A Prayer for Our Community

This prayer was offered as an invocation at the 15th Annual Mayor's Community Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.  It was an honor to be invited to be part of that gathering and to witness the commitment that so many buisness, political, and religous leaders share to help Concord become a welcoming, compassionate city. --gms

Gathering God,

who calls us to live and work together in this community,

our hearts exclaim with the song writer in the scriptures:

“How very good and pleasant it is

when kindred live together in unity!”*

You bring us together. 

You call us to a common purpose:

to build up the city,

  to restore its broken places:

          to be a beacon of refuge and hope,

            to teach our children to dream big, bold dreams,

          to respect the wisdom of our elders,       

            to lift up those who have fallen, to feed the hungry,

                 to shelter the homeless poor—

          indeed, to build a community where all may live. 

This day is your gift.  May we receive it with great joy and gladness.  Give us the courage to work together for that which is good.  Strengthen us to love every neighbor, so that others may also say:

“How very good and pleasant it is

when kindred live together in unity!”

O God, we know there are many other tables to which you must attend this morning; but we ask now that you share your Spirit with us.  Be present with us.  May the breakfast we are about to receive be a sign of your amazing care.  Bless this meal and all those who have worked to prepare it—from the fields to the markets to these tables—and bless us, O God, to your service in the world.

With grateful and joyful hearts we offer our prayer. 

gAmenh

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* Psalm 133:1, New Revised Standard Version