God,

Help us in times of disappointment.
When others fail us,
Forget us,
Flee us,
It can send us into deep despair.

When family rejects our belief or lack of belief
It can wound our hearts and minds
Our relationships and our bonds

When the churches we attended,
Grew up in
Grew our faith within
Now have grown into systems and structures
That proclaim righteousness
That are Wrapped in nationalism,
Built on misogyny,
And founded in a fear based faith,
It can lead us to doubt any faith,
To find fault in your plan,
To question why.

And when we recognize our own actions,
The times we looked like the church and not like you,
The times we claimed and proclaimed our own righteousness,
Our own right-ness,
Our own biases and judgmental nature,
It causes us to see our own faulty nature
To elevate ourselves above others.

In these times that bring deep disappointment,
In others and ourselves,
Remind us of the power of grace
The might of mercy,
The overwhelming love
That you grant us.

Let us bathe in the generous pouring out of your forgiveness.
Let us be reminded that you aren’t disappointed in us,
But are filled with pride for
Who we are, as we are.

In moments when we are disappointed with others,
Let us see their humanity,
Let us see them as you see them.
Let us also be generous with the putting out of forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love.

Let disappointment be for only a moment.
Amen.