Disciple's Prayer

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5

Presider:
God of love, you provide us with light: from the moon and stars at night and the sun by day. By night and by day, your light brings life and makes things grow. It keeps the earth's plants green, making them flower and bear fruit.

God, we are something like the green plants of this earth. They need certain things in order to grow and be healthy. They become unhealthy if deprived of light or water, if exposed to too much heat or too much cold, too few nutrients or too many toxins. Their blossoms fade. They drop their leaves. Without proper care they wither and die.

We too can wither and die. We risk becoming unhealthy when we deprive ourselves of what we need to grow, when we involve ourselves with things that make us self-centered, insecure, possessive, stubborn, narrow-minded, manipulative, and unloving.

Closing Blessing

Reader: May we be courageous and honest in discerning right paths.

All: Amen.

Reader: May we turn away from all that harms us or others.

All: Amen.

Reader: May the light of Christ burn brightly inside us, especially when there seems to be no light anywhere around us.

All: Amen.

Reader: May we trust God to care for our most hidden needs and to grant our heart's deepest desires.

All: Amen.