Author: Rev. Cleo Graham

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

Lord we need you right now!

Spirit, Guide, Love, Divine,and Comforter for all who mourn for lives lost in the Atlanta Spa attacks, supermarket massacre in Colorado, and elsewhere.

The pain is unbearable!

God, Almighty, lay your Healing Hands upon this nation and world.

Pull out the roots of all evil. Destroy the weeds that choke goodness and disrupt our peace. Holy One, release your heavenly angles to fertilize the heart of our nation with love, compassion, grace and mercy. Plant new seeds of righteousness.

May Your Light shine daily, breaking through wickedness and transforming deadly powers into new life. Create in us a clean heart, a renewed spirit, and a moral compass that guides us through life’s journey with you as our Master Gardener.

Vaccinate us with Your protective fragrance and heal broken souls and spirits. Help us, O God, to become peacemakers and peacekeepers who live in Your Garden, a place we admire. We thank you. Pray in our Savior’s Name. Amen.

It’s amazing how often imperfections are missed in the midst of strong support. It’s as if the rocks in our lives holds us. Green grass gives us renewed strength. The roots anchor us and connect us with those who came before us. Our bent branches lean on God’s Grace and Mercy. It bends, it beckons us and it reaches forth to invite us to sit under the shade for a while. Park yourself at 1:11 pm. Breathe deep and pray reverently to the One who waits, listens and answers our prayers.

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Go forth and trust your prayers are heard and will be answered.

Surely, Goodness and Mercy shall follow you all the days of your life.

Dwell in the House of the Lord wherever you happen to hv park and pray at 1:11 pm.

As God Wills and In God’s Name, Amen.

Happy Birthday, Hank Aaron!  Feb. 5

(We light a candle and pray your prayer at 1:11 pm)

Happy Birthday, Hank Aaron! Rest In Peace.
O Lord, our God, how excellent is Your Name,
You protected and sheltered Hank Aaron despite all his pain.
You laid Your hand on his shoulder and steadied his faith.

We remember him playing on a winning team,
It was more than an American Dream.
Despite the dangers he faced,
Your angels showed up for him every place.

You carried him through the rough and tough valleys.
You lifted him over the land mines of bigotry and hatred.
You held onto him while he climbed the highest mountains.
You never let go, and He never released Your hands.

When the winds of caustic emotions threatened his life.
You brought him a victory in 1974 that broke a record no one denied.
Hank Aaron was with us a few days ago and nothing seems the same.
Creator God, we loved his game, his person, and his rise to fame.

Yet, God, You called a time out, a season’s end, a final rest,
He did his best and trusted You to do the rest.
We remember Hank Aaron’s faith; it is so well known.
Loving God, You loved him, and You called Hank an MVP Allstar home.
copyrighted 2021

O Lord, our God hear our prayer.

We come before your presence with praise and thanks. We come O God, standing, sitting, falling on bended knees, or laying faced down with outstretched hands.

We park and pray at 1:11 p.m.

We stop and pray out of the depths of our being.

Almighty God, we thank you for your loving presence, guidance, grace and mercy.

Gracious God, you when President Lincoln was driven upon his knees, You answered his prayers and his presidency succeeded.

Today, we are thankful for inauguration office President Biden and Vice President Harris who prayerfully call on you. We call on you, O God to protect their lives and their loved ones. May no weapon formed against them prosper. Protect them all throughout their life journey. We pray they will successfully govern in a way that is pleasing to You O God.

God, help President Biden and Vice President Harris to comfort those who mourn the loss of more than 400,000 lives due to the COVID-19 virus.

Almighty God, we pray for Your will guidance and attention to our nation’s needs.

Many are sick, unemployed, and restless. Some children and youth are leaving their Chrome Books behind for video games. God help us!

Yet, more people are engaged in online worship and prayer.

Gracious God, heal and protect our nation from the evil that seeks to destroy the heart and soul of our nation.

Lord, God, have mercy on all who hope for a better job, home and education for our children. Equip teachers and students with the desire and resources to succeed.

Have mercy, O God, have mercy on us! We call, Emmanuel! Allah, Great God, Holy Mother, Loving Father, Holy Spirit, ABBA, Jehovah, Love Divine, Jesus, the Christ, Magnificent Savior, Holy Spirit, Alpha & Omega, Everlasting One.
Hear us O Holy One, hear our cries and our prayers. Help our new President and Vice President lead the people to exercise respect for life.

To trust the wisdom of Science and Spirit that calls to be loving, patient, kind, not envious, arrogant, resentful or dangerous. To rejoice in truth. To comfort the broken-hearted and to promote peace.
Bless all with renewed hope and promises.

Help us, O God to receive justice. We call on you to deliver the long awaited justice so we may overcome these painful times.
Receive our prayers, O God.
In your Holy Name. Amen

On December 3, 1978, South American priest Father Oscar Romero wrote a  PRAYER FOR ADVENT

Advent should admonish us to discover

in each brother or sister that we greet,

in each friend whose hand we shake,

in each beggar who asks for bread,

in each worker who wants to use the right to join a union,

in each peasant who looks for work in the coffee groves,

the face of Christ.

Then it would not be possible to rob them,

to cheat them,

to deny them their rights.

They are Christ,

and whatever is done to them

Christ will take as done to himself.

This is what Advent is:

Christ living among us.

Do This For Me….

If you love me wear a mask.

As a Spiritual Practice ❤️

If you 💕 me stand back.

Wash your hands for me.

If you love me 🙏🏾 with me at 1:11 pm.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.” Psalms‬ ‭51:10-12‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

If you love me have a heart and do it for me.

Let it be! So be it! Amen! These are words often spoken by us at the end of our prayers.

Recently, we prayed, voted, and we prayed again. We released prayers, hopes, concerns and thanks to Almighty God. Some of us waited patiently, while others were impatient and yet, we all received the same results. Joe Biden is the President elect and Kamala Harris is the Vice President elect. I believe God has spoken through the voices of the people. Let us say Amen!

The 2020 Presidential campaign ended and the results were decisive, however many people contested it. Let us fall on our knees and pray for God’s protection, healing and peace:

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Almighty God, as many celebrate the outcome of this election, help us let go of any related discomforts. Unite us around these common words, “Amen.” God, “Let it be,” “as You will,” and Your Way. Holy One, we seek Your power to inspire lasting peace with each breath. Heal our land. Restore our soul with each common heartbeat. May Your Spirit resonate within us. Our Lord, Let it be! So be it! Amen!

Dear God,

On this day, we remember You, the Almighty God.
We remember Your will, Your promises and Your Power to fulfill the righteous prayers of Your children. Today, we vote for a leader of our nation. We hope, and pray that our next President will listen and obey You. We lean on the side of Your truth. It sets us free.

We circle “loving-kindness,” on our ballots. It soothes our souls.

We touch the hem of Your garment, and we are made whole.

We feed the ballot boxes with our desires to be united as,

“One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We pray, we vote, and we pray at 1:11, and all times in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Now, we wait, we work and we keep the faith.

Let us Park and Pray at 1:11 pm

Holy One,

At this moment and perhaps in every moment, there is much in the world and in our lives that is unknown to us — the route and length of the pandemic, the results of elections and leadership across the world, the outcomes and consequences of the demands for racial justice, and even the walk of our own lives tomorrow or next week or next year. Deepen our trust in the Mystery, O God; deepen our reliance in the power of your Holy Spirit to carry us into our tomorrows, to seat us deeply in your Word and to heal and transform the world. In your mercy and to your glory, we pray. Amen

The Rev. Sr. Miriam Elizabeth, Order of Saint Helena

Holy One, You call us to pray for one another and pray for everyone.

Prayerfully, we come before your presence with thanks in our hearts. God our Comforter, we ask for your Grace and Mercy for our appointed leader, the head of our nation, the POTUS (President of the United States). 🙏🏾

You taught us about the power of prayer. You taught us how to pray. Today, we park and pray at 1:11. We speak and sing healing prayers. We trust Y to hear and answer our prayers.

Today, we pray for the POTUS, his family, friends, colleagues, and those stricken by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

O God, we lift up healing prayers for the POTUS, and all who reside, visit and work in the White House. All who are affected by his condition.

We pray the POTUS uses good judgments.

We pray he makes righteous and thoughtful decisions.

We pray the POTUS has an Ananias’ moment like early century Saul who after an encounter with God, Saul became Paul who devoted his life to serving God. Merciful God, lay Your hands on the POTUS. Make your presence known to him.

May the SCALES fall from his eyes. Scales that blur eyesight, insight, foresight and hindsight.

We pray healing for his body, mind and spirit. Lord, create in him a clean heart, a renewed spirit, a humble mind, and a righteous soul. May Your spirit dwell within him.

Gracious God, heal and transform the POTUS just like You changed Saul to Paul, a tender and righteous one who lived to serve and glorify God.

Lord in Your Mercy bless all who read this 🙏🏾.

In our Savior’s Name, Amen.

(Ref. Acts 9:17-19 NRSV)

Today, we park and pray at 1:11 pm.

We mourn her passing.
We celebrate her life.
We remember her opinions, her acts, and her compassion.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a Notorious Rapper, a mighty force, and a voice with a bullhorn message.

She was a righteous and precious Pearl of Hope.

A Mustard Seed who grew beyond her challenges.
Thank God for her presence during our lifetime.

Well done good and faithful servant.
Notorious R.BG., she fought, and she won the hearts of many.
She’s blessed with rest and with a fulfilled promise of peace eternal.

Farewell to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
We will remember you among the Pearls of Hope shining ever so bright.

Remembering 911

The Flag Within

By Renay Ingram
(Excerpts from her book)

There’s a flag within me
A flag within you
True patriotic red, white, and blue

Freedom
Justice
Equality

Democracy
Harmony

These ideals mark
our collective reality …

Flags waving high
Arms extended to the sky above
Flag draped low
Citizens appreciate the freedoms
they have grown to love and know

From Ground Zero to Ground Hero
Living memorials to the deceased
Funeral pits are grave sights
Charitable acts erase or ease
enduring pain and grief…

People are seeking a life worth completely living

People are seeking a shift away from previous norms

People are working to establish a higher sense of right

People want relief from the recent shocking storms

Flaunting this emblem conscientiously is one response
to the massive tragedies

By providing thoughts of comfort, solace, faith or a chance to trace our heritage’s grace

These journeys must be made today

As streams of tears flood innocent faces
We focus our deeds of courageous acts
helping the beseiged with our hands and our hearts
Aiding those who are in need

Yet duty’s call cannot replace
The afflicted lives dissolved by ashes laced
with weapons of hate and mass destruction
Victim’s families will never see or touch
the cherished lost ones who are treasured so much…

Flags marking street corners are reminders of pride
As people march humbly, walk soberly, or somberly ride

In or to parades, memorials, vigils and funerals
Some pause to ask questions wanting, pleading to know why
while shedding endless cries

Flags of hope, courage, bravery and strength
Flags of valor distinctly marking this day forward

As people hold on to victory’s crest
certain the flag’s precepts will move everyone onward

But onward to what place? What place and where?
The public has stopped to ask these imperative questions sbecause they sincerely care…

Book available on Amazon

Let us pray for our nation.

Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me, remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me! Ps 5:8 NET

Let Us Park and Pray at 1:11 pm

I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be
A pleasant road;
I do not ask that thou would’st take from me
Aught of its load.
For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead:
Lead me aright—
Though strength should falter, and though heart should bleed—
Through peace to light.
— Adelaide A. Procter.

Inspired by Youdevotion

It is you Lord, and, you alone who heals and preserves us. Please, take this prayer into consideration.

We ask that you flood our hearts with a love that overflows with joy for justice and admiration of those who seek peace.

Let all of us hear your call to holiness, and those who are willing, answer this call; purging old ways and adopting practices of discipline that leads to greater faith.

Lord, help us live in ways that serve your purpose, so that the brokenness of the world can be mended and we can see a new day with new possibilities.

In Your Name we pray. Amen

A prayer written by guest writer

Rev. Barbara Smith

Every breath is a prayer.

A prayer that draws us nearer to the Holy, the Almighty, the Divine, God.

With each breath, Light breaks through strongholds.

Almighty God, deliver us from evil, and all that chokes the life and light out of your people.

O Lord, resuscitate the dead in spirit.

Lead all who fear the dark, the brown, the black and all that is unfamiliar through deadened paths.

Spare us the confessions and chokehold promises.

Bless all with the freedom to breathe that same free and clean air.

O God, hear our prayer.

Open new paths and help us to walk in the Light of Your Holy presence.

In Your Name we pray. 🙏🏾 Amen.

“Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John‬ ‭1:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬) Give us life without harm, injustice, brutal attacks, death threats, unlawful arrests, grief and other misery. Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the works give us peace, your love and your blessed assurance that racism will end.

5/22/2020 – article by: Cleo Graham, Scott Spencer, Tiffany Vail

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23: 4
There are many aspects of the pandemic that are difficult and challenging. As a result of these dynamics, many people are suffering in so many ways. Their heartaches profoundly touch us. We also look forward to consoling those in our communities who have lost jobs or are facing financial uncertainty. We celebrate the courage and the dedication of front-line health care and nursing home staff, grocery store workers, and others now recognized as essential. We remember with gratitude those who work every day to care for the vulnerable and marginalized. We seek systemic policy changes to create a safety net under those struggling with hunger and homelessness and those who have to choose every day between work and their safety.  
 
Amid all these circumstances, each day, we read the growing number of those who have died. Deaths that are often experienced through great suffering and fear and separated from the direct presence of loved ones. The rising number of deaths can be so overwhelming and yet, a constant factor in our daily lives. However, we can quickly become numb and can begin to only see the end as another number to track before moving on.  

We are asking our Southern New England Conference United Church of Christ (SNECUCC) clergy and laity and the wider community to participate in a daily discipline of prayer for those who died due to COVID-19 and to support the families and loved ones who are grieving their loss. As God’s beloved children, we are asking in prayer to lift them to God’s eternal care and comfort. 
 
The method of practicing this discipline is an existing prayer ministry called “Park and Pray at 1:11 PM,” started and developed by Rev Cleo Graham in 2015. We are encouraging others to participate in “Park and Pray at 1:11 PM” as a spiritual practice of daily prayer by stopping to pray at 1:11 PM each day. For additional information, you may refer to the website. www.parkandprayat111.com.
 
Please consider joining us in this daily discipline of prayer by first dedicating yourself to set your alarm to pray each day at 1:11 PM, and then going further to encourage those in your congregation, family, and friends to join with you in prayer.  
 
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms 23:6 
 
Yours Truly, 

(You may use your own prayer or the suggested prayer below)   
 
Almighty God, we humbly park and pray at 1:11 PM. 
In your Holy presence, we imagine lighting a candle.
For there’s no place, we’d rather be than in your presence. 
God, we come before your presence with praise and thanksgiving,
We come as privileged people who can go to God in prayer, to receive God and for God to welcome us. 
 
“What a fellowship, what a joy divine to lean on the everlasting God.”
 
Bread of Life, Breath of Life, Light of the World, and our Hope eternal. Thank you for your sinless sacrifice to redeem us and restore us to a right relationship with you O God. 
We seek your guidance, your healing power, and the blessings of your Holy Word and protection.
 
We call on You O God to:
Forgive us for disconnecting our lives and separating from you. 
Forgive us for failing to seek you during these difficult times.
We seek forgiveness for our sins and we ask you to make us whole again.
God, we pray the world may know you, hunger, and thirst for you.
 
We pray for our homes, our families, our friends, and neighbors.
We especially pray for our children who are missing schools and friends.
We pray for children who will experience Confirmation, Baptism, and other milestones in new ways.
 
May the glory of God’s Peace rise above any strife, neglect, disharmony, and bitterness.
 —–
We pray for a united church that seeks Christ, his wisdom, his word, his will, and his ways.
 
We pray for (Names) those who are unemployed.  Gracious God, build new employment.
 
We pray for (Names) who are sick and distressed, especially all who are affected by the Covid-19 virus may they experience your healing.                                                                
 
We pray for (Names) those grieving from a loss.  May they experience your Comfort, O God.
 
We pray for (Names) those who have died.  May the end of each life journey celebrate in the kingdom of God’s eternal home.
 
We pray for (Names) those who are financially burdened and unemployed that they may experience your Grace, O God.
 
We pray for all who keep us safe, that all will practice social distancing, barrier protection, and social isolation as protective measures warrant.
Relieve the stress associated with loneliness and solitude.

Merciful God, help us to unite in prayer this day and every day.
Strengthen our faith and renew our daily commitment to prayer.
O God, we glorify your name as we Park and Pray at 1:11 PM. 
 
Amen