Prayer of illumination


By our presence here today, O God, we acknowledge you as the one who has created us - and the one who redeems us and sustains us.  We worship you for all the wonderful things you have done.  

We confess our deep and abiding need for your forgiveness to set our lives right, for your wisdom to guide us each day, and for your love to fill our every thought and action.  

Help us this day to remember what is important and to set aside that which is not. As we share ourselves with you through prayer, and as we hear your word and sing your praises, we ask that this time be a blessing to us, and by your grace working in us, result in blessings to others.

Loving God, your grace and your mercy towards all human flesh is so rich and good and all encompassing that we often fail to truly appreciate it.  Your glory is hidden by the very light you shine with - your goodness is concealed by the very blessings that we enjoy from your hand - your power is made invisible by the very strength that you display within our lives.  

Help us to appreciate all that you are doing in us and around this day. Grant that through this hour of worship we might be more firmly grounded in our faith and more able to speak of it and pass it on to those around us.

Open our ears, that we may hear voices of truth; and while the wave notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear. Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!