During this unprecedented time for the world,
Let us come together in prayer,
Opening to a God who listens,
Who is present,
Willing ourselves to connect face to face and heart to heart with our God.
Sit comfortably yet attentively,
Close your eyes,
And feel your body breathing.
Feel the Spirit of the Living God breathe in you and through you.
Let us begin with the invitation of this scripture.
If my people will turn from their rebellious ways,
Will humble themselves and seek my face,
I will have mercy.
I will hear you.
I will forgive you.
I will heal you and heal your land.
We are your people,
Our God,
And we are here to receive,
To pray,
And to live out this invitation that you have given us through this scripture.
Let us pray.
You are our God,
Source of life and love.
You are the power that created the universe and all that is in it,
Seen and unseen.
You know intimately every man,
Woman,
And child,
And you long for us to walk in the light of your love and your Spirit.
And so,
Oftentimes,
We do not.
So often we are lost in our own personal agendas,
And now we long to turn from those ways that are born out of fear and ego.
We turn to you,
And we surrender to your presence now.
Hear our prayer for help and healing,
For guidance and forgiveness.
Our world is hurting.
Pour your mercy and grace upon us.
As your people are dealing with this pervasive illness,
We turn to you.
As your people caught up in fear and anxiety,
We turn to you.
As your people are longing for security,
We turn to you.
As your people are confused about the future,
We turn to you.
We seek you now.
We humble ourselves as never before.
Pour forth your Holy Spirit,
For you have not given us a spirit of fear,
But you have given us a spirit of faith,
Of confidence,
And of a sound mind.
Pour forth your Holy Spirit over our land,
Our world.
All people drench us with your spirit of hope.
We receive and believe.
As we walk through this present darkness,
And even future challenges,
We ask that you bless and protect our leaders.
Give them wisdom,
Patience,
And courage to lead with integrity,
Faith,
And confidence.
Let them walk in the ways of our God,
And lead as you would have them lead.
Thank you for hearing our prayer,
For honoring the intention of our hearts.
Thank you for your healing that is moving and happening,
Even in this very moment.
Thank you for the healing that is rising up from within,
And pouring down upon us like rays of the sun as it rises on the dawn of a new day.
Just as you hold the earth,
The sun,
The moon,
And stars in their place,
Hold and heal your people now.
Just as you hold all creatures great and small,
Hold and heal your people now.
We are open,
And we receive your mighty,
Loving action within us,
Through us,
And around us.
Many years ago,
Jesus walked the earth as the embodiment of the divine presence.
And Scripture says that Jesus touched them,
And when he did,
He said,
Do not fear,
Rise up and be healed.
And we receive this touch now.
We say yes to this invitation of the Christ Presence.
We say yes that we want to rise up and receive our healing.
Jesus taught that if we say to this mountain,
Be removed,
That the mountain would be removed.
We unite our faith with all people,
And we say to this mountain of illness and suffering,
Be removed from the face of the earth.
We speak to this mountain called fear and anxiety.
Be removed.
We speak to this mountain of confusion and uncertainty.
Be removed.
We come with gratitude,
With faith and trust that healing and transformation is happening now.
In this present darkness,
You raise up your people.
Set us free from the spirit of fear and doubt.
Anoint us with your Holy Spirit.
Empower us with your love.
Free us with your peace.
And may your grace wash over us like the fresh spring rain.
Refresh the minds,
Hearts,
And souls of your people.
May we live in love through Christ,
United by your Holy Spirit.
Let it be so.
Let it be now.
Let it be.
Amen.
