PASTORAL PRAYER
JOHN M, BUCHANAN
April 26, 1987, 11:00 a.m. Worship Service

Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago

Almighty and Eternal God, it is difficult not te believe in your
sovereignty and love and amazing creativity on a beautiful morning such as
this, And so, as we come to you in prayer, we Tift our hearts in joyful
praise...

Praise Lo you, great Ged, for the glory of your creation.

Praise to you for the beauty of the world, for the bright blue sky,
and clean air, apd sparkling lake.

Praise to you for your image in us, for the mystery and majesty of our
own humanity.

Praise to you fur your love for the creation ard for us.
Praise and honor and adoration to your preat and eternal God.

And praise to you, Lord God, for thal umazing word which we crowded
inta this place to hear and sing and celebrate last Sunday. We heard it
before, but we were aslonished again - at its simplicity and its power aul
its goodness. We praise you that your dear son rose from his grave and
that death has ne power over us. We praise you for the freedom in which we
are privileged te live, and the unbounded and undying hope with which we
may live into the future. We praise you for the astonishing news of the
Resurrection... yet ~ we da confess that even Chough we are here again, on
another resurrection day, the astonishment is diminished and the joy more
restraiued.., and the hope tempered by the reality which is net always
hopeful.

Help us to remember, bord Gad,... that we live in a world in which a
resurrection has happened... that the battle has been wan, that our Lord
Christ lives and calls us into a future that is his.

We lift up before you joyful hearts ~- and we lift up our concerns for
a world that needs hope this morning...

We bold up before our concern for the world's future... we pray,
earnestly, for peaple in Sri Lanka, and Northern Treland, and India - and
South Africa, and Lebanon... divided by race and religion and ancient
prejudice... We pray for the individuals victimized by violence and we ask
you to remind us, painful as it is, thal each death is an individual, loved
by you, made im your image.

We earnestly pray for the success of the Arms Nepotiations, for a
spirit of realism and trust... We pray for the negotiations - give them

strength and wisdom equal to their task. We pray for President Reagan and
Chitirman Gorbachey for their health and streagth.

And, Lord God, we pray ~ for those whose commitment Lo a future of
peace and justice is impatient and strong: and who make us uncomfortable
with their singularity of purpose. We sense that they express your word -
even when they do nol recognize it... They are in Washinglon today as
your prophets always showed up in the capital... and so, in spite of our
discomfort we ask you to bless them and pretect. Lhem and preserve their
idealism and their gealotlry for the things that make for peace... And we
pray for thase whose responsibilities include dealing with them - with the
police and employees of the Government and the Congress... And help us to
remember, & God. that two weeks ago we celebrated your Son's noisy
demonstration in the capital and that what he did there was disruplive and
offensive ta politicians and priests.

We pray, O Ged, for our city for a mayor newly elected and newly
empowered... Bless him - bless those who contend for him and with him
that in that process © something af your will may be done. Because we
trust in the hope of the resurrection - we pray for the coming of your
Ringdom here - in our city. © God of justice - judge us when we plan a
stadium for our pladiators and can't fix the elevators in the homes of our
poor - @ Gad of Tove ~ bless those who take care of others in our city
smile on those whese labors enhance the humanity of our common Life
musicians and artists - be present in cur hospilals and concert halls and
museums: be present in our caurtrooms and classrooms and churches...

We pray for those whese needs are urgent this day - for those ef our
number who are ill...

And we pray for our selves, confessing our own needs...

You are father and mother to us... You Jove us without condition.
You are behind us and ahead of us and beside us everyday. And you have
shown us that nothing in life, net even our dealh, will separate us from
your love. So we open ourselves to you, 0 God... be with us... give us
gifts we need to be whole people - to live honestly and compassionately
with brothers and sisters and ta be Faithful to you as long ws we tive.

Hear us now - as we join our volees with your people all over the
world and your people in Lhe past - praying words you taught your
disciples, saying