Three Prayers on vocation
Knowing ourselves and knowing others:
Most merciful God,
for the sake of our salvation your Son took our flesh,
and tore down the walls that separate us;
teach us the way of such giving love,
that rejoicing in our own identities without rancour,
we may gladly know oursleves as citizens
together of your world.
Personal encounter:
Jesus, restorer of people,
who sought the woman out from the crowd
that her healing might be complete;
give us when we are oppressed by loneliness
a sense of our own worth,
a knowledge of your love,
and a word of friendship to lift our spirits.
Following your example, may we seek each other out,
and offer a word that heals.
Faithfulness in our calling:
I strive for success,
when you only call me to faithfulness.
I struggle to be effective,
when you only call me to be loving.
I long for power to make a difference,
when you only call me to be open to you.
Lord, remake by your calling what I deny by my ambition.
From: Hasten the Time: Prayers for Mission by Christopher P Burkett London: USPG (2001)