Author: revpaulcalkin

Here are the Prayers Of The People from worship at Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church. 

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Prayers Of The People

Let us pray for this world, for others, for our church, for ourselves.

We pray for all who are fearful, insecure, unloved, unseen.

Who are right alongside us, and yet are invisible. 

At this moment, they are in our hearts.

Allow them, O God, the environment to be affirmed,

To be safe, to be recognized for the lovely creations they are.

God, in your love,

Hear our prayers.

We pray for those who have suffered great loss,

how it has changed their lives forever. 

We pray for those who have been ill, injured, 

and for those who are with them in these moments.

We pray for those who gather around loved ones nearing the end,

We pray for those who leave this world with no one around them.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

We pray for those who have carved out safe places, 

Only to see them now crumbling.  

We pray for those who once more face restrictive barriers. 

God, in your love,

Hear our prayers.

O Loving One, bring peace, bring hope, to our world, 

to our communities, and to our hearts.

Instill in us courage to look for those in need, 

those who are hurting, those who seem to not matter anymore. 

Help us see them as your beloveds, as our beloveds.

Even when we are uncomfortable, help us be your presence, your love, your care.

God, in your love,

Hear our prayers. Amen. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Give grace for yourself to still be in-progress. You don’t have to have it all figured out. 

– To Write Love On Her Arms

(To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting home and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.)

Peace Be With You. – Paul

From Anne Lamott:

Maybe more than ever before in my lifetime, my friends and I are aware of our brokenness and the deep crazy, the desperation for light, hope, food, and medicine for the poor. What helps is that we are not all crazy and hopeless on the same day.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

— WORD FOR THE DAY —When you do things from your soul, the river itself moves through you. Freshness and a deep joy are signs of the current.

RUMI

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Peace Be With You. – Paul

Dear God,

Today, I woke up.

I’m healthy.

I’m alive.

I’m blessed.

I apologize for all my complaining.

I’m truly grateful for all you have done in my life.

• From Mindful Mondays

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Here are the Prayers Of The People from Mayfair Heights United Methodist Worship Service – January 19, 2025.

Prayers Of The People

Open our hearts to the divine call within us.

When you whisper our name in the quiet of our hearts, open our ears to hear.

When the path ahead seems shrouded in uncertainty,

Illumine our minds to understand.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

When fear and doubt threaten to paralyze our steps,

Strengthen our hearts to be brave.

When we stumble and lose our way on the journey,

Direct our feet back to your path.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

When your call demands sacrifice and surrender,

Mold our wills to align with yours.

For the countless ways you reveal your love and purpose for our lives,

Our hearts overflow with gratitude.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

For peace among all nations and peoples, that we may live together in harmony and mutual respect, embracing our shared humanity,

May our dreams rooted in your love and justice, may one day be fully realized.

Guide us on your path.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

For the dismantling of prejudice and bias within our hearts and minds, that we may see each person as a beloved child of God, purify our hearts.

For the courage to confront the truth of past injustices and to work towards 

genuine reconciliation, lead us on the path of healing.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.   Amen.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Peace Be With You. – Paul

“And some of us who have already begun to break the silence of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation of agony, but we must speak.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

I want to express gratitude today.  

Earlier this week, Jeni noticed that we had some water coming out of a drain whose purpose was to actually take water away from our house.  I have several plumbers in my phone contacts because when the water is going crazy, you want whoever can come by the soonest to do so.  

Our number one plumber was able to come by pretty quickly and took care of the impediment which was causing the backup.  And he did another small plumbing task that I have not been able to do.  

For him, this was all very easy, something that he does every day, and could no doubt do in his sleep.  For me, it was a much more formidable task given my skill level and the age of my body.  I also have a knack for “fixing” something which results in another problem almost immediately.  So his presence kept that possibility at a minimum.  

My gratitude today for all those who make their livings by fixing things which break.  Water lines, electric lines, cable lines, gas lines.  And who can quickly and easily take care of things beyond most of our capacities.  

Thank you to those who can fix things, whether amateur or professional.  Thank you to those who can make things better just by showing up and taking care of what is needed.  

Say thank you today to any in your life who help make things better like this.  – Paul

Peace Be With You. – Paul

May I always rise above the pain, choosing compassion over resentment and grace over bitterness. 

Let the trials of life shape me, not into something hardened, but into someone stronger, softer, and wiser. 

I seek to be a reminder that even in a world full of chaos, love stands resilient, hope refuses to dim, and kindness never loses its power. 

Through every storm, may I remain true to the light within me.

Peace Be With You. – Paul