Our Father... 
"'And when you pray, you must not be
like the hypocrites; for they love to stand
and pray in the synagogues and at the street
corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly,
I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go into your room and
shut the door and pray to your Father who
is in secret; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you. And in praying do
not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles
do; for they think that they will be heard
for their many words. Do not be like them,
for your Father knows what you need before
you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father
who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread; And forgive us our debts, As
we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead
us not into temptation, But deliver us from
evil.'" (1)
The Perfect Prayer
Our Father…
As the Father has loved me, so have
I loved
you; abide in my love." (2)
Our Father, Majesty of grace,
You hold our world in Your hand:
The Master of all time and space
Knows each hair and each grain of sand.
…Who art in heaven…
"It is He, the Lord Most High,
who gives
each his place. In His register of
peoples
he writes: 'These are her children,'
and
while they dance they will sing: 'In
You
all find their home.'" (3)
Your heaven is our fatherland:
Love reigns with peace and harmony;
Your children, countless as the sand,
Will dance for all eternity.
…hallowed be Your name…
"Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants
of the LORD, praise the name of the
LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD from
this
time forth and for evermore! From the
rising
of the sun to its setting the name
of the
LORD is to be praised!" (4)
"Yahweh!" Your holy name
we cry:
One God -- Father, Son, and Spirit.
Create, redeem, and sanctify
All Your children who revere it.
…Your kingdom come…
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (5)
Your kingdom comes unto the poor
Whose spirits, emptied of all things,
With patient gratitude endure
The joys and hardships that life brings.
…Your will be done…
"Withdrawing a second time, he
prayed
again, "My Father, if it is not
possible
that this cup pass without my drinking
it,
your will be done!" (6)
In our lives, may Your will be done.
Though stained and fragmented, Your
grace
Will shine through us like rays of
sun --
We're church windows You've formed
in place.
…On earth as it is in heaven…
"But humans you return to dust,
saying,
'Return, you mortals!' Before a watch
passes
in the night, you have brought them
to their
end; They disappear like sleep at dawn;
they
are like grass that dies. It sprouts
green
in the morning; by evening it is dry
and
withered …Teach us to count our days
aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart."
(7)
All things are passing on this earth;
Our flesh is destined for the grave.
We're called to transform through re-birth:
The self we lose; the soul You save.
…Give us this day our daily bread…
"Jesus said to them, 'I am the
bread
of life; he who comes to me shall not
hunger,
and he who believes in me shall never
thirst.'"
(8)
Give us this day our daily bread.
O Lord, Your flesh and blood sustain
Our souls -- they thrive and come alive
Like parched fields in the summer rain.
…And forgive us our trespasses, as
we forgive
those who trespass against us…
"For if you forgive men their
trespasses,
your heavenly Father also will forgive
you;
but if you do not forgive men their
trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses."
(9)
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive.
Release us from our guilt and shame.
In Your mercy, we heal and live --
It's for the sinner that You came.
…And lead us not into temptation…
"Let no one say when he is tempted,
'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot
be
tempted with evil and he himself tempts
no
one; but each person is tempted when
he is
lured and enticed by his own desire.
Then
desire when it has conceived gives
birth
to sin; and sin when it is full-grown
brings
forth death." (10)
Guide our steps, Lord, along Your path
And shield us in Your sanctity.
Protect us from temptation's wrath
--
Your heaven is our destiny.
…But deliver us from evil.
"He who dwells in the shelter
of the
Most High, who abides in the shadow
of the
Almighty, will say to the LORD, 'My
refuge
and my fortress; my God, in whom I
trust.'
For he will deliver you from the snare
of
the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
and under
his wings you will find refuge; his
faithfulness
is a shield and buckler." (11)
Deliver us whene'er we fall:
The contrite heart You will not spurn;
The stray will hear the shepherd's
call --
It's our salvation that we yearn.
"He was praying in a certain place,
and when he ceased, one of his disciples
said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray,
as
John taught his disciples.'" (12)
This perfect prayer the Master gave.
Like Jacob's ladder it descends
From heaven to redeem and save --
Merciful Love flows to His friends.
(c) Paul Buis, 2001
_________________________
(1) Matthew 6: 5-13
(2) John 15:9
(3) Psalm 87: 6-7
(4) Psalm 113:1-3
(5) Matthew 5:3
(6) Matthew 26:42
(7) Psalm 90:3-6,12
(8) Matthew 6:35
(9) Matthew 6:14-15
(10) James 1:13-15
(11) Psalm 91:1-4
(12) Luke 11:1