People's Prayers

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Meditation Moments: Lent Begins ~ Don't Just Give Up, Take On ~ Ash Wednesday '18

For Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018

The fronds from last year's Palm Sunday have been burned to ash. We've filled up on Mardi Gras, which literally means Fat Tuesday, by participating in a carnival festival and/or eating loads of pancakes or whatever other "fattening" feast is available. The day before Ash Wednesday is also known as Shrove Tuesday as we are soon to be shriven, that is, if we present ourselves for confession, repentance, and penance. And now, Lent.

The word "Lent" comes from the old Anglo-Saxon language and essentially means "lengthen" as in the days lengthening in the Spring. Of course, in the Southern Hemisphere, the days are shortening so the perspective is a little different. However, we who are Christians from the Roman, Orthodox, or Anglican traditions all observe the same 40 days of Lent. It is to mirror the 40 days and nights Jesus spent alone in the wilderness, after his Baptism by John, being tempted by Satan, in preparation for the official start of his ministry that began when he returned.

Sundays are in Lent, rather than of Lent. A picky detail but if you've ever counted the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter....more than 40 days because Sundays aren't actually counted as they are in other liturgical seasons.
Even if you are not a church-goer, or in a denomination that experiences Lent, for someone who has faith, or wants to have faith, or whose faith has been shaken or is shaky, Lent is a season to rediscover our relationship with God and renew our commitment to it. It is a time for reflection of our past actions, our genuine intentions, and the repair of our souls. Some of us will be marked on our foreheads this day with the sign of the cross in the palm ashes. This is an outward sign of and inward recognition of our human mortality. Christian or not, we all know the expression Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. No matter how high one reaches in life, or how low, we all return to dust.

During these 40 days, some of us will enter into a period of dedicated fasting, prayer, and self-denial. Some will give up things such as chocolate, alcohol, or cigarettes, some will take on activities such as daily meditation or volunteer work. Some will begin in earnest and maintain their discipline and others will fall away in distraction or be a bit haphazard. There's no right or wrong way to do Lent when you are intentional about wanting to be closer to God. Whatever your mode, with or without you, Lent begins...

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and help me find my way back to You. While I would like to show my good intentions by grand repentant gestures and worthy pious activity, I have to be honest here as I know I'm not likely to stick with a full on heavy discipline for 40 whole days. So, for today, please help me clean my heart and restore my soul in other smaller ways such as with patience to give up arguing a point on Facebook and take on being mindful of my thoughts, emotions, and actions while driving and in the grocery store line. Dear Lord of all Peoples, on each day of this Holy Lent ~ and beyond ~ let me understand and live into the words You have given us through Jesus:

"Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who sin against us."

Perhaps that could change us all for the better.

For all this we pray. Amen.

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Monday, February 12, 2018

Prayers of the People: Promises, Promises 1st Sunday in Lent '18 Yr B

For Sunday, February 18, 2018, 1^st Sunday in Lent, Year B, Readings: Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-9, 1 Peter 3:18-22,

Mark 1:19-15

God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you...and every animal of the earth with you...and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh." [Genesis 9:9-11, 15b]

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul, my God I put my trust in you...for You are the God of my salvation...All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness...[Psalm 25: 1a, 2b, 9a]

...in the days of Noah...in which a few, that is, eight persons were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you... [1 Peter 3:20b-21a]

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan...And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan...and the angels waited on him...after John was arrested, Jesus came...saying...repent, and believe in the good news. [Mark 1:9,12-13, 14a, 15b]

From the receding waters of The Flood, to the baptismal waters of the Jordan, and on into the Judean wilderness, we journey this week through the various stages of God's continuing covenant through signs, symbols, and messengers.

God makes a covenant (promise) with Noah and his sons and gives the rainbow as a sign by and for God as a reminder of that promise to us all, God included. Who knew God needed a sticky note, just like the rest of us? I always marvel at rainbows and even though I know rationally it's just a refraction of light through micro water droplets, the fact that a full spectrum of color appears gives me a more mystical experience and, at the very least, I remember the story of the sign given to Noah.

If we are feeling less than adequate in expressing our prayers, the Psalmist paves the way and reminds us of all the ways we can ask God to help us, all the ways that God does help us and, that All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
The author of 1st Peter tells us that our baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience - in effect, we do the promising this time - and it counts even if done by others on our behalf. We can also be baptized by desire, if we haven't been through the ceremonial waters, and make the promise for ourselves. After his own baptism by John, Jesus is driven into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted, later returning to fulfill his vocation to bring us to God. The season of Lent mirrors the 40 days of his experience.
The wilderness in our day can be anywhere that we feel lost and alone, isolated by others or even ourselves, or just plain unworthy, riddled with a sense of guilt for real or imagined sins. Lent is a designated opportunity to actively engage in a relationship with Jesus. By intentionally entering a sort of spiritual wilderness to repent (which actually means to turn toward God), we are able to examine our faith and to find ways to be more dedicated to God wherever we are in our life circumstances. It is a time to recognize and acknowledge all those earthly temptations, those temporal enticements, and everyday idols that distract us from our good intentions and draw us away from committing ourselves to a life more centered in Christ.

We need not take this journey alone, we can walk the path together through individual and communal prayer, meditation, and reflection. Instead of just giving up chocolate, alcohol, or smoking, let's take on this wilderness journey together. Seek out and make a covenant with others for one-on-one discussions as prayer partners, or join a small group – start one yourself, there are plenty of resources around. The partnership can be face-to-face, online in real time or even through phone conversations, email or texts. Let us wait on each other as angels waited on Jesus, in our own space, in our own time, yet together in Christ. I think I'll look for a rainbow colored sticky note for my mirror as a reminder of God's promise to all of us and the promises I've made to God, as well as those good intentions of mine that have wandered away in distractions. Time again to repent and believe in the good news.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of our Salvation, awaken our senses to Your eternal covenant that embraces the whole of Creation from the very ground we live on, to all humankind, and every living creature. Turn us from the pursuit of temporary pleasure to seek eternal life in the Spirit, through trust and faith in You.

Gracious, Loving Lord

RESPONSE: We lift our souls to You

~ O God of our Salvation, grant us the wisdom and willingness to speak with Christ’s voice to every political leader on this Earth, in this Country, and in this Community; and to stand with and encourage all who work diligently for justice, mercy, peace, and the health of all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Gracious, Loving Lord

We lift our souls to You

~ O God of our Salvation, ease the struggle for all who suffer the pain of illness, isolation, or desperation; and sustain the energy of those who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

Gracious, Loving Lord

We lift our souls to You

~ O God of our Salvation, even amidst the shadow of grief, we give praise and thanksgiving for those we love, who have now risen in glory, and returned to life eternal in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Gracious, Loving Lord

We lift our souls to You

~ O God of our Salvation, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

Gracious, Loving Lord

We lift our souls to You

~ O God of our Salvation, whisper Your wisdom deep into the hearts of all who seek Your Spirit within themselves, for the guidance to draw us ever stronger into the community and communion in Your Church. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Gracious, Loving Lord

We lift our souls to You

The Celebrant adds: Living Lord of Love and Faithfulness, infuse us with the desire to use this season of Lent as a time of our own spiritual wilderness for the cleansing of our hearts and souls through repentance, the examination and expansion of our faith, and the renewal of good conscience. We ask this through Christ, who suffered for the sins of us all, and the Holy Spirit, the breath of You in our souls, who together with You, reign as One God, over all Creation, forever and ever. Amen.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Prayers of the People: Taking it to the Top Transfiguration Last Sunday after Epiphany '18 Yr B

For Sunday, February 11, 2018, Transfiguration Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year, Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9

Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground...a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. [2 Kings 2:8, 11b]

The Lord, the God of gods...Our God will come and not keep silence... [Psalm 50:1a, 3a]

Even if the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2 Corinthians 4:3-4]

And [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them...Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" [Mark 9:2b-3, 7]

While the Transfiguration is, most likely, the focal point for this week's sermons across many Christian pulpits, don't discard the other astounding moments we're given with Elijah. Ask your friends, "Where does the water get parted in the Bible?" It's a trick question, of course, so all the more fun! It is a moment easy to overlook but here it is: Elijah struck the water and the water was parted. It is surprising, to me, in its subtlety. No multitudes on a grand escape with a chasing army close on their heels. A simple: part the waters and walk on dry ground. Be honest, did you remember? Even people who don't know the Hebrew Testament often know, at least, that Elijah was carried to heaven in a chariot, if not one of fire pulled by horses of fire; think of the spiritual Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. But we sometimes don't equate that lift-off with ascension. Elijah didn't die. He just merely ascended to heaven after parting the Jordan river with his cloak! um, wow?! Maybe we should look a little closer at Elijah. After all, he appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration along with Moses, it seems we should know more. But for the moment, let us think about this piece from Mark's Gospel.
The Transfiguration is one of the five major markers in the life of Jesus along with his Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. Each event is spectacular in its own right and each gives rise to disbelief, even among those who were present. This particular Gospel moment is located high up on the holy ground of the Mountain; which specific mountain is a matter of discussion and debate among scholars and tour leaders. But let us be released from unbelief and the need for factual details - as Paul reminds us that the Gospel is veiled for the unbelievers. Settle in to the short reading and just be enveloped in the mystery, in the shekinah - the cloud of God's glory. Worry less about ifs and whats and whens and just do as God says - LISTEN to Jesus. As children we believe the stories we are told - the good, the bad, and the scary. We learn to separate truth from fiction as we grow older and yet we can revel in the plot of a page-turner novel or a great film or dramatic tv show. Why not suspend doubt and disbelief and imagine the moment: Jesus transfigured, his clothes became dazzling and a cloud overshadowed them, and out of it came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" I envision the Michaelangelo painting in the Sistine Chapel of Adam's finger nearly touching God's, and on this whichever Mountain, I can see a brilliantly radiant lighted figure who is suddenly at the center where Human and Divine meet and connect within. A spark ignites and The Cloud surrounds and the Voice... take a moment to breathe all that in and just sit with it.
It is time again for me to just listen more and analyze less. The Light of Christ is always on within and without and in any moment of darkness or doubt, I can take it to the top in prayer.
Now go read more about Elijah! Click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord, Our God, guide us away from material distractions that we may lift the Gospel veil to see, listen, and live according to Your Word and Wisdom, the dry ground of our being.

Christ, Most Glorious

RESPONSE: Let Your Light shine through us

~ O Lord, Our God, enfold the leaders of our Planet, our Country, and our Community in a double share of Your Spirit. Open blinded minds by a heaven-sent whirlwind, that illuminates and beckons them to the path of Your truth, justice, and mercy. We pray especially for: Donald, our President; Tom, Chris, and Lisa, our Members of Congress; John, our Governor; Matt, our County Executive; and Mike, our Mayor.

Christ, Most Glorious