Prayer for the People
7.9.2017 8 am service
Elizabeth Chapman
I was inspired to write down the lyrics of a hymn that spoke to me about
how God’s grace can help us find peace in troubling times. The hymn is
entitled “Come and Find the Quiet Center”. The lyrics were written by
Shirley Elena Murray. Shirley was born in New Zealand in 1931 and her
hymns have been translated into many languages and have appeared in
140 hymn collections. Full disclosure, I did change one or two words of
Shirley’s lyrics to more clearly express today’s messages.
Please enter into prayer with me:
Let us come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter, be at peace, simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat, and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.
In the spirit, let us travel, open to each others’ pain,
let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
let God’s grace your burdens share.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.