Mary Kathryn Tri | January 5, 2020
A prayer offered by Mary Kathryn Tri in worship on Jan 5, 2020.
God who gives all things, thank you for this new year. On this first Sunday of 2020, open our hearts, open our minds, open our hands as we set to the work of being loving Christians in an indifferent and capricious world. Texting, tweeting, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and you know whatever else in this time of instant and global communication, we still cannot find simple words—written or spoken—to comfort the grieving, sustain the dying, minister to the struggling, the depressed and lonely. So many times we do not know how to respond to situations and, paralyzed by our good intentions to decipher and understand the big picture, we overlook the little corners of everyday opportunity to behave with kindness and patience, to offer gifts of smiles and loving gestures.
Teach us to see more clearly, to sense these opportunities to honor and to serve all that you have created for us. Thus, we come to you asking for 2020 to be our year of opportunity—to practice random acts of kindness, patience, listening, sharing, and love that expects nothing in return. We pray for the hearts, the minds, the strength to do what we can. We pray for the wisdom to be patient with and kind to ourselves when we fall short, and as we deal with our own physical, mental, and financial stresses and limitations.
We greet 2020 hoping for the best, bracing for the worst, but above all nurturing faith in your wisdom and love, regardless what lies in our paths. We will try, and fail, and try again—to do what we can, to give what we can, as you send daily opportunities for kindness and patience our way. And yes, over and over we will practice faith, hope and love in our own little corners of your infinite Creation. In your name we pray, Amen.
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On January 8, 2020, Linda Hopgood said:
Well said Mary Kathryn. We need to provide copies of this prayer for all in the Church. Good way to start the New Year. Thanks.