In worship on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Pastor Grant offered member Konnor Krambeer a special blessing as he departs for 20 weeks of training at the Iowa Department of Public Safety Basic Training Academy in Johnston. Upon graduation, Konnor will serve as a state trooper based in Chickasaw County. In May he graduated from CoeContinue reading “Special Blessing for Konnor Krambeer”
Category Archives: Prayers
When Mother’s Day Is Hard
I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. — Psalm 121 For many of our friends and neighbors, Mother’s Day is not full of flowery, brunch-laden, gift-giving joy. The secular holiday instead stirs — for women andContinue reading “When Mother’s Day Is Hard”
To the Lord Who Heals, an Advent prayer
Along the long, hard slog from slavery in Egypt to freedom through the parted waters of the Red Sea, God provides for the Israelites despite their rebellious nature. That’s precisely what God promises to do. That’s the biblical style of covenant-making: Agreements made by two parties. In the Old Testament book of Exodus, the LordContinue reading “To the Lord Who Heals, an Advent prayer”
‘Weariness Feels Like’
In just a few days, we will experience our annual winter solstice – the shortest day and longest night of the year. This Thursday brings a mere nine hours of daylight and whopping 15 hours of darkness. Our worship this morning is a Service for Our Longest Nights – a time to recognize the darknessContinue reading “‘Weariness Feels Like’”
An Advent Prayer
Here in this place, we have begun our fourth week of Advent. Let this prayer provide warm nourishment for your spiritual hunger as you continue your Advent journey toward Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph. It is adapted from a prayer by the Reverend Sarah (Are) Speed, SanctifiedArt.org God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, I breatheContinue reading “An Advent Prayer”
A Mother’s Day Prayer for All Women
Mother’s Day isn’t a celebration for everyone, and for many people, Mother’s Day can be a particularly painful time of year. That can be true for those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, are estranged from family members, or facing fertility issues, among other circumstances. And the weeks leading up to Mother’s DayContinue reading “A Mother’s Day Prayer for All Women”
‘We Pray for Peace’
The saber-rattling has triggered the guns of war, and so we pray these lyrics by the Reverend Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian hymn-writer: We pray for peace, O God of love and justice,as once again, we face a time of war.The meek and humble try — amid the crisis —to love and build, to nurtureContinue reading “‘We Pray for Peace’”
A Prayer for Mother’s Day
Pastor Grant shared this prayer during worship on Mother’s Day, 2021, to honor and remember all the women who have blessed our lives: Thank you, gracious God, for revealing your love in so many magnificent ways, and this day in particular, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women who haveContinue reading “A Prayer for Mother’s Day”