Writ & Whimsy

Lord, thank you for the beauty of this neighborhood
For the trees and flowers
That adorn this place – our temporary home.
Let us remember our true journey 
as we tread the steps that bring us 
Out of our houses and into the path of opportunity.

O, Lord, you are the God who sees
Each family and person enclosed within each home, 
Each brick and stone and timber is known to you
And each joy and tear, and need.
Let us see each person in this place
With eyes that see creation’s good

By your grace prepare and ready us
to anticipate the faces of our neighbors 
That you in your provision have ordained 
to inhabit this place, in this season
and to greet them with joy 
and welcome.

O, Lord, you are the God who is with us.
Not remaining distant and unseen,
but taking on humanity,
getting your hands dirty,
coming into a time and place – 
a neighborhood.

Prepare our hands to serve,
that by our service doors would be opened 
into homes and into hearts,
and gifts of food and friendship
and words of grace and truth
would enter in.

Lord, you are the God who hears this prayer,
and every longing of each heart.
You hear each peal of laughter and each tear
of neighbors, whether bound together
or holding back.

Perfect in us your love,
that it would spill forth abundantly.
Embolden us to freely extend
an invitation to the life and healing 
that is only found in you.