March 16, 2009

Here is today’s prayer:

O Great Spirit (Gitchi Manitou, Most Awesome of the Awesome)
whose voice we hear in the winds,
and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear us.
We come before you as your children.
We are small and weak; we need your strength and wisdom.
Let us walk in beauty
and make our eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
May our hands respect the things you have made,
our ears be sharp to hear your voice.
Make us wise,
so that we may know the things you have taught your people,
the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
We seek strength not to be superior to our brothers and sisters,
but to live in harmony with ourselves and all of your creation.
Help us to be ever ready to come to you,
so when life fades as a fading sunset,
our spirits may come to you without shame. Amen.
-Traditional Native American Prayer (BOW 487)

This prayer series is part of my ongoing ministry as Pastor of Edom United Methodist Church. As such, these prayers are offered as both a reminder to pray and models of prayers, especially of confession, pardon, and repentance during this season of Lent. Therefore, they are a teaching element here on the internet that serves to reinforce lessons that are being taught in classes and sermons throughout the Lenten season. Therefore, as a one-time reproduction I am including the following notice:
Copyright © 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House
United Methodist congregations may reproduce for worship and educational purposes any item from The United Methodist Book of Worship for one-time use, as in a bulletin, special program, or lesson resource, provided that the copyright notice and acknowledgement is included in the reproduction.
Should you wish to use any of the prayers that are offered with this notice attached to it, please refer to the United Methodist Book of Worship for more information on rights and privileges associated with these copyrights.