Evening Prayers

 few evening prayers, some used at our August sunset service, another inspired by an evening walk through my local cemetery. 

O Gracious Giver of the Day,
Like the earth circling the sun,
Blessings have circled our day.

Our eyes scan the horizons
Of your goodness.
Standing tall with thanksgiving
We praise you with grateful hearts.

O Mystery within Mystery,
Touch the paradoxes of this day 
With your healing breath.

Let your mantle of peace
Clothe us in this evening hour...
All shall be well; all shall be well. 
Amen.

- Macrina Wiederkehr, excerpts


Sunset Prayer
I’ll let you in on a secret 
About how one should pray
The sunset prayer.
It’s a juicy bit of praying,
Like strolling on grass,
Nobody’s chasing you,
Nobody hurries you.
You walk toward your Creator
With gifts in pure, empty hands.
The words are golden,
Their meaning is transparent,
It’s as though you’re saying them
For the first time.

The day is departing with a quiet kiss.
It lies open at your feet
While you stand saying the blessings.
You can’t create anything yourself,
But you can lead the day to its end
And see clearly the smile
Of its going down.

- Jacob Glatstein, excerpts


In the great lights of the night sky
And its unbounded stretches of space
We glimpse the shinings of your presence, O God.
In the universe of our soul
And its boundless depths
We look for emanations of your light.
Bless us this night
And enfold us in your darkness.
Amen.

- John Philip Newell, adapted


I move with expectation
Into the dusk
Longing to see the foxes
Who have been spotted
Playing among gravestones.
The western sky
Glows faint pink as
Darkness descends.
Moon rises through trees
Bats loop erratically overhead
Cicadas and crickets sing
Their breathless song.
This is evening prayer
To the great Oneness:
Here, present, incarnate.
Connecting,
Reaching out,
Paying attention,
Belonging,
Lamenting and
Celebrating
It all.
​
- Wendy Janzen