PRAYER

A Thanksgiving Prayer for Our Community

O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry.

When I have work, help me to remember the jobless.

When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all.

When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer.

And remembering, help me to destroy complacency, bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.

-Rev. Samuel F. Pugh

A Prayer for Our Community

this is why

Lord of Life,

They ask me why I stop to pray
And why I begin my prayers with thanks
In a world fraught with pain and loss,
with cruelty and injustice.
Sometimes I ask myself this too.
And then I look again
And gratitude fills my heart anew.

Because when somebody is hungry, another is dividing their portion.
When somebody is thirsty, another is digging a well.
When somebody is asking questions, another is opening a book and teaching answers.
When somebody is lost, another is searching.

Because when somebody is cursed, another is blessing.
When somebody is sick, another is giving healing care.
When somebody has been driven from their home, another is making room.
When somebody has despaired of all hope, another struggles on for them.

Because when disaster strikes, and people flee, somebody else, against all sense,
is running toward the danger
To reach out a hand, to reach out Your saving hand, to an absolute stranger.
And when somebody dies, somebody else stops to pray;
and then makes a home for the orphan.

It’s as confounding as it is beautiful.
In this darkened world, where the face of God is veiled
In the midst of calamities, when all instinct speaks of self-preservation,
Somebody still cares for the other.
And miracles of compassion abound.

This is why I am thankful.

Amen