Prayers of the People: Then is Now, 6th Sunday of Easter Yr C

For Sunday, May 1, 2016, 6th Sunday of Easter, Year C, Readings: Acts 16:9-15, Ps 67, Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29

       A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us...The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul...she and her household were baptized. [Acts 16: 14-15a]

      In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God...its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb...for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb... [Revelation 21:10, 22, 23b]

        May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance and come to us. Let your ways be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations. [Ps 67:1-2]

       Jesus said..."Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them..." [John 14:23]

       A new heaven and a new earth was the promise in last week's Revelation along with a New Jerusalem, as a Holy City for all people, coming down out of heaven. In this week's reading we are told again of the vision of the holy city coming down out of heaven from God. For me it conjures an image like a TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space), a science fiction TV time machine that seems to have no beginning, no end, and no limitations of interior space. The New Jerusalem comes to us, the Trinity make their home with us, and all we need to do is listen eagerly, love Jesus, and keep his word. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS...along with everything else that this life demands. It is much easier to feel as though we have fulfilled the mandate of faith by attending church on Sunday, dropping some cash in the plate, and smiling nicely to the others who are doing the same. Yet, as I delude myself by believing that I do act in faith - mostly - I know deep down that I let the weather, the bills, the traffic, the news, the frustrations, irritations, and machinations of life get in the way. The time is now to live in the new earth and recognize that all that is to come is already here. It won't make all the tasks, demands, and requirements of life disappear, but it will lighten the burden. ALL I NEED TO DO IS listen eagerly, love Jesus, and believe.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ God of Blessing and Mercy, the magnificent vision of what is to come is clouded by the incessant realities of our current time. Dispel the fog of our own making and re-capture our desire to listen eagerly, love you deeply, and overflow with Your peace.

Jesus, Lamb of God

RESPONSE:             Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, guide the leaders and all people of this Earth, this Nation, and this Community, that they may judge with equity, increase in honor and faithfulness, and abandon all practice of falsehood and bigotry. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, grant Your saving health to all whose lives are beset by physical, emotional, or spiritual illness, and infuse their care-givers with the love that heals. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, untrouble, and encourage the hearts of those who mourn to rejoice, as those we love are now released from the trials of earthly life, into the Heaven of eternal life and joy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, invade the sameness of daily tasks and rituals of those we choose to lead us in Your church, and rekindle the fire and depth of Your early call to service. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Holy Christ, God’s Word Incarnate, You are our Home on Earth and in Heaven; you came to us that we might come to You. Excite our souls to seek and believe in Your glory and truth, in every moment of every day, in this time, and this place. We ask through the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, and the Infinite Almighty, who together with You are One God, now and beyond forever.   Amen.

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