The Reverend Christine V. Hides

Holy God, Lord of heaven and earth, creator of all that is, maker of the stars, by whose hand the Aurora Borealis is painted across the midnight sky,

We cannot help but feel the shortening of the days. We are tempted to ignore the alarm clamoring before dawn, then race the setting sun home from work and school, hoping to spend a few moments outdoors. In the waning light we are unsettled by pangs of sadness and winter dread.

We offer our prayers today for those impacted by the changing seasons: for people who lack adequate shelter in the winter months; for many who must stay home when the sidewalks are slick; for those who battle the depths of depression in the dark; and for all who need company, warmth, and light.

We know, indeed, that you are not far from us. And so, we offer our heartfelt petitions for those who are sick and recovering, for those who are struggling with loss, for those seeking reconciliation too long in coming.

And yet Holy One, the oak leaves still stubbornly hold on, shimmering in their season, a reminder that it was you who set the earth into a sure and tilting orbit around the sun and declared it “good.”

On this Halloween, when we anticipate the knocking on our doors announcing the arrival of dinosaurs and superheroes, princesses and unicorns, vampires and ladybugs, we pray especially for children. Let the treats offered today be a sign of our renewed commitment to create with you, O God,  a community, a country, and a world, where every child knows your love and has what they need to flourish.

On this All Hallows’ Eve, the names of beloved saints are on the tips of our tongues. We are grateful for the generations of the faithful who searched for you tirelessly, served boldly, gave generously, and taught us by example how to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. We give you thanks for their lives and, in our mourning, find comfort in the promise of eternal life, through Jesus Christ who teaches us to pray: Our Father…