A prayer of sorrow

Fiona Reynolds September 22, 2025 4 1

Playlists

Add to Favourites

Save for later

Listen to this daily worship

Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 (NIV)

1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,

you who lead Joseph like a flock.

You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,

shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.

Awaken your might;

come and save us.

8 You transplanted a vine from Egypt;

you drove out the nations and planted it.

9 You cleared the ground for it,

and it took root and filled the land.

10 The mountains were covered with its shade,

the mighty cedars with its branches.

11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,

its shoots as far as the River.

12 Why have you broken down its walls

so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

13 Boars from the forest ravage it,

and insects from the fields feed on it.

14 Return to us, God Almighty!

Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine,

15 the root your right hand has planted,

the son you have raised up for yourself.

16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;

at your rebuke your people perish.

17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,

the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

18 Then we will not turn away from you;

revive us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;

make your face shine on us,

that we may be saved.

Precious Gardener of Creation,
there was so much beauty for us to enjoy:
you gazed upon it and saw that it was very good.
You tended us well,
found just the place to cultivate,
plant,
nurture,
prune;
and now it is lost.
Gone.
Like chaff in the wind.

Yet an echo remains…

Come among us once more,
and till our hearts.
Help us seek out the seeds of hope,
peace,
love,
joy.
And when our heads are bowed down,
weeping into the soil beneath our feet,
gently lift our chin
so our eyes may glimpse the beauty that remains—
ever glinting—
in the world around us.

Don’t leave us.
Encourage us always.
With you, we can keep going.
Thank you, AMEN.