I was entrusted with a sinless and living land,

but I sowed the ground with sin

and reaped with a sickle the ears of laziness;

in thick sheaves I garnered my actions,

but winnowed them not on the threshing-floor

   of repentance.

I beg of you, my God, the eternal farmer,

with the wind of your loving-kindness

winnow the chaff of my works,

and grant to my soul the harvest of forgiveness;

shut me in your heavenly storehouse, and save me!

 

Byzantine Vespers

 

Without the sense of God’s will we narrow down our lives to the material world.  We are like misers crouching over their hoards and never seeing the  skies; indeed we may narrow our prison still further, seeing in everything only the image of ourselves.

 

But once we are made aware of the greatness of events as expressions of God’s love, once we see and live their sacramental value, then we are liberated into a greater life; the winds of eternity blow about us, and the infinite skies are our home, as we too walk the eternal hills.

 

Gerald Vann

 

 

O God, deliver us from words and deeds that provoke discord, prejudice and hatred.
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O God, deliver us from suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation.
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O God, deliver us from believing and speaking lies about other peoples or nations.
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O God, deliver us from cruel indifference to the cries of the hungry and homeless.
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O God, deliver us from all that prevents us from fulfilling your promise of peace.
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Deliver us from our brokenness, we pray, O God, and by your grace

and healing presence deliver us to You.

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O Creating God, deliver us to still waters and green pastures.
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O Risen Christ, deliver us to the freedom and forgiveness we find in you.
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O Jesus, deliver us to the tough task of loving our enemies.
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O Servant of All, deliver us to joyful service in your name.
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O Holy Spirit, deliver us now and in the days to come, to the promise of a new heaven and a new earth.  Deliver us to the wholeness of justice and to the power of your peace.
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Closing Prayer

 

Charge our lives and our churches with the power of
your peace, O God. Overcome our fears and self-deceptions with the
promise of your presence. Make us signs of your generosity and justice.
Light us each day with hope, we pray, so that we may walk in your
truth and be love in your Name. 

 

                  sung response