26 October 2025 Prayer for the Pastor + Chaplain + Deacon

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The constant change is really something, God. I know you made me and all of creation that way, but sometimes I need a minute for things to just be and feel, you know, THE SAME. Boring even. Ho-hum. I’d like to just be whelmed, God. Not overwhelmed, not underwhelmed. Just whelmed. And yet, I know that it is in the middle of the unknown, in the middle of a season I don’t want to re-live, even in the middle of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day – well, you are there! And, it turns out, you work so well with all that craptastic stuff of my life. Turns out that deep and lasting things happen to my life to change me, to make and re-make me. This call, this life I say yes to over and over again, it has me walking to the beat of your drum, not my own. Your promises and the way you interfere with my life certainly leads me to challenging the sides of the box we call church. And sometimes, well, I loathe the box. And sometimes, I complain at you when I’m anywhere but fitting into what everyone else seems to call normal. I know this is nothing new to you, but I just have to ask you again to not give up on me when I resist your ways and head off in my own direction once again. I know nothing surprises you, but your love and faithfulness to me continues to surprise and delight me. You’re too busy loving me to count my missteps. You’re loving me into who you have made me to be – someone I might not even recognize in the rear view mirror.  You’re just that good. Thank you, God.

You work such beautiful miracles in my family. Thank you for the love we share because of you, even in the middle of bad days. I pray for my colleagues across the ELCA, southern Minnesota, and especially my fellow CGP-ers. Today especially I pray for the miracle of healing for Ben Hilding and Dale Degner; for your healing, comfort and peace for Nissa Peterson’s Grandpa Roger; and for those celebrating the life and grieving the death of loved ones – Scott Richard’s dad and Becca Krogstad’s mom.

I know you are unshakeably good, God. And you made me that way, too. Wow. I love you. Amen.

Oh dear Child of God! Don’t lose heart. Don’t be afraid – God is with you.

If you have a prayer request for the CGP prayers, please email Laura at: aase@gustavus.edu. It can be as specific or as vague as you request.