6 July 2025 Prayer for the Deacon + Chaplain + Pastor

You can pray along with Pr. Laura right HERE

God of deep and abiding love, you send me out into the fray so vulnerable, clinging not to anything I own or want. I can’t even cling even to my thinky thoughts, my right thinking, or my righteous indignation. I cling only to you. I cling only to you or I’ll go down with the ship. Because everything else is, well, not you. Not consistent. Not reliable. Not faithful. That’s only you. So I wake today and remember to let go of all the other stuff so that I remember to cling to you as you cling to me. Otherwise I use what I hold onto to lob at the world, willy nilly. And I cause more damage than I would ever intend. Your love makes me vulnerable to those who would seek to undermine your good news. Your love makes me vulnerable to the chaos of the world. And yet, it is your love that sends me. It is your love that sends me to tell others and show others and to even send others. So that there’s a band of us vulnerable people out in your world, showing your love to others by showing how much we need one another. So help me to believe your love does more than I can ever see or even dream. Help me to trust that your love is stronger than any other force. And remind me that the Gospel is the Gospel is the Gospel in the deep contrast of whatever is happening in the world. It will preach and sing and even be consumed today. Your Good News will be eaten today. Because you are faithful and miraculous and wonderous. You are the vulnerable one. You show me how to be vulnerable. And your love utterly amazes me. Help me to know this love first for myself today, so I can share it with my family, with my friends, with my colleagues, and yes, with my parishioners and those I serve.

Oh! Thank you for your love. Steel me for today. Prepare me for today. And send me out, even if I don’t want to go. For you go with me. I know that. I love you. Amen.

Dear Deacon, dear Chaplain, dear Pastor – don’t be afraid, God is with you. And your labor for the Lord is not in vain.