A Prayer about Prayer
Gracious Love,
in whom we live and move and have our being,Teach us how to pray as you would have us pray:
bring to mind what you would have us remember, and
give us the words to pray for what is needed.Help us to feel your presence which is always with us.
Help us to trust that the words we use to offer our gratitudes and concerns are adequate,
and help us to trust that if we have no words,
and can only offer groans, or silence, or smiles
that your Spirit lifts these to you in all of their fulness.Help us to trust that we feel called to pray, so that
we can tell you what is in our hearts and minds; and,
help us to trust that you also call us to pray so that
your Spirit moving within us
helps us to see as you see; to love as you love;
giving us the words to say what needs to be made real for the good of all.Help us to trust that we are not the only one offering the prayers that are needed this day.
Help us to feel the presence of others in this room and across this land
who are also praying. Lifting up gratitudes; lifting up concerns.
Help us to feel our connection as part of the whole – so much larger than each of us alone.Help us to trust that even before we began to pray,
you are already fully present seeking to make real
the responses that are needed to all the prayers we offer.Grant us this day that our prayers are worthy of your goodness and your generosity.
That we have prayed big enough; that no one and nothing has been left out.Grant us this day whatever we need to be able to live the lives that are the responses to our prayers.
Gracious one, we are grateful to you that we are not the first ones, nor the only ones, praying today.
We come before you as inheritors of a long tradition.
Over so many centuries, in so many languages, in so many ways,
people gather in community to pray.
In particular, we here today recall how many times, and in how many places,
people have gathered and shared with one voice
the prayer that Jesus teaches his followers to say …Our Brother’s Prayer
Holy One, Holy Three
In whom we are one,Fill our world with your wonder.
May the loving right-relations that you eternally are,
Be how we are here on earth.May all living beings receive from their labour
All that is needed for the wellbeing of all.Forgive us the harm our ideas and actions do,
As we receive healing from those wounded by
our stories, our laws, and our commerce.Save us from trials that overwhelm,
And let us not be tricked into believing lies.For the power and the glory of the kin_ship of all living things
Abide in you, now and for ever.May it be so.
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Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials.
Please credit the source as, “David Ewart, http://www.davidewart.ca, August 22, 2023”.
God Hears, Sees, and Remembers You*
Dear Beloved Community, Thank you for parking and praying at 1:11 pm with us.
🙏🏾 for God’s healing and peace in the new year.>>>
Beloved, I hope you know prayer can warm frosted hands and make a cold heart melt. Prayer reminds us we’re not alone. Let’s Park and Pray at 1:11 pm.
God, thank you for warming our thoughts with renewed hope.
Give us eyes to see in ourselves what You hope for us.
Kindle the fires that ignite our dreams.
Extinguish the torches that kill our faith.
Help us to find meaning, direction and purpose in the New Year star before each one of us.
Oh that you hold us and balance us in Your Holy Hands. Our hands are like the stars. Five fingers stretching, reaching , touching, balancing, holding, and carrying light in the midst of darkness. Giving and sharing the gifts of God through prayer. To be Blessed & a Blessing. Amen
***
Cornelius stared at the angel. He became afraid and said, “What do you want, Lord?” The angel said, “God has heard your prayers. God has seen that you give to the poor, and God remembers you. Acts 10:2 NCV
Holding Our Breath
Let’s us hold our breath at 1:11 pm for 9 seconds.
Then, let us pray.
We lift our eyes to the hills from where comes our help. Our help comes from you, O God.
We look to you, O God, for help and strength.
We know your eyes are upon us.
Almighty God, there’s none like You.
We are lost without You, O God.
God, You created us in your image and likeness.
But, some people have become hardened, inhumane, wicked, racist, and unashamed. Their behavior rips through the health, spirit, and soul of our nation.
God, we watched George Floyd’s painful death at the hands of intense hatred. It’s breathtaking to watch a man’s life painfully slip away at the hands of a Law Officer or police. His death opened many eyes and united many voices.
We pray, “O God, Have Mercy!” Comfort and support Mr. Floyd’s family! Bring peace, justice, and righteousness!
We hold our breath as we remember the deaths of many other innocent Brown and Black Brothers and Sisters. We can hardly breathe through the flood of tears.
O God, how much longer must we bear witness to the wickedness and suffering of your people?
God, give us ears to hear from you.
Speak to us O God, loud and clear.
O God, stay near. We will not fear.
O, God! Watch over us.
O God, have Mercy on us!
Look upon us, O God. We pray, release the chains and untie the noose around us.
No more running, no more hands up, and no more faces pressed against the ground. We shall no longer be bound by separate set of laws.
Give us freedom and justice. God,end the murdering of our innocent brothers and sisters. How long shall we hold our breath and wait?
O God, set us free.
Lord, have Mercy! Mercy, O God!
We can’t breathe!
But You, O God, can see all things and do what seems impossible.
Deliver us from evil, O God.
O God, help us to hold on, march on, speak out, live on, and embrace your will.
We can “Be Still,” and restless.
You alone are God are Holy.
We will hold our breath as You O God, guide us through the valleys of changes America desperately needs.
God, bless us with Grace and Mercy!
Give us everlasting peace.
Inspired by Psalm 123:1-4 MSG
A Prayer Psalm 57:1
Free Parking
Park and Pray is
Free,
No Meters,
Ticketless,
No expiration!
It’s Available,
No Limits!
It’s Proven,
It’s Harmless,
No Side Effects!
It Requires: A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N
Attention
Time
Talking
Effort
No Coercion
Total Focus
Investment
Open heart
Now or never
Faith in God
What the Lord Promises when you
“Come to me,
all you who are
weary and
burdened, and
I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me,
for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and
you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and
my burden is light.”
Jesus of Nazareth Matt. 11:28–30
Pray
O God, hear the prayers of my heart, mind and soul. I wait with mercy and thankfulness for your response. Amen.
Power in Peace
Park and Pray at 1:11 pm
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27
Almighty God, as each day begins, help me to be aware that there is power in the peace that you give me. Help me to hold onto this power and peace. Merciful God, help me to resist any temptation, apathy or tendency, that may cause me to relinquish it. O God, I call you at 1:11 pm and I prayerfully look to you to renew my power, refresh, restore and maintain my peace and my neighbor’s peace. At the end of the day, may I rest and sleep in peace and gratitude for the gift of power and contentment in Your Holy presence. In my Savior’s name. Amen.
Aretha, Beauty, Virtuous & Excellent
Dear God, thank you for blessing us with Aretha Franklin. Her gifted voice and powerful spirit continue to edify your name. Your teachings about love, respect, righteousness and more are woven in her songs. Her music represents a tapestry of life. Holy One, thank you for inspiring and equipping Aretha with a powerful voice, an instrument of love, peace, and healing. There’s no sitting still when Aretha, the Queen of Soul’s voice is heard. Her spirit filled voice propels us to rise, hold our heads high, reach beyond the sky. We remember her manner of praise in her life and song as an extravagant and awesome gift!
Thank you Almighty God for Aretha, who experienced your holy presence early and throughout her life. Her music reflected the times in which we live. Times when we shed tears and laughed with her! Aretha, the Queen of Soul, often grounded us in your Supreme Love, a Divine Love. Aretha’s life and her songs are also reflections of our joys and sorrows. Queen Aretha reminded us in her life and in her passing that still waters run deep. In the midst of troubled waters, there is hope. You are One Lord of all who is the Bridge, the Way Maker, the everlasting Savior who gives us Life, Breath, Pulse, and Passion. Aretha means Beauty; Virtuous; and Excellent! She lived her life as the Queen of Soul, who ministered to many souls. Aretha, the Queen of Heart whose music still tugs on our heartstrings. Aretha, gone but never forgotten.
Eternal God, receive her into your everlasting peace. In our Savior’s name. Amen.
It’s 1:11 p.m! Where Are You?
It’s 1:11 p.m! Where are you praying?
It was a sunny day when I parked under this tree to pray at 1:11 p.m. Here’s what happened.
After praying I looked down and the ground was covered with blackberries!
I looked up at the trees above my head and I snatched a handful of this sweet fruit.
I looked up at the trees above my head and I snatched a handful of this sweet fruit. 
I stayed under the covering of these beautiful trees and I enjoyed these gifts.
I embraced the sunlight that pierced through the branches. I stayed and prayed.
Lord, I give thanks with a grateful heart for our time together. Thank you for your grace. Your blessings are unconditional and your love is boundless. Your Fruits of the Spirit nourishes the body, mind and spirit. Lord help your spiritually malnourished children receive you and use your food according to your will. Bless all with a constant flow of compassion for all your children. May serving you with passion be our first and last meal of each day.
Parking and Praying at 1:11 p.m. in our Savior’s name. Amen
A Prayer for All Creation
Almighty God,
Giver of life and abundant blessings.
Give us reverence for all creation.
Give us passion to love what you create.
Give us respect for every person.
O God, be the moral compass within us,
That we may reflect your image
in our Savior’s name, we pray. Amen.
God’s Presence, Power & Purpose
It’s amazing what we miss when we fail to simply park and pray at 1:11pm.
There are signs of God’s Divine presence, power and purpose all around us. God’s creation is filled with signs that we can see, feel, touch and hear. God speaks to us in many ways. God wants to be in our lives.
Sometimes I barely say a spoken word when I pray. When I park and pray at 1:11pm outdoors, I listen to the sounds around me. I am reminded of this great hymn “How Great Thou Art!” It becomes a chant in response to burdens I’m carrying. “How Great Thou Art!”
In the midst of your inner challenges try chanting “How Great Thou Art!” Look around you and imagine the branches of the trees clapping. Listen to the birds sing and the sounds of squirrels running across the grass. Feel each mighty breeze brush against your back as if you grow wings. There’s a power that stirs within us as and offers a blessed assurance that God knows our joys and our tribulations.
For many years, I searched for God’s presence and I wanted to strengthen my relation with God. This is what I discovered. First, believe God is present. Second, believe God can and will fulfill your needs. Third, believe in the power of prayer and then, Pray. My life changed as I became aware of God’s presence.
Let us pray.
Almighty God you make your presence known day and night. You are the Light that pierced through dark clouds, trees and landscapes. You meet us at the crossroads of our lives. You call us to “Be still and know that I Am God.” You remind us to call on You and ask for “Amazing Grace.”
Thank you Lord. Thank you for being patient with us. Thank you for picking us up when we fall down. Thank you for holding our hands and at times carrying us when our burdens weigh us down.
Have mercy O God! Lord forgive us. God, renew, strengthen, guide and bless us. Bless our neighbors near and far. Shine your light on us and in us. Give us your everlasting peace.
God teach us to pray.
Amen (Let It Be).
Come With Me
http://bible.com/111/mrk.6.31,33.niv
It’s 1:11 pm. Time to stop. Park and Pray. Rest in God’s presence.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for inviting me to rest in your presence. Thank you for calling me to a quiet place with you. Thank you for guiding me to a quiet place.
For in your presence I find peace. Lord, in your presence I find silence. In your presence I find rest for my weary body, mind and soul.
Lord, save a place for me.
Help me to hear your call in the midst of so many voices and places. My Lord, you patiently wait for me as I learn to stop, to park in the midst of your presence. I sit at your feet and release my burdens. You hear my prayers. Lord give me ears to hear you and strength to walk with you. Help me to be in your presence daily.
Oh Lord, I cherish my time with you. I come to glorify your name. I come to rest in your presence. I come to receive your peace. I eat your Bread of life. I rest with you. I am restored. I go in peace.
I pray in Your Holy Name. Amen.
Lord we need your peace. We are thirsty for your peace. Yet, in the midst of our tribulations we are double minded. We try our ways only to fall back down the slippery slope. It pulls us apart from you. Lord, God draw us close to you and never let us go. Bathe us in your peace. Fill our cups, O Savior Divine. Stay near, feed us and drink with us. We shall drink your peace with gladness. We give thanks for your everlasting Peace. In Your Holy Name we Pray. Amen.
Why Park and Pray at 1:11 pm?
I needed a time to press the reset button. There are days when I need to restore the Peace that God gives us early, just before we’re awake. Sometimes in my haste to start the day, I forget to receive the gift of God’s Peace. Prayer is a way to receive the Peace.