Father in Heaven,
Thank you for Your hospitality,
For creating a place of beauty and order
A place where we experience goodness and joy
Thank you for Your daughters and sons
Whose work is hospitality:
Baristas and bartenders, bakers and bussers,
Hosts and chefs, sommeliers and servers.
Reframe our perspective
On those whose work is service.
May we see welcoming and serving the stranger as sacred.
Provide for those who make meals.
May our neighbors who serve us at tables,
Have enough at tables of their own.
May every meal we share,
And every glass we raise,
Be a reminder of Your table that awaits us,
And celebrate Your goodness here and now.
May we receive hospitality,
And give hospitality,
As a taste of Your Kingdom to come.
Amen.
Other prayers to engage with place…
Our Father,
We worship and praise You
As the Creator who worked for six days,
Using hours to build the world
In all of its beauty and brilliant majesty.
You rested and experienced joy in Your creation
Because it was good.
Creator and Good Shepherd,
You made the creatures we tend and the ground beneath their feet.
Before they belonged to our farms, businesses, or tables,
they belonged to You.
Lord God,
We pause in this moment to give You worthy recognition
For Your supreme sovereignty over all things.
We offer both acknowledgment and gratitude
For Your attentive, providential love and care
That You extend to us each day.
Dear God,
There are so many ordinary ways
To give and receive your love.
From the cuddles of our kids.
From the laughter of a dear friend.
From holding the hand of a spouse.
Teach me today
To give and receive
Your love as a neighbor.
Father in Heaven,
With August’s arrival,
The morning sunlight beams
Come later through the windows.
May we rest in your great faithfulness,
Remember that your steadfast love never ceases;
And Your mercies never come to an end.
Father in Heaven,
Hear our prayer for Your children
During this summer season.
May summer not be a prolonged season of isolation,
But one of generous invitation to
Play dates and sleepovers,
Camping trips and day camps,
Pool parties and birthday parties.