Deus Misereatur

  (I took one of the carvings I was working on with me to the polls as I voted. That's him on top of the sign, proudly wearing his "I Voted" sticker.) As I listen to people talk, as I hear Christians fret, and as I watch news and social media begin to rouse from it's breathlessness, I thought of some prayers that might be useful for this season. In fact, these would always be useful. I took them from the Book of Common Prayer years ago, and tweaked them in ways that seem fuller and better to me. I hope you find them beneficial. Do feel free to share them with others. ---- Most loving heavenly Father, who desires us To give thanks for all things; To fear nothing but you; And to cast all our care upon you who cares for us: Preserve us from faithless fears And worldly anxieties, And grant that no clouds of this mortal life  May hide from us the light of your immortal love Which you have manifested unto us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ---- O God, you made us

  O Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, your mercies and loving-kindnesses have been from everlasting. You became man and stooped to endure crucifixion and death for the salvation of all who rely on you. You rose from the dead for our justification, ascended into heaven and sit at the right hand of the Father, from whence you shall come to judge the living and the dead; and as our great High Priest you regard the humble prayers of all who call upon you with their whole heart. Incline your ear and hear. First of all, we give you hearty thanks for the faith and faithfulness of those who have gone from us, who have traversed their way through the valley of the shadow of death into your everlasting arms: (here it is fitting to mention those who have run the race and died in the faith) . Though they struggled with sin, sometimes overcoming, and sometimes not overcoming very well, nevertheless their confidence in you, their persistence in walking in your way, lifts our hearts. As we