It's been a few years...but I have rediscovered this little blog of mine. Though my offerings may be sporadic, hopefully they are a blessing when they need to be. This is a Eucharistic Prayer I wrote a couple of years ago. Feel free to use it, simply acknowledge the author! Thanks.

  Eucharistic Prayer for Healing Liturgy or Service of Anointing

 You came to live among us in Jesus, appearing in such an unexpected way.
You continually surprise us with your love, your mercy, your healing.
 Our lives in this world have been touched by pain violence hatred and evil.
Parts of our minds bodies spirits have been wounded, broken, violated.
In response we have become the silent ones, the ones who hate, those tempted by despair.

 We come to this table you have invited us to opening ourselves to you with trembling hearts, hoping in you despite our sorrow, and singing with those who have gone before us and the entire community of heaven,
 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, whose power is always merciful, Heaven and Earth sing of your greatness. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.  


When you walked amongst us you reached out to touched those of us who were considered untouchable. You ate dinner with those of us considered unclean. You embraced those of us who were forsaken of love. You invited us to sit around the table with you as you did that night with your disciples, during that meal in which healing intermingled with sorrow.

 And on that night despite your own broken heart you took the bread that had been prepared and offered your Father in heaven thanks for the healing nourishment of bread. Then you told your disciples: Take this bread, eat it, be nourished by it and receive the life it brings; when you do so, remember me. After the meal was over you picked up your cup of wine and told your disciples: drink from this cup the fruit of the vine. As it fills you and satisfies you, remember that I am with you always.

 We are so grateful for the invitation to this table, to be fed, to be nourished, to be loved, to be known, to be healed.

 We ask of you Lord, that you would send your Holy Spirit upon the gifts you have placed on this table, filling us with that same Spirit, that we might know your ways amongst us, and be people who live in the healing you alone can bring. And again we sing our song to you, our voices reaching for your heart with our love, God now God forever, One of love, One of wholeness, In this world and the next. Forever astonishing us in unexpected ways. May your Name be forever blessed. Amen.

  Written by The Reverend Ruthanne Ward

Wedding Prayer for Blended Family

The following prayer comes primarily from the prayers of the people in the marriage ceremony found in the Canadian Book of Alternative Services (Anglican Church). It has been adapted to be suitable for a second marriage that includes children. Responses can be added as desired.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being, look graciously upon the world which you have made and for which your son gave his life, and especially on all whom you make to be one flesh in holy marriage. May their lives together be a sacrament of your love to this broken world, so that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy overcome despair.

May name and name so live together that the strength of their love may enrich our common life and become a sign of your faithfulness.

May they be blessed as they, along with their children, (names of children here) build a new home and family life together. May this be a place of truth, security, and love; and their lives an example of concern for others. In all that they face together as a new family, provide for them strength and courage, and spirits of joy and thanksgiving.

May those who have witnessed these vows find their lives strengthened and their loyalties confirmed. And as a community, may we all offer support and encouragement to one another so that all our relationships might be a reflection of your love shown to us through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Praying for Haiti

In preparing my sermon this week, the week of the tragedy in Haiti, I found myself taken by the prayer of Isaiah for Jerusalem in chapter 62 of that book (vs. 1-5). Following is my reworking of that prayer on behalf of the people of Haiti. May we all pray with hope in the promises and love of God.

For Haiti's sake I will not keep silent, and for the sake of the Haitian people I will not rest, until their vindication shines out like the dawn, and their salvation like a burning torch.
2The nations shall see your decency and goodness, and all the World leaders your dignity; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.
3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord.
4You shall no more be termed devestated, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called a Bride of God, for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.
5Your children will commit themselves to you, nation of Haiti, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

(This was an exercise we did during a book discussion group that looked at the person of Jesus and our experience of him in history and in our lives today. The following is an "alpha-poem". You will note that each line begins with a letter that spells out the title.

Walking in the midst of us
Holding each person with care, gently
Out of love and with compassion.
Dancing, laughing, singing
Out loud and loudly.
You lived fully, truly and with vigour. You
Organized disorganized hopefuls,
Understood those misunderstood,
Stood
And waited for those who needed time. Yet
You also pushed
Those who refused to move;
Hated that which betrayed love.
All the world belonged
To God
In your eyes,
And you lived and died reaching out to
Meet that world waiting for your embrace.

Christmas Eve Prayer

This is especially useful with children, but also speaks from a grown-up's heart. As I wrote it I was aware that there are only so many of us that can truly pray it. Let us remember that there are far too many people in this world that cannot pray it for lack basic necessities, let alone money to buy gifts and festive food. Let us pray for their rest as well - the rest of justice and sustenance.

Jesus, our friend we have been so busy getting ready for your birthday: buying presents, decorating our homes, visiting Santa, cooking extra food. It has been a lot of fun, most of the time.

We would like to rest now.
We would like to rest in the celebration of life and light that Christmas is.
We would like to rest in the peace that only you can bring to our lives and to this world.
We would like to rest knowing that you care for us, that you care for the people we love, and that you care for all the world. Your love is awesome.

In the quiet moments of this night, maybe just before we fall asleep, help us to know your loving presence with us on our earthly journey. and as we awake tomorrow, with the song of happiness in our hearts, as we open the presents, eat the food and take pleasure in being together, let us not forget that you are with us. Indeed, you are the guest of honour.
Happy Birthday Jesus.
Amen.

Peace

Peace. I pray for it for every human being - wherever they might find it, in whomever they might find it.

Peace. When unity and diversity lay down together.

Peace. When we can all breath again.

Peace