Mother of our hearts,
creator, lover, sustainer,
holy timeless mystery,
we thank you
for this time and those things
that are yet possible and precious in it.
We acknowledge
the opposites of promise and uncertainty
which give fresh shape and form
to our life,
and we seek to embrace them.
We speak our gratitude for daybreak
and beginning again,
for midnight and the touch of angels,
for the taming of demons
in the dance of our dreams.
We offer thanksgiving
for fierce gentleness
which dares to spread the truth in love,
for the sudden gusts of grace
which come unexpectedly
as we move from dawn to dawn,
for all the mysteries of loving
and especially for knowing Jesus
and his ways of being love.
We are grateful
for the beauty of music and silence,
of verse and image,
and for everything that moves us to tears,
to laughter, to dreams, to joy,
to touching and prayer,
for all our longings and for life.
Jesus of Nazareth, our brother,
you sat with disciples and friends
helping them understand the truth of your good news.
Sit with us and show us
the paths to justice and compassion,
to new decisions about the future,
to hope and love.
July 11, 1999