Richard Einerson
This book of prayers is based on the three year common lectionary. All of the texts for each Sunday are listed and the suggested preaching text is highlighted. Most of the prayers which follow reference the text. They are helpful for the busy pastor who gets one of those "weeks that was" with little time to prepare a prayer along with a sermon. They are equally helpful for the lay person who wishes to deepen his/her devotional life. And they are helpful for the seminarian anticipating a first call.
Dr. Richard Einerson, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, served churches in Minnesota, Rhode Island, California, and Colorado. He served as Chaplain at Meritcare Medical Center, Fargo, ND for seventeen years and while there was a Satellite Faculty Member of Luther Seminary and an Instructor, Charis Ecumenical Center, Moorhead, MN. He was awarded a Danforth Foundation grant in 1959-60 and spent a year at Vanderbilt University. He holds a B.A. degree from Warner Pacific College, a Master of Divinity (cum laude) from Pacific School of Religon, and a Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School. He was a Fellow in both the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the Association of Professional Chaplains for whom he provided four workshops and authored a number of articles. He also authored an article in the United Church of Christ original publication of “End of Life Decisions.” His prayers have fostered repeated requests for copies from clergy and lay persons.
Proper 25 (30) Joel 2:23-32 or Sirach 35:12-17 or Jer. 14:7-10, 19-22
Oct. 28, 2007 Psalm 65 or Psalm 84:1-7 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Eternal God, the holy one, we are often presumptuous when we come before you. We are so often like the Pharisee who went up to pray. We feel him inside us.
· We feel him inside us when we feel that somehow we are of all your people most deserving.
· We feel him inside us when we feel that we are not needy like other people because we are so self-reliant.
· We feel him inside us when we feel that we are a cut above those with whom we live daily.
· We feel him inside us when we are uncomfortable with the evil within us and we do such a marvellous job of self deception by denying it.
· We feel him inside us when we feel that it is better to project evil onto others where we are able to see it so blatantly.
In all these ways we are the one in that story Jesus told, and in all these ways we are overcome by a pride which is unbecoming of your people. Forgive us and save us from this useless and destructive pattern. Give us the courage to pray that you would also be merciful to us because we are sinners. Grant us to find true humility of heart and spirit and the courage to look inwardly even when we fear what we may find. Help us again to discover and to believe in your grace which awaits a humble and contrite spirit. And help us to gain a faith which includes those who struggle, those who sin, those who have a ways to go. Make us into gracious people who know we live by grace and who make allowances for, rather than criticize, others. Give us generous hearts. Help us to own the humanity which we share with others and to embrace all your children. Amen
