For thus says GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY: More so [than these things] my four dreadful judgments I send upon Jerusalem—word, famine, barbarous beasts, and pestilence—to cut off from her humankind and animalkind! And look! There remain in her survivors… bringing forth daughters and sons; they shall come out to you and you all shall see their ways and their deeds, and you all shall be comforted on account of the evil I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon her. [Ezekiel 14:21-22]
Blessed be the Holy Protector, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. We like a bird have escaped from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of God Who is Holy, who made the heavens and earth. [Psalm124:6-8]
They who through faith subdued monarchies, did the work of justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions…since we have surrounding us so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also every weight throw off, along with the sin that distracts; through patience let us run the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus the foundation and fulfilment of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, its shame despising, and at the right hand of the throne of God is seated. [Hebrews:33a, 12:1-2]
“Now just as it was in the days of Noah, thus shall it be in the days of the Son of Woman. Women and men were eating, drinking, marrying, being given in marriage—until the day Noah [and his wife and daughters and sons and daughters-in-law] entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed all of them [and their children]. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot… But on the day that Lot [and his wife and daughters] left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them [and their children]. Accordingly shall it be on the day the Son of Woman is revealed. On that day, anyone on the roof who has belongings in the house must not come down to gather them up and likewise, anyone in the field should not turn back…Remember Lot’s wife. The one who seeks to preserve their life will lose it, but the one who loses their life shall save their life...” [Luke 17:5b-6, 7b]LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Most HOLY PROTECTOR, in troubled and fearful times, guide our hearts and souls to ascend to you for inner comfort and spiritual safety. Fill us with the constant courage to resist and escape the snares of evil acts that diminish the personhood of the many, as they boost the egos of the few.
~ Most HOLY PROTECTOR, for truth and by faith, we stand among those leaders in this world, this nation, and our community, who are pursuing justice and mercy for the oppressed. Strengthen us to work for the defense of those endangered by all who act from ignorance, violence, and greed, and help us to shut the roaring mouths of would-be lions. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
~ Most HOLY PROTECTOR, release from despair all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and grant peace to all their loving helpers. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
~ Most HOLY PROTECTOR, lift us from our sorrow as we know our loved ones live again, in the boundless joy you have prepared for them, and for us, in eternity. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
~ Most HOLY PROTECTOR, we pause in this moment to offer you our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
The Celebrant adds: O God of the Women and Men who were
Prophets and Martyrs, let us throw off the weight of sin that distracts,
leaning on the Cloud of Witnesses that surrounds us, as we, in patience, run
the race of life you have set before us. Urge us to prepare our souls
continuously for the unexpected hour when the Son of Woman returns. We
ask through Jesus, the Foundation and Fulfillment of our Faith; and the Holy
Spirit, our Wisdom Source; who together with you are our One True God, now and
forever. Amen.
*Readings for our
Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil]
Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey
Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is
the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C,
and others in her series, and translator of its biblical selections. I
definitely commend her book for the complete readings, to Clergy and Laity, for
her Text Notes, and “Preaching Prompts” whether or not you will use them in
your Liturgies/Services/Preaching. There is much to learn from her work to
inform every facet of our lives in Christ. To learn more about her and
her work, see her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/