Prayer Of The Week:

Psalm #46

1 Wars and rumors of wars swirl around us;
corporate strife and struggle engulf us.
Only God stands firm in these shifting sands.
God is our shelter from them; 
God gives us strength to go out into the stresses of each day.
2 We have nothing to fear. 
Though the social order is shaken, 
though our leaders come crashing down, 
3 Though long-honored standards fly at half-mast
and the values we inherited are scorned–
even then, we have nothing to fear. 
4 The comforting presence of God pours over us 
like cool water on a burning beach; 
it makes us glad. 
5 God is with us; 
God is an oasis of peace upon a darkened plain 
6 where ignorant armies clash by night. 
The ambitious leap over each other; 
The emperor stands naked in the cold clear light of innocence. 
They are frozen in their folly.
7 But God is with us; 
God is our sanctuary.
8 See how wonderfully the Lord works! 
Those who would beat others have beaten themselves;
9 Those obsessed with winning wind up as losers; 
Those who think only of themselves find that no one thinks of them at all. 
All their struggles add up to nothing.
10 This is God's word to the warring: "Be still! 
Be still, and know that I – and only I – am God!"
11 In the tumult of the nations, in the torment of the earth, 
God is with us. 
God is our sanctuary. 
Thanks be to God.
From: Everyday Psalms
Wood Lake Books. 
For details, go to www.woodlakebooks.com 

Mother God, Spirit_filled Woman, 

Source of all living things

 it was you who breathed life into us.

In your likeness we were formed.

The darkness of your sacred womb reminds us

of the darkness at creation.

You brought forth order from chaos.

The cycle of life continues, chaos and order, darkness and light.

Your creative energy pulsates through every fibre of our being. 

You birth forth life within us,

as you continue to birth life in creation.

You carry us close to your heart and sing your song of love to us.

You hold us close to you and comfort us.

Cradled in your arms, we are at peace.

You bathe us with life_giving waters, sharing your gifts of love,

compassion, strength and wisdom with us.

Reflected in your eyes is our dignity—our wholeness.

You nurture us and guide us to proclaim

our sacredness as children of God.

You call us forth to image your compassion, love and joy to a

broken world.

Together we dance life’s passionate song.