The St. John's Prayer

"Almighty God, source of all that we are and all that we have; we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us and this parish family.  We remember before you this day our patron Saint John.  We ask for the indwelling of your Holy Spirit that like him, we may be a people of courage.  As you work in us and through us;

Let our deeds defend the weak,

Let our words provide comfort and encouragment to the broken,

Let our strength raise up the fallen,

Let our hearts be aflame with your love,

Let our awareness of your prescence keep us open to the stranger among us,

Let us wear as our armor the reconciling love of your Son, Jesus the Christ.

Mercifully help us see beyond the many gifts we have received the one true gift--the abundance of your Incarnate love poured out upon us and for us through your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose Name we pray. Amen."

The Blessing

Be careful as you go into God's creation...for it does not belong to you.  Be gentle with yourself and others...for we are the dwelling place of the Most High.  Be alert and be silent...for God is a whisper.  The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen

by the Rev. G. Thomas Mustard

A Prayer for Children

We pray for children who sneak popsicles before supper, who erase holes in math workborks, who can never find their shoes.  And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, who never 'counted potatoes', who are born places we wouldn't be caught dead, who never go to the circus, who live in an x-rated world. We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions, who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.  And we pray for those who never get dessert, who have no safe blanket to drag behind them, who watch their parents watch them die, who can't find any bread to steal, who don't have any rooms to clean up, whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser, whose monsters are real.  We pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday, who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food, who like ghost stories, who shove dirty clothes under the bed, and never rinse out the tub, who get visits from the tooth fairy, who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool, who squirm in church or temple and scream in the phone, whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.  And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime, who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist, who aren't spoiled by anybody, who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep, who live and move, but have no being.  We pray for children who want to be carried and for those who must be, for those we never give up on and for those who don't get a second chance.  For those we smother...and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.  We pray for all our children.

by Ina J. Hughes.