A Prayer

O Lord God, you are great, holy, and exalted above us and above all humankind.  And now you show your greatness by not forgetting us or deserting us, and, in spirit of all that condemns us, by not rejecting us.  You have given us your dear Son, Jesus Christ, nothing less than your own self and all that is yours.  We thank you for the privilege of being guests at the table prepared for us by your grace for al long as we live and even for all eternity.

We bring before you now all that troubles us: our failings, errors, and exaggerations, our tribulations and sorrows, and also our rebelliousness and bitterness--our whole life and our whole heart, which you know better than we know it ourselves.  We place all this in the faithful hands which you have stretched out to us in our Savior.  Take us as we are; raise up those who are weak, enrich from your fullness those who are poor.

And let your companionship illumine our families and all those who are captive or who suffer need or are sick or near death.  Give to those who judge, the spirit of righteousness; and to those who rule in this world, a measure of your wisdom to guide them to peace on earth.  Give insight and courage to those who at home or as missionaries abroad proclaim your word.

--Karl Barth