From worship on Sunday, February 7:

Gracious and holy, everliving God. Hear us as we pray. We come into your presence on this Sunday morning, after a busy week.

This has been a week of snowstorms and ice, closed schools and changed schedules. We have had to let go of our own plans and make ourselves open to the unexpected. We give you thanks for safe travel and warm shelter, and we pray for those who have not had such luxury during this wintery week.

This has been a week of remembrance and celebration as well, as our community opened a new museum to honor and remember its past. We give you thanks for all those, in our community and beyond, who have struggled for justice, who have walked and sat and stood up for freedom. And we know that injustice still exists, that racism still exists – even in subtle and unknowing ways – and so we pray for your forgiveness and we pray for your wisdom as we work for peace and understanding.

This has been a week of celebrations for some – we’ve welcomed family members home, we’ve gotten good news, we’ve had small and personal victories, we’ve shared good meals with friends, we’ve lived and loved and worshiped.

But this has been a week of sorrow for some, as well – we’ve lost loved ones, we’ve gotten bad news, we’ve fallen behind, we’ve faced uphill battles, we’ve had to work with people we don’t like, we’ve had to do jobs we don’t like to do, we’ve had to face reality, we’ve had to go without.

And through this week, holy God, through this week of ups and downs and in betweens, you have been with us. You have challenged us, you have comforted us, you have inspired us, you have held us close.

You have called us to follow you and to share in your work; you have called us to be disciples and prophets, to speak your word and to live as your people.

And now, at the very beginning of a brand new week – one which will also be filled with ups and downs and in betweens, call us again. Inspire us again. Fill us with hope and send us out to be light for the world. For you are our light and our salvation, our grace and our peace, and it is in your son’s name we pray. Amen.