God of Peace, calm our troubled spirits. Remove the clutter from our lives and light the way to fulfillment of your purposes for us, your children. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.

Our hearts are full of joy as we enter a new season of the year. We are grateful for this time of year when nature dresses in her finest. The harvest is in and the larder is full as we celebrate the plenty that your earth provided for us again this summer. We are reminded that so many do not get to share in the celebration because there larders are empty. Give us a generosity to share our plenty with our sisters and brothers both here and abroad who have so little.

Jesus said, "I came that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly." How can we have an abundant life when those around us have nothing? Jesus showed us that the way to an abundant life is through sharing. Open our hearts and our wallets as we share your abundance with others.

Our hearts are full of sadness when we see what is happening in the world around us. Bring healing and peace into our troubled world. Greed for wealth and power cause us to curse and kill in support of tribalism and nationalism. Thoughtlessness and ignorance stir up racial and ethnic conflict in our towns and schools. Misunderstandings and personality conflicts bring division to our churches. Frustration and need for control bring both physical and emotional abuse into our homes. Bring healing and peace into our troubled lives.

There are some among us whose hearts are broken, whether from sin, tragedy, worry, or illness. Bring wholeness to the one who is suffering from addictions. Bring consolation to the one who has recently suffered loss. Bring peace of mind to the one who is anxious and worried about the future. Bring healing to the one who is suffering physical or mental pain. May each of us be agents of love rather than hurt in that healing process.

We are so grateful to be part of the Body of Christ, not only a place of quiet rest and restoration, but a place of challenge to service. May our gathering be filled with your spirit as we come to worship and adore a God of love. Have mercy upon us even when we fail to live up to the calling that is ours in Christ Jesus. Grant us your peace this day in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray:

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. They kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen."