OPENING PRAYER
May God bless you with discomfort at easy
answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people and the planet that you
might work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer
pain, rejection, hunger, and war that you might reach out
your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to
believe that you can make a difference in the world, that
you can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring
justice, kindness, and the gospel to every corner of
creation, especially among all children and the poor.
Amen.