Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Holy Spirit
Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives of creatures,
spiral of sanctity, bond of all natures,
glow of charity, lights of clarity, taste
of sweetness to sinners, be with us and hear us.
Composer of all things, light of all the risen,
key of salvation, release from the dark prison,
hope of all unions, scope of chastities, joy
in the glory, strong honor, be with us and hear us.
Amen.
Hildegard von Bingen, Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Creator of all things,
Alpha and Omega,
Beginning and End,
Father, Shepherd, Servant,
Brother, Priest and King.
Whose love poured out
mends broken hearts.
Whose wounded hands
reach out to all.
Whose Spirit waits
to enter in.
You are the everything
that we desire.
Be with us now.
Bless us that we might be
a blessing to others.
AMEN
John Birch, Faith and Worship
(Prayer of Adoration)
Jesus … Immanuel – our God come in the flesh
so that we might know You and that You might save us:
Thankfully, You watch out for us – help us to watch for You.
Give us eyes to see You on the move, active, alive
in our world every day, everywhere, all the time.
Give us ears to hear the whispers of Your Spirit,
recalling Your Word and guiding our steps each moment.
Give us wills that are responsive to Your will;
hands quick to serve,
feet swift to go where there is a need,
and a longing to taste and see that You are good.
(Prayer of Confession)
Forgive us when we live as if You are not real,
pushing You aside to play god in Your world.
Forgive our impatience
when we plunge ahead rather than wait for You.
Forgive our arrogance when we think we have a better way
than what You show us in Your Word.
Forgive our words used to hurt others rather than encourage them.
Forgive us for loving things too much,
people too little, and You hardly at all.
Forgive, also, what we are too embarrassed to say aloud,
but need You to hear, as we confess our sins in silence.
(SILENCE)
Good morning, Father. While we slept last night – You were awake, sustaining our world, protecting us and readying a new day.
Jesus – You hold us in the palms of Your hands: strong hands, compassionate hands, firm hands, healing hands, hands that heal, hands that are nail-scarred still, now and forever, such is the duration of Your love.
And Spirit – our Comforter, generous and powerful: You gift and equip us with all things necessary to live today for Your glory [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] and to our joy.
We praise You for who You are; we thank You for all Your good gifts to us … and we look forward to when You’ll return to clean up the mess and take us home.
Almighty God, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may govern and guide us according to your will, comfort us in all our temptations and afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth, that we may be steadfast in the faith, increase in love and in all good works, and in the end, obtain eternal life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Brunswick-Luneburg 1564, Pentecost, in the Service Book and Hymnal, 1958.
Most powerful Holy Spirit,
come down
upon us
and subdue us.
From heaven,
where the ordinary
is made glorious,
and glory seems
but ordinary,
bathe us
with the brilliance
of Your light
like dew.