Prayers & Devotions

St. Olaf College

2022-2023
 Introduction
The book that you are holding is divided into three
sections. The first section outlines seven aspects of
worship. These short writings are designed for
personal reflection or group interaction. They
invite you to consider why we worship, but they also
help you to worship – on your own or together. The
second section includes twenty devotions.
Each devotion is two pages in length and may be
used alone or in groups. They are designed to focus
your heart and mind on an issue of faith and college
life. The third section offers prayers. The prayers are
short and address life’s many joys and complexities.
They may be prayed quietly or aloud. They may be
personal prayers or prayers that are shared with
friends. However you choose to use them, they are
written to speak to your college life.

May God bless you and keep you;

May God’s grace and love always be with you;
And may you walk in God’s peace. Amen.
 Contents
Introduction
Worship
Seeking the Holy, the Sacred 9
Where Two or Three are Gathered 10
Confession and Forgiveness 11
Prayers for Others 12
Remembering Our Baptism 14
Hearing the Word 16
Sharing the Peace 18

Devotions
Am I Really Forgiven? 22
Come to the Waters 24
Coping with Frustration 26
Do Not Worry 28
Don’t Hold Anyone Back 30
God and Money 32
How God Reforms Us 34
Is Seeing Necessary for Believing? 36
It’s Ok to Cry 38
Like a Tree Planted by Water 40
Not “What,” But “Who?” 42
Standing Out From the Crowd 44
What Do We Do When We Doubt? 46
What Does the Cross Mean 48
What is Important Beyond Measure 50
Why Do You Look For the Living 52
Among the Dead?
Who Is My Neighbor? 54
Who is the Greatest? 56
Wilderness 58
Words of Hope 60

Prayers
Morning Prayer 64
New Beginnings 66
An Ordinary Day 67
Tired 68
Giving Thanks for Friends 69
One-sided Friendship 70
Friends Making Bad Decisions 71
When Friends Drift Apart 72
Concern for a Friend Far Away 73
Grateful for My Roommate 74
Roommate Problems 75
Family 76
Family Illness 77
I Wish I Was Dating 78
Giving Thanks for Dating 79
When a Relationship Ends 80
Belonging 81
Body Image 82
Doubt 83
I Don’t Know What to Pray 84
Knowing Right from Wrong 86
Last Night 87
Money 88
My Future 90
Opportunities 92
Service 93
Sickness/Health/Healing 95
Who Am I? 96
Homesick 97
Happy to Go Home! 98
I Dread Going Home 99
Feeling Lonely 100
Grief 102
Jealousy 103
Joy 104
Perpetrating Prejudice 106
Experiencing Prejudice 107
Procrastination 108
Regret 110
Stress 111
Burden to Succeed 113
Success Achieved 114
Getting Homework Done 115
Before a Test 116
When Homework is Difficult 118
Help 119
Failing 120
Natural Disaster 121
Conflict or War 122
Crisis or Disaster 123
The Lord’s Prayer 125
A Guide for Public Prayer 126
Table Prayers 128
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Prayers
Morning Prayer

You have made this day,

Creator God,
and I give you thanks for it.
Each day is a new day with you,
full of uncertainty, hope and possibility.

May my words and actions today

reflect the love and mercy you have for me.
Fill me with strength to meet
today’s challenges and joy for today’s graces.

Bless us all as we go about our day,

trusting that you are with us.
Amen.

64
65
New Beginnings

Be with me, O God.

I am excited and nervous at the same time.
This is the start of something new and I hope it is wonderful,
but it could also be very different from what I have imagined.
If something doesn’t go the way I would like,
help me process it and find new hopes.
Give me courage to move through this day,
to experience it fully,
and to try things even when they seem scary.
When everything around me seems overwhelming,
comfort me with something familiar.
Help me see you as I venture into this new situation.
Amen.

66
An Ordinary Day

God of the great,

God of the ordinary,
today is a perfectly average day.
My best college memories may not be made today!
Yet, you are here.
You are my constant companion.
We journey together through all of life,
even the ordinary.
Help me to recognize your activity in the world,
even in the calm,
the basic,
the unremarkable.
Help me to be grateful for all of life,
even today,
even now.
Amen.

67
Tired

I am tired.
I am exhausted.
My schedule is full
and assignments
weigh heavy on my mind.

Grant me rest, O God.

O God, grant me peace.
Restore me.
When this day is over
and a new day has broken,
bless me with energy
and a renewed sense of purpose.

But for now,

slow my body,
slow my mind,
and let me sleep.

Amen.

68
Giving Thanks for Friends

Loving God, I am so grateful for my friends.

They make being at college feel like home.
I am so happy to have found people who support me
and that I can trust.
Thank you for the laughter, the fun,
the good and bad advice,
the deep conversations.

Continue to build the friendships in my life.

When we have disagreements,
help us work them out with respect and kindness.
Inspire me to be an honest, caring,
and trustworthy friend,
and may all of us nurture each other
in becoming the people you call us to be.
Amen.

69
One-sided Friendship

I love my friends, God, but I am tired

of being the one who is always listening,
who is always leaned on,
who is always there for everyone else.
I feel poured out.
I feel like I do all the giving,
and no one is giving that same care back to me.
I want to continue
to be there for my friends.
I care about them.
But I also need support.

I pray someone will reach out to me.

I pray that I will find a way to share my feelings
with my friends,
because I need them, too.
Amen.

70
Friends Making Bad Decisions

I don’t know
about the decisions some of my friends
are making, O God.
And I don’t know
if I should talk to them about it.
I don’t think
the ways they treat themselves
or others is right.
I worry about their safety.
I wonder how
or if I can help.

God,
I trust in you,
and I come to you for guidance.
Give me courage to speak up if I need to,
or wisdom to give them space if that’s what is right.
Show me how to care for them
and still be the person I want to be.
Surround me with support
to know what to do.
Amen.

71
When Friends Drift Apart

I’m hurt, God, and I turn to you.

Something just isn’t right with my friend.

We used to talk all the time, but now we barely see each other.
When we do talk, it seems awkward,
and not natural, like it used to be.
I feel like we’re drifting apart.
I miss “us.”
I’m not sure we’re going to stay friends.

Help me see a way forward.

If we are going to reconnect, help us laugh together,
enjoy each other, share our lives again.
If we are going in different directions,
help us both heal and move on,
and find other friendships.
Keep us both in your loving care.
Amen.

72
Concern for a Friend Far Away

I am praying for a friend, God.

We have shared so much,
but today my heart is heavy.
I am concerned and I am not sure what to do.
I feel helpless and frustrated.
I wish that we could be together;
just being together has always made us feel better.
We can text,
but it isn’t the same.
You know our hearts.
You know our pain.
Please bring your grace and love into this situation.
Finally, where I may have difficulty
in expressing my thoughts and my feelings,
grant me the wisdom to know how to serve as a long-
distance friend. Amen.

73
Grateful for My Roommate

Thank you, God, for my relationship with my roommate.

We get along so well and have fun together.
We respect each other’s time and space and
have found a way to live together that is so comfortable.

Even when we have disagreements, we can work them out.

I know that no matter what happens to me during the day,
I can come home to a safe space and
to someone who understands me.

My roommate has been a great gift in my life and

I am grateful.
Continue to build our relationship of trust,
caring, and grace.
Amen.

74
Roommate Problems

Holy God,
things are really hard with my roommate right now.
We are not communicating well.
We irritate each other.
I try to compromise but it just doesn’t seem to be working.
We’re too different.
We can’t accommodate each other.

You, O God, are gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Please grant me some of your graciousness,
patience, and forgiveness.
Guide us in how we might work through our problems,
and give us wisdom to know when we might need help.
Send friends to support us,
and fill us with your love.
Amen.

75
Family

You make us to live in community, God.

Today I pray for my family.
Where there is love and affection,
I give you thanks and praise.
Where there is distance and hurt,
I ask for the strength and commitment
to be kind to those whom I love.
We are often the hardest on those
with whom we are the closest.
Where I need to let go,
where I need to forgive;
grant me patience and grace.
Where I need to change my actions
and change my heart;
grant me the courage to grow.
We are also the most silly and
most carefree and
most loving with those to whom we are closest.
Thank you for those times of abundant joy.
Amen.

76
A Family Illness

God, someone that I love is

sick.
I want to help, but I feel
helpless.
When I am in class,
I think that I should be at home.
When I am with friends,
I feel like there is something else,
something better I should be doing with my time.

Let your presence bring some calm to this storm.

Be with the health care professionals
as they perform their gracious work.
Be with my family as we all attempt
to provide love and support.
Where healing is possible,
God, grant that it may be so.

77
I Wish I Was Dating

Loving God, I really want someone to date.

I want to like someone and have them like me,
and then spend time with them!
It sounds easy, but it’s harder than I imagined.
I want that kind of intimacy and affection and excitement
in my life, but it’s not happening.

Give me confidence in myself,

courage to keep trying,
and openness to see new possibilities.
When I am filled with longing,
remind me of your love,
and help me to be grateful for the healthy relationships
I do have in my life.
Amen.

78
Giving Thanks for Dating

I am so happy to be dating, God.

I love spending time with this person and being affectionate.
I love the feeling when we’re together,
that it’s comfortable and exciting at the same time.
I don’t know where this is going,
but I am so grateful to be with this person.

Please guide me,

because even though we enjoy being together
I am not always sure what to do or what to say.
Help me
to express my own needs and desires,
and grant me the ability to listen well.
Inspire me to be considerate, kind, thoughtful,
faithful and honest.
Amen.

79
When a Relationship Ends

Out of the deep, I cry to you, O Lord.

Hear my voice.

I am in such pain.
It hurts so much when a relationship ends,
even when it’s the right thing.

Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to get out of bed.

I want to talk to my friends about it,
but I don’t want to keep saying the same things over and over.
I am sad and I just want to feel better.

I know it will take time.

Show me healthy ways to start moving forward.

Draw near to me, O God,

and bring me your comfort and your peace.
Give me a heart big enough to be gracious to the one who hurt me.
Help me to heal and to rest in your unfailing love.
Amen.

80
Belonging

O God, I thought college would be a place

where I would feel comfortable and accepted.

But I feel like no one really understands

who I am.
Everyone seems to have their own group
except me.
It feels like if you don’t
look a certain way
or act a certain way
that you’re not a part of things.

Remind me that I am
your beloved child.
Give me the confidence to be
the person that I am
and trust that other people
will appreciate and care about me.

Grant me patience and hope

as I continue to seek out relationships and
find a sense of belonging.
Amen.

81
Body Image

O God, is anyone content with how they look?

I never hear anyone talk about how beautiful they are.

Yet I look at others and think they look good, but I don’t.

I don’t see much that I like when I look in the mirror.

I see things I wish I could change.
I don’t want to feel this way.
I want to see myself positively.
I want to feel confident and appreciate my appearance.

Help me see myself, O God, the way you see me.

Help me be happy with this body you have formed and love.
Open my eyes to see my own beauty and worth.
Amen.

82
Doubt

I am filled with questions.

I am filled with doubt.
Why is there so much evil and pain and suffering in the world?
Why do my prayers seem to fall on deaf ears?
Is there any consistency between what I hear in church
and what I learn in my lab?
Are you even real?

I am praying,
God,
and that means that I am seeking,
looking for answers.
I don’t need everything to make sense,
but I do long for a sign of your presence in the world.
Open my eyes and stir my heart
to recognize your grace and love
during my time of confusion
and searching.
Amen.

83
I Don’t Know What to Pray

God of words,
God of silence,
I don’t know what to pray.
I don’t know what to pray,
but I want to connect with you.
So, I open myself to this time and
this place;
read my heart.
You know the struggles
and
you know the joys of the world.
Even if I do not have the words to pray today,
you know your creation.
Grant your peace.
You know my life.
Even if I do not know how
to articulate my thoughts today,
you are my God.
In you I find my strength.

Amen.

84
Knowing Right From Wrong

God of action, I am struggling with my own sense of ethics.

How do I distinguish between right and wrong?
I am not looking for easy answers,
because I know that the complexity of life requires
a complex road map.
And, yet, I want to know where I should draw the line.
How should I act?
Grant me the ability to listen for voices that I trust.
And, grant me the courage to disregard
those that do not have my wellbeing in mind.
Help me to discern what you would have me do.
Help me to ask the hard questions.
Does this build me up or tear me down?
Does this contribute to the health and wholeness of others?
Does this bring joy or sorrow?
Will this lead to regret or hope?
Finally, when I do let myself and others down,
give me the strength to confess and
the openness to receive your forgiveness.

Amen.

86
Last Night

What can I say?

I am embarrassed, God.
I wish that I could take last night back.
I wish that I could hit reset.
I wish that I could erase the past.
You are the source of grace and forgiveness.
Forgive my thoughts and words and deeds.
Where I have hurt or offended others;
sow the seeds of reconciliation.

Finally, help me to extend grace to me;

that I might forgive myself and live today
as a new day,
a day of grace.

Amen.

87
Money

God of all of creation,

I find myself preoccupied with the thought of money.
I think about the money that I do not have.
College is expensive. Life is expensive.
I am worried about the financial burden
that I am placing on myself and my family.

I think about money and my future.

I want to live comfortably,
but I worry that money is becoming my focus, my idol.

Help me, O God, to establish a healthy

relationship with money.
Help me to see that it must play a role in my life,
but must not become the focus or goal of my life.
You are my compass.
Help me to keep my life oriented toward you.

Amen.

88
My Future

O God,
I think about the future all the time.
I wonder what’s ahead for me.
I think about what I might want to do,
where I want to live,
the relationships I want in my life.
Sometimes the answers are clear,
sometimes I’m excited,
but often I am confused
and anxious about what lies ahead.

Help me when my anxiety about my future

prevents me from making decisions.
When I am discouraged, send me support.
When I need advice, send me wise counsel.
When I need to relax, grant me rest.
Surround me with your love,
wherever my future might lead.

Amen.

90
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Opportunities

It’s hard to know

which opportunities to take, O God.
I want to try many things,
to find a path for myself.

Grant me wisdom to discern what to do,

and give me courage to ask those I trust for advice.

Empower me to make choices,

and if they are right, rejoice,
and if they are not, to simply learn from them
and choose something new.

Fill me with a sense of openness

to what you may be calling me to do.

Amen.

92
Service

I want my life to be one of service, God.

Grant me a commitment to my community.
Help me to see the joys and the struggles
of those around me and
open my eyes to see how I might be of service.
Grant me a commitment to love the stranger.
Help me to see beyond the boundaries of my life and
my world and open my heart to those in need.
Finally, where I am hurting and
where there are needs in my life,
open me to the generous service of others.

Amen.

93
Sickness/Health/Healing

Merciful God, I long to feel healthy and whole.

It seems like my body is at war with itself.
It is strange how quickly we forget how awful it feels
to be sick.
Today is awful.
Where I am weary,
grant me strength.
Where I am anxious,
grant me confidence in you.
Where I am tired,
grant me rest.
Where I am lonely and afraid,
grant me peace in your presence.
Amen.

95
Who Am I?

God of grace, I am not sure who I am,

and I’m not sure who I want to be.
My life has changed so much, so fast.
I feel like a new person all the time.

No matter how I am feeling,

remind me that I belong to you,
that the core of my identity
is that you claim me as your child.
Give me a vision for how to live my life rooted in your love,
your generosity, and your forgiveness.

As I am on this journey of discovering who I am,

calm my anxiety, and fill me with joy
and a sense of adventure.

Amen.

96
Homesick

I am homesick, God. I miss my family and my friends.

I miss the comfort that I feel when I am home.
Sometimes it is about the space.
My dorm room seems so small.
But more often, it is about the feeling of connection.
At home, people know me.
I can be myself.
I am supported and loved.

I thank you for the gift of a family and a home.

But I also pray that I may feel at home here on campus.
Help my relationships to grow, to deepen.
Help me to make meaningful connections
with those around me.

I know that you are always with me

and for that I give my thanks.
Amen.

97
Happy to Go Home!

Loving God, I am so excited to go home!

I miss my family,
my room,
my favorite foods,
my pets,
my old friends,
the neighborhood and streets I know so well.
It will feel good to rest,
to do laundry,
to remind myself of where I come from and
how much I value home now that I am away.

Help me be gracious to my family and friends as we all adjust

to how things are different now,
even though some things seem the same.
Surround us with joy and laughter.
Let me soak in all that I love about being home,
while still appreciating that I will leave again.

Amen.

98
I Dread Going Home

I am not looking forward to going home, God.

I love my family, but, I feel like there is so much
I cannot share with them.
Instead of feeling warm and comfortable there, I feel alone.

Give me eyes to see all that my family means to me,

even when things are awkward.
Help me be gracious and try to understand their perspective.
When we don’t get along, grant us space.
As you love and forgive me,
help me to love and forgive them. Amen.

99
Feeling Lonely

God of all, I feel alone.

It seems like no one really knows me.
I can be surrounded by people at lunch
but feel like I am not really connecting.
My family is far away.

Sometimes it feels good to be alone,

but these days, it feels like there’s something wrong.
Lift me out of this hole, God,
and help me look around and see the people who care about me.
Remind me of your abiding presence,
and renew my spirit to initiate relationships,
knowing that you created us to be in community.

Amen.

100
Grief

My world has forever changed, God.

In my loss, I feel lost.
I can’t imagine tomorrow.
All I can think about is today,
and today I feel scared and alone and hopeless.

Everybody else is going on

as if everything is normal.
Sometimes I resent them.
Can’t they see that I am hurting?
Sometimes I am jealous.
I wish that I could forget my pain for a while.

Fill me with the promise of Easter.

Remind me over and over again
that you have power over death;
that your forgiveness and grace
are stronger than my confession and sin,
that your love is stronger than my despair.

In you, I find my strength.

Amen.

102
Jealousy

I wish that I did not feel jealous, O God, but I do.

I look at others and I compare myself.
Sometimes I want to yell, “It isn’t fair!”
Some people seem to get special treatment,
while I feel ignored.
Some people seem to have it all.
But when I look at myself and my life,
I only see what is missing.

Grant me clarity of vision,

that I might more clearly see others and myself.
Help me to release my feelings of resentment
and replace them with peace.
Help me to realize that it is in you
that I will find my deepest sense of worth and meaning.
Amen.

103
Joy

I am happy, O God.
But it is more than that.
I am content.
I feel full of hope and promise and love.
I feel like laughing and talking and sharing
my joy with the world.
I have been around long enough
to know that this feeling isn’t permanent.
That is okay.
Thank you for this moment,
for this overwhelming feeling.
You are my God
and I give you thanks and praise!
Amen.

104
Perpetrating Prejudice

I may not want to say it out loud, God,

but in the privacy of this prayer
I confess my prejudice.
I use categories, labels, values for
everything and everyone.

When I am in class,
when I am walking through Buntrock,
and when I see the people in my hall,
I judge them.

Give me the wisdom and strength

to see every person as your child.
Help me to overcome my feelings of superiority.
Open my eyes to see beauty in all of your creation.

I acknowledge that this will not be easy,

but I open my heart and my mind to this challenge.
Amen.

106
Experiencing Prejudice

Sometimes, God, I get so tired of people judging me.

I get tired of assumptions.
I get angry at wrong things people say,
sometimes when they don’t even know it.
I feel like there are spaces where people both watch
me too much and don’t see me.

I just want it to stop. I deserve to be treated well.

I deserve to be honored for who I am.
You know, O God, all that is in my heart.
I bring it all to you.

Surround me with people who love and value me.

Remind me that I am your beloved, that with you
I always belong, that I am always enough.
Bring an end to the prejudices that harm us,
And lift me up as your child.
Amen.

107
Procrastination

I can’t do it, God.

I know I have work to do,

there are deadlines looming,
I am feeling the pressure, and yet …
I just can’t seem to get it done.
I tell myself there is plenty of time,
I try to get organized, and then,
I put things off.
I want to do better.
But, here I am.

Forgive me my shortcomings.
Help me create new habits so
I feel less stressed.
Give me the strength to move forward
and the insight to set priorities.
Surround me with others who will set good examples
and who will help me use my time well.

Amen.

108
Regret

My regret weighs heavy on my heart, God.

I want to live in the present.
I want to think constructively about my future.
But my past casts a shadow over everything in my life.
Grant me the wisdom to understand
that I cannot change the past.
No matter how much I would like to go back and
do things differently, this is impossible.
Grant me hope.
Help me to see that my past has not left me
without options.
Help me to see that my past will not
inform all of my future relationships.
Help me to see that your resurrection promise
extends even to my life today.
Ground me in your promise of new life.

Amen.

110
Stress

Merciful God,
I have so much to do and
I don’t know how it’s all going to get done.
I feel like I should be able to handle things
– everyone else seems to –
but I am not keeping up.
I don’t sleep or eat well and
I am starting to feel a sense of despair.

I need a deep breath.

Help me get through this.
Instill in me,
even for a few minutes,
a sense of calm.
Give me self-confidence and
determination to keep going.
Send me support and encouragement.
I know you are with me,
and I have hope.
Amen.

111
Burden to Succeed

I
feel
buried
by the burden to succeed.
Some days it feels like a weight on my shoulders
that I can no longer bear.
When I look at other people, I see their successes.
My friends and my family seem preoccupied with making
plans
and setting goals and achievement,
or at least that is how it feels to me.
Grant me rest, God.
I always seem to see things more clearly when I am not so
tired.

Grant me the wisdom to see

that there is no such thing as perfection.
My days will be filled with both large and small
failures and successes.
Help me to find this liberating rather than frightening.
Finally, grant me a healthy understanding of success,
so that I may move forward with confidence and love.
Amen.

113
Success Achieved

I did it!
I worked hard and I succeeded.
But to be honest, God, I am torn.
Part of me is exhausted and surprised
that I am done and that everything went so well.
I had doubts in myself and I still do.
Part of me is confident and happy with my achievement.

Thank you for walking with me during this long journey.

Thank you for gifting me with both perseverance and talent.
But, I did not do this alone.
Open my eyes; that I might recognize
and thank all of those people who have helped
to make my success possible.
I have a tendency to look too quickly at the next challenge.
Help me to live in this moment,
to savor this time.
Tomorrow and all of its tasks will come soon enough.
With a happy and a thankful heart,
I sing your praise.
Amen.

114
Getting Homework Done

God of wisdom, sometimes I can’t wait to work on a paper,

to do the reading, or get into the lab.
Other times, I dread opening a book.
I get frustrated with group projects because
others aren’t putting in the time.
It’s hard to get everything done,
especially when some of it seems like a waste of time.

You have called me here, O God, to be a student.

Continue to nurture me as I learn.
Build up my perseverance for studying when I am uninspired,
and spark my imagination for further study in the work I love.
Help me see how all of it is shaping the person I am becoming.
Amen.

115
Before a Test

I am nervous about this test, God. I always am!

My classes are so important to me. I want to do well.
I feel prepared and yet always want more time to feel ready.

Do not let me be consumed by worry.

Help me bring all that I can to this moment, O God,
and then put this test in perspective.
While it is important, a test is not who I am.
I am a child of God, and my life is defined by
being loved unconditionally and being called to love others.

But, if my nerves start to get the best of me,

center me, O God, in you.
Amen.

116
When Homework is Difficult

I really like what I am learning, God,

but this homework is so hard.
I thought that if I studied something I loved it would be easy,
but it takes much more effort than I realized.
Sometimes I think it means this isn’t what I am meant to do.
Other times I am determined to work hard and
keep pursuing my goals.

When I get frustrated, O God, be with me.

Encourage me to take a break and refocus.
Give me the determination to finish my work,
strengthen me in my vocation as a student and
help me discern which work I truly love to do.
Amen.

118
Help

I know I need help, God, and yet I don’t want to ask for it.
Why is that? Why is it so hard?
I want to do everything on my own,
but deep down I know I can’t.
I need you and other people.

Let me see you in those around me.

Open my heart to let others in.
Remove my stubbornness or my shame.
You have called us to love and serve our neighbors,
and right now I am the neighbor that needs love and service.

When I do reach out,

may I be met with kindness and understanding.
Amen.

119
Failing

I am failing, God.
I am in denial
and I don’t know what to tell others.
But, I know that I am failing.
This situation feels so permanent.
I am not sure how to get out of this hole
and it is hard to imagine future success.
Give me the courage to look for help.
Give me the courage to be honest.
Remind me that there are always options,
even when I feel desperate or alone.
Most importantly,
thank you for being my rock.
I am relying on your strength and your hope.
Amen.

120
In Time of Natural Disaster

Your world,
your creation,
is wondrously made.
But today, God,
we experienced its power and devastation.
The wind, the water,
and the land can be sources of life.
But today,
we experience
that they can also bring despair and death.
Help us to see your presence in the midst of so much cha-
os.
Help us to find your peace
in the midst of so much
confusion and pain.
Where we can help, where we can serve,
grant us a willing spirit with eager hands and feet.
Where we can be generous with our resources,
open us to share.
And always,
give us the strength to pray.
Even when we have no words,
listen to our sighs and silence.

Amen.

121
In Time of Conflict or War

Once again, our world is plagued by warring nations.

O God, it seems that we are designed to fight.
Greed and ill will come so naturally.
Fear and the lust for revenge seem more natural
than the desire to stand as one.

We fight over land.

We fight over religion.
We fight over natural resources.
We simply fight.
We pray for peace among nations.
Work in all hearts a desire
for community and cooperation
that is stronger than any inclination
toward hatred and violence.

Today, I pray especially for all

who are living in fear
and with the threat of harm.
May your good and gracious presence
bring a sense of calm and peace.
Amen.

122
In Time of Crisis or Disaster

Our world is hurting and I feel so helpless, O God.

The terrible events of this day make me feel
weak and vulnerable.
Hear the cries of those who are in pain,
of those who are experiencing loss,
of those who are struggling to find hope.
Where there is anxiety,
grant the peace and reassurance
of your presence.
Grant strength and courage
to all who are called to provide assistance;
that they may serve with resilience and grace.
I too, want to do something, God.
Let this prayer rise like incense,
adding to the prayers of
countless others.
Let this prayer give voice to our
fear and pain.
Let this prayer give voice to our
hope and faith in you.

Amen.

123
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen. 125
 A Guide for Public Prayer
1. There is a difference between the prayers that we offer
in private and those that we offer in public. In our pub-
lic prayers, we attempt to represent the community
gathered in worship. This means that while we lift up
shared experiences, we limit our descriptions of accom-
panying emotions. For example, while we might pray
for the beginning of a new academic year, we do not as-
sign specific emotions to that beginning. Some people
are certainly eager, while others are filled with uncer-
tainty. In contrast, our private prayers are often built
upon our emotional responses to our individual experi-
ences.
Accompany us, O God, as we begin this academic
year.

2. Prayers often take one of two forms. On one hand, we

are free to identify specific prayer petitions and accom-
pany those petitions with specific prayer requests. For
example, we might pray for those who are grieving. In
addition, we might call upon God to grant a sureness of
the resurrection. In contrast, we may identify a specific
prayer petition without a specific accompanying re-
quest. This is often the case when we do not know what
or how to pray, but we do wish to lift up our concern to
the care of God. For example, we might pray for those
living with mental illness. The weight of the prayer

126
concern is great. Therefore, we simply state the concern;
we put the petition in the hands of God.
For those who grieve; grant them a sense of
peace and hope that is grounded in the promise of
the resurrection.
Or,
We pray for those living with mental illness.
3. Prayers ought to reflect the individual who is praying.
Are you poetic? Let the beauty of your words rise up
like incense. Are you succinct? The length of a prayer
says nothing about its weight. Use your words, your
vocabulary, your social location. With this said, it is the
role of a prayer leader to be inclusive. Ask yourself, am I
using my voice to speak for the community gathered?

4. Finally, there are no rules to what must be included in

our prayers. We often pray for the world, for the nation,
for health and wholeness, and for our local community.
With this said, there are times that a single issue domi-
nates our prayer. Regardless of the topic, we always pro-
claim that God is active in our world. Prayer is our op-
portunity to communicate with God. It is our oppor-
tunity to offer our thanks and praise; to lift up our
wants and needs, our hopes and fears. It can be a time of
confession. We ought to feel liberated in our prayer. It is
our time to bring our whole selves to our God who
loves us.

127
 Table Prayers

Sharing a meal is an intimate act. It is often appropriate to use

a short, familiar prayer. Many families begin their meals with
the prayer, “Come Lord Jesus be our guest and let these gifts
to us be blessed. Amen.” There is no reason that these words
must be confined to small family gatherings. The prayers below
are similar prayers for small and large gatherings.

Bless our food, dear God we pray. And bless us, too,
throughout the day. Keep us safe and close to you.
Keep us just in all we do. Amen.

God, bless this food we are about to receive. Give

bread to those who hunger, and hunger for charity
and justice to us who have bread. Amen.

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are

about to receive from thy bounty. Amen

For life and food, for love and friends, for everything
thy goodness sends, almighty God, we thank you.
Amen.

We thank you Lord for generous hearts, for sun and

rainy weather, we thank you Lord for drink and
food and that we are together. Amen.

128
 Words by
Matthew J. Marohl and Katherine E. Fick
Designed by Kristin Kivell
Photo credit: Kristin Kivell, Micah Land ’23,
Eugene Sandel Jr. ’22, Max Clifford’22,
Abbey Keller-Lanser ’23
The printing of this booklet is made possible
by the Joen Mattila Jacobsen ’53
Endowment fund.

2022