ELCA Prayer Petitions

A downloadable resource that offers suggested prayer petitions for each day of each month:

www.elca.org/Resources/Prayer-Ventures

 

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Directors are trained companions who walk with others through their spiritual journeys. Directors listen deeply, to you and to God on your behalf, as you make meaning out of the story of your life. Their role is to wonder, question, lament, praise, and pray alongside you in an intentional way.

 

If you’re interested in learning more and/or connecting with a Spiritual Director, please contact Pr. Bristol (who is a trained spiritual director herself and is regularly sees her own director.)

 

Praying in Color

A resource for ways to pray using doodles and drawings: prayingincolor.com

 

Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina

Centuries-old forms of prayer that focus on silence and listening. Finding Grace at the Center: The Beginning of  Centering Prayer by M. Basil Pennington, Thomas Keating and Thomas E. Clarke offers an introduction to the practice. A video on Centering Prayer by Father Thomas Keating can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcc5_R9415Q.

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Walking a Labyrinth

The Latin phrase, solvitur ambulando, “it is solved by walking” is attributed to Augustine. Walking a labyrinths is a physical form of reflective prayer. Here are some labyrinths around St. Paul, MN:

• Carondelet Center at St. Catherine’s University

• The David Barton Community Labyrinth and Reflective Garden at Metro State University

• Global Harmony Labyrinth at Como Park

• Interior Courtyard labyrinth at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

• Labyrinth in the woods at Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church

Or use the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator to find a labyrinth near you.

 

Prayers to try

A simple prayer for forgiveness:

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.

 

A prayer for the end of the day:

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

 

A prayer for guidance:

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us, and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

A prayer for connection with God:

God by in my head, and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes, and in my looking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.

God be in my heart, and in my thinking.

God be at my end, and at my departing.

 

A prayer for strength (by Martin Luther):

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor. I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether. O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you. In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have. I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; you are upright. With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen

 

A prayer of surrender (By Ignatius Loyola):

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me. Amen.