Prayer for Thursday Evening Dinner (April 3, 2008)

by Fr. Chris Wittmann

Gracious God,

From the beginning

you have shown us your creative love

And the transforming power of delight.

You take delight in your people, and in all of your creation

And we in turn ask for the freedom of heart, mind and body to allow ourselves to delight in your love for us, reflected in all that you have made.

You are the author of life itself, The Eternal Word,

and we thank you for the privilege of sharing in your creative power

as we seek to bring words to life, and to bring richness to life through words. 

Be with us as we begin this conference, we ask.  Bless those who will share their wisdom and skill with us, bless those who will listen, bless those who work behind the scenes to make the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop possible.  And bless all who help us to laugh, especially to laugh at ourselves.

Bless the food before us, Lord God, and all who have brought it to our table from far and near, and all who will go hungry this day.

May our work, and especially our play, make us more faithful and joyful servants who delight to dwell in the shadow of your wings, to bask in your foolishly lavish love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.