A moment of contemplation for yourself or on behalf of others on everything from the life-altering to the mundane.


Prayer: A conversation with The Higher Other who lives within each of us. An invitation to vent, to re-think, to ask, and to rest.

Monday, May 8, 2023

Prayers of the People: Unquestionably ~ 6th Sunday of Easter '23 Yr A

 For Sunday, May 14, 2023; Readings: Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:7-18, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21

 The God who made the world and everything in it...gives to all mortals life and breath...From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth...so that they would search for God...though indeed he is not far from each one of us. [Acts 17:24a, 25b-26a, 27]

      Bless our God...who holds our souls in life...who has not rejected my prayer, nor withheld his love from me. [Psalm 66:7a, 8b, 18b]

  Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear...And Baptism...now saves you - not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ... [1 Peter 3:13-14a, 21] 

   Jesus said, "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...You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you." [John 14:15-18]

      This week's readings begin with reminders of the work of God in Creation, Who, in addition to making the world, gave us life and breath and holds our souls in life. God is known to us if we open ourselves to discover God’s Presence within. While life is often difficult, God is with us throughout it all. Paul tells the Athenians ~ and now us ~ the obvious, God doesn't need anything as God is the Creator who made everything. Furthermore, part of God's plan, is for us to search for and discover God within and around us.
    In the reading from 1st Peter, the writer is comparing those whom God saved through Noah and the Ark as they were safe upon the water and Baptism, which this prefigured and now saves us as an appeal for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus.
   The words Jesus speaks in John's Gospel this week are from the part of John’s Gospel known as The Farewell Discourse that Jesus gave at Last Supper after washing the disciples' feet. The Discourse in John’s chapters 14-17 gives information and instruction to the gathered. We know well of Jesus telling the gathered of the coming betrayal, and Peter's denial. But, there is much more to this conversation. In last week's passage, Jesus says Do not let your hearts be troubled and this week he tells of asking God, on our behalf, for another Advocate who is within us, the Spirit of Truth. He reassures the disciples, who didn't yet understand at this point ~ and we who do now know what was to come ~ that he will not leave us orphaned; we will see him again. 
   When we combine these passages and the ones ahead toward and on the Feast of Pentecost, we find another powerful reminder ~ the constancy of our ever-present God in Three Persons: Creator, Redeemer, Advocate. And the truth is, when we actively work to build and keep a good conscience, and recognize and call upon the Trinity within us, we are more and more able to relinquish the strong hold of earthly distractions along with its fears and griefs, its anger and frustrations.
   The Gospel this week begins with Jesus saying If you love me, you will keep my commandments. It ends with They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.
   We are called to walk through our human existence with our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit of Truth, our Advocate; all are within us on the Way. Knowing we are loved in each and every moment is the understanding of and reminder to give love, even in and with the most difficult of our encounters with God’s own People. Far from easy much of the time, yet as the saying goes, Love IS the answer ~ Unquestionably!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ God of All Creation, we live, we move, and have our being in You, who gave us all life and breath. You overlook our ignorance and never withhold Your love. Quicken our desire to turn toward You, repent for things done and left undone, and pledge our love and obedience to Your Commandments.

                                                  Blessed be our God
RESPONSE:           Who holds our souls in life

~ God of All Creation, embolden and encourage us as we urge productive humanitarian and environmental actions and justice from the political leaders of our Nation, our Community, and our Planet, in the service of safety, mercy, and health for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Blessed be our God
                                                Who holds our souls in life                                          

~ God of All Creation, deliver comfort and hope to all who are sick, anxious, or fearful, and to those who worry and attend to their needs. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Blessed be our God
                                                Who holds our souls in life      

~ God of All Creation, we commend to Your eternal embrace all who have left this mortal life and live again in everlasting joy and glory in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Blessed be our God
                                                Who holds our souls in life

~ God of All Creation, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions 

                                                Blessed be our God
                                                Who holds our souls in life         

~ God of All Creation, lift and renew the spirits of all who lead us in Your church in these difficult days, that they may guide us all to a place of spiritual refreshment through Your Word and by Your Love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Blessed be our God
                                                Who holds our souls in life                                                                                                    
The Celebrant adds: Living, Loving Creator, who holds our souls in life, free us from earthly fears and steady us on our journey to You, as we offer sacrifice and prayer for a good conscience and constant thanksgiving for the Resurrection of Christ. We ask through Jesus our Living Savior; and the Spirit of Truth, our Holy Advocate, who live and reign with You, as One God, forever and ever.  Amen.




















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