Prayer by Kyle Oliver for prayr.cc (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: “Sharing a joke” by Matthew C via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
A prayer in thanksgiving for friends, and friendship
O God, you make us for each other. By your will we seek out the company of others. By your presence you sweeten and warm, electrify or calm the spaces where we gather with our dear ones.
You nod along with our inconsequential debates. You relax into our companionable silences.
You soften our hearts in moments of deep sharing. You make resonant and raucous the dance clubs and dinner parties and day games where we lift up our voices and our hearts.
Above all, you concocted the unruly mystery of laughter, our most plentiful resource for bonding and forgiveness.
Bless our friendships with trust and commitment, with gentleness and patience, with at least occasional ease.
We pray this in the name of your Son, whose saving message of redemption would be unheard today were it not for his friends.
Amen.
For me, this was a weekend full of thanksgiving for friends. Friendship is hard in New York City, which makes it all the more rewarding when you have the chance to experience and celebrate real human connection. TBTG.
Related prayers (BCP, Public Domain)
45. For Families
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
48. For Those Who Live Alone
Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head: Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
54. For those we Love
Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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