Prayers for June 24, 2001
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
3rd after Pentecost, Proper 7

Invocation or Call to Worship
Leader: O God, we are overdone, over wrought, over committed, and under-used.
People: Bring us to something small and simple and light today
Leader: Bring us from excess into peace.
People: And let the peace pass all understanding. Let it be enough.

Prayer of Confession
When too much gets in our way of the simple enjoyment of life and time, O God, remind us what you offer us, a short, simple and good life. Slow us down. Free us from greed, and lavish upon us true blessings. The blessing of going forward from here and not looking back, the blessing of alertness to the moment, the blessing of enjoying what is rather than always needing more. We pray in the Name of Jesus who had neither home, address, nor insurance. We pray in the Name of Jesus who always knew when enough was enough was enough.

Prayer of Dedication
Make of these few small gifts a lot, O God. Use them well. Let them reach in to the nooks and crannies of poverty, of hopelessness, and of fear — and there show what You can do, how You always make a lot out of a little.

Pastoral Prayer
Blessed Jesus, You who cast out our fears and demons in the name of the Holy, You who multiply blessings by simplifying things, You who are the new Math, the less that is more, draw near and hear our prayer. We are a hungry people and a thirsty people. We are not easily satisfied. But you heal us of so many things, in so many ways, that we are amazed. Hear our amazement at how near we can be to You, yet how far. Hear our joy that You keep inviting us to good places that are free of evil. Let this our community be a sign of genuine health, the kind that glows from joy at goodness and joy at faith.
In our homes, in our schools, in our communities, let us be the ones who know You. Let us not show off by pointing out evil, but instead let us be joyous in spite of evil. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.