For When We Leave #LetUsPray

Weekly #LetUsPray

I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. Paid subscribers have access to liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary.

Apologies for taking last week off. I have been finishing up my time as the p/t Bridge Pastor at Burlingame Presbyterian Church, and it has been a wild ride with these lovely folks. I now get a few weeks' break, then head down to Pasadena Presbyterian Church to serve as their p/t Transitional Pastor.

For those who do not track my every pastoral move, I occasionally take on a short-term, part-time Bridge Pastor role. I am usually asked to pastor a church through some kind of conflict or transition that requires some pastoral tending. This has also meant that, over the years, I have had to say goodbye quite a bit.

For those going through some kind of transition (good or not-so-good) that requires leaving a place of work, worship, or anywhere you have developed relationships, this prayer is for you.

For those interested, here is my farewell sermon at Burlingame Presbyterian.

For When We Leave #LetUsPray

let us pray —

god, as i leave this place let me leave with grace let me leave with generosity and let me leave with wisdom

with the grace you offer allow me to release responsibilities i no longer carry allow me to let go of resentment that may never be resolved and allow me to move into what is next, unburdened by what was

with the generosity you grant make known the places where I have grown here make known the depth of relationships that i leave behind and make known to others the gratitude i have for them

with the wisdom you instill grant me the foresight to take time to breathe grant me the courage to reflect from deep within and grant me the discipline to leave well

for these things we pray — amen.

One of the most important words of counsel that I have ever received is this: "The strength of your legacy is determined by how you leave." As I have worked with departing pastors and have gone through this myself with varying degrees of success, these are good words to hold onto during any time of leaving.

Peace,

PS: If anyone already had this Hamilton diddy ringing in your ears . . .

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 17, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Acts 1:6-14 | Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 | John 17:1-11 NL442 Readings (CEB): Philippians 2:1-13 (CEB)

In writing liturgy, I attempt to be economical with words while addressing the events of the day in ways that help people find grounding in their faith. For readings, I refer to the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) and The Narrative Lectionary from The Working Preacher (NL). Paid Subscribers should please feel free to use any of the liturgical resources with or without attribution.

How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence

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