Merciful Lord! We thank You for this wonderful world into which You have brought us. Behold, You created the sun, the sky, the earth, the sea, the mountains, the fjords, and the forests. When we look at Your world, our hearts are filled with ineffable joy, and our eyes with tears of gratitude. We thank You for our life—both for joy and for sorrow. We thank You for our families—for those who are alive and those who are already with You in paradise. We thank You because we always feel Your closeness to us and because You reveal Yourself to us in prayers and on the pages of Holy Scripture.
And we ask for Your blessing upon our Norway, the King, the authorities, and the good Norwegian people. We ask for Your blessing upon our Bø municipality and those who live here. Bless all of us and our families, our children, and our parents with understanding, strength, wisdom, patience, and love, so that each of us may lead our lives in peace, rejoicing in You and supporting those in need.
Bless our brothers and sisters from Ukraine—those on the front line, the wounded and the missing, the prisoners and the deported, the abducted children, orphans and widows, refugees, medics, energy workers, and everyone who has suffered and continues to suffer from this great war.
And grant us all the ability and opportunity to preserve peace and rejoice in each day, being filled with happiness and giving care and love to one another.
For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
Author: Father Andrii Pinchuk
