People's Prayers: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Prayers of the People: On the Brink, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

For Sunday, June 5, 2016, 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24), Ps 146, Galatians 1:11-24, Luke 7:11-17

[Elijah] called to her and said, "Bring me a little water...bring me a morsel of bread...But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug...that I may...prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die."...After this the son...became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him....[Elijah] ...cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again...So the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth." [1 Kings 17:10b, 11b, 17a, 21b, 22, 24]

Praise the Lord, O my soul! Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! Whose hope is in the Lord their God; Who made the heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; who keeps his promise forever... [Psalm 146: 1a, 4-5]

...God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim it among the Gentiles...I went away at once into Arabia...and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea...they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me. [Galatians 1: 15-16, 17b, 22-23]

As [Jesus] approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow...When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."...And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother...they glorified God... [Luke 7:12-13, 14b-15, 16b]

Despair, deprivation, and frustration appear to be the main thrust of the readings this week as well as, in two of them, miraculous remedies.
Widows on the brink of disaster are rescued and their sons restored to life. In those times (and in many places still), widows could not inherit, certainly couldn't have a paying occupation ("nice" ones, anyway), and without extended family, were left to die with their children. Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarephath in the midst of a famine so she couldn't even find a grain of wheat in the fields and was preparing for death. In Nain, Jesus knew that widow's plight immediately and had compassion for her. Paul, not likely hungry or in fear of death at that point, is sounding very frustrated and defensive as he tries to remind the church in Galatia that he truly is an Apostle, designated by God in personal revelation. I can almost see and hear him, arms in the air, voice pitched a bit higher, "People, I heard this from God directly and other churches believed me!!"
The Psalmist, feeling good about life in this doxology [a hymn or expression of praise to God], reminds us to keep praising God and hang on to the belief that God will care for the hungry, the oppressed, the orphan and widow and in so writing we are also reminded of life's trials in this list of desperation that many experience.
While it may be easier to be a bit cynical - look at all the people today who are starving and living in the terror of war, poverty, and disease, where are their miracle rescues? - let's take another look. WE are the miracle-workers. Even in the midst of our own darkest hours. We are called to be the compassion of Christ - as Paul was called to bring the revelation of Christ and build churches on that Foundation. Our God is not passive but acting in us through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We may not be able to raise the dead, feed all the hungry, and stop all war. Yet we can make a difference in our corner of the earth by seeing those made invisible by their lack of status in a status-seeking culture. It is not enough to feel compassion, sympathy, or empathy, we are called to act. WE, together, can be as God acting through us to care for the displaced, the starving, those made vulnerable and defenseless by a variety of circumstances and, yes, even those who have made indefensible choices in their lives. As Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh says, Compassion is a verb.
We who merely think we believe in God are on the brink of discovering that acting on faith, in faith, and through faith, is God's purpose. Not always an easy path to be sure, but filled with the depths of satisfaction, fulfillment, and the joy that is far deeper than mere surface pleasure. Jump in! The work is hard, the aggravations are many, the cycle never ends, and life has never been more complete, gratifying, hopeful, and faith-filled.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ God of Hope and Compassion, teach our souls to praise You with our trust, humility, and faith-filled action on behalf of all Your people.

O Lord of Heaven and Earth

RESPONSE: May our lives reflect Your grace

~ God of Hope and Compassion, help us to bring the eyes of Christ to all who govern on this Planet, in all countries, and in our own community. Grant them the willingness to see, acknowledge, and provide peace and support for the invisible, the vulnerable, and the defenseless. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Heaven and Earth

May our lives reflect Your grace

~ God of Hope and Compassion, grant respite and healing to all who are on the brink of despair and deprivation from chronic illness, depression, or fearful life circumstance, and lift the hearts and energies of those who provide their care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord of Heaven and Earth

May our lives reflect Your grace

~ God of Hope and Compassion, carry the sorrow of those who grieve while all who have risen in glory, enter new life in Your eternal glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Heaven and Earth

May our lives reflect Your grace

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

O Lord of Heaven and Earth

May our lives reflect Your grace

~ God of Hope and Compassion, we lift our prayers in thanksgiving and celebration for the ministry of all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, who bless us with their presence and prayers. Grant them each special grace on this day for their dedicated service to You on behalf of us all. We also pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Heaven and Earth

May our lives reflect Your grace

The Celebrant adds: O God of Justice, Truth, and Promise, turn us from the fleeting allure of earthly distractions, that we may hear and act on Your continuous call, to be a revelation of You for all who we meet and serve in this life. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier, who together with You reign as One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Prayers of the People: Amazing Faith, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Yr C

For Sunday, May 29, 2^nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29), 30-39; Ps 96, Galatians 1:1-12, Luke 7:1-10

Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of Jacob...with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord...Elijah came near and said, "Answer me, O Lord, answer me..." [1 Kings 18:31a-32, 37a]

Sing to the Lord a new song...ascribe to the Lord honor and power...Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness...
[Psalm 96:1a, 7a, 9a]

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is a different gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. [Galatians 1:6-7]

...the centurion sent friends to say to [Jesus], "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed..." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and... he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." [Luke 7:6b-7, 9]

Elijah, the Psalmist, Paul, and the Centurion in Luke, all display amazing faith. Even Jesus is amazed at the depth of belief of the humble, non-Jewish Centurion. Imagine having the ability to amaze Jesus!

Yet for all the ritual acts of Elijah with his 12 stones, trenches, and water; despite the lyrical expression of the Psalm and the crankiness of Paul's admonishment, and even the story of the Centurion's faith and humility, the essence of this set of readings, for me, isn't the miracles of God's consuming fire, or Jesus healing at a distance. It is the prayers spoken in earnest and with hope, with the strength or even the faltering of belief that God is present and God will answer.
Prayer, in its many forms, is available to us all in every moment of living. We can set a sacred space with stones, carry a small cross in a pocket, have a dancing Jesus on the dashboard, or a sticky note on a mirror to remind us that prayer can come always and any time from the depths of our souls, spoken, whispered, thought, dreamed, in chaos and in calm, in scattered phrases or a simple word. Our prayers are as the winged seeds of a dandelion that flutter through a breeze to discover a landing and rooting. Let us presume to bring ourselves before Jesus with our prayer. In the deepest despair, in the heights of happiness, or in the monotony of a routine day, our prayers will seek the breath of God to travel on to reach the Source of Life itself, and in that moment of connection, faith becomes amazing. Pray without ceasing! [1 Thessalonians 5:17]

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ God of Greatness, Honor, and Power, guide us away from the false gospels of earthly intentions, as we search our hearts to find a new song of love and dedication to the Gospel of our Divine Christ.

Oh Lord, our God indeed

RESPONSE: Our Grace and our Peace

~ God of Greatness, Honor, and Power, transform the souls of those who wield human authority in governments everywhere across this World into communities and countries of equity, integrity, and hope. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Oh Lord, our God indeed

Our Grace and our Peace

~ God of Greatness, Honor, and Power, speak Your healing words to all who suffer in body or spirit, and fill all who support their needs with compassion and empathy. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Oh Lord, our God indeed

Our Grace and our Peace

~ God of Greatness, Honor, and Power, remove the veil of tears and sorrow from those who live in grief and lift their eyes to the joy of heaven, where those we love now enter Your Holy and Eternal Courts. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Oh Lord, our God indeed

Our Grace and our Peace

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

Oh Lord, our God indeed

Our Grace and our Peace

~ God of Greatness, Honor, and Power, send the wisdom of Your ancient prophets and sages to those who lead us today, as we journey together to discover and live into our Faith. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Oh Lord, our God indeed

Our Grace and our Peace

The Celebrant adds: Lord of Glory and Righteousness, amaze and awaken us to the beauty of our own holiness, that in the surety of our beliefs, our worship and prayers ascend to the highest heaven with each and every breath. We ask through Christ Jesus, our Holy Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our Sacred Sanctifier, who together with You, reign as One God, now, always, and forever. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Prayers of the People: One for All and All are One, Trinity Sunday, Yr C

for Sunday May 22, 2016, Trinity Sunday, Readings: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Ps 8, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the Glory of God....we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given us.
[Romans 5:1-5]
Part of the condition of being human, it seems, is the need to be rational about the irrational, to make sense of out of what we don't understand so that we can find something of value or usable in it. Great thinkers and ponderers, researchers and scientific minds, seek to grasp the ungraspable and define the indefinable. There are also those sorts who simply must know what is unknowable to us of lesser thoughts. And there is nothing more irrational, indefinable, or ungraspable than the theologically mysterious Christian concept of The Trinity. All manner of councils, creeds and conjecture have sought to develop a workable, understandable, useful definition out of a non-scriptural but closely held doctrine of many Christian faith communities.

12th Century diagram of The Trinity

This is the Sunday which sends many practiced preachers running for the list of available surrogates to fill in so as to dodge those unanswerable questions. The group of lessons appointed for today are, as usual, not terribly helpful in expounding upon what we, of those particular Trinitarian groups, are to merely understand or, at least, accept without question. That said, the passage from Paul's Letter to the Romans gave us a sort of taste of the workings of our co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial whole and entire God. In John's Gospel, Jesus, still in his pre-Pentecost Farewell Discourse in this reading, is explaining to the disciples how they will soon understand all they need to know through the coming of the Holy Spirit. They must have been nearly cross-eyed after all they had experienced in the prior month.
With the millions of pages of commentaries, books, treatises, etc., available on Google and Wiki-places and untold thousands of websites, and the innumerable hours of sermons we've attempted to listen to (or write), centuries later we're still trying to put the pieces and Persons of the Trinity together in a way that helps us to explain to ourselves, let alone others, what it is that we believe. Step back, take a breath, some things are simply not simple. Mystery is just that. Faith is a mystery, with the Peace that passes all understanding. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier; One for All and All are One. AMEN. Alleluia!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Holy and Blessed Trinity, You are our One God, as Almighty Creator and Lord of all, as Lord of Revelation and Salvation through Christ Jesus, and as Lord and Life-giver through the Holy Spirit. Guide us to seek the love You have poured into our hearts that we may live as vessels of faith in action.

O God of Grace and Glory

RESPONSE: To You, O Lord, we pray

~ Holy and Blessed Trinity, instill the ethical and moral character that produces hope for universal justice, mercy, and peace, in all the leaders of this world, this country, and this community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Grace and Glory

To You, O Lord, we pray

~ Holy and Blessed Trinity, grant endurance and optimism to all in continuous suffering of body, mind, or spirit, and vigor to those who give support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O God of Grace and Glory

To You, O Lord, we pray

~ Holy and Blessed Trinity, temper the anguish of those in mourning, as You delight in the arrival of the souls of the Faithful, returning Home for new life everlasting. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Grace and Glory

To You, O Lord, we pray

~ Holy and Blessed Trinity, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

O God of Grace and Glory

To You, O Lord, we pray

~ Holy and Blessed Trinity, continually replenish the stores of spiritual discernment for all who inspire our explorations of faith. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Grace and Glory

To You, O Lord, we pray

The Celebrant adds: God of the Heavens and the Earth, our complete Source of Faith, Love, and Hope, urge our earth-bound hearts to seek higher fulfilment as heirs and proclaimers of Your eternal Truth. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our Sustainer, who, co-eternal and co-equal with You, reign as our One True God, forever, and ever. Amen.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Prayers of the People: PENTECOST! Yr C

For Sunday, May 15, 2016, Pentecost Sunday, Year C, Readings: Acts 2:1-21, Ps 104:25-35, 37; Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17, (25-27)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house...Divided tongues, as of fire...rested on each...All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. [Acts 2:1-4]

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth. [Ps 104:31]

When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ... [Romans 8:13b-17b]

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me...If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth...he abides in you, and he will be with you...Peace I leave with you...Do not let your hearts be troubled...
[John 14:11a, 15-17]

"Pentecost" is Greek for "the fiftieth" and in Christianity, it is the fiftieth day after Easter. In Judaism, Pentecost is also Greek for the ancient holiday of Shavuot or The Festival of Weeks, celebrated after Passover, that commemorates God's giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The disciples of Jesus, perhaps still struggling with their understandings of and ongoing roles after the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, likely gathered in the Upper Room for the comfortably familiar Shavuot remembrance and feast. Then, suddenly from heaven came that rush of violent wind, and tongues of fire appeared above their heads and each one immediately spoke in a different language. From then, they would be able to spread the word of God in Christ across the world.
In this fiftieth day from the most recent celebration of Easter, we are yet again called to know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, called to live in the belief in Christ that we claim, and, to keep the Commandments, whose giving on Mt. Sinai we may also commemorate on this day as our rules to live by. On this Birthday of the Church, let us claim our heritage as children of God and use the language of love to be as Jesus has shown us to be. In our times of suffering and our times of joy and in our times of everyday routines, let us breathe deeply and receive the power of the Holy Spirit with untroubled hearts, along with the Peace of Christ, the peace that passes all understanding.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, awaken us again to the fire of Your Spirit and the Peace of Christ within us. Untrouble our hearts that we may feel the rush of heavenly breath, rejoice in Your Presence, and bless You with our souls.

Spirit of the Living God

RESPONSE: Fall afresh on us

~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, inspire us to speak in the language of Your Truth to the leaders of this Earth, this Country, and this Community, as the voice of those crying in the wilderness of poverty, war, intolerance, and injustice. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us

~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, cool the fevers of critical illness, despair, or deprivation of those in desperate need, and energize all who give them care and support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us

~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, infuse Your care and comfort into the hearts of the mournful, as the souls of all who have reached the shores of Heaven, now rise and dance in Your everlasting joy and glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us

~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us

~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, amplify our Spirit-given abilities, that together with those we choose to lead us in Your Church, we may be steadfast in our journey to renew the face of Earth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us

The Celebrant adds: God All-Knowing, guide the Spirit of Pentecost to set our souls ablaze once again, that we may keep Your commandments, do greater works, and live as joint heirs of Your eternal kingdom. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer Christ, and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Advocate, who together with You reign as One God, now and for eternity. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Meditation Moment: Rising to the Occasion ~ Ascension!

For Thursday, May 5, 2016, Ascension Day, Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Ps 47, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53

Then [Jesus] led them out as far as Bethany, and,
lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them,
he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;
and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

[Luke 24:50-53]

Forty Days after Easter comes the Ascension of the Resurrected Christ into Heaven. One of the five major milestones in the life of Christ [the other four are baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion, and resurrection], the Ascension is professed in both the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds. Whether actual, mystical, or metaphorical, it is one of the great feasts of the Christian liturgical calendar. It signifies the completion of his earthly presence as he takes his divine presence seated at the right hand of the Father [Nicene Creed, Book of Common Prayer, 1975].
The readings for today give us a direction for our own earthly lives. In the Acts of the Apostles we hear that as Christ's body was being elevated, suddenly two men in robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galiliee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?" From Ephesians, Paul prays, ...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ...may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe...

Holy Jesus, Son of God, as Your Church we are the Body of Christ. On this Ascension Day, let us ascend in our hearts, minds, and souls, and raise our own prayers that we may be disciples in our own day, to care for all the People of God. Guide us as we seek to discover You in our daily thoughts, words, and actions. Grant us that wisdom to know the hope to which we are called with enlightened hearts, and be eager for the time when You, who has been taken up...into heaven, will come in the same way... Amen. Alleluia!

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Prayers of the People: Perfect Conversation, 7th Sunday after Easter, Yr C

For Sunday, May 8, 2016, 7th Sunday after Easter, Year C, Readings: Acts 16:16-34, Ps 97, Revelation 22:12-14; 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26

...Then [the jailer] said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."...He and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. [Acts 16: 30-31, 34b]

It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

[Revelation 22:16]

Jesus...looked up to heaven and said... "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they all may be one...so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. [John 17: 1a, 20-21a, 26b]

Faith is the primary element of Christianity and prayer is the backbone of faith. Of course we must have faith as without it, Christian becomes a mere empty label. Paul shows the power of faith to others and the prisoners stayed and the jailer rejoiced in his own new faith. Yet without prayer, faith itself is unfulfilled, it has limited direction and action. The whole of John 17 is Jesus' prayer before he leaves the disciples to carry on without him but it isn't just about himself or the disciples at hand. It is also about us, Jesus speaks of those who will believe in me through their word.

Now, in this Easter season, is an excellent time for me to examine the state of my faith and how I pray. Do I simply repeat familiar syllables in the liturgical rituals, is prayer only a way to call out for help when I want or need something for myself or someone else? Or, do I thoughtfully, and intentionally, make time to truly and sincerely pray in faith to build my relationship with God? There are innumerable volumes of books written on various forms of prayer, many worth exploring if prayer seems difficult, intimidating, or mysterious. But a simple way to begin again is to think of prayer as an intimate conversation with God, your closest confidante - the Person who knows you better than you know yourself. There are no right words, no correct procedures, just sincerity and faith, even if you think sometimes that your faith is wavering or weak. The mere impulse to pray is proof that a mustard seed amount of faith exists within.
Jesus shows us the way of prayer - it strengthens faith, draws us together in community, and gives us blessings and hope. Prayer is, quite simply, the most perfect conversation we can ever have. Any time, any place, any way - aloud, silently, written, poetic, scattered, rambling. There is always an interested non-judgmental Listener. Prayer is the opportunity, in faith, to place cares, woes, hopes, dreams, thanksgivings, contrition, in the Heart of God. Let us pray without ceasing [1 Thessalonians 5:17].

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Savior Christ, You are the bright morning star of Creation, loved from before the world was founded. Draw us into the prayer of faith that binds us to You and to each other, to all be as one, complete in the eternal love of God.