Gracious God,
We greet summertime with excitement about times of relaxation, going on great adventures and spending time with those we love. We joyfully anticipate sun kissed skin, beach balls in the pool, and time to let our creativity and imagination run wild. Lord, we ask that during these fun times of summer that our minds would be open to your presence all around us. Open us to see that you are present in all of creation from the fish in the lake to the flower in the field. Open us to see that you are present in all of our friends those that we already know and those that we will meet. Open us to see that you are present when we are at home and when we are on vacation or at summer camp. This morning, we pray a special blessing over our kids during their time at camp this summer. Help them to grow in their knowledge and experience of you. Help them to be Christ to all they meet to look around for ways to lend a helping hand and a kind word to those in need. Encourage our kids to participate enthusiastically in all camp activities, to listen to their counselors, to be a good friend and to make lasting friendships. Guard them from all danger and guide them to make healthy and safe decisions. Return our children home to us with a sparkle in their eyes and a lightness in their step. Return our children home to us with stories of how they experienced the abundance of your love. Return our children home to us healthy and happy, safe and sound. May we their church family pray for them and eagerly await their return. Amen.
Amber Mattingly 