Given by J. Mundt
on Sunday, February 10
God, we are gathered on this mid-winter Sunday morning
To pray for our lives and the lives of others.
We pray for hope, love, and peace.
We pray for success, accomplishment, and strength.
But most of all, we pray for happiness.
So frequently in today’s world do we find ourselves
Caught up in small details,
That we often compromise our ability to see the “big picture.”
We all strive to be happy, yet too often we get in our own way.
One single event can burden us so greatly that we lose
Track of our greater goal in life.
So today, let us think and pray on a broader spectrum than normal.
Let us put aside the “why?” and the “how?”, if only for a short time,
And let us live life and allow that idealistic joy to come to us.
Happiness is all around us, we must simply take it in.
Amen.
Given by L. H. Ory
on Sunday, February 17
Dear Heavenly Spirit, God of all things in the universe,
We come together to let our souls speak through music. If we are happy, let us sing joyfully. If we are sad, let us sing mournfully. But let us sing out because we are alive and blessed to be together in this place where we can share the stirrings of our souls.
And if we feel our voices are small, or imperfect, or can't sing at all, let us release ourselves from fear, open our ears to those sounds that may call to us.
Breath resonating deep inside our chest, bring us healing tones that give us rest. (Sing) Ommmmmmmm….. Laaaaaaaaaaaa……. Hosannah….
As our voices blend together, may they bind us to each other. Woven into community like melodious strains of harmony.
Above us, behind us, all around us, let us feel the embrace of our neighbors' spirit, brought to life through hymns we sing in honor of our precious earth, our humble hearts, and the Great Spirit who guides us.
We pray that as we lift our voices in song, we may receive the blessings that come along.
And as we return to our daily lives, let us carry with us a melody to keep our hearts lifted throughout the week.
In honor of all that is holy we pray.
Amen.
Given by J. Mundt
on Sunday, February 24
Dear Lord,
On this final Sunday of February
We look towards March – a month of change.
It is said that March comes “In like a lion and out like a lamb.”
This idea of embodying both harshness and placidity applies not only to
The changing of the seasons and weather
But also to all of life’s endeavors.
On many occasions interactions with others and with ourselves
Are influenced by an overbearing aggression or a meager calmness.
Consequently our actions produce an unfavorable result
Due to an inability to incorporate both forwardness and reservation.
Let us not be overly audacious in our undertakings,
For certainly this leads to an undesired rashness in our decisions.
Also give us the power to be bold enough to avoid submission
And the resulting indecision and self-doubt.
Thus let us find within ourselves the ability
To treat all of our encounters in life with a moderation
In action and thought.
Let us express both the lion and the lamb
That exist in us, whether they are active or hibernating,
For together they can help usher in a new season in our lives
As they already do in nature.
Amen.