May 9: Reflection on Strengths of One’s Community

            We recognize how often we take our community and its strengths for granted. We can become so individually focused that we ignored all the gifts surrounding us. May we pause to reflect on the strengths of the communities to which we belong. May God open our eyes to all the talents and skills that exist there and learn to generously give credit to others. We pray also that we find ways to empower our community towards growth and service. We choose to end our reflection with thankfulness for God, who created the web of support built around us.

Photo by author, taken during a Sunday Worship Community service project to make blankets for a local women's shelter

May 3: Prayers for Peace and Justice

Mayday Conference: May 3

            Let us pause now to pray for peace and justice in our communities and in our world. We pray we do not become desensitized to violence and injustice, but instead continue to listen to those impacted and bear witness to their tragedies. May we not only pray but also commit ourselves to working towards ending violence and creating healing for the victims. May we use our votes and our voices to create concrete change in our communities, our countries, and our world. Before we begin or continue our work, let us pause to meditate on the need for peace and justice for all of humanity.

Photo by author, taken in Sabino Canyon, AZ

March 24: Allowing for Grace During Periods of Stress

Spring Midterms: March 24

            We most often forget the virtue of grace during periods of stress. We agonize over our mistakes in high-pressure situations when we really need forgiveness for ourselves. May God allow us to accept our shortcomings as our resources are stretched. May we practice the same grace towards others in our community as we empathize with their own stresses. We commit ourselves to trying our best for academic success, but we also allow ourselves the space for breaks and mistakes under pressure.

Photo by author

February 9: Reinvigoration of Community

            We recognize that our community as a whole can feel drained. After facing challenge after challenge, we feel exhausted of resources and disconnected from one another. May God infuse our community with new strength and energy. We pray we can reconnect and refocus ourselves on working towards our common goals. We know we can make our community stronger and more loving than it currently is. May this semester and year be one of academic collaboration and renewed dialogue and discussion in our community.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18