting and defending our freedom...

We pray for those who have fought,
    whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war
and whose nights are haunted by memories
    too painful for the light of day...

We pray for those who serve us now,
especially those in harm's way:

    keep them healthy and strong,
    shield them from danger
    and bring them home soon
    to their families and friends...

Turn the plans and the hearts and the minds
    of our leaders and enemies, too,
to the work of justice

    and a bountiful harvest of peace...

 

Lord of all nations:

    we long for the peace you left us,        
    help us work for the peace that sustains us,

    as a tribute to those who have served us... 

Amen.

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To the Soldier, To the Veteran

These things I do not know:

The sound of a bullet.
The power of a blast.
The blood of a comrade.
The depth of your wound.
The terror at midnight.
The dread at dawn.
Your fear or your pain.

These things I know:

The sound of your honor.
The power of your courage.
The blood of your wound.
The depth of your strength.
The terror that binds you.
The dread that remains.
Your dignity and your valor.

For these things I pray:

The sound of your laughter.
The power of your voice.
The blood of your yearning.
The depth of your healing.
The joy that frees you.
The hope that remains.
Your wholeness and your love.

© 2011 Alden Solovy and To Bend Light. 

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Veterans Day Prayer

God of compassion,
God of dignity and strength,
Watch over the veterans of the United States
In recognition of their loyal service to our nation.
Bless them with wholeness and love.
Shelter them.
Heal their wounds,
Comfort their hearts.
Grant them peace.

God of justice and truth,
Rock of our lives,
Bless our veterans,
These men and women of courage and valor,
With a deep and abiding understanding
Of our profound gratitude.
Protect them and their families from loneliness and want.
Grant them lives of joy and bounty.
May their dedication and honor
Be remembered as a blessing
From generation to generation.

Blessed are You,
Protector and Redeemer,
Our Shield and our Stronghold.

© 2011 Alden Solovy and To Bend Light.  

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 11/10

For Christians, November is a traditional time to remember and pray for those who have died.  Tonight's prayer has two parts: the first is up to you, the second relies on tonight's song...

 

 First, I invite you to remember and pray for your loved ones who have died...  Take some time to recall the very things about them that made their passing and loss so difficult for you... Take some time to thank God for the gifts and blessings you received from them...  Take some time to grieve...  And finally, take some time to entrust these loved ones into the everlasting arms of the Lord...

 

Second, listen to this evening's song with all the memories and blessings - and tears - your prayer tonight  has brought you...  And listen through to the very end of the song...

 

The Kontakion by Karl Hitzemann

    Text from the Eastern Orthodox liturgy

    Music by Rupert Lang 

 

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Give rest unto your servants with your saints, O God. 

Give rest, give rest,

where there is neither pain nor sorrow, 

neither sighing, but life everlasting. (2X)

 

For you, God only are immortal; 

the creator and the maker of us all, 

And we are mortal formed of the earth, 

and to the earth we shall return. 

 

Give rest unto your servants with your saints, O God. 

Give rest, give rest 

where there is neither pain nor sorrow, 

neither sighing, but life everlasting. 

 

For so did you ordain when you created me saying: 

"You are dust, and to dust you shall return."

All of us go down to the dust, 

yet even at the grave we make our song: 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia." 

 

Give rest unto your servants with your saints, O God. 

Give rest, give rest,

where there is neither pain nor sorrow, 

neither sighing, but life everlasting,

neither sighing, but life everlasting.

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

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Monday Morning Offering: 11/10

Image: George Mendoza

 

 

Good morning, good God!

 

Today, Lord, I offer you my thoughts:

    may they be good and pure,

    crystal clear and clean, 

    positive and peaceful...

 

Today, Lord, I offer you my words:

    may they be plain and true,     

    compassionate and healing, 

    spoken from my heart... 

 

Today, Lord, I offer you my deeds:

    may they be good and just,

    sincerely well intentioned

    and generous to a fault...

 

Today, Lord, I offer you my self:

    may I be strong and faithful

    in humbly serving you

    in my thoughts and words and deeds...

 

Amen. 

    

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NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 11/9

On Sundays, Night Prayer takes its lead from some element of the day's liturgy.  Today is a feast with an odd name: the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (scriptures here).  In short, we celebrate the dedication of an ancient church to remind us that WE are the church, the Body of Christ. Tonight's prayer pleads for unity in the Church...

That all may be one...

So you prayed, Lord, at table with your friends, 

on the night before you died:

that we might all be one... 

 

But we are far from such blessed unity,

far from being one in love, one in peace,

one in love, in you...

 

Rather, in the nations of the world

and in your very Church, Lord:

    conflict breaks our unity,

        our discord sours harmony;

    chaos uproots order

        and corruption poisons justice;

    we make war where you seek peace

        and consume more than we share;

    you speak truth and we tell lies,

        we are biased, not impartial;

     we take what isn't ours     

        and lay waste what we should love...

 

We are far from such blessed unity,

far from being one in love, 

one in peace,

one in mercy, 

one, O Lord, 

in you...

That we might all be one:

that was your prayer, Lord, 

and it's our prayer, too, 

despite the many ways we fail 

    to listen for your word,

    to think before we speak

    to forgive as we're forgiven, 

    to live as you have called us,

    to share before we hoard,

    to do as we'd have done to us,

    to give before we take,

    to put our neighbor first, 

    to make peace our greatest work,

    to pray, both night and day,

        that all be one, Lord,

        to pray that all be one in you, 

        to pray that all be one...

We are far from such blessed unity,

far from being one in love, 

one in peace,

one in mercy, 

one, O Lord, 

in you...

 

That we might all be one...

That's your prayer, Lord, and ours:

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer...

 

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us as we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

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Make Us One by Erik Dewar

 

 

  

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 11/9

Love is many things, Lord, and perhaps above all - it is patient... 

 

Love waits patiently while the beloved delays, demurs, tarries and tries the lover's patience.. 

 

With quiet patience, love endures defeat and disappointment, never allowing discouragement to snatch the beloved away... 

 

With no complaint, love suffers for the sake of the beloved: no hardship, no pain proves too much for love to bear... 

 

You're a patient lover, Lord: you wait for me and never give up on me; you endure my foolishness even when I run from you; you suffer for my sake and freely bear my burdens...

 

I've done nothing to deserve your patient love. Even when I waste it, when I turn from it, when I deny and reject you, even then, patiently, you wait til my heart changes, you endure my slow progress, and you suffer my self-pity all because your love for me is patient and you'll never let me go... 

 

Keep my from the quick and hasty judgment, Lord; let me judge as I'd have others judge me: patiently, with mercy and justice...

 

Curb my sharp tongue and give me patience in my speech: let no harsh words escape  my mouth- don't even let me think them...

 

Give me patience in understanding those who are not like me and help me see in the differences all that complements and completes us... 

 

Give me the patience I need to move among others with gentleness, reverence and respect: careful not to step on others' hearts and letting others go before me, before my needs are served... 

 

Give me patience, Lord, with those I live and work with: the ones I take for granted, the ones I ignore, and the ones I so easily forget in my rush to get what I want, when I want it... 

 

Give me patience with myself, Lord, when I'm quick to judge, to doubt, abuse and hate myself. Remind me of your mercy, of your trust in the person you made me to be, of your gentle touch upon my wounds and pain, and of the love you never fail to give...

 

Forgive and heal me, Lord, when my lack of patience leads me to anger and judgment, harsh words or silence, jealousy or self-pity...

 

When my impatience spirals into doubt and fear, calm my anxious heart with the patient grace of your heart and hold me in your mercy til I'm washed clean in your peace...  

 

Be patient with my impatience, Lord, and help me be patient with any and all whose paths cross mine today...

 

Amen.  

  

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 11/8

 

Lord, you're the steadfast God of all change:

    you call me to a new beginning,

    a change of heart,

    a second chance,

    correction of my faults,

    unexplored opportunities,

    a clean slate,

    adjusted expectations,

    personal transformation

    and the work of your Spirit

        alive in my soul every day...

Sometimes you call me to change by moving

    from the false to the true,

    from sin to grace,

    from selfishness to generosity,

    from pride to humility,

    from yesterday to today,

    from today to tomorrow,

    from fantasy to reality,

    from the old to the new,

    from the unhealthy to the wholesome,

    from laziness to activity

    - or simply from here to there...

Guide me in all these changes, Lord: 

    with the breath of your Spirit

        who  changes my heart,

    with the gift of your wisdom

        transforming my mind,    

    and with the grace of your love,

            pure mercy and joy...

 

Help me change 

    when you call me to change;

help me change

    when I don't want to change;

lead me to change

    what needs to be changed;

and change me, Lord,

    to be the person you made me to be... 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

 

Change My Heart by Eddie Espinosa

 

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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 11/8

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Help me, Lord,
to embrace what peace I have
and to wrap my arms 'round every joy
that comes my way -

    large, medium and small...

Help me, Lord,
to see the good, the true and the best
in others and in me -
    and to cling to it with all the strength I have...

Help me, Lord,
to trust all the ways you invite me
to your mercy, your grace and your love
and to follow where your Spirit leads -
    wherever that may take me...

Help me, Lord, not to turn 

where my fears and my past 

might beckon me to go

but rather, help me follow 

where your Spirit leads -

    wherever that may be... 

     

Help me, Lord,
to walk in even the darkest valley

knowing and trusting that you are there
to lead and guide me
    to the peace I want so much...

Amen.

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 11/7

 

The first Friday of each month of the year is a day of devotion to the heart of Jesus.  As we began our day this morning with an image of his heart, so we'll end the day in the same way... 

 

Your heart has no borders, Lord,

    no artificial boundaries

to limit who may enter in

    and keep out who may not...

 

    Sacred Heart By Elizabeth Wang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted, there's no room for sin 

    within your heart's domain

but there's always, Lord, the easement

    of your mercy and forgiveness;

the passport of your pardon

    opening wide the points of entry 

to all your sons and daughters,

    migrant pilgrims bound for home... 

 

Like a shepherd in the open fields,

    you guide and guard your flock;

you seek me out and save me

    when I stray or run away;

you call me by my name, Lord,

    and shelter me from danger

as you lead me safely home

    to the sheepfold of your heart... 

 

Then open wide my own heart, Lord,

    to welcome who may come:

the stranger seeking kindness,

    the homeless needing shelter;

the friend who needs to lean on me,

    the migrant seeking work;

the neighbor asking for my help,

    the exile begging entrance;

the passer-by who smiles at me,

    the outcast seeking welcome...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

Heart of Jesus by Bob Hurd

 

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Heart of Jesus, Holy mystery,

    beat within our hearts, we pray.

May we mirror your great kindness

    let your mind be ours today.

Make us vessels of your glory,

    in our weakness show your strength.

Make this Church a bold sign

    of your powerful grace.

 

Heart of Jesus, given for us,

    may we love as we are loved.

May your Church be a good shepherd,

    seeking out those who are lost,

breaking bread with all who hunger,

    giving voice to the oppressed:

winning justice and peace

    for all those in distress.

 

Heart of Jesus, no stranger

    to our darkness and our grief,

how you wept for poor Lazarus

    and awoke him from his sleep.

How you bore for us the spearwound,

    greater love there can not be

than to lay down one’s live

    to set others free. 

 

Heart of Jesus, holy wisdom,

    ever ancient, ever new,

may your kingdom grow among us

    in each thing we say and do.

May we fight the good fight gladly,

    run the race our whole lives through,

till at last with the saints

    we shall find rest in you.

 

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Pause for Prayer...... First Friday in November...... in the Month of All Souls

                                     Open Your Heart by Timothy P Schmalz

 It's the "First Friday" of November and the first Friday of each month is considered a day devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Beyond our imagining, the breadth and depth of Jesus' heart expands eternally to hold in its beating chambers every human being created in God's image. In the heart of Jesus are found the peoples of every time and age, of every race and nation: past, present and to come. We are in Christ's heart now, already - and we always have been. All things came to be through him and without him, nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race.  

In the heart of Jesus we are brothers and sisters. Our life's work is to grasp that each heart is made and meant to beat as one with Christ's heart. And if each heart beats as one with Christ's, then all hearts will beat together and live in the Spirit's breath. 

Sin is congestive heart failure in the body of Christ and we need the healing touch of the divine Physician to make of us one heart, one breath. 

In this month of November, the month of All Souls, let us pray that all who have died will find their eternal home in the heart of Jesus.

Litany of the Sacred Heart

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

So loving
So humble
So gentle
So compassionate
So faithful
So wise
So patient
So steadfast
So tender
So spacious

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

God’s joy
God’s shalom
Harp of the Trinity
Wingbeat of the Spirit
Breath of God
Five-petaled rose

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Womb of justice
Birthplace of peace
Our dearest hope
Longing of our lives

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Freely flowing fountain
Spring of grace
Freshet of forgiveness
Merciful river
Mystical dew

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Warmth of our hearts
Transforming fire
Cosmic furnace
Enflamer of hearts

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Heart of evolution
Beginning and ending
Center of all

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Garden of virtues
Mystical dew
Table and food

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Our refuge
Our shelter
Our comfort
Our rest
Our welcoming breast

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Wounded by love
Pierced by our cruelty
Broken by our hardness
Mystic winepress
Poured out as gift

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Have mercy, gracious heart,
Give us gratefulness
Teach us tenderness
Let us learn to love.

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

- Wendy Wright

Let us pray...

 
God of all our hearts, open your heart 

    that we might see in yours
        the beauty of every soul created in your image...

 
We pray for all who have died
    that they may find in your heart
        the eternal peace you offer us...

Amen.

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