Calling on God: Inclusive Christian Prayers for Three Years of Sundays

Fresh, inclusive, creation-conscious prayers to nourish your soul―and the soul of your worship community.

"We are called to name the extravagant wildness of God, the overflowing abundance of creation, and the deep aching need of a broken world in new words and images that speak to contemporary concerns.... [These prayers] are an invitation to pray boldly."
―from the Introduction

This special prayerbook is for today's Christians who find comfort in the rhythm of the traditional lectionary but long to connect with God in ways that are satisfying to the modern heart and mind. Founded on creativity, inclusivity and sharing, it encourages us to remember the divine elements of the natural world around us as we express our hopes and fears for others and ourselves. Inspiring words help us give thanks for human inventions and lament the evils of poverty, violence and oppression of all kinds while remaining mindful of God's promises of healing for a broken world.

Following the annual procession of the seasons with prayers that are appropriate for personal devotion as well as for use in leading worship, these new ways to call on God will feed your soul and inspire you to find your own fresh language for thanksgiving, praise, intercession and petition, whether in your community or personal spiritual life.

Peter Bankson has been a popular preacher, regular presider at worship and spiritual guide for Seekers Church since the mid-1980s. Formerly a colonel in the U.S. Army, he is now a member of the Servant Leadership Team and the mission groups that support worship and the ministry of place. He also experiments as a fiber sculptor, combining mathematical equations and sculptural crochet.

Deborah Sokolove writes and teaches on the relationship between the arts, culture and religious traditions. She is director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary, where she also serves as professor of art and worship. She is the author of Sanctifying Art: Inviting Conversation between Artists, Theologians, and the Church and has contributed articles to Image, Call to Worship and The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies. Her paintings have been shown around the country, appearing in many collections. Within Seekers Church, she serves on the worship planning group, frequently preaching and leading worship.