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The Reverend Dr. Katie Snipes Lancaster

Spirit of the living God, mighty God, prince of peace, we long for you. We gather here under the safe canopy of this Sanctuary to seek your presence and know the peace of your spirit. Be with us now as we pray. Hold our hopes and dreams, our worries and fears, and receive us just as we are.

Do not let our faith be milquetoast and timid, but instead wrap us up in deepest trust so that we might know complete release, letting go of the burdens we carry, and beginning anew in this moment with your spirit as our guide. When we are stuck in perfectionism, lead us toward acceptance of ourselves; empower us to know that your deep river of peace flows just below the surface and under your safekeeping, a gentleness and strength draws near.

Place a song within us, let a song rise from our collective voices, so that we might feel united in your presence, united with those of every time and place, the ones alongside us in the pew today, and those who have sat by our side in other decades and who are now beyond the veil, and yet still part of our circle of wisdom and trust. We need the community of saints, the community that extends far beyond us, for this world is full of challenge, and you call us to rise up, called and made holy in the task of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, justice, and humility.

You call us to speak the truth when there is injustice and corruption. You call us to defend and care for the least, the lonely, and the lost in our midst. You call us to stand against all that diminishes freedom. For places of war, O God, make your peace a possibility. For places of violence, make tender the hearts of those who can interrupt and cut it short. For the places of grief and unending heartache, place true companions’ side by side, so that we might be balm for one another.

Be with us, O God, O Christ, O light beyond light, and hear us as we pray the prayer Jesus teaches us. Our Father….Amen.