A Parish Prayer of St. Francis

(Here's a version of the Prayer of St. Francis from our parish bulletin this past weekend - It's been in others as well.)

Lord, make our parish the instrument of your presence.
Help us to depend not on collections and committees
but on a lively faith.
Keep us open to build bridges between people,
and not isolate into factions.
Guide us to find words that encourage and affirm
rather than criticize or belittle.
Give us the sensitivity to listen to the needs and hurts of others
and not to react with cynicism or selfishness.
For we believe that it is ours to build community
where there is isolation,
To proclaim gospel wholeness
where there is brokenness,
And to replace the shallow promises made by our world
with the promise and the presence of the Risen Lord.

Amen.