Consider how prayer can change you and the quality of your life as you listen to the following statements.
LEADER 1: We learn compassion precisely when each of us turns to God in prayer.
LEADER 2: In prayer we begin to discern the right direction to take when we are perplexed.
LEADER 1: Through prayer we receive the courage to accomplish what God, neighbor, and our deepest selves are calling us to do.
LEADER 2: When we pray, we are able to surrender to a higher power one day at a time, accepting whatever comes with gratitude.
LEADER 1: The practice of prayer can teach us true wisdom, the wisdom of compassion, the wisdom of the heart.
LEADER 2: Holy One, help us to recognize those people and parts of our lives that we marginalize. Help us to identify people we find unworthy of respect, lacking in value, and the cause of our fear, indifference, or bigotry.
Take turns, in silence or with words, to acknowledge a person, group, or part of oneself that is difficult to accept or show compassion toward.
LEADER 1: Teach us wisdom of heart, Compassionate God, to embrace others and ourselves in darkest moments and hidden vulnerabilities.
ALL: Help us see those who need a comforting word or helping hand today.
LEADER 2: Take a Band-Aid home as a symbol of Jesus’ call to respond to others in a caring way.
ALL: May we do all we can. Amen.