Every week Dan Hearty, our Choral Director, gathers with the choir, and when we have settled in for the evening, we pause and he leads us in prayer. What follows are the prayers he has written for the day. May they be a blessing to you.
February 11, 2010
Dear Lord,
A song in our hearts brings us here to your house,
love in our hearts brings us back to these friends.
Sometimes a Thursday can be a discouraging thing,
a stretch of time perhaps more to be endured than enjoyed,
and the thought of leaving home's haven
to venture out on a cold wonter evening can be unappealing.
What a joyous surprise it is, then, each week,
to find that these friends are true,
that music still sings in our hearts,
and that the evening's journey, perhaps reluctantly taken,
has been wholly worthwhile.
We journey in your love, Lord,
and your song in our hearts brings us joy.
Amen.
February 17th, 2011
Dear Lord,
All of us on this world of yours live our lives from day to day,
and those lives have a common thread: they are sustained by
hope. We all share this gift; we all hope that our lives will
change, or that they will stay the same; that our health will
improve or that it will grow no worse. We hope that people
will grow wiser, and that peace will finally settle on the world.
We hope for small things: that our day tomorrow will be a
good one, or that the rehearsal won’t be too long. Whatever
we hope for, Lord, we are grateful for the gift that you have
given us: the ability to imagine a better life, a better world.
Grant us, Lord, the strength to make some of our hopes reality.
We pray in Jesus’ name,
Amen
February 24th 2011
(Written on the bus home)
Dear Lord,
We are grateful for may things: a beautiful day, friends old and new, our family's love, a worrisome event that has turned out well. These things and so many more remind us that although an approaching day may seem daunting, it usually comes out well. We may move towards the future with trepidation, hesitantly eyeing the horizon, but with your help, Lord, all is well. Our lives are a bit like that: as we drift inexorably towards as uncertain future, balancing the fear is the knowledge that You accompany us at the beginning, on the long and wondrous journey, and when it is time to rest. We thank you and praise you, Lord, for all your blessings. Amen
March 3rd, 2011
Dear Lord,
We gather here tonight on holy ground, in your house. We gather here because You call us; the gifts that You have given us bring us together in order that Your word might be proclaimed in music, and the thought brings us comfort. The singing, the music, the whole wondrous ediface of harmony that reflects heaven on earth, brings us joy. We don't sing simply becuase we're happy Lord; we are happy because we sing. We are grateful for your gift of music, and all the benefits it brings to our lives; help us, we pray, to be true to Your way. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
February 24th 2011
(Written on the bus home)
Dear Lord,
We are grateful for may things: a beautiful day, friends old and new, our family's love, a worrisome event that has turned out well. These things and so many more remind us that although an approaching day may seem daunting, it usually comes out well. We may move towards the future with trepidation, hesitantly eyeing the horizon, but with your help, Lord, all is well. Our lives are a bit like that: as we drift inexorably towards as uncertain future, balancing the fear is the knowledge that You accompany us at the beginning, on the long and wondrous journey, and when it is time to rest. We thank you and praise you, Lord, for all your blessings. Amen
March 3rd, 2011
Dear Lord,
We gather here tonight on holy ground, in your house. We gather here because You call us; the gifts that You have given us bring us together in order that Your word might be proclaimed in music, and the thought brings us comfort. The singing, the music, the whole wondrous ediface of harmony that reflects heaven on earth, brings us joy. We don't sing simply becuase we're happy Lord; we are happy because we sing. We are grateful for your gift of music, and all the benefits it brings to our lives; help us, we pray, to be true to Your way. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
March 10th, 2011
Dear Lord,
Although sometimes we might forget it, we know that we are lucky to have the lives that we do. We are fortunate that we have friends and family who love us, and jobs and places to be. We have homes to return to, warm places that we can call our own, and in all these ways we are truly blessed.
Just as we should count our blessings, so we should remember that there are many souls in our city and province who have few or none of these blessings: homeless, jobless, perhaps with little purpose in their lives, these people are in need of understanding and help. We pray that You be with them tonight and always, Lord, and give them guidance. Also, help us to appreciate what we have and to remember that it all comes from You. We pray in Jesus’ name,
Amen
