Dear God:
One: God is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
God makes me lie down in green pastures,
and leads me beside still waters...
Many: Please lead us through these rapids of change, the floods of anxiety, and the droughts of hope.
One: God restores my soul,
and leads me in right paths
for the sake of God's name.
Many: Our collective soul is battered and bruised. There are multiple paths in front of us. Help us pause and pray then - as a restored people - be willing to be lead on the right path.
One: Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff — they comfort me.
Many: We confess we sometimes do fear evil and the evil doer. It sometimes seems as though there is so much and so many to fear and, then, all our panicked attempts to build comfort and hope leave us even more broken.
One: You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Many lead by one: Let us pause and remember what it means to trust and be trusted.
(silence and a deep breath)
Let us pause and remember what it means to love and to give love.
(silence and a deep breath)
Let us pause and remember all that we have and all we might share.
(silence and a deep breath)
One: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of God
my whole life long.
Many: We have enough. We are enough. We can be more. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Amen.
