Each one of us has been blessed with unique talents. The Lord has need of our talents, our energies, our spirits in the world in which we live. 

Place your trust in God’s loving guidance and open your hearts to serve God. AMEN.

14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 

16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 

19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 

22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 

24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 

29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Go into the world with peace and joy, delighting in the diversity and blessings that God has lavished upon each one. Celebrate the good news of the love of God with all people and offer peace and blessing to each one. Go in peace. AMEN.

We pray to you in the aftermath of this important and historic election. We call to mind the best that is within us: That we live under God, that we are indivisible, that liberty and justice extend to all. We acknowledge the sin that runs through our history as a nation: The displacement of native peoples, racial injustice, legacies of slavery, economic inequity, regional separation.

And yet we profess a deep and abiding gratitude for the goodness of ordinary people who have made sacrifices, who have sought opportunities,

who have journeyed to this land as immigrants strengthening its promise in successive generations, who have found freedom on these shores,

defended this freedom at tremendous cost, and exercised this freedom through the democratic process.

Be with us in the days to come. Remind us that your ways are not our ways, that your power and might transcend the plans of every nation.

Inspire us to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with you.

Let those who follow your Son Jesus Christ be a peaceable people in the midst of division. Send your Spirit of love, peace and freedom upon us, break down the walls of political partisanship, and make us one. Give us wisdom to walk in your ways, courage to speak in your name, and humility to trust in your providence.

Amen.