Come Out of Your Shell

Burst, sunflower!
September, and the field still full of golden-yellow wonder.

Bits of sunlight linger in petals, gentle reminder of blazing orb
.
Black-seeded center absorbing light, its dark energy an overpowering attraction.
Magnificent proportion and massive presence call out.



Creatures approach you in awe.
You linger, shy wonder, in a momentary home.


Come out of your shell, sunflower!
More awaits than you've ever imagined!



Amen.

Sharing

Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness.
You pray for me in accordance with the mind of God.

While rejoicing in hope and patient in suffering,
grace me, God, to persevere in prayer.

Help me to pray as your Son prayed,
that your name be held holy.

In cheerfulness, I sing songs of praise,
in sickness, I pray the prayer of anointing,
praying with faith and for one another.
The prayer of the righteous is powerful.

All your creation, God, is good.
Let me receive with thanksgiving,
for all is sanctified by your word.
Be with me in my prayer.

Devoting myself to the word and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

If we ask, it will be given to us.
In searching we will find.
Knocking will open the door for us
—all in Jesus' name.

I pray, God, that your word may spread,
that everywhere you may be glorified.

May my p! rayer and alms ascend before you
and may the prayers of many bring blessings.

Sharing

God, in sharing with us your glory through Jesus,
may we be one as you and he are one.

Deepen in me the grace of Jesus,
your own love and the communion of your Spirit.

Keep me from the corruption that is in the world,
as I become a participant in your divine nature.

Make me eager to share what I have.
Such sacrifices are pleasing to you.

Let me see my sharing as truly a privilege,
grateful for everything as a gift.

I want to become all things to all people,
for the sake of the Gospel
and to share in its blessings.

In the blood of Jesus we share.
We share in the body of Christ.
One bread, one body, in Eucharist we partake.

If I have died with Jesus, I shall also live with him,
and if I endure I will reign to share in his resurrection.

Bring me to know Christ and the power of his rising,
to share in his sufferings, to become like him in his death.

I pray the sharing of my faith b! e effective,
knowing all the good I may do for Christ.

Prayer of Praise

I praise you for the life that stirs within me
I praise you for the bright and beautiful world into which I go;
I praise you for the earth and sea and sky,
for scudding cloud and singing bird;
I praise you for the work thou hast given me to do;
I praise you for all that thou hast given me to fill my leisure hours;
I praise you for my friends;
I praise you for music and books
and good company and all pure pleasures.

Prayer for Caretakers

Catherine McAuley, Spirit-gifted,
Your arms open wide for mercy,
Strengthen our weary arms.
Pray for us when spirits sag.

Saint Brigid, patroness of holy wells,
Open to caretakers wells of fresh water.
Saint Brigid, spirited fire keeper,
Tend the Spirit's flame in our hearts.

Holy Spirit, Consoler and Sustainer,
Buoy up all caretakers on the rough seas of suffering.
Great enabling Spirit, take care of caretakers.

Give us energy to stand by as long as we can,
And then to let go of our loved ones to others' care
When we are depleted and cannot do our best.

Holy Spirit, you care for us!
Holy Parent, you shelter us!
Holy Son, you shepherd us!

The Hour of Lauds

Cell phones, podcasts, blogs,
websites, podcats, networks,
uploading, downloading,
broadcasting, forecasting.

Outsourcing, insourcing,
software, hardware,
instant messaging, email, spam,
Amazon, eBay, Google, Yahoo.

Words. Words. Words.
"Rush! Compete! Strive!"
Breaking through the din:
your Words of Life!

To whom can we go?
You speak the words:
"Alpha! Omega!
Kingdom! Salvation!"

Grateful for your connection,
I offer up to you today
my prayer—my GPS—
lofted up above the heavens.