A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for June 22, 2020

June 22, 2020

A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis

During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week.

You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.

Today’s prayer

“A New World Coming”
There’s a new world coming
and it asks for only hearts to be open
to feel the beat of life stirring from the
ashes of today’s failures.

There’s a new world coming
and it asks only for eyes that can see
where love is being born
in the lives of persons newly freed.

There’s a new world coming
and it asks only for ears to hear
the beat of music now played to a
new harmony born of all who are living in peace.

There’s a new world coming
so don’t stand in the way.
Come and join the flow of people who can live a
new style and learn to sing songs just written 
and dance to tunes to come.
- Richard L. Cookson
Ever-present and Ever-loving God, our prayer is but a response to your ceaseless outpouring of love. Through the grandeur and beauty of every living thing, we contemplate you as the author of creation. We praise your name together, and let all who hear be glad.
Help us to see your love for all people, so that we may become more loving ourselves. Enable us to see that our silence in the face of injustice, lowers our dignity; and punishes our self-esteem. When our voice is choked with fear, give us courage to say those things we hold in our hearts. May a deep-felt summons bid us to speak, as we voice our very souls.  Help us to be more understanding of human weakness, for we know that through the power of Christ, all things will be made equal.
Empower us to look to the future with confidence and hope. May we find our sense of calling and purpose as we go about our daily tasks and strive to serve you better in this world. And may we dare a quest for a new day that we hardly dream of now. Strengthen us O God, as we strive to walk paths integrity. Let us be messengers of truth not only to what we say, but also by how we live. Guide us that we may be faithful to your intention, and preserve us in peace. It is in the same spirit that we believe embodied the life of Christ, that we offer this prayer. Amen
Rev. Dr. David V. Calhoun, District Superintendent Connecticut/Western Massachusetts
Genesis 21:8-21; Ps 86:1-10, 16-17; Matthew 10:24-39