SCCC - Prayer

A Prayer of Faith, Hope, and Love     Printable Copy

Lord, thank you for today and for the blessings we enjoy today.
We praise you for your goodness and your love.
We ask that you make us into prophets
so that we may defend those who are poor and suffering, and
we may assist those who are the victims of injustice and oppression.
Help us, O Lord, to be a transforming power for our world. 
May we, in and through our small Christian communities, share with one another your Kingdom.
We petition you in the name of Jesus, your son, our loving brother.

Amen. 

Adapted from the words of Oscar Romero, “The Church:  Called to Repentance, Called to Prophesy.” 
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Prayer Upon the Death of a Community Member     Printable Copy
"(insert the loved-one’s name in place of italicized words if you wish)"
Composed by Barbara Darling

Dear God, oh, God
We’re in pain. Recognize our pain.
We’ve lost one of our own and all relationship is now different.

Dear God, oh, God
See our tension. Share our emptiness.
The world is so cold and empty without our friend.

God, find room for us in your loving arms as we embrace one another.
As we gather in the next few weeks to weave our story with yours in faith sharing
remind us to include our friend’s story. Give us the wisdom to see how our own stories have changed because we knew our beautiful friend.

Be our source of comfort as we learn a new way of being a small community of love. Gently caress us with hope, with joy, with patience as we care for one another in this difficult time. Instill our hearts with sensitivity and compassion until your peace fills the hollows of our despair.

Amen.

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Prayer of Gathering and Thanksgiving      Printable Copy
God of pilgrims everywhere we bless You and thank You for the highways of life, the hallways of home, the sources of beauty and adventure, wonderment and questioning which bring us to this place. May the joy of our coming together and the fullness of our hearts prepare us for all that awaits and all that challenges and fills us with hope. Let us truly say “We come….Venimos!”

With great gratitude for life                    “We come…Venimos!”
With amazement for presence of God everywhere         “We come… Venimos!”
With courage to meet what is difficult    “We come… Venimos!”
With conviction to do what is life-giving “We come… Venimos!”
With eyes alert to truth and beauty                    “We come… Venimos!”
With respect for all who seek new vision           “We come… Venimos!”
With hope for a new presence of the Body of Christ “We come… Venimos!”

Prayer of Conclusion
The time has come, dear brothers and sisters, to leave this time together. As we do we ask that God be with us and all who are in need today. We pray as well for the earth and all of her children and for all life on this planet. Blessed and beautiful are you, oh God. May your light be our light this day. Amen

Adapted from the prayers of Buena Vista Convocation 2005 with permission of liturgist, Anna Mae Vagle

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Prayer for After a Discussion     Printable Copy

by Doris Donnelly

We dare to believe, O God,
that there has been purpose in our being together.
for each comment and question offered,
for the risks taken,
for the efforts made to search for truth,
and for the grace extended
when another viewpoint wounded or angered –
for every insight that called us to reconsider
our motives and intentions,
we give you thanks.
Forgive us we pray
for any unwillingness or lack of discipline
that undercut what we might have been
or done together in your name.
May your Spirit
sustain us in our grateful acceptance of Your mercy,
empower us to forgive ourselves and each other,
and provoke a renewed commitment to live as Christ’s body
in your world.  Amen.

Editor’s Notes:  (1)  Reproduced with permission from The Fire of Peace: A Prayer Book, Compiled and edited by Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB and published by Pax Christ USA (1992) pp 61-62. 

(2) Doris Donnelly is a professor of theology at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as director of the university’s Cardinal Suenens Center. Donnelly holds an international reputation in the fields of forgiveness and reconciliation theory.

 (3)  You may want to follow this prayer by sharing the peace of Christ within your SCC.

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Prayer to St. Francis of Assisi     Printable Copy

Brother Francis, when the times were growing cold
God sent you into the world
as  witness to God’s warm love for all.
Intercede for us that our hearts may catch fire
and we may become instruments
of Christ’s peace and healing to the world.  Amen.

Compliments of St. Anthony Messenger Press and Franciscan Communications. 
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