The following prayers were used at the WBB service on November 1, which focused on Psalm 32 and God as hiding place. Some of the prayers is an adaptation of prayers written by Carrie Bare from “On Prayer: At the Start of New Year.”
God of comfort, you are our hiding place. You know who we are in our inmost parts, You see what is beautiful and what we are ashamed of. You know this world in which we live, from the CN Tower to research labs, from city hall to grocery stores. You know what has wasted away in ourselves and in the world around us, and you do not hide. [Silent and spoken prayers of confession and lament] God of comfort, you are our hiding place. You grant forgiveness and healing, reviving our strength, restoring creation. You provide a safe resting place, may we create places of safety for others. Help us to listen. Help us to notice. May we see your presence. God of comfort, we pray especially for the university. May professors and students be full of grace so that classrooms are conducive to learning, to discovering together what is possible, to being places of joy and hope. You provide a safe resting place, Where there is anything toxic going on in any of the departments, bring wholeness. Bring peace and good will. Help us honour one another as your image bearers. [Silent and spoken prayers for the university] God of comfort, you are our resting place, and we are so often in turmoil. Provide wisdom to those who are struggling, bring peace to those who are anxious, help those who are lonely to find friendships. You are our resting place, and too often our strength is dried up. Refill us with the energy we need to live well. Renew us, restore us, and set us back on good paths, so that we can use our gifts to your glory, to help the university, the church, and our workplaces. [Silent and spoken prayers for wisdom and restoration] God of comfort, Please help us discern what is actually ours to do, and what is not. What you are calling us to do, and what you are not calling us to do. Help us be attentive to your Holy Spirit so that we receive guidance and help and insight, and the courage to do what lies before us. Help us not to over-commit, over-extend and fail to finish well. When we fail, may we know your grace, may we find in you a resting place. May we be surrounded by your steadfast love and find joy in you. Amen.