A PRAYER FOR THE TWELTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Genesis 15:1-18 (NRSV)

15 1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the Lord; and The Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

We have so little faith

that you will give us what we need

Yet every morning we rise

we are blessedly beyond our dreams

We worry that our cupboards will be bare

and have little to eat

Yet you provide from the bounty of your creation

so we may be nurtured and fed

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

We wish to be loved and cherished

so that we will not be lonely

You give us family and friends

to care and loves us

We hope for success and achievement

to leave a footprint in our life

You give us hands to build

and minds to be creative

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

You give us your Son

Jesus the Christ

Who shows us how to live

and rose to give us life eternal

You give us Your Spirit

who dwells within us

to guide and direct us

refresh and renew us

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

Amen