A Prayer to Action

Pastor Beryl included the following prayer in last Sunday’s service, adapted from the wisdom of Rabbi Jack Reimer. We thought it bore repeating. In the service, it led directly into our prayers for people in our community and in our hearts, and then into the Lord’s Prayer.

Awesome Creator
We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end war
For we know that you have made the world in such a way
That we must find our own path to peace
Within ourselves and with our neighbours 

We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end hunger
For you have already given us the resources
With which to feed the entire world
If we would only use them wisely and unselfishly

We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end prejudice
For you have already given us eyes
With which to see all people
If we would only open them widely

 We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end despair
For you have already given us the power
To clear away inadequate housing and rebuild with hope
If we would only use our power justly

We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end disease
For you have already given us great minds
With which to search for cures and healing
If we would only use them constructively

 So, today, on this first Sunday in Advent
We pray to you instead for strength, determination and will power
To do instead of just pray
To become instead of merely wish

 And, in so doing, we put forth, with conviction,
The names of those who need hope, peace, adequate daily food,
Acceptance, shelter and healing.