ON THE OCCASION OF A DISASTER

Compassionate God, whose Son Jesus wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus:

Draw near to us in this time of sorrow and anguish,

comfort those who mourn,

strengthen those who are weary,

encourage those in despair,

and lead us all to fullness of life;

through the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer,

who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.  Amen.

Readings

Job 14:7-13 or Jeremiah 31:15-20

Psalm 60 or 130 or 80:1-7 or 23

Romans 8:35-38 or Revelation 21:1-7 or Romans 8:18-25

Luke 6:20-26 or Mark 13:14-27

—Holy Women, Holy Men:  Celebrating the Saints (2010), 733

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IN A TIME OF NATURAL DISASTER

O God, you divided the waters of chaos at creation.

In Christ you stilled storms, raised the dead,

and vanquished demonic powers.

Tame the earthquake, wind, and fire,

and all forces that defy control or shock us by their fury.

Keep us from calling disaster your justice.

Help us, in good times and in distress,

to trust your mercy and yield to your power, this day and for ever.

Amen.

–Andy Langford, in The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), 509

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DURING A NATIONAL CRISIS

God of ages,

in your sight nations rise and fall,

and pass through times of peril.

Now when our land is troubled,

be near to judge and save.

May leaders be led by your wisdom;

may they search your will and see it clearly.

If we have turned from your way,

help us to reverse our ways and repent.

Give us light and your your truth to guide us;

through Jesus Christ,

who is the Lord of this world, and our Savior.  Amen.

—Book of Common Worship (1993), 818

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TIME OF CONFLICT, CRISIS, DISASTER

O God, where hearts are fearful and constricted, grant courage and hope.

Where anxiety is infectious and widening, grant peace and reassurance.

Where impossibilities close every door and and window, grant imagination and resistance.

Where distrust twists our thinking, grant healing and illumination.

Where spirits are daunted and weakened, grand soaring wings and strengthened dreams.

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 76

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TIME OF CIVIC MOURNING

God our creator, through whose providing care we enjoy all goodness and life,

turn our eyes to your mercy at this time of confusion and loss.

Comfort this nation as we mourn;

shine your light on those whose only companion is darkness;

and teach us so to number our days that we may apply our hearts to your wisdom;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 77

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https://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-prayers/

https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-prayers/

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Above:  Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, 1914

J195906 U.S. Copyright Office

Image Source = Library of Congress

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)

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At the beginning of a new school year, O God of wisdom,

we offer thanks and praise for the gift of new beginnings

and for the opportunity to learn and to wonder.

We pray for teachers, students, and staff

that this year might be rewarding for all.

Be with us as we face the challenge of new tasks,

the fear of failure, the expectations of parents, friends, and self.

In our learning and our teaching,

may we grow in service to others and in love for your world,

through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Above:  National Flags, Pre-World War I

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-pga-03927

Prayer from the Church of Pakistan (formed by a merger in 1970)

Quoted in The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)

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Look graciously, O Lord, upon this land.

Where it is in pride, subdue it.

Where it is in need, supply it.

Where it is in error, rectify it.

Where it is in default, restore it.

And where it holds to that which is just and compassionate, support it.

Amen.

Above:  A Barber Shop Located in the Ninth Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana, Damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005

Photographer = Carol M. Highsmith

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-highsm-04024

Prayer by Andy Langford

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)

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O God, you divided the waters of chaos at creation.

In Christ you stilled storms, raised the dead,

and vanquished demonic powers.

Tame the earthquake, wind, and fire,

and all the forces that defy control or shock us by their fury.

Keep us from calling disaster your justice.

Help us, in good times and in distress,

to trust your mercy and yield to your power, this day and for ever.

Amen.

Above:  Birthday Candles

Image Source = Edg2s

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Birthday_candles.jpg)

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)

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God of creation, we offer you grateful praise for the gift of life.

Hear the prayers for Name, your servant,

who recalls today the gift of his/her birth and rejoices in the gifts of life and love, family and friends.

Bless him/her with your presence and surround him/her with your love,

that he/she may enjoy many happy years, all of them pleasing to you.

We ask this through Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Pocket Watch

Image Source = Isabelle Grosjean

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MontreGousset001.jpg)

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church

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Eternal God,

you hold the times and seasons,

endings and beginnings, in your hands.

Bless Name, who now enters a new time of life.

We give you thanks for tasks accomplished,

for the joys and pains woven into the fabric of his/her hears.

Give Name the guidance of your Holy Spirit.

May days no longer filled with old obligations

be free for new activities and associations.

May fears and uncertainties about the future

be transformed into quiet confidence.

May each new day be received as a sacred trust and lived to your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Necktie

Image Source = Pumbaa 80

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tie_dimple.jpg)

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church

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Lord Jesus Christ, carpenter of creation,

you knew the satisfactions and responsibilities of human work

and hallowed it for ever in a carpenter’s shop in Nazareth.

As Name begins a new job,

as a worthy occupation, may it be useful in the human enterprise.

May Name be a blessing to others

by living and working to the honor and glory of your holy name.  Amen.

Job Fair

Image Source = Arvind Grover

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JOb_Fair.jpg)

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church

Prayer by the Reverend David Schnasa Jacobsen, who worked in United Methodist congregations until 1996 and served as Editorial Assistant to The United Methodist Book of Worship Project, but who has taught Homiletics at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada seminaries (mostly Waterloo Theological Seminary, Ontario) since 1996; his CV lists him as attending St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Kitchener, Ontario

His CV:

http://info.wlu.ca/wwwsem/dsj/dsjcv.html

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O God of the vineyard,

you call us all to productive labor,

to employ our gifts and talents for you.

We pray for those who are unemployed.

Strengthen them in this difficult hour,

uplift their spirits,

and grant them a place among your laborers

until all be employed for the common good,

and we share fully in our true work

of praising you with heart and mind and soul forever.  Amen.

Academic Regalia

Image Source = Wikipedia

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church

Prayer by Andy Langford, United Methodist clergyman and General Editor of The United Methodist Book of Worship

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God of truth and knowledge,

by your wisdom we are taught the way and the truth.

Bless Name(s) as they now finish this course of study.

We thank you for those who taught and worked beside them,

and all who supported them along the way.

Walk with these graduate(s) as they leave and move forward in life.

Take away their anxiety and confusion of purpose.

Strengthen their many talents and skills,

instill in them a confidence in the future you plan,

where energies may be gathered up and used for the good of all people;

for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard von Honthorst (1622)

Image Source = Wikipedia

After The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church:

God of every nation and people, from the beginning of creation you have made manifest your love.  When our need for a Savior was great you sent your Son to be born of a woman.  To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love.  Lord, bless all who look upon this manger.  May it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise up our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Savior of all, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/first-day-of-christmas-christmas-day/