God of wonder & mystery—
God beyond all praising—
you have gathered us from near & far,
summoning us away from family & friends,
homework & chores, dinner preparations & late afternoon naps.
Infuse this time & place with your presence,
set our hearts ablaze within us
that we might know we are on holy ground.
As we install a new pastor in this place,
set the hairs on the back of our necks tingling,
that we might remember that we too are called & chosen by you.
Invest our words with meaning & lodge them in our hearts
that they might shape who we are becoming.
Forgive us for the ways in which we have
failed to find faith in you;
free us from feelings of apathy &
invoke in our imaginations
visions of what could be.
Above all, remind us,
again & again,
that we are your beloved children:
called & created by you,
forgiven & freed by you,
summoned & surprised by you.
Yours is the light that shines in the darkness,
showing us the way & yours is the voice we follow,
lifting our own voices as we join together
in the prayer you taught saying,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
they kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
& forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
& lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
& the power, & the glory,
forever.
Amen.
