A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 5/26

As the day gives way to darkness, Lord,
I pray tonight for all who are distanced and separated
from those they dearly love...

First I pray for those mourning the loss
of a family member or friend,
for those who grieve from afar,
unable to travel and gather with others
to share their prayer and grief...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder
but weighs heavy, Lord,
on all who long to be with those they love:
may your heart be now the meeting place
where we are one with you and one another...

I pray for those in hospitals, nursing homes and their own homes,
I pray for the sick and dying
in places where none may come to visit
and hold their hand in prayer,
keep vigil at their bedside,
or cool a fevered brow...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder
but weighs heavy, Lord,
on all who long to be with those they love:
may your heart be now the meeting place
where we are one with you and one another...

I pray for parents and their adult children,
for grandparents and their grandkids
and for family members everywhere keeping social distance;
I pray for all those longing for a hug, a kiss,
a warm embrace, an arm around the waist,
a hand upon a shoulder, a mop of hair to tussle,
a high-five shared in joy...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder
but weighs heavy, Lord,
on all who long to be with those they love:
may your heart be now the meeting place
where we are one with you and one another...

I pray for those who live alone, Lord,
and for those who have no home to call their own;
I pray for those whose long, long days
are now made even longer in social isolation;
for those with few and dwindling ties to others
beyond their door or their curbside niche upon the street:
stir the rest of us, Lord, to love, care, reach out
and engage with those now most alone...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder
but weighs heavy, Lord,
on all who long to be with those they love:
may your heart be now the meeting place
where we are one with you and one another...

I pray for all who long to gather at your Table
to sing your praise and glory, to listen to your word,
to break the bread and share the cup you left us for our food:
strengthen us in the prayer we share, heal us with your saving Word
and grant the grace and peace of communion in your Spirit
until we join again as your people, as your church...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder
but weighs heavy, Lord,
on all who long to be with those they love:
may your heart be now the meeting place
where we are one with you and one another...

I pray for friends and neighbors, colleagues and classmates
and all the folks with whom we'd love to
share a meal, raise a toast, have a cookout,
enjoy a poolside party, meet at a favorite bistro
or share a coffee down at Dunkin':
gather us in spirit, Lord, until the day we join again
in the dance of human joy...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder
but weighs heavy, Lord,
on all who long to be with those they love:
may your heart be now the meeting place
where we are one with you and one another...

Touch us, Lord, and hold us:
let us feel your breath upon our souls, if not our faces,
your caress upon our hearts, if not our lips,
your arms around our souls, if not our bodies...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder
but weighs heavy, Lord,
on all who long to be with those they love:
may your heart be now the meeting place
where we are one with you and one another...

We Are Not Alone by Pepper Choplin

We are not alone, we are not alone,
we are not alone: God is with us…

We are not alone, we are never alone,

we are not alone

We are never alone, God is with us,

God is with us, ever and ever

ever and ever, we are never alone

We are never alone, for God is with us.

We, we are never alone, for God is with us.
Now, through all our days, always.

Forever and ever:

we are never alone.

And God will make us strong,

for God is with us.