Oh God, our Heavenly Father, Thank you for all your many blessings.
In today’s Gospel the disciples of John asked your Son why they fasted while his disciples did not, and he answered that the wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is still with them.
He told them that no one pours new wine into old wineskins, for the skins would burst and the wine would be lost, but new wine is poured into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
Make me a fresh wineskin today, dear Father, and pour your new life into me, so that nothing of your goodness is spilled or wasted in my keeping.
Where I have grown old, stiff, and set in my worn ways, renew me, and let me hold your grace the way you mean for it to be held.
In your first word today, through the prophet Amos, you promise to raise up the fallen hut of David, to wall up its breaches, to rebuild its ruins, and to restore your people so they may plant vineyards and eat the fruit of their own ground.
Do that same restoring work in me and mine, rebuild what has fallen in my life and my household, and plant me firmly on ground that can never be taken away.
The psalmist sings that you speak of peace to your people, that kindness and truth shall meet, that justice and peace shall kiss, and that your land shall yield its increase.
Speak that peace over me this morning, let your kindness and truth meet in my heart, and let my life yield its increase for you.
On this day my country marks its freedom, so I thank you for the liberty I have been given, and I ask you to keep watch over my nation and lead it in your justice and peace.
Thank you for the blessings I have already received, and thank you for the blessings still coming toward me, my household, and all I love.
Provide for me, for mine, and for my family with your abundance, your wealth, and your mighty force.
Comfort me and calm every worry, and steady my heart when trouble presses in.
Repair what is tottering, restore what has been broken in body, mind, and spirit, and make me whole again.
Strengthen me with your strength, fill me with your wisdom, and guide me by your light.
Heal me and heal those I love, and let your healing reach far beyond what I can see.
Forgive me my trespasses and my many shortcomings, as I forgive those who trespass against me, and release the burdens I carry so I may walk free.
Keep your hand upon me and my family, and deliver us from all evil.
We also have a silent request.
We offer you a promise of this quiet gift of freedom passed on to another today, some kindness that sets a burdened heart at liberty, and we ask that you accept it.
I lift up my family, my friends, and all your children, and I place their needs and their well-being into your care.
Watch over them, provide for them, and draw them close to you.
I surrender myself and all that I am to you, trusting fully in your will.
Bless me, bless my family, and bless all who hope in you.
We pray these things to you our Lord God, through Christ. And It Is So.