Meditation Moment: A Great War and The Greatest Commandment ~ November 11, 2022

11/11/1918 One hundred four years ago on this date, World War I officially ended with an armistice, an agreement to cease fighting, after four years of horrific warring. On this date, November 11, that was once known as Armistice Day¸ this country now commemorates all US Veterans of military service from all wars, and calls the day Veterans Day. Obviously, few people are alive now who remember the armistice that ended World War I but in history it is remembered as high on the list of the deadliest conflicts ever. Fighting took place all across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific, and parts of Asia. Although not fought in our country, about 4 million US Military as well as men and women civilian volunteers were involved. It is estimated that between 9 and 11 million military personnel of the world were killed, that’s about the populations of Delaware and New Jersey combined. There were up to 13 million civilians who were killed or, nearly the entire population of Pennsylvania. There were about 23 million military personnel wounded, or all of the states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island combined. WWI in its day was known as The War to End All Wars. And yet, it was not. Take a moment to reflect and imagine all of the people in 3 US states dead; all of the people in 4 US states seriously or critically wounded.

  Something that happened over a hundred years ago, or 70, or 50, or 20 seems irrelevant in our own time, but we mark this date because we are called to stop and think and remember those who gave their lives then, since,  and who are giving them now, including their loved ones ~ parents, spouses, and children who have also lost an important person in their lives. Why is it important? If we cannot imagine the people of those fairly recent times, how then can we relate to the person of Jesus, and his disciples in their time facing the brutality of martyrdom yet continuing to move forward with the courage and fortitude from faith in Christ? We mark November 11 as more than a holiday, a word that stems from holy day, as important to the collective memory of humanity, to learn from again and again. Even more significant, we are to mark Christmas as a truly holy commemoration well beyond mere decorations and gifts, and Easter as the signature of Christ and Christianity, not just candy in colorful baskets.

   As we move ahead in the calendar, next up is our Thanksgiving, a time set aside to remember, to cherish our families and friends, and stop to give thanks intentionally and consciously in prayer for the blessings of this life, far outside the scope of food and football. We are also called to add regularly to the blessings of others by our gifts to help those less fortunate, as well as gifts of time, talent, and monetary treasure to our parish. Most importantly, this season of remembering is to strengthen our own faith in Jesus our Christ, our Messiah, our Redeemer, who has welcomed the souls of all our faithful departed from the extraordinary of global wars and the ordinary difficulties and joys of day-to-day life. Jesus welcomes us, the living, in every moment of every day and asks only that we follow Him in our thoughts, words, and actions. In the Greatest Commandment, Jesus exhorts us to love God with all our hearts, all our souls and all our minds, and love our neighbors ~ the ones we like and the ones we do not like ~ as if they are ourselves. We all fail in so many ways, through wars within ourselves and with each other yet we can come back to Jesus, time and time and time again to ask forgiveness and Jesus will never fail us.

From The Book of Common Prayer, page 823:

25. For those in the Armed Forces of our Country

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayers of the People: From Then 'Til Now, and Beyond ~ 23rd Sunday after Pentecost '22 Yr C

For Sunday, November 13, 2022, Readings: Malachi 4:1-2a, Psalm 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19

    But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. [Malachi 4:2a]

    O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things...Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth...He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. [Psalm 98:1a, 4a, 9b]

       For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work...Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. [2 Thessalonians 3:11,13]

    When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified…many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and “The time is near!” Do not go after them…By your endurance you will gain your souls. [Luke 21:8b, 9a, 19]

      We are finishing up election season in this country and elsewhere as I write, and all the potential and threatening narratives of outcomes and events around the world seem to be written into this Gospel, indeed in all of these readings. The vitriol, derisiveness, and divisiveness of the electioneering has families and friends turning against each other. There are earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, terrorist acts, random violence, personal tragedies, and somewhere there are lions, and tigers, and bears, Oh My, and things that go bump in the night. 

      Let us take a breath and stop living in the fear that more terrible things will happen. Yes, of course they will, they ALWAYS HAVE, from the beginning of time not a day goes by on this earth without something dreadful happening to someone, or to many, and the instant access to muddied headlines confirms the fear we are conditioned to have to keep us from moving forward in faith. But life is filled with many wonderful and life-giving moments also, if we but look for and turn to the light to find, see, and appreciate them.

      Jesus tells us not to fear wars and insurrections, betrayals, natural disasters, and not to be led astray by those who falsely claim to know when the end time is near. Whether or not we each and every are living in a difficult time at this moment, Jesus told us: I will give you words and a wisdom...By your endurance you will gain your souls. 

      Whatever our individual fears, know that the fears of others are the same. Let our enduring work begin with prayer for confidence in God's sun of righteousness to rise. Let us shake ourselves out of idleness borne of the paralysis of fear that masks itself as hate and anger. Let us move out of living in grief to finding grace-filled purpose in our brief earthly time. Let us not be idle in our faith together or separately, and never, ever, weary of doing what is right. Whatever is to come, take heart in the assurance that if we stay together and in faith on this path, our souls will not perish through any evil doing now nor in any time to come. Let us keep Jesus as the Bedrock of our Faith, from all that has gone before, is now, and will ever be; from then 'til now, and beyond. Let us each day Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord of Hosts, strengthen us to begin within ourselves to sing a new song of Your marvelous works in our midst. Free us from idle faith and empower our hearts to serve You with joy, even in the midst of difficult times, never wearying of doing all that is right in Your name.                                      

                                                       O God of Righteousness      

RESPONSE:                In joy we revere Your Name

~ O Lord of Hosts, we lift up our prayers for all who lead this World, this Country, and this Community by election, fiat, or inheritance. Implant in their souls a deepening hunger for unquestionable integrity, global and local peace, and justice tempered with mercy for all people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Righteousness

                                                       In joy we revere Your Name

~ O Lord of Hosts, nestle the aching, the fearful, and the desperate in Your loving embrace, and revitalize all who support their needs.  We now join our hearts to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Righteousness

                                                       In joy we revere Your Name      

~ O Lord of Hosts, we give You thanks for lives well led as the Heavenly gates open for our beloved, who now live again in glory of life everlasting in Christ. We pray especially for…add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Righteousness

                                                       In joy we revere Your Name 

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

                                                       O God of Righteousness

                                                       In joy we revere Your Name                     

~ O Lord  of Hosts, quicken the spirits of those called and ordained to speak Your Words and celebrate Your Sacraments, inspiring us all to live lives of selfless intent in this earthly life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Righteousness

                                                       In joy we revere Your Name                                       

The Celebrant adds: O Lord our God, dissolve reluctance and embolden our generosity of spirit as stewards of the sacred trust for Your Earth and each other. Grant us Your Words and Wisdom to strive in faith-filled endurance to gain eternity for our souls. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer Christ, and the Holy Spirit our Advocate, who together with You are our One, Holy and Mighty God, now and forever.   Amen. 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Our Role as Stewards ~ 6th Sunday in the Season of Creation '22 Yr C

For Sunday, November 13th, 2022, Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1a, 2, 4, 8-11; Psalm 116:10-17, 

John Hines**, Matthew 6:25-34

  So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, that you, O Lord, have given me…set it down before the Lord your God and bow before the Lord… [Deuteronomy 26:10]

  How shall I repay the Lord for all the good things he has done for me? [Psalm 116:10]

  For the essential question is not, “How shall the Episcopal Church grow?” - but rather, “How can the Episcopal Church be faithful?” For that is the heritage worth sacrificing for - worth passing on to our children and grandchildren. God forbid that they should come to a time and place unashamed of the Gospel, but ashamed of us. [Former Presiding Bishop John Hines]

  Jesus said, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?...strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." [Matthew 6:25, 33]

*The Season of Creation originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa and was formalized in 2008. Designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective, we use Biblical and other readings pertaining to the specific theme for each of the 7 weeks.  Alternate readings used are posted with asterisk.

Click here for more information about: Season of Creation ~ In The Beginning

Week Vs Theme is: Our Role as Stewards

     Any of us who attend church regularly and considers her-, him-, or themself as a “member” or a “parishioner” or a “congregant” has heard and understands what is meant by Stewardship. The dictionary defines it as: the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving. Inside the church much is needed to support the staff, the worship, the physical plant, with all the elements of church (small “c”) that we Episcopals/Anglicans call time, talent, and treasure. Outside the walls, the needs are exponentially greater. All of us, each of us are called by Our Lord to give of our selves significantly from what God has given us. Money, or treasure, of course, is what we hear as foremost on the list of needs and wants for inside and outside. Yet there is much more to our role as steward within the Body of Christ.
     We also hear of Stewardship as an element to church growth. Our past Presiding Bishop Hines wrote that while he would rejoice at a multitude of conversions, his hope was for a witnessing community of unquestioned integrity. Further, he says (to imagined groans from the Finance Chair), that the essential question is not, ‘How can the Episcopal Church [insert other denomination or faith community here] grow?’ but rather, ‘How can the Episcopal Church [other denomination] be faithful?’ He tells us that if we want our heritage passed on to younger generations they should come to a time and place unashamed of the Gospel [emphasis added]. We do not want them ashamed of us for creating an exclusive place only for wielding power and influence and losing our way to Christ. 
     The Rev. Eric Law, in his book Holy Currencies: 6 Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries, shows us a different way to think about the flow of currencies in our lives. Within the usual offerings of time, talent, and treasure is contained a breadth and depth of re-imagining and discovering our personal gifts for ministry that take us well beyond the scope of a seasonal directive. Stewardship ~ Missional Ministry ~ is not merely a specific program for a specific time of year, but rather it is a way of life through which we continue to fulfill our Baptismal, Confirmation, and/or less formal vows to be faithful to God.
         As John Wesley said, "Not, how much money will I give to God, but how much of God's money will I keep for myself?" And that equation works equally well with the other two elements of the stewardship trio: time and talent. I don't know what tomorrow will bring for my community, my country, or this world, but I will pray without ceasing for the faith, the energy, mindset, to be a continuously generous person, to be the Church [capital "C"] as a Christian in the world with many stewarding roles. A faith community builds us up and sends us out and needs our support in every way. The CHURCH is not inside a building, it is in whatever we do together and on our own, to be true, faithful witnesses as part of the Body of Christ by every thought, word, and action. That said, the physical church is a place to gather and be spiritually refueled to take on all that is outside and it does require ongoing sources of funding as well as other resources for all of the seen and unseen support it provides.
         Jesus reminds us, that through faithful endurance, in giving and receiving, we will gain the strength of our souls to ensure our eternal bounty.

**Reading #2: A Reading from Former Presiding Bishop John E. Hines: 

What I hope for has little to do with growth in communicant strength, though I would rejoice at a multitude of conversions possessing integrity. This has little to do with bigger budgets, nothing to do with maintaining a respected place with the carriage-trade clientele of our society. I hope for a witnessing community of unquestioned integrity. It may - in the future, this Church of ours - be an even smaller Church because of its witness; less powerful, and less influential - as a secular society gauges power and influence. For the essential question is not, “How shall the Episcopal Church grow?” - but rather, “How can the Episcopal Church be faithful?” For that is the heritage worth sacrificing for - worth passing on to our children and grandchildren. God forbid that they should come to a time and place unashamed of the Gospel, but ashamed of us. 

~ Kenneth Kesselus, John E. Hines, from Farewell Sermon in Granite on Fire, Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, 1995. Bishop Hines served as the 22^nd Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1965-1973

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord our God, re-awaken us to the bounty of Your Creation, the miracle of this earth and its treasures. Let us, and all who reside among us, celebrate and offer ourselves as grateful stewards of this sacred trust in times of plenty and also in time of hardship.

                                                      O God of Power and Wonder           

RESPONSE:                We bow in faith and witness          

~ O Lord our God, we lift up our prayers for all who lead this World, this Country, and this Community by election, fiat, or inheritance. Implant in their souls a deepening hunger for unquestionable integrity, global and local peace, and justice tempered with mercy for all the people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Power and Wonder

                                                       We bow in faith and witness

~ O Lord our God, nestle the aching, the fearful, and the desperate in Your loving embrace, and revitalize all who support their needs. We now join our hearts to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Power and Wonder

                                                       We bow in faith and witness        

~ O Lord our God, grant us a foretaste of the joy, as the Heavenly gates open for our beloved, who now live in glory in Your Eternal land of milk and honey. We pray especially for…add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Power and Wonder

                                                       We bow in faith and witness 

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

                                                       O God of Power and Wonder

                                                       We bow in faith and witness

                   

~ O Lord our God, quicken the spirits of those called and ordained to speak Your Words and celebrate Your Sacraments, inspiring us all to live lives of selfless intent in this earthly life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O God of Power and Wonder

                                                       We bow in faith and witness

                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds: Loving, Patient God, with unashamed confidence in the Holy Gospel of Christ, we seek to repay all You have given us in this time and place. Grant us endurance in faith to gain eternity for our souls and fulfill our vows through the mantle of servanthood in Your Name. We beseech Jesus, our Redeemer Christ, the Holy Spirit, Counselor to our souls, and our Creator Lord, who together are One God, now and forever. Amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com