God of abundance
you challenge us to give food to those who hunger:
Help me to feed those
who go without food and drink.

God our Father,
you have given us everything
that we have,
you have made us who we are.
Thank you for the many talents
you have given to each one of us.
Guide us to understand your message,
and help us to be open to the Holy Spirit
and to others.
In your name we pray.

Lord,
strengthen within us the desire
to prepare ourselves for your coming—
so that we may long to welcome you
into our hearts …

Lord, God, Creator of all,
you have loved us into being:
Grace us with love of you.

Creator God and Father,
you are closer to us
than we are to ourselves;
you plant the deepest questions
in our human hearts and minds;
inspire us to struggle honestly with these real questions
and to refuse the false confidence of easy answers.
We ask this through Christ, your living Word,
sent to reawaken your Spirit within us.
Amen.