Prayer 

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence

during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon. 

Thank you for your presence

during the bright and sunny days,

for then we can share that which we have

with those who have less. 

And thank you for your presence

during the Holy Days, for then we are able

To celebrate you and our families

And our friends. 

For those who have no voice,

we ask you to speak. 

For those who feel unworthy,

we ask you to pour your love out

in waterfalls of tenderness. 

For those who live in pain,

we ask you to bathe them

in the river of your healing. 

For those who are lonely, we ask

you to keep them company. 

For those who are depressed,

We ask you to shower upon them

The light of hope. 

Dear Creator, You, the borderless

sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the

world that which we need most-Peace. 

Maya Angelou

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.  

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

Five Finger Prayer

A Handy Guide

1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.  They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.  Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion.  They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify.  It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.  They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5 .Our little finger comes last, the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others.  As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.