People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: The Reign of Christ 7th Sunday in the Season of Creation '17

For Sunday, November 26, 2017, 7^th Sunday in the Season of Creation, Readings: Colossians 1:15-20, Psalm 24,

Song of Creation*, Matthew 25:31-46

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created...all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. [Colossians 1:15-16a, 19-20]

Who can ascend the hill of the LORD...those who have clean hands and a pure heart, who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud...Lift up your heads oh gates...and the King of glory shall come in. [Psalm 24:3a, 4, 9a,c]

Then the guardian of mankind adorned this middle-earth below, the world for men and women, everlasting Lord, Almighty King. [adapted from Caedmon's song*]

When the Son of Man comes into his glory...All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats...Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me...but the righteous [will go] into eternal life." [Matthew 25:31a, 32, 40, 46b]

The Season of Creation originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa and was formalized in 2008. It is designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective. The overarching theme for 2017 is Environmental Justice inspired in part by the Youth Principles from the Second National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in Washington, DC in 2002, the text of which and a fuller explanation of the Season can be found here: http://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2017/10/prayers-of-people-in-beginning-1st.html We use Biblical and other readings that pertain to the specific theme of each of the 7 weeks of the Season. Alternate readings used will follow the prayers.

Week 7's Theme is: The Reign of Christ

The kingly Christ is now, has always been, will forever be, but the Divine-Human Incarnation, the manifestation of the love of God that is Jesus is just over 2,000 years old. Jesus - the human face of God - came and will come again as God's own divine self on earth. It is more than difficult to comprehend, in those times we stop and remember to try, as inexplicable and unsolvable mysteries often are.

As we strive to be good sheep, our everyday lives, with their ups and downs on a variety of fronts, keep us fairly distracted and it is often very difficult, when confronted with particular issues, to remember to look for Christ in strangers, the sick, the imprisoned, and the poor - and especially in those who seem better off in life than we feel we are, or those who, in our less than best moments, we disparage as goats. Yet our divine calling is to specifically: seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves, and, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being [Baptismal Covenant, U.S. Book of Common Prayer]. Some days, some seasons, some years, it's much easier to be a goat and rest in the more comfy Jesus - the sweet Baby of the Christmas glitter, and, ignoring the other “reason for the season”, the resurrected Jesus in the bright colors of Easter flowers, dyed eggs, and candy.

But as we are at the end of one liturgical season and beginning another, it is time to reconsider our actions as members of the Body of Christ, and truly follow Jesus with intention and consciousness ~ Jesus who is our Messiah, the Rock of our Salvation, Christ the King of Glory. Let us not discard divine mystery for a false reality, but rouse ourselves from the haze of distraction, indifference, and complacency. Let us, as the blessed inheritors of the Kingdom, turn toward the inconvenient call of Christ. After all, if we believe that our very existence on this fragile island planet is truly a gift from God, what is there to lose if we live it through Christ? Wait and you'll see.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Christ Jesus, King of Glory, awaken us again to the wonder of God’s fullness in You and to find You first place in our lives. Guide our faith that we may be gathered as Your sheep, and live into our divine blessings by caring for all among us, even to beckoning the goats of this life, to join with us in Your eternal flock.

Jesus, Face of God

RESPONSE: Let us seek and serve You in all faces

~ Christ Jesus, King of Glory, clean our hands and purify our hearts that we, and the leaders of governments on this Earth, may not pledge ourselves to falsehoods, be sworn to fraud, or embrace injustice and abuse of power anywhere, across the entire realm of God’s Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Face of God