Jesus, Teach Us to Pray

Deacon’s Corner

Jesus, Teach Us to Pray

Summary: What would the “Our Father” be like without using gender descriptors for God? .

This week in our Gospel reading, Jesus reminds us that it doesn’t hurt to ask God for what we need. And keep asking. God is listening, even if the answer is not the one you were seeking.

Over the next few months, I’d like to introduce more contemporary language into our prayers. Most of the time, the changes are replacing the words, Lord and Father, with other descriptors of God that have no gender. In the first century and before, when men were in charge of everything and were the authorities in both family and community life, it made sense for people to think of God as a man.

Today, we know that God is bigger than any man or woman. It makes sense to many of us to worship a God of authority that could be female, male, or non-gendered.

Here is an example of the “Our Father” prayer, written without gender, from the New Zealand Book of Prayer. Let me know what you think about it!

Lord’s Prayer – New Zealand Book of Prayer (Māori & Polynesia influence)

Eternal Spirit,

Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be,

Father and Mother of us all,

Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe;

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world;

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings;

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom

sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trial too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and forever.

Amen.

Deacon Joanie+

Rev. Dcn. Joanie Cahill

Deacon

St. Augustine of Canterbury