Meditation/prayer based on Mark 6: 30-44

Almighty and everlasting God, 

You whose love sustains us in all things, and is with us in worship this morning.

We gather here together to worship you and to give thanks for Your constant presence in our lives.  We come to be spiritually restored from our hectic lives. For we face so many challenges of everyday living, the blocks that get in the way, those obstacles to our opening our lives more fully to you.  The constant beeping of phones, and machines, and video messages that assault our senses keeps us from one another and our connection to you.  

For we know that Your everlasting abundance is there for us when we but turn our eyes towards You.  As you have fed thousands with a few fish and loaves of bread those many years ago, so you are there to feed us in our search for meaning in a world of endless and complex choices.  Your spirit lifts us, your face blesses us and your mercy heals us. We find that our faith in You gives us strength to carry on in the face of adversity, is a strong arm helping us across the way, and that your constant presence restores our souls.  Each of us takes time this morning to reach out to you, and restore our connection to your divine message.

Help us in our renewed awareness of Your life here with us, that we may turn our hearts towards them.  May we remember those whose situation has been changed by recent events.  These your children could have been persons in our community, those in mission in far away places, those seated here in this congregation this morning.  Help us to reach out in spirit in our prayers this morning, as well as in our actions.  Bring to our attention the needs of those who are ill, whether at home or in hospitals or nursing homes, that we may bring your healing touch to those in need.  Help us to see the needs of those who are lost, confused or overwhelmed in this world of too many choices.  Grant that we might support those ministries for those who are homeless, or hungry, in imprisoned.  And give us voice to speak to those issues in public that require our speaking out in your Name.  

For it is in our actions that we learn and grow in our faith, and move closer to You in all things.  As we have heard from the stories of Jesus, who showed us how to live a life of faith as he walked the shores of Galilee, so we will follow His example in shaping our lives.