Dear Spirit of Peace and Presence, you who gather us in silence and in song, In meeting rooms and sanctuaries, in homes and on screens— We offer this prayer for all places of worship, And especially for the Champaign-Urbana Society of Friends, As they prepare to enter another sacred rhythm of community.
Bless the voices that will rise in hymn at 10:00 AM, May their melodies knit hearts together in joy and reverence, And may the commons become a space of welcome and warmth.
As the formal meeting for worship begins at 10:30 AM, We ask that Your Spirit move gently among those gathered— In the quiet, in the waiting, in the words spoken from the heart. May those in person and those joining via Zoom Feel equally held in Your presence, And may each message shared be a thread in the tapestry of grace.
At 11:30 AM, as names are spoken and announcements shared, Let introductions be more than formality— Let them be invitations to deeper connection, To belonging, to mutual care, to the joy of being known.
We lift up the children and young learners, As First Day School pauses for the summer. May their days be filled with wonder and rest, And may their return on September 7th be met with open arms and renewed joy.
We give thanks for the fellowship that follows worship, For the simple grace of refreshments and conversation, For the laughter, the listening, the lingering presence of love.
And as the week unfolds, May every gathering—whether in a chapel, a mosque, a temple, or a meetinghouse— Be a sanctuary of peace, A place where wounds are tended, Where truth is spoken gently, And where the Divine is felt in every breath.
Bless our endeavors with divine success, And may we walk forward with unity, purpose, and grace.
May peace prevail. Amen 💕✌️🙏
Whispers of Grace 