Prayer Offered for September 5, 2019

Gracious and loving God of mercy,

as we face the challenges of these times, we desire to speak words of comfort to our suffering world

we stand as keepers of the door of mercy, attuned, disposed.

We will hold the door ajar

for the desperate and the disruptive,

the stray, the strange,

the wounded wise, and the child too soon old.

We will not close this Door of Mercy.

There will be room at our inn.

And space at the table,

Where the cooking pot holds ample.

Through the door is feast and safety, hope and shelter.

At your door of mercy, we only have to knock once

and we only have to knock lightly

Because you, God of mercy, are always home.

_{(By Mary Wickham, RSM, Door of Mercy 2.)}