RevJSS's Evening Prayers

This Tumblr has become the repository of my nightly prayers of thanksgiving that are originally posted on my Facebook page.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 25 Jul 2026

Thank you, Holy One, for the way your love moves in the world, coming to your creatures through everything in your creation. Thank you, especially, for the ways your love moves in the world from one person to another, bring healing to brokenness, bringing comfort to places of pain, bringing hope and courage to the hopeless and afraid. Thank you for the ways in which you have allowed me to be part of that great love flow, both as giver and receiver. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 24 Jul 2026

I admit it, God: as I look back on the day, I’m feeling that I was a little self-centered. I spent the bulk of the day taking care of me, doing stuff I wanted to do, and spending money on aspects of trips I’m planning during the second half of the year. So, as selfish as it may be to thank you for these reasons, thank you that have the job that gives me the time to take a day to take care of myself and that I have the resources to do a little traveling in the coming months. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 23 Jul 2026

For rest last night, for good food today, for meaningful support from my office administrator, for the space to get the most important thing done this noontime, for the ability to make choices about the other things I did today, for a quite hour to simply be tonight, thank you, God. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 22 Jul 2026

Sometimes, God, interruptions end up being a net positive. Today’s eye doctor’s appointment ended up being a triple net positive. (1) If I am headed toward another vitreous detachment, it’s being monitored. (2) I’m a step closer to getting new glasses. And, (3) I didn’t put a bunch of work into creating this Sunday’s order of worship only to have to change it. (Instead, I get to finish it tomorrow morning.) And, the drive to the new eye doctor was really quite pleasant because, where I live, the weather is wonderful and the skies have been beautiful shades of blue for several days now.

So, thank you for the interruptions that end up being net positives. And thank you for the beauty of your creation. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 21 Jul 2026

There’s been something on my mind all day, God. It’s that one thing that’s been sticking with me from Bible study yesterday, that didn’t start sticking until several hours later, and now is making me wonder all day. And, while I’m still very much in the “wondering” stage, I have a feeling that it’s the thing that Sunday’s sermon is going to be about. Thank you for the Bible study. Thank you for the wondering. Thank you for still speaking to me, and so often through engagement with the scriptures. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 20 Jul 2026

I’m thankful for today’s Bible study, God. And I’m thankful for a productive meeting tonight. And, really, what I’m most thankful for today is that I could be there for a few people. None of it was perfect, yet all of it was worthwhile, and that is good enough reason to give you thanks. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 19 Jul 2026

Well, God, I’m done for the day. It was a great day, but I’m so tired that I’m having trouble forming thoughtful sentences. Thanks for a great sermon. Thanks for an informative presentation during coffee hour. Thanks for a wonderful concert. Thanks that I get to go do bed now. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 18 Jul 2026

Once again, God, you showed me how different people think and process and connect differently. Once again, you invited me to make room for differences. I hope I did that today, and that I welcomed and celebrated the gifts others have.

Once again, God, you showed me how lucky I am to have my particular birth family, that they are a great match for me. I hope they all know how much I love them and how much I think they are a gift.

Once again, God, you showed me the value of the wider church—for creating room for everyone, for working together to transform the world, for nurturing one another as our lives unfold.

I hope that you know how deeply grateful I am for all of these gifts that are different manifestations of community. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 17 Jul 2026

Thank you for a better night’s sleep than I’ve had for a while, God. And thank you for a lazy morning and for a great chat with my dad this afternoon. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 16 Jul 2026

Thank you, God, for being with me through the day—as I sat with people and listened (and maybe talked too much), as I prepared for worship, as I took care of administrative things, as I enjoyed my meals, as I marveled at the beauty of the blue sky and the warmth of the air. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 15 Jul 2026

My heart is full tonight, God. My heart is filled with compassion, for there are many who are hurting, with love, for there are many who care, with hope, for there are many who are acting, and with gratitude, for your love permeates all that is and I often notice it. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 14 Jul 2026

[I think silence is the appropriate way to hold my gratitude for today, God.]

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 13 Jul 2026

That was a great Bible study, God. Thank you for the community we create and the sharing we foster and the insights we generate. Thank you for “still speaking” to us through these ancient texts.

That was a serendipitous phone call, God. Thank you for nudging me away from the computer and out for a walk and onto the phone, and for leading me to call a person who needed a call this afternoon.

That was a comforting thing to witness, God. Thank you for people who are compassionate and vulnerable, for people who are willing to put themselves “out there” to help someone in need.

For these holy moments today, and for so many more, thank you. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 12 Jul 2026

Gracious One, I do love it when things align—like they did today with my sermon seeming to be a response to a church book discussion group that met last night. And I love it when my sermon reminds me of your good news in a way that I needed to hear, and it works the same way for others—like it did today. And I love it when the table is spread at a church potluck and there is an abundance of healthful food and treats and everyone has enough to eat—like happened today. It was all so delightful. Thank you. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 11 Jul 2026

Loving One, thank you for all the pieces that have gone into tomorrow’s worship service—Bible study, music rehearsal, conversations, reading, and a whole bunch of volunteer hours. May the service honor you, draw us together as a community, and encourage us to embrace a ‘hope beyond hope’ that is grounded in love. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 10 Jul 2026

Thank you, God, for the people who work behind the scenes to make the technology work—the technology we rely on and use to draw us together and build community. Amen.

[revjss]

Evening Prayer - 9 Jul 2026

In the moment, God, I’m not always aware of your presence, though here at the end of the day, looking back at all that happened, I realize you were there, sometimes making space for me, sometimes speaking to me though other people, sometimes encouraging me to speak up or sing out—and sometimes to shut up. Thank you for your steadfastness. Amen.