A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 4 NT

1 Corinthians 13

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are impatient lovers

We want our love to be rewarded

our love to be acknowledged

welcomed

make a difference

Teach us patient love

that bears a cross

Love without strings

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are selfish lovers

We want our love to the best

Love that shows how good we are

Trumpets our accomplishments

Puts us in the best light

Show us love that is invisible

Leaves no trace

Expects no reward

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are controlling lovers

We expect our love to defeat every obstacle

Overcome others' resistance

Meet our objectives

Overwhelm our enemies

Help us to love without expectations

Often rejected

Love because we should love

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are mistrusting lovers

We doubt we are loved

the way we love

not appreciated

cared for

respected

Teach us to love humbly

invisibly

simply

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are cowardly lovers

We are afraid to love

Unwilling to love with our whole selves

holding back

unsure of the consequences

Empower us to love with abandon

Freely

Wholly

Completely

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

Amen