God, 

We’re halfway through this year. We have lots of stories about 2020.
What more could happen? What will be the next thing?
We want to be hopeful.
Some of us anticipate the worst.
For some of us, it’s our job. For some of us, it’s our personality. 

I ask that you will help us today to anticipate you. 
To listen for your whispers of peace.
To look for your fingerprints in the opportunities around us. 
To accept your words of comfort and encouragement. 
To offer our hands as yours. 
To know that your mercies are new each morning. 

We ask through Christ our Lord. 

Amen

+++

God.

As chaplains, we remember to weep with those who weep.
But some of us are not as good at rejoicing with those who rejoice.
And each day with our coworkers, we see many opportunities to rejoice.

We watch people figure things out.
We watch people care for messy things.
We hear people find the right words.
We see people day after day in simple ways offer excellent care.

In the middle of difficulty, we can rejoice in good work, in diligent use of the skills and experience you have given.

Help us, God, to help each other see reasons to rejoice.
Even as we pray together right now.

Amen.

+++

God,

Some days, we simply aren’t sure.
We’re not sure our contribution matters.
We’re not sure our skills are enough.
We’re not sure we’ll have what we need for the conversations and the procedures and the challenges and the uncertainty in front of us.

But we are doing work that matters.
God, we’ve got responsibility for the care of the people in front of us. And we have the opportunity to serve everyone they, and we, are connected to.

Give us a wisdom that goes beyond our training.
Give us compassion that goes beyond emotions.
Give us courage that goes beyond bravado.
Give us peace that passes understanding.
Give us today what we need for today.
Bless the work of our heads and hands and hearts.

And at the end of whatever our day is,
give us rest.

Amen.

+++

Our hospital system created a short daily video for our coworkers during the last few months. With many working from home, and with the changes and risk we were facing (and still do), some stories of coworkers and a daily prayer from a chaplain became an encouraging time. These prayers are from those sessions.

And if written prayers help you think, please check out my book, “God. We Need You.” It’s a year’s worth of Sunday prayers that start, as you might suspect, with “God.” I’d love for you to take a look at it and buy it if it looks helpful.