1 Advent – Year C
Always coming God,
when the stars, sun, moon and waves
perplex us,
causing us to worry,
weighing heavy on our hearts,
you break over the horizon
with your light.
Strengthen us to rise above our chaos,
and come to meet you
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
2 Advent – Year C
Forgiving, forbearing God,
you sent John the River Man
with the repentance message.
You forgive so that we may repent.
Now it is our turn to make straight the road.
Help us to forgive as you do,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
3 Advent – Year C
God by the river,
God in the desert and on the mountain,
when we search high and low,
wondering in our confusion
what we ought to do,
you send some sort or another of the river man.
Give us discernment to recognize your true messenger,
so that we may be awash with the Spirit and fire,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
4 Advent – Year c
God of the impossible and unlikely,
God of pregnant old ladies and virgins,
you turn our conventional world upside down,
where the hungry are fed,
and arrogant rich are turned away.
Instill in us unthinkable marvels.
Make us pregnant with wonder
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
1 Christmas – Year C
Wandering, wonderful God,
ever nomadic,
having pitched your tent in our midst,
you go, you are, where we are,
where we go.
Rally round us the vision
to see you at our side,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Epiphany – Year C
God of star
from orient seen,
you led night sky gazers
to bear gifts.
Give us a star bright
that we may trek
to the crib of light,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
1 Epiphany – Year C
God, who speaks from on high,
when we are befuddled,
in a fog and funk,
we hear your voice:
“You are my child, the beloved,
with you I am well pleased.”
May we stand up now with confidence,
and notice all else you value,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
2 Epiphany – Year C
God of abundant life,
God of aged best wine,
when our lives seem to us dreary,
you change it, you change us,
into the best,
the best we can be,
the best wine.
May we drink life to the fullest
with Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
3 Epiphany – Year C
Empowering God,
your Spirit is upon us
to bring good news
to the poor, captive, blind and oppressed.
Help us to not squander this power on selfish pursuits.
May we announce the year of the Lord’s favor
to all who pass our path.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
4 Epiphany – Year C
God of prophets
and all truth sayers,
God of those who are run out of town.
You never cease to send your messengers,
regardless of risk.
Grant that we may always hear your brave ones.
Grant that we also may have the courage
to speak for you,
when it is our turn,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Last Epiphany – Year C
Ever shining, lightning bright, God,
you made known your son to Peter, James and John,
and to us who are willing to vision.
Transfigure us all on your mountain.
Grant that we may see in the face of our neighbor
the brightness of Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
1 Lent – Year C
God of the desert,
always there for us,
when we thought we were alone,
dry and tested to be our true selves.
Guide us through our choices.
Give us strength
to walk out of our wasteland
with renewed integrity,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
2 Lent – Year C
God, you sent the prophets
to bring us back to you.
Yet we kill the prophets
in their Jerusalem,
wherever that Jerusalem may be.
Grant us ears to hear who speaks for you today.
May we never kill your messengers again.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
3 Lent – Year C
God of all creation,
especially of fig trees.
When we are impatient,
you urge us to wait for the nurturing time.
Then you will bless us,
as we sit under our own fig tree
in peace, security and forgiveness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
4 Lent – Year C
Welcoming God,
you run down the driveways
of our prodigal lives,
sheltering us secure again.
You even invite us into our sibling’s party
when we are resentful.
Together as one family
we feast on the fatted calf,
with rings on our fingers,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
5 Lent – Year C
God, the aroma of our lives,
your son was anointed
with spikenard
for burial.
Let us never forget those
who suffer spiritual
and emotional death daily.
May we be perfume for them,
for living,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Palm Sunday – Year C
God of all patience,
you do not give up on us
even when one moment we cheer
“Blessed is the king who comes,”
then like a flash fizzed cold
we chant with chill “Crucify.”
We hear you echoed in your son
“Father, forgive them.”
Father, forgive us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Easter – Year C
God of living always new,
raising us up from
the pitfalls and tragedies
that befall us
on this fragile earth,
our island home.
We now share the eternal day
of the one who died and rose
and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
2 Easter – Year C
God of peace,
like a hawk souring,
like a torrent flowing,
like a geyser jetting,
like a rock hot spring gushing,
like the wind shearing,
your peace always in the storm,
take us out of our upper room tombs of fear
to face with courage our discords,
holding peace in the midst of conflict,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
3 Easter – Year C
God of air, land and sea,
when we have drifted out far beyond,
fishing from the wrong side of the boat,
you guide our nets
to where they ought to be.
You ever more and again
help us to haul ashore the full catch.
There breakfast is prepared
for us to dine with Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
4 Easter – Year C
Father of us all,
you sent your ever begotten son,
to be your familiar voice in our midst.
We hear and recognize
our Good Shepherd.
We pray that your voice,
being so well-known,
will cause us to begin
to sound like you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
5 Easter – Year C
God, you are continually reaching,
you entangle yourself in our lives,
ever and always
getting in touch
with our deepest selves.
We pray that the strands of love
that connect us with you
may extend to enmesh us all
one with one another
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
6 Easter – Year C
God of peace,
your Son, one with your Spirit,
was calm and tranquil
through loss, tears and death.
You have sent that same Holy Spirit
to give us peace in the midst of our uproar,
our chaos, and our distress.
Still our troubled hearts
as we face our inner and outer wars,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
7 Easter – Year C
God of wonder,
you are perfectly one in yourself,
and one with your Son and Spirit.
Now Jesus calls for us to be one
with each other and with you,
in the same way,
sharing in divinity,
as you have shared in our humanity,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Pentecost – Year C
Spirit of the living God,
Holy Wisdom, filling the whole earth,
you have come upon us all,
like fire on our heads,
fire in our hearts,
burning till the whole world
is ignited
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Trinity Sunday – Year C
God the Father,
God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit,
together one, diverse unity,
creating, redeeming and sanctifying.
By your empowering presence
you enable us to
to have a role as one with you
in your creation, redemption and sanctification
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns in unity
for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 4 – Year C
Healing God,
when we are clearly unworthy
to have you under our roof,
you see our hidden value.
You see our faith,
even when we don’t.
You come.
May we build a synagogue
out of our lived lives,
where we can remember you
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 5 – Year C
God of the living,
you sent your son
fortified with compassion,
raising the dead.
We pray that we may live into the same compassion,
so that we too may raise to new life
those who are slumped down
by the pitfalls of our times.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 6 – Year C
God in our midst,
through your son
you hang about with us sinners.
You even like being with us,
and forgive us all for all.
You grace us
so that we too may forgive each other,
unburdening ourselves
in a burst of resurrection
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 7 – Year C
God of the sane and insane,
you sent your son
to expel our demons,
demons of self-centeredness, and prejudice,
demons of possessiveness and exclusiveness.
By your grace
may we let go of these fiends,
and sit at your feet,
sane and in our right mind,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 8 – Year C
God on the path,
God of the way,
God the way,
you sent us your son,
the incarnate way,
for us to follow without looking back.
With our hand to the plow,
give grit to us to keep to the road,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 9 – Year C
God of the rejected,
God of the discarded,
your son has sent all of us out
to preach good news by word,
but especially by action.
When we are not received,
help us to shake dust from our feet,
and move on in life
to where you have more for us to do.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 10 – Year C
God of my neighbor,
God of the stranger,
God of my enemy,
you send many people into our lives,
unlikely persons,
to show us how to be good neighbors.
Open our hearts to learn from them,
to exclude no one,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 11 – Year C
God of calm,
God of action,
God of calm action,
you ask us to sit at the feet of your son.
You ask us not to fret in the kitchen.
Teach us contemplation in a world of action,
calm in the kitchen,
stirred at the Lord’s feet.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 12 – year C
God,
our Abba,
your son taught us to pray to you as our father,
an approachable parent.
Quiet our troubled spirits,
Teach us also to persistently listen in our prayers,
knowing that your original language is silence.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 13 – Year C
God of plenty,
abundantly God,
you always offer us divine riches.
Yet we hoard what weighs us down.
Teach us to live simply,
simply rich toward you.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 14 – Year C
God of eternal treasures,
your son taught us
to be dressed for action,
with purses that do not wear out.
Give us grace to be ready
at any hour,
even the midnight of our hearts.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 15 – Year C
God of harmony,
your son warned us
that following him
will not always result in tranquility.
Yet, you still guide us
with truth telling,
and wholesome diversity,
to your true peace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 16 – Year C
God, you rested on the Sabbath,
yet never take a break
from attracting us
into our own Sabbath time with you.
Give us courage
to rest from what harms,
courage to release others
from our oppressive activity.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 17 – Year C
God, you are down to our earth,
humble enough to tent with us
in Christ incarnate.
When we exalt ourselves
In false places of honor,
humble us so we may know
who we are,
whose we are,
and where we ought to be.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 18 – Year C
Priceless God,
you offer us a life
free of those burdens that are full of self.
There is a price tag on life
when we follow your son.
Give us courage to consider the cost,
courage to abandon ego-possessions.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 19 – Year C
Searching God,
you look for us in the woods
when we are lost sheep.
You sweep the house
when we are lost coins.
We in gratitude ask the grace
to rummage everywhere
to bring each other back to the table
to dine with Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 20 – Year C
God of light,
you forgive us
when we use our wits for darkness.
You call us to again be children of light,
shrewd for the things of God.
Give us spiritual intelligence
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 21 – Year C
God of the hungry
and rich alike,
you cast us together
that we might feed each other.
Let us not neglect
those at our gates.
Let there be no chasm
separating your children.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 22 – Year C
God of grace and gratitude,
you favor us
though we have only done our duty.
Instill in us vision to see as you see,
to appreciate what is often hidden,
so that we may give thanks
to you for all of your creation everywhere,
always.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 23 – Year C
Lord God,
you are never blind to our hurts.
When you see us leprous,
leprous with self-absorption,
you heal us,
so that we may see the hurts of others,
draw them near,
and all be grateful together
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 24 – Year C
Patient God,
you persevere in your care for us,
in spite of our lack of persistence,
lack of praying at all times.
Merge our inner spirits
with your will.
Teach us again and again
to pray always
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 25 –Year C
God of the humble,
humbled in your son Jesus Christ,
weed out from our souls
the false ego
that judges others
as if to make us appear good.
May we go down to our home
justified.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 26 – Year C
God of the far sighted,
when we are like Zacchaeus,
too short to see over the heads of the crowd,
you have us climb a tree
to see.
Then you invite us down for life changing
dinner conversation.
Give us courage to climb,
and the will to dine
with you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 27 – Year C
God of the living,
to whom all are alive,
you offer us a leaf in springtime,
a promise
that we are children of the resurrection,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 28 – Year C
God who creates and orders chaos,
when wars and earthquakes
bring tumbling stones
around our heads,
you give us assurance
not a hair
will parish.
Calm our troubled spirits.
Guide us through our dark places,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
Proper 29 – Year C
God, king of the universe,
cosmic life giver,
through your son
you have adopted us
into your royal family.
Now alongside of Christ our sovereign
we sit as kings and queens,
as your royal children,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen
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