Bread of Life

So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:30-33, 48-51

Gracious Creator, source of all life

you are the bread that fills our souls

the rain that waters and renews spirits

and the wind that wipes away the clouds.

Draw near to your people in deep darkness

surround the lost and wandering with love

comfort the lonely and the forsaken

for you are in our midst this day and forever.

Help us to soar again like brave eagles

give us new strength for the work ahead

hold us back from letting fear control us

and set us free to embrace the new challenges.

Creator, you birth us, you feed us, you renew us

be our strength and stay forever and forever more. Amen.