Prayers for October 21, 2001

Proper 24, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Invocation

Breathe on us, Breath of God, Fill us with Life Anew. That we may love as You have loved. And Do as You would do. In thanks for the Holy Spirit, the wind of God. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

There are moments, O God, when we feel as though we cannot breathe, that we are near asphyxiation, that the air is too close, that the wind is far gone, and all the clean air poisoned. We look out and all we see is spiritual smog. O Please come so that we can see clearly the day has come. Let us suddenly see that all of the clouds have slipped away. Come, Holy Spirit, You whose Breath is life itself, and bring us up into the clear air, the clear fresh air of life eternal in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Restore our confidence, O God, that these small gifts are enough for You. Make them larger. Use them. Make of them a miracle, as splendid as breath, as strong as oxygen, as clear as autumn's dawn. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Gracious God, You of the second and third chance, You who are really in charge, come to me and let me be born anew and anew. In failure, surrounded by enemies, set a table for us and there let us eat and drink. There let us read scripture and be brought to its holiness. There let us know who You are so that we may also know who we are.

Let our leaders bow before You. Let those who know Jesus act like it. And let the word not be spent but assure that our children will love and know it as well. In the name of Jesus who is word of word, Amen.