Gappy days confession

Loving God,

When we look around at each other some days we can see that when you made us you made us in your image. You made us creative and loving and to be in relationship. At our best we are courageous and generous and serving. But some days there are big gaps in between the good things. 

We’re sorry.

We’re sorry when we push ourselves up by pressing down on other people.

When we demand what we think we deserve.

When we want to be the top dog.

We’re sorry when we’re not good sharers

When we hold our ground

When we draw the circle too small or dream too tiny.

We’re sorry when we look in and not out

When we hold on with a vice like grip instead of opening our hands and letting go.

When we want to do things the tightly controlled, take no chances, risk nothing way

And resist the upside-down, topsy-turvy, first-shall-be-last-and-last-shall-be-first, God- way.

Please take our gappy days

And fill them up and make them new with your grace.

We pray this in Jesus’ name

Amen.

 

Adelaide show prayer (written some years ago)

Loving God,

On Wednesday, as you know, I went to the Adelaide Show and I worked in the Red Dove Cafe.
And I worked alongside people who believe in you and live for you.

I worked with people who showed the arthritis in their hands through the pained expression on their face as they made hundreds of scones
and with people with aching backs as they carted hundreds of trays of dirty dishes to the kitchen.
But they did it because they wanted to give, as they've seen you give.

I worked with people who cried as they cut onions
and people who topped up a cup of tea again for a man with one eye who could only pay for his first cup of tea with five cent pieces.
And they did it because they wanted to love as they've seen you love.

I saw neatly dressed, elderly church ladies,
chatting and laughing with tattooed, long haired, hardened side show workers
as they served them bacon and eggs
And they did it because they wanted to listen as they've seen you listening.

I looked out over the crowded dining area and I saw people satisfied with good food
made by loving hands,
People chatting together for an hour over a cuppa in a place of service,
People sitting and resting their tired bodies in a place of rest.
And I saw people stay and stay and stay and then leave and then come back again.

And when I finished my shift I stepped outside into the sideshows.

I walked up and down
And I heard people yelling at me to try my luck while giving them my money.
Loud music was blaring at me and there were signs encouraging me to pay to sit on a ride
and get the thrill of my life.
Excited children carried enormous expensive bags of things that will be eaten or broken tomorrow.
There were a million things to buy to make my life better or easier or to make me more beautiful.

And it all seemed so empty.

Thank you God that sometimes somewhere unexpected we can see in a flash so
clearly how different you are from so many of the things around us.
Suddenly we can see how many good things you give us,
How radical your ways are,
How useful we can be if we place ourselves in your hands.

We praise you because you won't break or ever go away.
We praise you because you love us as we are and not just for what we could be.
We praise you because you are truly good, through and through, and we long for that in our world.
We pray that through us you can continue to bring evidence of your abundant goodness into our world.

Amen

Fathers Day

Thank you God for this morning.
Thank you for the beginning of Spring,
For warmth and light and life bursting forth.

And today is also Father's Day.
Thank you God for fathers.
We know that whatever our experience of our fathers or our own fathering
You are our ever reliable Father
Loving us
Providing for us
Welcoming us when we run to you.
Slow to anger, swift to bless
Picking us up and showing us a wider perspective than just ourselves.

Lord of all creation, of the seasons, of water, earth and sky
And loving Father who knows our every need
We praise you.

Amen