Author: Rev. Cleo Graham

Writer’s note: I have no idea where this version of the Lord’s Prayer came from, so I apologise for not giving credit where credit is due. I know I’ve amended it over the years, but it is something that draws me back time and again. So I am using it as a framework for this week’s offering.

Our Father in Heaven,
and present on earth in your only Son and still imbuing us – when we let you –
with your ‘Ruach’ – your Holy Spirit.
Remind us constantly that You are parent to all Your children, whoever and wherever they are.

 Hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, establishing peace and justice, hope and life for all.

Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and disturb us into awareness of the needs of others.

Forgive us our sins, our pride and our prejudices,
as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation,
especially keep our hearts and minds open
to see the good in others.

Deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom: just and true,
the Power:  gentle and fair,
and the Glory:  shot through with the colours of love,
are Yours for ever and ever.
AMEN.

For all of us, whatever our needs, thanksgivings, and intercessions, let us bring them to God.
God hear us and answer the prayers – not necessarily the ones we are bringing but the ones we should be offering.

Wherever we are, on the mountain top or in the pits of life, there you are with us. You promised never to leave us alone – and you are faithful and true. So we give thanks that all is known to You.

We bring our burdens to you, faithful God; in your kindness,
hear our prayer.

For our sisters throughout the world when misogyny and sexual violence are seen as acceptable by too many men. We give thanks for the courage of so many women challenging this injustice, often at the cost of their lives. We name in particular all affected in India, Afghanistan, Iran, Alaska (USA), France, and South Africa.

God be near them.
God be near them.

We hold in the stillness before you the millions suffering from floods, hurricanes, and typhoons from Japan, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean communities, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Give strength, and help us provide urgently required medical supplies, food, and shelter for all those made homeless and made ill by the polluted flood waters.

God be near them.
God help us to think creatively how to help our brothers and sisters in need.

 Others are dying through drought, crops destroyed, and soil erosion by the triple-dip El Niño and La Niña effect.  The areas affected stretch from Peru, across South America, in West Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Tigray, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, and in a broad swathe across the continent of Africa and as far east as Siberia, Russia, China, Afghanistan, and as far south as Australia and as far north as the USA and parts of Europe, areas which used to be known as ‘bread baskets’ for their ability to feed their neighbours.

God be near them.
God help us to think creatively how to help our brothers and sisters in need and solve this crisis.

Holy One, our burdens and concerns are in danger of overwhelming us when the cost of living, food, fuel, and heating are going through the roof mainly through the machinations of man. We remember all those struggling to survive and longing for peace and being with loved ones again. In particular we remember the horrors being uncovered in the freed areas of Ukraine.

God be near them. Let your wisdom and compassion flow into those in power.
God hear us and help us to make peace and justice our task.

We recall your words calling us to be good servants and responsible stewards. You continue to invite us to come and work with you, reminding us of your promise to be always with us.

When children are able to be children:
Your joy, God, is at the heart of all things.

When adults walk together to respect, love, and care for each other and this beautiful but fragile planet:
Your joy, God, is at the heart of all things.

 We give thanks for the loving and faithful service of so many we take for granted who keep our communities functioning: the refuse collectors, the utilities workers, the postal workers, the list is almost endless. We give thanks for each one of them precious to us and even more precious in your eyes.

When anyone lives a life of service in self-less love:
Your joy, God, is at the heart of all things.

May we use the resources of your bounteous earth lightly and with thanksgiving, wasting none and sharing with all so we can become the community you created us to be, saved and freed by your beloved Son, Jesus, and empowered daily by your breath of Life – your Holy Spirit.

Set us on fire with your Love, Light, and Will that we can revel in your world, work for justice, love our neighbours and all that is created, and walk humbly and in joy with you, our God. AMEN.

The post World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, 22 September 2022 appeared first on World in Prayer.

Click here for more prayers and additional resources on praying for the world.

How much O Lord? How much more must we endure? The burden of disappointment and despair weighs heavy on our minds and bodies. We don’t know how much more we can bear. We ask that you continue to be with us and shield us from the enemy. As you gave instructions to the Israelites and guided them with a cloud by day and a fire by night, lead us now so that we may grow and mature in the Christian faith.
“those that wait on the lord shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31)

Rev. Barbara Smith

Light a candle to remember someone on this day of remembrance
https://gratefulness.org/light-a-candle/view-all

Holy One, we are grateful for You are a source of comfort.

We are saddened by the many lives lost due to the Covid – 19 Pandemic.

We are grateful for the precious memories that we hold close to our hearts.

Help us to celebrate their lives. Give us peace even in the midst our of grief.

Bless us with relief from this devastating pandemic.

Receive our prayers as we light a candle.

In our Savior’s name we park and pray at 1:11 and always. Amen

https://gratefulness.org/light-a-candle/view-all

Almighty God, You call us to “Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. God will not fail you or abandon you!” ⏤ Deuteronomy 31:6

Merciful God, it’s 1:11 pm! A time for our daily prayer. We enter God’s presence with praise and thanksgiving. You call us to bring our tired, and achy bodies to the throne of Grace and Mercy. We pull over, park, turn off the car engine, and sit behind the wheel. As we get accustomed to silence we listen to our breath. We place a hand over our heart and imagine pledging allegiance to the God of Grace and Mercy.

We pledge allegiance to You God Almighty who rescues us from our troubles.

Thank You! We love You. O God, we receive You. Please receive us.

Thank You for your love, compassion, and guidance.

Thank You for the ways You show up in our lives.

Thank You for watching over us, like Your sheep.

Help us enter Your presence and to draw strength from You.

Sanctify our time together as a rich opportunity to share our love.

We confess our emptiness when we try to live without You.

Merciful God, in the face of all that’s happening in our world, help us remember You.

Loving God we call on You in our days of trouble and You give us peace.

Gracious God, You know every pebble in the sand, every fish in the ocean and every inch of our being. You created even the dust under our shoes for a purpose. You taught us to shake off the dust and keep moving forward.

Almighty God, create in us, a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within each one. Psalm 51:10.

Dear God, hear our cries and comfort all who are grief stricken today.

Strengthen all who are too weak to care for themselves and others.

Satisfy the righteous desires of all who are in need.

Heal the sick, clothe the naked, recover those who are lost and release the captives.

Savior, we pray for deliverance from injustice, evil, wars and destruction.

Help us to respond to Your call to our time of daily prayer at 1:11 pm.

Thank You for being with us. You’re closer than our breath.

You are our Spiritual Bread of Life and more.

Almighty God, feed us and heal all of sickness and disease especially the Viral Pandemic. Fill us with Your love, life lessons, and wisdom.

Give us strength for each day, bright hope, and patience throughout our days.

Help us to confidently walk in the Light of Your Holy presence daily.

As we park and pray at 1:11 pm, we thank YOU for hearing our prayers.

Thank YOU for this new day. Thank you for opening new doors, and windows of opportunities. Praise YOU for those destined to be YOUR children and grow as spiritual siblings. We celebrate Your Gifts of love, abundant life, and confidence to embrace new surroundings, new opportunities, and new ways to glorify You.

We park and pray at 1:11 pm for ourselves, families, friends, neighbors, and strangers.

Gracious God, receive our spoken and unspoken prayers for those who asked for prayer, those we remember, and for all in need of prayer.

We offer our love, our praise, and our thanks.

In our Savior’s Name we pray! Amen.

Dear Friends,

I was on a Social Media break. Now that I’ve returned, please receive my belated Birthday Blessings, Congratulations, Condolences, Thanks, and words of encouragement. Please know you’re in my thoughts and prayers at 1:11 pm each day. 

Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me. Here’s a gift for us to share. Let us pray:

Almighty God, thank you for being our constant companion. You’ve open doors and settled disagreements. You sent flowers along our path, and shared fragrances that caused us to be still and know the God of Peace is near. You call us to experience godly peace. Every day in your presence is a gift. Thank you for birthdays, prayer, gifts, and for satisfying our needs. I’m thankful for this time to celebrate my birthday today with my family, friends, Faith Congregations, fellow clergy, prayer partners at 1:11 pm, bloggers, and all. Almighty God, we pray for healing especially for all who are sick due to the Covid 19 Virus. May goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Bless us with renewed strength, guidance, grace, mercy, wisdom, and protection. Bless us with your favor as you heal our bodies, renew our spirit., May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us and establish the work of our hands. Yes, O Holy and Merciful God, establish the work of our hands. In Your name we pray. Amen. 🙏🏾🙏💕

Take my hand Lord lead me to that blessed holy place where I can see a glimpse of the heavenly promise that you have made to your people.

Fill me with wisdom so that I may know which path to take.
Strengthen me so that my soul will not waiver but that I may be ready and able to do the work to which I have been called. It is your Holy Spirit that points me to the way of deliverance through your son Jesus Christ, my strength and my redeemer.

Take my hand Lord that I may be led out of the wilderness to a place of peace and joy. Amen

Rev. Barbara Smith

She wore a Gray dress and a white turban when she delivered her infamous message, “Ain’t I a Woman?” Many wondered about the identity of this Woman of Color who competently stepped into a crowded space and asked the question. “Ain’t I a Woman?” It was a time when women, Colored people, and former slaves did not have a public voice.

Who was Sojourner Truth and who is she today? Who are the women who dared to change history? Let us remember them in our prayers as we celebrate their contributions during Women’s History month.

Let’s Park and Pray at 1:11 pm. Dear God,

We thank you for carrying her across each threshold of life. She wore a godliness on her face that frightened those who refused to let her speak before the crowd. But thank You Dear God for the many times when You ordered her steps. Thank You for putting wings on her back. You cause her to rise above the fray and transcend the bondage of enslaved people and overcome the ignorance of our times.

She was adorned with a halo around her head that appeared like a strobe light that shined along her path. Today, many of us imagine hearing her infamous message. “Ain’t I a Woman?” These words were spoken by Sojourner Truth (1797- 1883), born a slave in New York State. In 1827, she gained her freedom, and in 1843, she changed her birth name from Isabella to Sojourner to reflect her heart and Light inspired by the gift of Your Holy presence in her life. O God, Light of the world. Your Light shined everywhere she walked. You revealed to her, “There was no place where God was not.” As One who answered her prayers and our prayers. Thank you God.

You called Jarena Lee, a pioneer to preach the gospel. She claimed you approved her. We celebrate Women’s History this month and throughout the year. “For in Christ, there is neither male nor female. We are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

We remember Sisters of Mercy, Nurses and other volunteers who went throughout the land helping many who were stricken by yellow fever. These women carried the necessities of life to those who were in need. She prayed and saved many lives. Thank you God for being with Women throughout our history. We pray now and always. Amen.

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, I enter Your presence with praise and thanks. Merciful God, receive my spoken and unspoken prayers. Holy One, attend to my needs, the needs of all people, creatures, and creation. Help me to recognize Your answers to my prayers and to accept Your will and Your ways. I pray my life is pleasing in Your Sight.

Sunday

O Lord, you have searched me known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.

Monday –

Almighty God, I enter Your presence with praise and thanks. Merciful God, receive my spoken and unspoken prayers. Holy One, attend to my needs, the needs of all people, creatures, and creation. Help me to recognize Your answers to my prayers and to accept Your will and Your ways. I pray my life is pleasing in Your Sight.

“Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.”

Tuesday –

Almighty God, I enter Your presence with praise and thanks. Merciful God, receive my spoken and unspoken prayers. Holy One, attend to my needs, the needs of all people, creatures, and creation. Help me to recognize Your answers to my prayers and to accept Your will and Your ways. I pray my life is pleasing in Your Sight.

“Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.”

Wednesday–

Almighty God, I enter Your presence with praise and thanks. Merciful God, receive my spoken and unspoken prayers. Holy One, attend to my needs, the needs of all people, creatures, and creation. Help me to recognize Your answers to my prayers and to accept Your will and Your ways. I pray my life is pleasing in Your Sight.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.”

Thursday –

Almighty God, I enter Your presence with praise and thanks. Merciful God, receive my spoken and unspoken prayers. Holy One, attend to my needs, the needs of all people, creatures, and creation. Help me to recognize Your answers to my prayers and to accept Your will and Your ways. I pray my life is pleasing in Your Sight.

“My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.

In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.”

Friday –

Almighty God, I enter Your presence with praise and thanks. Merciful God, receive my spoken and unspoken prayers. Holy One, attend to my needs, the needs of all people, creatures, and creation. Help me to recognize Your answers to my prayers and to accept Your will and Your ways. I pray my life is pleasing in Your Sight.

“How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end—I am still with you.”

Saturday –

Almighty God, I enter Your presence with praise and thanks. Merciful God, receive my spoken and unspoken prayers. Holy One, attend to my needs, the needs of all people, creatures, and creation. Help me to recognize Your answers to my prayers and to accept Your will and Your ways. I pray my life is pleasing in Your Sight.

“O that you would kill the wicked, O God,

And that the bloodthirsty would depart from
me those who speak of you maliciously,
and lift themselves up against you for evil!
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
In Your Holy Name.Amen.”

Psalm 139 NSRV

So if you have been raised with Christ seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ
Colossians ch 3:I-3

As a child, I prayed this prayer in the morning before my bare feet touched the floor.

Good Morning God. Thank you for restful sleep. I’m ready to wake up and continue our story. A story about a dream that comes true. I want to live to see freedom, justice and for all people.

As a child growing up during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. era I saw MLK as someone who was bigger than life. His invisible wings and his prayerful messages were like a Balm in Gilead.
His comforting messages soothed tired and aching feet, torn and worn out from standing in lines, climbing, marching, running and occasionally kicking a can further down the road. I imagine it was a symbolic part of his journey.
Some days that was the only measure of success. But, King was raised on prayer.

Let’s remember Rev. Dr. Martin L. King today, who is out of sight but, never out of our minds. His impact on us is still alive. As we trace the ups and downs, twists and turns along his life journey with us let us remember that our story is connected with his story. His thoughts, his words, dreams and hopes are in the hearts and minds of those called and gifted with and no longer on the Potter’s wheel with today’s activists.

My feet are no longer dry, cracked and aching. I still dream and wonder. Are we free? Is that the mountain top over there? It’s High, Tiny, Hidden.

Let us park and pray at l:11pm about a hope for a dream to come true. Mmm want to live to see freedom, justice and equality for all people especially for Your brown people.
Bedtime, Now I lay me down to sleep. God I pray on my bended knees. I pray, have mercy O Lord please, cover us and give us restful sleep.
Shepherd, let your peace rest in me.

Let’s remember Rev. Dr. Martin L. King , as a great leader who is out of sight but, he’s not out of our minds. His influence is still alive. As we reflect on his life, his messages and journey, Let us remember that our stories are connected with his story. His thoughts, his words, dreams and hopes have impacted many lives. Although he’s no longer on the Potter’s wheel with today’s activist, he’s present in spirit. The history of his mighty works resonate truth to power. He fought many battles and risked his life.

My Childhood Prayer at Bedtime,

Now I lay me down to sleep. God I pray on my bended knees. I pray, have mercy O Lord please, cover us and give us restful sleep., May your peace rest in me. Amen. 🙏🏾 .

Lord, as we sit beneath our Christmas Tree, we surrender our lives to You.

We honor and adore You. Help us to remember to take time each day to rest, breathe, and pray.

We long to listen and hear You.

Help us to park, stop and pray during this Christmas Season and daily.

Help us remember the story about Jesus’ birth that renews life, and his power to overcome death. 

Spirit God, we celebrate our time with you.

Remind us to be grateful, thoughtful, forgiving and forgiven, loving and hopeful. 

As we receive Your blessings, may we also extend kindness and offer our hands to those in need.

Holy One, remind us that we are never alone.

Thank You for Your constant presence in our lives, especially during sickness, sadness, gladness and joy.

Thank you for our past, this Christmas Day and the days ahead.

Thank you for a renewed spirit, a blessed hope, peace, and unconditional love.

You are the Gift that is everlasting.

In Your Name I pray. Amen

Are you feeling impatient today?

Does the act of waiting six feet apart in long lines make you anxious?

Consider using this time as an opportunity to connect with the Holy.

Imagine each person in line as a candle light.

Each lit candle represents Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

As you wait and watch the line grow longer, try to wonder about God.

Now, take a deep breath. Feel the invisible power fill every inch of your being.

You are parked and ready to pray. Let us pray.

Holy One. Almighty and Merciful God, praise and thanks for your loving presence.

Let your Light of Love shine and remind us of your unconditional love.

Bless us with your Light of Hope that strengthens our faith.

Give us sight to see your Light of Joy in each day.

Fill us with your Light of Peace and Patience regardless of our circumstances.

Help us to embrace your ways and to live according to your will.

May your will be done in us and through us.

Gracious and Loving God, as we wait, watch and wonder, we thank you for hearing our prayers.

In Your Holy Name. Amen.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” Romans 8:26–27 NSRV

A Park and Prayer of Thanksgiving 2021

These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the altar, O God, my Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.  Psalm 19:14 MSG Adapted 

As we prepare for this time of Thanksgiving, let us park and pray at 1:11 pm and anytime.

O Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day receive our spoken prayers and the silent meditations of our hearts. 

Giving thanks to You, O God for Your Holy presence and for all who are present in body, mind, and spirit. As we remove our masks and lay our hands across our hearts, we look upon the creases of our smiling lips. 

We embrace the power gratitude that fills this moment. 

We thank You, O Lord For each smile that will carry us throughout our days.  

We look upon the feast before us. we give You thanks. 

For the hands that prepared it. For the planters who sowed the seeds and all who tended the gardens, we give thanks. 

We give thanks for those who filled the shelves in our grocery stores.

We give thanks with a grateful heart.

We pray Lord have mercy on those who do not have a seat at the table. 

Merciful God, we pray for an immediate end to hunger, poverty, and injustices.

We pray for Your blessings. 

We give thanks as Your Holy presence shines brightly upon our heads and fills each heart with Light and Love. 

As we touch the edges of our lips, and we are reminded that God smiles upon our faces as often as the sun shines. 

When the clouds roll back and our cup overflows with rain, we remember the sorrowful times in our lives. We remember our loved ones who entered eternal peace. We give thanks for their memories and for their impact on our lives.

We thank You for Your blessings, and for Your presence in our lives. 

O God, our Holy Savior, receive the silent prayers of our hearts and minds… 

We ask for your blessings on this food, our time together and our relationship with you and with one another. In our Savior’s name we pray, “Amen.” (CDG)

Park and Pray at 1:11 welcomes

Dear Park and Pray at 1:11 pm, thank you for following this blog and for praying at 1:11 pm with us. Please join me in welcoming a community that will join us in our virtual 1:11 prayers.

They minister to those in need while facing the same challenges as the communities they serve. They are the heart of a ministry of love and justice that shares peace and promotes unity.

The African American Women in Ministry is a community of ministers in the United Church of Christ dedicated to support one another in their Call and walk with God. “To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with their God.” (Micah 6:8) AAWIM Founders and Spiritual Mother Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk, Spiritual Mother Rev. Bernice Powell, Jackson, and AAWIM members around the nation and in parts of Africa will join Park and Pray at 1:11 pm.

Let us welcome AAWIM ❤️🙏🏾🕐 to Park and Pray at 1:11 in spirit

Let us Pray at 1:11 in spirit.

Loving God, Great God we are thankful for you.

We see Your garden as a place to learn how to live in peace among many diverse flowers, weeds, and seeds in. community.  As we walk on green grass, over hills, through valleys, and fall into the murky waters that remind us of our troubled past, help us to make the Peace you give us a lasting impression in our lives. Help us to use this Peace in our spoken words and behaviors. God, help us to hold onto an awareness of Your presence that gives us Peace. May that same awareness remind us that you are closer than the breeze that touches our lips.

You are our Breath of Life and our Bread of Life. Holy One, help us to rise above all that breaks into our peace. This peace that you give us, may we hold onto it throughout our days. May nothing or no one steal our God-given Peace. Like the risen Spirit, may our lives rise like blades of green grass piercing through pressed soil. Grass and grain that feeds Your creatures.

We are like trees, bushes, branches, flowers that also, breakthrough deep soil, overcome dirt, wrestle with thorns, and overcome the poverty of tainted spirits that bruise our beings. Help us hold onto the Peace You give us. May we learn from nature how to have perfect peace. Help us to be attentive to the seeds that grow in our garden of life. Help us to select with care all that we pick and plant in our garden of life. May we weed and cultivate our lives through prayer, in communion with You and Your community. Listen O Holy One to the prayers of each person.  (Silent Prayers)

We park and pray at 1:11 pm for our sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, partners, spouses, friends, associates, coworkers, neighbors, and foes,  We pray for all who are on our Prayer List that the righteous desires of our hearts and minds are fulfilled.

May Your bountiful Sunlight be an unlimited blessing for all who call on your name.  May the visions of the streams of water, refresh and renew us.

Thank you for Your love that shines on our gardens and grows new life, new flowers, new trees, and leaves that glorify Your  Name and Spirit. Please Dear God, receive our prayers to keep us safe, especially those doing the work of Justice in the local and national settings. We especially lift up prayers for, AAWIM Founders, leaders, and their communities. Prayers for all who visit Park and Pray at 1:11. Thank you Holy One for receiving all our prayers spoken and unspoken on our minds and in our hearts. In Thy Holy Name. Amen.

Let’s adopt a  Juneteenth state of mind. (Scroll down)

Yes, open stiff windows that keep us bound to times when manmade power stops us. A power that tries to arrest our dreams. A misfit power that tries to wrestle our ambitions and inspirations out of the rich soils that our ancestors toiled.

Bondage is more than a dream. It’s a reality that returns like a recurrent nightmare. It is part of our DNA.

But, whenever I take my Soul for a walk, Spirit has a way of calming my nerves. Spirit reminds me how much we’ve overcome as a people who are tough, born to overcome, resilient and renewed.

It’s 1:11 pm and time to press the reset. Time to charge our batteries. Time to light a candle. To find the blessed strength to just say no! Stop! Enough is enough!

Pray to the Holy One and watch the forces of Evil press against the wall Pray, pray to the Holy One. Pray that goodness forges a new path out of the wilderness, and away from danger.

Pray, never again, will God’s creatures, people stumble in darkness, chained to indefinite labor that feeds a stranger and leaves the worker starving. “Set me free or I will surely die” is a clarion call for freedom for all. No more free bull work. Yes, free all slaves.  Even the loudest thunder and roughest hailstorm will not blow out the clarion call whenever we think free.

Juneteenth is a state of mind.

Let us celebrate daily at 1:11.

God we thank you for being our love, our hope, strength, and our guide. Break the chains and set us free to imagine our best selves. Help us to live into the dreams you birthed us to be. In thy Holy Name we pray. Amen

Go forward ignited and fired up!

May the wind press against our backs and inspire our hearts.

For dust has no home on the soles of our feet.

We come from all corners of the earth with oil of gladness.

Spirit of Love thrusts us forward toward a new day and a bold way.

March on! Together! Go Forward!

There’s fire in our bones and the essence of faith, hope and love in our blood.

The Light of God is our Guide and our destiny!

Let’s take a deep breath and slowly release. Let us pray at 1:11.

We look to you, O Merciful God who dwells in heaven and on earth. God, whose eyes are upon us we cry, “Mercy, God, mercy!”

Almighty God, we thank you for our help and strength comes from you. There’s none like you. Thank you for hearing our prayers.

We long to hear you in the midst of the storms in our lives. We trust your wisdom.

Almighty God, you call us to love one another. You declare we are your creation and your children who are created in your image. But, some grow weary, hardened, inhumane, evil and not ashamed.

Loving God, we need you. We watch and wait for you.

Speak, O God. Release your Grace, Mercy, Righteousness, Hope, and Healing Power upon this nation. We want to breathe easy.

O God! We hold our breath and we pray, O God, deliver us from evil. We take a deep breath and hold for the fulfillment of your promises.

Mercy, GOD, mercy! God, have mercy on us!

Quench the fires that burn in our hearts and minds. No more images of strange fruit hanging from trees. No more running, hands up, face down, lives lost and criminals set free.

Mercy, God give us Your mercy! Mercy, O God, mercy!

Too many have been kicked around for too long. Kicked and clawed in the teeth by complacent harmful beings. Kicked and held down by arrogant brutes.

On this day, we gather and hold onto that kicking foot. A kicking foot that becomes our gavel for carrying out justice.

No more holding our breath.

Merciful God, fill us with your spirit and guide our feet as we run this race. We humbly pray in your Holy name. Amen.

( inspired by Psalm 123:1-4

Loving God, Great God we are thankful for you. We see Your garden as a place to learn how to live in peace among many diverse flowers, weeds, and seeds. community. As we remember our Savior’s journey to the Cross. Help us to walk over hills, through valleys, and in the shadow of death with an awareness of Your presence. As Christ is risen may our lives rise like roses, breaking through soil that overcomes dirt, wrestling with thorns, and the poverty of a dry spirit that bruises us. Help us hold onto Christ the solid rock. May we learn from nature how to have perfection. We must be attentive to the seeds that grow in our garden of life. Help us to select with care the soil we plant. May we weed and cultivate our lives through prayer, and in communion with You and Your community. We thank you O Merciful God for Your love that shines on our gardens and grows new life, new flowers, new trees, and leaves that glorify Your Name and Spirit. Amen