I wrote these Prayers of the People for worship in Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity School on September 23, 2019. There was a sung response after each paragraph. This YouTube video (video is not from Marquand) includes the corresponding song.

Send me Jesus. God we ask you to send us out into this world, beyond the YDS community. Be with us in our daily interactions around New Haven and all of those we come into contact with. Through our supervised ministries, through our doctor’s visits and car appointments and send us Jesus, into the grocery store and coffee shops. Be with us in those mundane spaces we might not think of as holy and sacred. God send us your Spirit to accompany us and guide us. Send us Jesus. Send me Jesus.

Lead me Jesus. This gathered community are leaders. Some of us are in training to go out and lead others to find you Jesus. Some in this community are teachers leading students to find you. And some are just following on the journey not sure where it is leading. Help us God to continue to follow the lead of our brother Jesus. Help us to remember to follow in the footsteps of all of those wise leaders who have come before us. Lead us Jesus. Lead me Jesus.

Fill me Jesus. God it is Monday morning and we need to be filled! We come before you at the start of this new week. We ask you to fill us with lessons in the classroom. Fill us with wisdom from our readings. Fill us with your Divine grace and love. God we know that you will fill us until our cup overflows. Fill us Jesus. Fill me Jesus.

Send me, lead me, fill me. God we come before you with so many demands. We are bold enough to ask one more. When we feel like the world rests on our shoulders, that we are the only one who can fix the situation, help us to rest. God remind us that we do not have to do it alone. Taking rest is sacred and necessary. Help us to find our rest in you. We lift up all of these prayers in your name, Amen.