A (Late) Father's Day Prayer

Dear God, heavenly and present Father, on this day that we celebrate fathers, we are grateful for your presence in our lives.

Sometimes your presence is unexplicable…for you are powerful God, you created the heavens and earth, you give life, you were and always will be…and yet you became human for us, you healed and fed and served us, you died on a cross for us, and you rose from the dead, for our sake, because you loved us.

For all those in our congregation who are fathers, those who act as fathers, and those who are trying to become fathers, we give you thanks and ask your blessing and encouragement for them. God for those fathers who have lost their children and for those children who have lost their fathers, we ask for your comfort and strength on their behalf. And God, for those who struggle as fathers and those who fail to be good fathers we ask your guidance, your peace, and your redemption. We know that none of our relationships on this earth are perfect. Even though we fail to always be good and kind and loving to each other, we remember and are so thankful that you love us perfectly, unconditionally, that you forgive us and call us your children.

God, as you love us, help us to love one another. Be with those who are in fear, and grief, and pain…give them strength and hope. And be with all those men and women, fathers and mothers, around the world who are willing to give their lives for justice and peace, while we pray for a world that doesn’t require that sacrifice.

God, thank you for everything we have, for our families and our fathers, for our community here. In your son’s Holy name, we pray.

Amen.