Prayer for a Wounded Church

You make life lovely, Lord.
Autumn leaves prove your artistic genius.
Glorious mountains testify as your lasting structures.

Strangers feeding strangers
Proclaim your merciful love.
Where you create, Lord,
You make life so lovely.

In this time of brokenness in our church,
Lord, please do your work.
Intercede where we may be wrong.
Increase where we may be in your will.

Take our church and make it lovely, Lord.
Bring spring where limbs are barren.
Make butterflies where caterpillars crawl.
Show hope where there are tears.
Make us lovely, Lord!

In Jesus' name, Amen.

About the Author: Ciona Rouse is a freelance writer for United Methodist News Service and a former staff member of the Discipleship Ministries, Nashville, TN. This prayer was written several days after Judicial Decision 1032.

Copyright © 2005 Ciona Rouse. Posted with permission. Any local church or church agency may use this prayer for worship or educational purposes as long as the following copyright permission notice is printed: "Copyright © 2005 Ciona Rouse. Reprinted with permission."