Prayer For Autumn Days
                                                     Joyce Rupp

God of the seasons, there is a time for everything;
there is a time for dying and a time for rising.
We need courage to enter into the transformation process.

God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye
to their green, letting go of what has been.
We, too, have our moments of surrender,
with all their insecurity and risk.

Help us to let go when we need to do so.
God of fallen leaves lying in coloured patterns on
the ground, our lives have their own patterns.
As we see the patterns of our own growth,
may we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights,
there is always the dimension of mystery
and wonder in our lives.
We always need to recognize your power-filled presence.
May we gain strength from this.

God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain,
many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender.
We must wait for harvest in faith and hope.
Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.

God of geese going south for another season,
your wisdom enables us to know what needs
to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future.
We yearn for insight and vision.

God of flowers touched with frost and windows
wearing white designs,
may your love keep our hearts from growing cold
in the empty seasons.

God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us,
you entrust us with the freedom to choose life.
For all this, we are grateful. Amen.