A Winter Prayer
A prayer written and shared in worship at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, February 27, 2022.
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Our Father, Our Mother, Our Creator.
Be near, we pray, as we move through winter, seeking the warmth of your presence and the light of grace in our darkness. Remind us of the gleeful sled down a hill, the magic in a snow angel, the comfort in a mug of hot chocolate, and the rhythm in finding joy in each season, even one as dark and cold as winter.
Oh God of the hibernating animals…
we pray for the church, its members and its mission. Let us huddle together this morning, our community of shelter, a place of warmth in our lives
as we share the flame of hope and connection. We extend our thoughts to all those who are cold this morning, lacking shelter or love to keep them warm. Let us wrap our prayers around them and each other like scarves, and hope for protection in the storm.
Oh God of the gently falling snow…
as each snowflake was created by you in its own unique shape, help us to remember our own gifts of diversity. May we celebrate the magnificent creation inside each of us. Help us to use our skills, our knowledge, our positions in society, and our strength in Christ, as a community of faith, to support our neighbors. Just as the individual snowflakes pile up in great quantities outside our door, remind us of the power in working together for justice.
Oh God of the frozen lakes…
we pray for our leaders. Like the miracle of science that allows water to hold weight in winter, give our leaders the strength to hold the weight of decision making for our communities big and small. May their guidance not cause us to falter and fall but move with freedom and gracefulness. We especially want to pray for the educators in our communities, who after years of challenging burdens in the school community feel the anxious burden of unsteady cracks in their surface. Heal them, restore them, be strong where they are weak, and show us how we can do the same.
Oh God of the bare trees…
we pray for the sick and suffering. It is easy to forget about the springs of life when we feel as lifeless and cold as the deciduous trees outside our window. Be the strong bark of protection around those who ache with pain of body, mind, and soul. Remind them they are firmly rooted in your love, and this will bring them the nourishment they need. Give them rest in their hibernation and restoration for the spring that will come soon.
Oh God of the evergreen trees…
we pray for the departed. Be with those mourning the loss of a loved one that they may find peace in remembering their life and acceptance in letting go. Like the tree masterfully designed in your image to be forever green and alive, remind us of your ever steady presence in the darkest of days. As the branches of an evergreen bends with the weight of snow, teach us to be held by your strength. May the eternal life of the evergreen remind us of your great promise of everlasting life in you.