People's Prayers

Monday, April 30, 2018

Prayers of the People: Even Them, Always ~ 6th Sunday of Easter '18 Yr B

For Sunday, May 6, 2018, 6^th Sunday of Easter, Year B, Readings: Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out, even on the Gentiles...Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" [Acts 10:45, 46b-47]

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things...He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God... In righteousness shall he judge the world, and the peoples with equity. [Ps 98:1, 4, 10]

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child…For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments…for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory…our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [1 John 5:1, 3a, 4-5]

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love...This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you...And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last... [John 15:9, 12, 16b]

THREE YEARS AGO, that is, in 2015, I wrote the following:

How intrusive is this [Gospel] message against the backdrop of mistrust, hatred of "the other," and the seemingly endless and rampant violence across the world and even into our very local communities? Them vs Us, You vs Me, This is Mine, is the "old song" that never tires of repeating. And the "circumcised believers...were astounded" that the Holy Spirit was given "even to the Gentiles." Peter was clear that the water of baptism cannot be withheld from even those who are different because they "have received the Holy Spirit just as we have..." And Jesus was even more clear: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Is there any room for negotiation here? Those people are doing terrible things so how can Jesus possibly expect us to love them? Well, whether or not he expects it is irrelevant, he commands it. IF we believe in Jesus, then we must bear the fruit of God's love to all people, in all places, and every one is included.

It's more than disheartening to realize that things, three years later, are now exponentially worse on so many levels especially in issues of race, religion, and politics - talk about lions and tigers and bears, oh my! – not to mention dragons and snakes and skunks. Yet there are some seeds of hope grounded in love, amidst the anger, frustration, and despair, that are rising up, beginning to flower, and showing great potential to bear sweet and sustaining fruit for sharing. I have to stop often to remember that Jesus didn't require us to "like" anyone, only love them. We are to seek not only Jesus but ourselves in another. "Oh, really," you say, "nothing of Jesus or me is found in THAT person." Look harder and listen more closely. What you and I think and feel - and say? - about them may very well be what they think and feel and say about us. We are likely to uncomfortably discover that we're not so very different after all. Maybe those others can be slightly easier to love now?

Still, there's no magic here. Our loving of them does not require - nor will it often result in - reciprocation. The dangers, fears, and tensions of the world will not suddenly evaporate because we are loving people. Yes, there is evil intent that no amount of love or understanding will resolve. Therein, my friends, lies the way of faith in community as we listen, hear, and remember the Gospel message together. We can work as a team to learn and practice how to love even those others through the experience of intentional relationship. After all, even in a loving family, not everyone is happy with everyone all the time, but we work through it because of the love. And sometimes we have to let go of the things we don’t like about someone in order to sustain the relationship. It’s hard and often unrewarding work – that is, here, in this life. But we are promised much more than a rose garden for following Christ’s commandment. This life is short though it can feel endless when we encounter very demanding, difficult, and desperate days – and people. Feeling supported in the trials of faith, we can come to believe that working to act in, through, and by love always - as best we can - will get us to always and eternal love.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Christ Jesus, Born of God, as You chose us to be bearers of the fruit of Your eternal love, lift us from the shadows of doubt and awaken our souls to follow Your Commandments to love one another, and to fully abide in You.

God of Mercy and Faithfulness

RESPONSE: Grow us in faith to act always with love

~ Christ Jesus, Born of God, grant us such consciousness of our gifts from the Spirit, that we hold ourselves and those who govern throughout this planet, this country, and this community, accountable; acting always to uphold Your standards of righteousness and equity, on behalf of all people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

God of Mercy and Faithfulness

Grow us in faith to act always with love

~ Christ Jesus, Born of God, lovingly embrace with healing all those who are ill in body, mind, or soul, and all who give them love and care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

God of Mercy and Faithfulness

Grow us in faith to act always with love

~ Christ Jesus, Born of God, with trumpets and the sound of the horn You shout with joy, as those who have risen above this earthly plain are welcomed to the everlasting peace of new life in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

God of Mercy and Faithfulness

Grow us in faith to act always with love

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

God of Mercy and Faithfulness

Grow us in faith to act always with love

~ Christ Jesus, Born of God, we offer special thanksgivings for those among us who are anointed to teach and lead us in Your Word and Ways. Grant them continual renewal of purpose and endless replenishment of vigor. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

God of Mercy and Faithfulness

Grow us in faith to act always with love

The Celebrant adds: Almighty and Ever-Loving God, infuse us with the inner peace and fortitude to let the actions of our lives be the instruments of rejoicing that play a new song of faith and love, each and every day. We ask through Jesus, Your Son, and the Truth of the Holy Spirit, who together with You, are One God, now and forever. Amen.

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Monday, April 23, 2018

Prayers of the People: Branch Out ~ 5th Sunday of Easter '18 Yr B

For Sunday, April 29, 2018, 5th Sunday of Easter, Year B, Readings: Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:24-30, 1 John 4:7-21,
John 15:1-8

Then the Spirit said to Phillip, "Go over to his chariot and join it." So Phillip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" [Acts 8:29-31a]

The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: "May your heart live for ever!"...My soul shall live for him... [Psalm 22:25, 29a]

Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers and sisters are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. [1 John 4:20]

Jesus said to his disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit...Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches." [John 15:1-2, 4b-5a]

Spring has arrived in this part of the globe, at long last by some standards, after a seemingly endless and relentless winter. The weekend cacophony of lawn mowers, weed trimmers, ATVs, and skateboards rises with the temperature. Gardeners are happily and belatedly filling their wheeled carts with soil, compost, and mulch, cleaning away the debris of autumn and winter, preparing the earthen beds for planting, and pruning shrubs, bushes, and trees.

Every gardener, even one with a single small plant, knows that good growth requires maintenance. Some plants, such as a grapevine or an apple tree, need pruning to make them stronger and able to produce more and better fruit. Along with water, sunshine, and good soil, a gardener must tend the pots, rows, fields, or orchards with care, knowledge of weather, season, and region or growing zones.
This week, as Spring is sprung here, Jesus tells us that he is the true vine and that God is the vinegrower. Jesus calls us to abide in him as he abides in us, joined to him as branches on the vine. We will bear much fruit if we seek to prune our inner deadwood to clear the way for new spiritual sprouting. But the fruit we bear is not for our own care and feeding ~ it is to be shared with others for their nurture and growth. As we, the branches, grow stronger, we draw together as brothers and sisters in a community of faith, hope, and eternal love in and with Christ as our Vine, the Holy Spirit as our Guide to understanding, and God Almighty as our ultimate Gardener/Vinegrower. Even if Autumn is the new season where you are, there is always much to do to prepare your inner garden for the winter ahead. Time to branch out, fruitfully, with Jesus.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, prepare our souls as the fertile soil that will bring forth the harvest of Your love and peace. Teach us to see, know, and nourish all people as our brothers and sisters, companion branches in God’s Holy Vineyard.

Infinite, Abiding Lord

RESPONSE: Guide us to perfect love

~ Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, transform our complacence into compassion and ignite desire and courage within us to stand in faith and act together, for all who are denied justice across this world and at national and local levels. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Infinite, Abiding Lord

Guide us to perfect love

~ Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, comfort and heal all who are poor in health and spirit, and grant energy to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Infinite, Abiding Lord

Guide us to perfect love

~ Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, fill us with praise and gladness and hope as the souls of those we love and sent ahead now live again, sheltered in eternity by Your forever Heart. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Infinite, Abiding Lord

Guide us to perfect love

~ Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Infinite, Abiding Lord

Guide us to perfect love

~ Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, bless all who give their lives in service to Your Church, and walk with us through sometimes fallow fields and barren orchards, as we seek the joy in knowing You are with us in this brief life, and forever in the next. We pray especially for: We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Infinite, Abiding Lord

Guide us to perfect love

The Celebrant adds: Living God, Eternal Vinegrower, prune detachment and sin from our hearts to cultivate strong, dynamic, and fruitful branches that flourish, not wither, as we abide always in You. We ask this through Jesus, our True and Perfect Vine, and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Guide, who together with You, live and reign as One God forever and ever. Amen.

Monday, April 16, 2018

Prayers of the People: Flock on! ~ 4th Sunday of Easter '18 Yr B

For Sunday, April 22, 2018, 4^th Sunday of Easter, Year B, Readings: Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders...This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you...it has become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else... [Acts 3:8, 11-12a]

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want...Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me...Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. [Psalm 23:1, 4, 6]

How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
[1 John 3:17-18]

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and the will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
[John 10:14-16]

The poetry of Psalm 23 speaks to us in the simplest of terms that belie the intricacy of its depth. Jesus would, of course, have known the psalm and it is a perfect pairing to his continuing "discussion" with the religious authorities in this week's Gospel of John.
The symbolism in this well-known Psalm is far more complex and fascinating than just the obvious image of a man walking down a country lane with a big staff and a dog, the shepherds of the arid regions of the middle east separating sheep from goats, or the pretty girl of nursery rhymes with a bow on her crook as the sheep dutifully follow. Along with the earlier verses in John 10 (which I encourage you to read), taken line by line we can see, feel, and almost hear Jesus, our Shepherd, with us, reviving, caring, comforting, and anointing. Watching over us, preparing our table, restoring us; nothing we need is withheld.
Our Good Shepherd's job is never done. The demands on real living shepherds are constant and endless. Sheep are peculiarly needy and helpless creatures, quite restive, and even self-destructive at times. They can stand still for hours or bolt into stampede because an apple drops unexpectedly from a tree. The shepherd must keep continuous vigil against disease, insect infestations, predators, pecking-order fights, escape artists, water, and food supplies. Sheep will NOT lie down unless they are completely contented and secure. A special oil mixture that the shepherd prepares and swabs (anoints) around each sheep's head and nose keeps deadly insects from burrowing and causing panic, disease, and injury, and the sheep is calmed for at least a little while. Then there are shearing and lambing seasons...*
The sheep know their shepherd's voice and it comforts them. Do we know the voice of our Shepherd? Do we stand by as those in our own or other flocks are in need and refuse - or neglect - to give help? Jesus, as Peter told those in religious and political authority after the Crucifixion, was the Cornerstone of our Salvation rejected and executed by them. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd stood firmly, and peacefully, in the midst of their persecution and laid down his life for us, his sheep. Some days I feel pretty sheepish and need that still small voice of God, as reminder to get back into the flock, to follow and, in confidence, abide in the one who abides in us. Time for this sheep to shape up and flock on! How about you?

*I commend to you a charming and interesting little book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller, himself a modern-day shepherd, for a closer look at the connections between the Psalm's imagery and real life sheep farming.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Holy Christ, Loving Shepherd, guide our souls to lay aside trivial earthly wants for eternal shelter in Your verdant pasture, where our spirits are nourished, we learn to know Your voice as You know ours, and answer Your call.