April 2026

O Spirit who illuminates our hearts and enables us to see,
May we be transformed in your grace.

O Father who called light to shine in darkness,
Shine on us and show us your ways. 

O Christ who came to be the light of the world,
Shine through us, that all may see your light. 

We come to you from a society in the shadows of confusion, anxiety, and distrust. We confess our need for you and ask you to be our light. 

Lord, our hearts break continually as we hear more stories of mass shootings across the country and in our own region. We ask you to care for the bereaved and heal our broken nation. 

Lord, have mercy. 

As war continues in Iran, we feel the anxiety of economic instability and a conflict that feels irreconcilable. We ask you to bring peace, to spare life, and to give our leaders grace and wisdom. 

Lord, have mercy. 

As fighting continues in Gaza and the West Bank, we pray for peace—somehow, miraculously—and we ask you to protect and care for the many Israeli and Palestinian civilians who are suffering. 

Lord, have mercy. 

As conflict continues over the best response to immigrants and refugees in the U.S. and around the world, we ask you for grace. May our hearts remain soft to those in need and may we view our opponents with love. Grant peace and provision to those who are displaced. 

Lord, hear our prayer. 

As we experience a new era of space exploration, our hearts cry out in awe with King David: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” We praise you for the beauty and grandeur of the universe you created. 

To God be the glory. 

Here in our midst, we thank you for the way you have been at work, specifically in the softening of hearts that we experienced in our men’s and women’s retreats. We ask you to continue your work of forming us into your image. 

Lord, hear our prayer. 

We pray for those members of our church family who are sick, suffering, or experiencing financial strain. We ask you to be their very present help in time of need.

Lord, hear our prayer.

In all things we offer ourselves to you and ask that you make us more attentive to who you are, to what you’re doing within us, and to how you’re working around us. Empower us to boldly follow the Spirit’s leading. 

Amen.