Prayers of the People: You called? 2nd Sunday after Epiphany and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

for Sunday, January 18, 2015, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany and Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr., Readings: Yr B, 1 Samuel 3:1-20, Ps 139:1-5, 12-17; Reading from Rt. Rev Quintin E. Primo, Jr.*, [1 Cor 6:12-20], John 1:43-51    

Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before,“Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  
[1 Samuel 3:10]
...Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”...Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
 [John 1: 43-46]
              We're all invited, we've all been called ~ what is our RSVP?  I show up at church fairly regularly, give to charity, help people from time to time, I even pray and sometimes it isn't just for Divine intervention to get myself out of a jam. But, taking in the readings for this Sunday - have I really answered THE CALL? Have I turned my life over to God, truly followed Jesus, and listened to the Holy Spirit? God knows. 
         Would it were easier to be like young Samuel and merely follow the instructions of an elder. Or to be like Philip, readily follow Jesus and then invite the slightly snarky Nathanael to simply "Come and see." It is time again to consider how I am to live my life. It is never too late to begin - even Constantine, the first Roman Emperor to claim conversion to Christianity, declared Christianity as a state religion, built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Old St Peter's Basilica, convened the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 from which we still use the Nicene Creed, wasn't baptized til his death bed; or St. Augustine of Hippo who said in his Confessions [written between 397-400] that in the early days of his conversion he asked God to make him chaste and continent (self-controlled) but not yet.  SO, when does YET arrive? Or, how many times have I waved it away? God knows.
        What will it mean for my life, how will I have to change, what will others think, am I ready? God knows. Speak, Lord, for I, that is, - um, er - I, your (slightly frightened) servant, is listening. I'm more or less ready to come and see. And, just maybe I'll even be able to pass along the invitation to  someone else to come and see, someday. God knows.
          

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ All-Knowing, All-Seeing God, You have searched us, known us, and named us from even before we were in the womb. Tingle our ears and awaken our hearts that we may hear again, listen, and follow Your call to us. Let our faith be as full as a child’s, our vision as clear as our brother Martin’s, and our fortitude as steadfast as our brother Quintin’s, that we may claim You as our own as You claim us as Yours.

O God, our Strength and our Redeemer           

RESPONSE:  May our souls be free at last to serve You with gladness and singleness of heart

~ All-Knowing, All-Seeing God, in a world of turmoil, hatred, and fear, let us dream no longer but rather, actively seek justice, mercy, and peace from all who govern, dictate, or hold Your people hostage in any way. Let us be among those who make freedom ring from every corner of this earth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Strength and our Redeemer
May our souls be free at last to serve You with gladness and singleness of heart

~ All-Knowing, All-Seeing God, caress the hearts and minds of those who suffer from sickness, addiction, and depression, and give strength to those who give them care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Strength and our Redeemer
May our souls be free at last to serve You with gladness and singleness of heart

~ All-Knowing, All-Seeing God, whisper words of hope to those who are grieving and give them a glimpse of the heavenly mountain top where all Your people live for eternity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Strength and our Redeemer
May our souls be free at last to serve You with gladness and singleness of heart

~ All-Knowing, All-Seeing God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…

O God, our Strength and our Redeemer
May our souls be free at last to serve You with gladness and singleness of heart

                       

~ All-Knowing, All-Seeing God, we give You special thanks for those lead us in Your church and guide us on our journey to You. Grant them wisdom, insight, and hope, and guide them to embolden us to follow and reflect You with our thoughts, words, and actions in each and every day. We pray especially for: add your own petitions and in memory of the witness of Dr. Martin Luther King and Bishop Quintin Primo.

O God, our Strength and our Redeemer
May our souls be free at last to serve You with gladness and singleness of heart
 

The Celebrant adds: Almighty Lord of Justice and Righteousness, give us the courage to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King and Bishop Quintin Primo to seek the path of Christ in our lives, and to believe that through our individual and collective actions, we will overcome violence, oppression, and intolerance and be a force for unity and equality for all. We ask through Your Son, Jesus Christ who calls us to follow Him, and through the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, who together with You reign as One God, One Lord of All now and forever.  Amen.

The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in Wilmington, Delaware was formed as an intentionally diverse congregation and celebrates the legacy of Dr. King on this Sunday, and also that of the Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr, who many of us were privileged to know. This is a reading from his autobiography. For more information on this unusual faith community, see www.ssam.org

*A reading from “The Making of a Black Bishop”
   by the Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr. [1913-1998]

       Thinking of novel ways to serve the diocese (Rochester, NY) ...on behalf of St. Simon’s Young People’s Fellowship, we sponsored an annual diocesan-wide choral evensong service for Episcopal young people. The attendance grew from less than 100 the first year to more than 500. The event was designed to accomplish two purposes: to revive the beautiful and once popular sung evening prayer worship service held in many Episcopal churches during the 30’s and 40-s...; and, to provide safe, congenial, and non-threatening surroundings for black and white urban and suburban, small town and rural, middle-class and underclass, and sometimes “no class” young people to socialize, discuss racial and social problems, and proffer practical solutions. Participating clergy persons, youth advisers, parents and the young people themselves benefited enormously from their open discussions and shared experiences.

       For example, one morning in Chicago, a young white priest came to my office and asked my secretary to see me “for two minutes. The thought-to-be- stranger identified himself by saying, “Bishop Primo, as a high schooler and teenager, I participated in your yearly choral evensong services for young people at Simon’s in Rochester, New York. I was so inspired by them and you, that I with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, decided to become a priest and professional counselor. I want to thank you again, and let you know that I am available to serve as a weekend supply priest should you need me….”

       A few weeks later, the incident was repeated. This time it was a U.S. Marine Chaplain form Virginia, who was in Chicago on business. Entering my office, he said, “I have little time as a taxi is outside waiting to take me to O’Hare Airport. However, I felt could not leave Chicago without seeing you and telling you that I was a teenager when you were at St. Simon’s…..Father Dan Bennett brought me up twice to your annual choral evensong service for young people. I learned a lot about racial understanding and tolerance, and now I am a champion of human rights for all.” I was deeply touched by the Chaplain’s surprise visit and testimony of what those evening prayer services, discussions and socializing had meant to him. I knew there were others who had had similar experiences that I would never know about; it supported the fact that if you reach diverse people in their attitude and behavioral formative years and bring them together for positive and enlightening interaction, the seeds of racial tolerance, unity and understanding can be models and references that impact the remainder of their lives and those with whom they come in contact.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Prayers of the People: Wade in the Water, 1st Sunday after Epiphany

for January 11, 2015, 1^st Sunday after Epiphany, Year B, Readings: Genesis: 1-5, Ps 29, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11   

   

    In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."  [Mark 1:4-11]

          Baptism, for some a rite of initiation and adoption into the Christian faith, for others a sacrament of the Christian Church, required by some, deemed unimportant by others. Whether by aspersion (sprinkling), affusion (pouring), immersion (total or partial, standing or kneeling, or submersion), as an infant, child, or adult, water is the channel of holiness, although there is admission through Baptism of Desire - if you want it, you have it. But John is clear that only Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Yet many of us who have been baptized as infants or, even as older children or adults, take this Blessing for granted.
          There is credible historical evidence, outside of the Gospel descriptions, of the Baptism of Jesus and it is considered the beginning of his Ministry. We are called by Jesus to follow, why not begin at the beginning? The words of an old Negro Spiritual say it best. God will trouble the water - stir it up - so we can see the right place to enter:  

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water
God's a-going to trouble the water

Look over yonder, what do you see?
God's a-going to trouble the water
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me
God's a-going to trouble the water

         From the waters of Creation, to the waters of Baptism, Christ is our bridge over waters troubled and calm and who comes to set our souls ablaze with the infusion of the Holy Spirit. Whether baptized before now or not, it's time to be refreshed and renewed as we begin our own ministry again. Come on in, the water is fine.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Almighty and Divine Creator, in the Beginning, from the waters of the formless void and darkness, You brought forth light and life. From the waters of Birth and Baptism, Christ came forth as our new Beginning, bringing new life and new light to the darkness in our souls. Let this be a new First Day as we come forth to receive our Baptism in the Spirit and to serve Christ in others and ourselves.

Spirit of the Living God

RESPONSE:  Fall afresh on us as we strive to please You well in every day

~ Almighty and Divine Creator, strengthen us to carry Your voice over the troubled waters of political oppression, injustice, and greed. Let us be heard in the halls of government, through the channels of diplomacy, and in the spheres of corporate influence as we demand peace for all of Your people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us as we strive to please You well in every day

~ Almighty and Divine Creator, calm the hearts and minds of those unsettled by illness, physical challenge, or despair. Bring rest to them and to those who provide for their needs. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us as we strive to please You well in every day

~ Almighty and Divine Creator, help those immersed in grief find solace knowing those who have gone ahead are now risen in the splendor of Your eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us as we strive to please You well in every day

~ Almighty and Divine Creator, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us as we strive to please You well in every day

~ Almighty and Divine Creator, ascribe Your special blessings to those who lead us to wade with them in the waters of faith and hope, as we discover together Your holy will for us. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us as we strive to please You well in every day

The Celebrant adds: Holy LORD of Power and Glory, free us from the turbulence of doubt and inaction, and guide us to quench our spiritual thirst in the living waters of Christ’s Baptism. We ask this through Jesus, Your Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit, our Fount of Wisdom, who together with You are One God, now and for ever.   Amen.

Alvin Ailey - Wading in the Water

                                  If the video does not display, go to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H49lzTf6-mE


Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. 

Meditation Moments: Hope Dawns at Midnight, again...

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
whispering 'it will be happier'
~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson* [1809-1892]

For last year's words belong to last year's language 

and next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

~ T.S. Eliot* [1888-1965]

            Each midnight is like another: we approach, we cross over - awake or not - the day and date change, we move forward in time. The new day will dawn and will bring every possible outcome from joy to fear to monotony to sorrow, to every kind of weather; an ending of one and the beginning of another. 
            Hope beckons us to cross the threshold of a year consciously, if only briefly, to be here now and to let go of then, to accept the changes and chances that occur and to adjust our sails to the winds and tides. That small whisper of happier  can help us to find our next year's words and voice, if we let it.

          It is useful, isn't it, to have these periodic moments, one new day to the next, one new week to the next, one season, a year...so that even when we're mostly lost in life's daily challenges that run the gamut between tedium and frenzy, the calendar, the clock, the Universe, give us the opportunity to stop, breathe, and take the next step with thoughtful intention.

Creator of the Dawn and Dark,
        Help me, again and still, to remember to seek You in the Light as well as in the Dark, when alone and in the midst of many, and to be grateful for each and every moment of this year that is passing ~ the good, the bad, the ugly, the tears of happiness and sadness, and the lessons learned from each. Most of all, let me feel Your presence in every breath and every step as each day ahead moves into the next. I want to promise not to fall from or fail You, but knowing myself as I do, I will resolve to do the best I can with all that comes my way. And when that page turns, the dawn breaks through, or the alarm clock jolts me into waking, I will work at remembering that You are with me, welcoming me, beckoning me into the promise of another day of life. Let me live my life well, in this New Year, mindfully in Your service, and especially for those who would wish to live fully but can no longer.  amen.




*Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during Queen Victoria's reign.  One of his most cherished works is the historical poem about "The Charge of the Light Brigade" with the famous lines: Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do or die. Into the Valley of Death rode the six hundred."

*T.S. Eliot was born in St. Louis, Missouri but ultimately emigrated to England becoming a citizen. A graduate of Harvard and of Merton College, Oxford, he later taught English at the University of London and won the 1948 Nobel Prize for Literature. Many of his poems are very well known, especially his "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." 




Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: Star Bright, Magi-cal Light ~ Epiphany!

For Sunday, January 4, 2015, Epiphany, Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6, Ps 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12  

EPIPHANY! 

THEOPHANY!

REVELATION!

INCARNATION!

       Astounding, Bewildering, Astonishing...Are there enough superlatives to describe all that this holy day represents?  Of course, we could use the same words for Christmas and this is, by extension, and in the compression of time given in the Gospels, continuing the celebration of the birth of our Messiah. At the Nativity of Jesus, Luke tells us that the angels appeared to the shepherds who received the good news of great joy, but Luke never mentions the Magi. Matthew never mentions the shepherds or even the birth itself except for a brief phrase: "...until she had borne a son; and he [Joseph] named him Jesus." [Matthew 1:25b] Matthew told us of the "...wise men from the East..." [Mt 2:1b] who had seen a great star that revealed to them the need for a journey to pay homage to a new born king of the Jews. Herod gets involved and we begin to see the ominous cloud moving in to shadow the glorious star. But are we listening as it is read again, having heard this story so very many times? Have we ever wondered what it could possibly mean for us in our time?

       Perhaps the season has worn us down, the pageantry and the glorious music, the hustle and bustle of preparation for gifts and food and gatherings, the familiar rush of a given time of year. Perhaps Epiphany has come to be an anti-climax, the end of the story rather than the beginning of a new chapter. So let us hear the story again, as if for the very first time - we have an extraordinary gift, Christ, Our Lord, has been born to us! Let us REJOICE and BE GLAD!
       It is a new beginning, another chance to finally hear  and to actually believe. And then I must consider, how will I pay homage, follow and live into the light and life of Christ from here? How can I discover the Magi-cal gifts in my own life? Listen...

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Holy Messiah, Heartbeat of God, let us come together as Your people, to lift our eyes and see the brightness of Your eternal dawn, to know the peace that You bring to us again and again, to openly receive the promised gift of our salvation.

                        Lord Jesus, Light of Heaven on Earth   

RESPONSE:  We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your Glory

~ Holy Messiah, Heartbeat of God, with Your radiance as our guide, let us actively work to reverse the travesties of violence, oppression, and injustice, from the imperial powers of our own day. Let us be models of the very compassion and peace that we demand of our leaders for all the people in our world, in our country, and in our community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord Jesus, Light of Heaven on Earth

We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory  

~ Holy Messiah, Heartbeat of God, brighten the hearts and souls of those in the grip of illness, depression, or hopelessness. Let Your comforting presence surround and support them and those who give them care.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

Lord Jesus, Light of Heaven on Earth

We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory  

                       

~ Holy Messiah, Heartbeat of God, we ask that the extraordinary joy of Your birth comfort those lost in grief and envelop those who rejoice with new life in the eternity of heaven. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord Jesus, Light of Heaven on Earth

We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory  

~ Holy Messiah, Heartbeat of God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…

Lord Jesus, Light of Heaven on Earth

We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory  

                       

~ Holy Messiah, Heartbeat of God, as the Magi returned to their own kingdoms to spread the word of Your birth, so, too, the wise women and men who lead us in Your church prayerfully bring to us Your words, works, and wonders, that we may follow You and accept our liberation from sin.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

Lord Jesus, Light of Heaven on Earth

We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory

The Celebrant adds: Holy Jesus, Wholly God, grant us the willingness and courage to give our souls to You as the guiding star of the dark moments of life, our rising and sustaining sun in each and every day. We ask in humility through our Almighty Creator of all that is, and the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, who together with our Christ are One God, in the never-ending resplendence of eternity. Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: The Gift that Keeps Giving, 1st Sunday after Christmas

for 12/28/2014, 1^st Sunday after Christmas, Readings: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Ps 147:13-21, Galatians 3:23-26, 4:4-7; John 1:1-18
  

He became what we are

that he might make us

what he is. 

              – Athanasius of Alexandria [ca296-373 CE]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and lived among us...
[John 1:1,14a]

How many times have we heard the beginning of the Gospel of John? Of course we have probably more often heard the recognizable phrasing that "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." Have you ever actually thought about what it means or is it just a familiar refrain that passes by? For me, it crystallizes more clearly in part of the 6th century creed from Dublin known as Tírechán’s Creed when speaking of God it says:

He has a Son who is co-eternal with himself;

   and similar in all respects to himself;

   and neither is the Son younger than the Father,

   nor is the Father older than the Son;

   and the Holy Spirit breathes in them.

And the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are inseparable.

            So now, thinking through the opening of John's Gospel, Jesus - who in the beginning is the Word  of God, who is with God, who is God, and then becomes fully human and lives among us - is suddenly changed from a vague intellectual concept of the Word  to what is now flesh, blood, breathing, beating heart, like us. Jesus, God's Promise, our Redeemer, is born, an integral part of the Holy Trinity has come to be as we are to make us as He is, again. Now that's a Gift that keeps on giving - what will we give in return?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Creator God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, into this fullness of time You have sent our Messiah, woman-borne, to redeem us as Your own children. Let us rejoice with our whole beings, as heirs of Your eternal Kingdom, justified by faith, proclaimers of Christ’s grace and truth.

                        Triune God - LORD, Word, and Spirit                                     

RESPONSE:  You are our Light in the darkness, may our lives reflect Your glory

~ Creator God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, help us to embrace the Spirit of the Son that You have sent into our hearts. Grant us the courage to raise up the call for righteousness, peace, and mercy to those in governments and holders of authority, lawful and otherwise, in our own country and across the earth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      Triune God - LORD, Word, and Spirit                                     

                      You are our Light in the darkness, may our lives reflect Your glory

 

~ Creator God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, let us stand outside of ourselves to see with new eyes those who are ill, lonely, homeless, or desperate, and find ways to provide needed love and help. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      Triune God - LORD, Word, and Spirit                                     

                      You are our Light in the darkness, may our lives reflect Your glory

 

~ Creator God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, shelter those bearing the weight of grief, especially at this time, as we remember those we love who are now complete in the radiance and joy of Your eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      Triune God - LORD, Word, and Spirit                                     

                      You are our Light in the darkness, may our lives reflect Your glory

 ~ Creator God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…

                      Triune God - LORD, Word, and Spirit                                     

                      You are our Light in the darkness, may our lives reflect Your glory
 

 ~ Creator God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, illuminate anew the souls and hearts of those entrusted to bring us Your Word and Sacraments. Grant that we may join them in their fervor and walk together in Love as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 

                      Triune God - LORD, Word, and Spirit                                     

                      You are our Light in the darkness, may our lives reflect Your glory

 

The Celebrant adds: Holy and Almighty God, we are created by You to be Your fertile soil in this world. Let us bring forth the seeds of new life in Christ according to Your holy will. We ask through Jesus, our Savior and the Holy Spirit, our Source of Wisdom, who together with You are One God, now and through eternity. Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: Happy Birth Day! Christmas!

for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, 2014, Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7 [or Isaiah 62:6-12] , Ps 96 or 97, Titus 2:11-14, Lk 2:1-20 [reading Christmas Eve from The Message, Gospel Christmas Day NRSV], John 1:1-18 [Gospel Christmas Eve from The Message]   

      

   

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the Angel said to them, "Do not be afraid...I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." [Luke 2:8-12]  

     What greater gift will be given or received this day? God's WORD who was with God and was God has come to live among us as fully human, to show us God's face for the first time, to be Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, our Savior. We all, born of God's will, are charged now, again, to know Christ, to feel the joy of Divine Love, to smile inside and out as we do when a tiny baby reaches into our hearts. HALLELUJAH! Christ, our Savior is born this day! His Light shines in the darkness, brightens the brightest day, and enlightens our souls. Jesus gives us the power to live each day as the children of God that we are and all we need do is accept him and then, follow. What gift will you give Him on this Birth Day? And the next and the next and...?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Holy Jesus, God’s Light and Glory on Earth, You are come at last, the face of God we’ve never seen, God’s gift of grace upon grace! Let our joy be unbounded for the arrival of our Holy Child, One in Being with God, who will redeem and claim us each as a child of God.

           

                                     Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!      

RESPONSE:               Peace on Earth to All whom God Favors

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s Light and Glory on Earth, we each must bring Your truth to all who hold political power, elected office, and authority over all God’s people in this world, in this country, in this community. Let our voices be heard; let us speak loudly that justice, mercy, tolerance, and peace are expected and must be achieved. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                    Peace on Earth to All whom God Favors

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s Light and Glory on Earth, we ask of You, who were homeless as you entered this world, to enfold all those who are homeless, hungry, sick, and downhearted so that they may feel Your loving embrace on this Day of Days. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                    Peace on Earth to All whom God Favors

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s Light and Glory on Earth, Lift up the hearts of the sorrowful to experience the hope of the Love that never ends, and let us all celebrate those who have left this earthly plain to live forever, deep in the heart of God. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                    Peace on Earth to All whom God Favors

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s Light and Glory on Earth, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…

                                    Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                    Peace on Earth to All whom God Favors

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s Light and Glory on Earth, infuse all those who lead us in Your church with the blaze of heaven that fires us with the imagination and inspiration to embark on a Spirit-filled life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                    Peace on Earth to All whom God Favors

The Celebrant adds: Most High Lord, Messiah, the very Word of God sent to live among us, let each breath we take draw You into ourselves, that we may give out Your glory and praise in all that we are, and all that we do. Guide us, guard us, goad us to live Your divine will. We ask through You, our Savior Christ, and our Holy Spirit, who with Almighty God, from the beginning, live and reign as One, now and forever. Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: Promises, Promises, 4th Sunday of Advent

for December 21, 2014, 4th Sunday of Advent, Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Canticle 15 (Lk 1:46-55), Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38

           "Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.'" [Luke 1:38]

         Here are we, expectant siblings, waiting for the "once in a lifetime event" that we experience every year. It is exciting to anticipate and yet, are we oblivious or merely complacent as to what we are truly waiting for? Or, more importantly, Who have we promised to prepare for, to wait for, to follow?  
         Maybe it's time to re-evaluate what our coming Christ-Mass really means to our everyday life, to dig deep and listen, to examine the promises we have made in moments of true devotion and in times of crisis, the promises kept and the ones we meant to keep in the moment they were made.
         Now also is a moment, rare in Episcopal/Protestant theology, to celebrate the crucial role of Mary in our Salvation - not merely as the Theotokos, God-Bearer - but even more so because she "...found favor with God." [Luke 1:30a] It is because of this favor acknowledging her devotion, because she heard God's word and believed, because she was faith-filled and faithful, that she was chosen to bring us the fulfillment of God's ultimate Promise. This week we journey from the Annunciation to the birth of our Christ...it all looks quite promising. 
         

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ God of Greatness, God of Mercy, our anticipation accelerates on this fourth Sunday of waiting and preparation, as we journey from Prophecy to Nativity. We are at the threshold of the fulfillment of Your promise of a Messiah. Help us to detach from the external, commercial, and earth-bound noise to listen deeply within ourselves to discover how we hear and accept Your call to each of us.

                                               

                                     O LORD Most High

            RESPONSE:  Grant us the humility to live according to Your word and will

~ As we wait expectantly and with hope for the coming of our Savior, let us be diligent in imparting our expectations of tolerance, peace, and cooperation to those who govern in this world, this country, and this community.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    O LORD Most High

                                    Grant us the humility to live according to Your word and will

~ God of Greatness, God of Mercy, in this season of immense joy for many, we ask special blessings for those who are suffering from debilitating illness, serious depression, or any life-limiting physical or emotional barriers, and also for those who give them love and support. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    O LORD Most High

                                    Grant us the humility to live according to Your word and will

~ God of Greatness, God of Mercy, even as the pain of fresh and remembered grief is heightened at this time of year, let us feel the consolation of Your peace as we commend our loved ones to unending joy in everlasting life with You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    O LORD Most High

                                    Grant us the humility to live according to Your word and will

~ God of Greatness, God of Mercy, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…

                                    O LORD Most High

                                    Grant us the humility to live according to Your word and will

~ God of Greatness, God of Mercy, as Mary answered the call to live a life of faithfulness and devotion to Your will, so have those that You, and we, have chosen to lead us to a more spiritual and godly life through example, worship, and pastoral care. Grant them continuing renewal of faith to inspire our own faith and practice as we journey each day in Your love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                                          

                                    O LORD Most High

                                    Grant us the humility to live according to Your word and will

The Celebrant adds: O God our Strength and our Salvation, help us to be patient and prayerful in these few days left of waiting, that we may wisely discern and follow what is truly Your will, not our own will imposed onto You. Grant us increasing wisdom and the courage of an active faith. We ask through our Lord Jesus, the Christ who is Coming again and yet Risen, and through the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit who together with You, live and reign as God Almighty, in past, present, and forever.  Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Meditation Moments: Follow the Other Brick Road

     
       For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning - not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.
― Frederick Buechner* [1926- ], The Magnificent Defeat




       O Little Town of Bethlehem, we sing of you and think of you in the long ago time, as we begin again to anticipate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah coming to save us all. We tell the Manger story to the little ones whose eyes are bright with excitement at the twinkling lights and shiny decorations and there is a great rush getting everything ready, or even just ourselves, for the perfect celebration ~ a feast of food, family, friends, and especially, gifts. It is the happiest of times for some and the most difficult of times for others. 

Divine and Loving Creator, 
     Through You, our redemption is complete but not yet finished, as I must do the work You have given me to do. Let me take a moment each day to stop and rest my heart and thoughts in You, to savor the ritual of holy waiting. I will step off the noisy highway, if only briefly, and allow myself to be enveloped in the quiet reassurance of Your presence. In each breath I will fully experience the gift of life You have given me at my own birth. It is in this time that I remember to whom my life truly belongs, and feel deeply that each brick I walk on the road to Bethlehem, leads me closer to the One who will, if I let Him, truly guide me from there to Home. amen.



      
*Carl Frederick Buechner is an American theologian, Presbyterian pastor, and author of more than 30 books in several genres such as fiction, autobiography, and sermons, and is well-known among readers of Christian meditation.  He has received the O. Henry Award and been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award among many other honors.




Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: Keep Dreamin', 3rd Sunday of Advent

for Sunday, December 14, 2014, Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, Ps 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28

   

He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light...He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord...'" [John 1:8, 23]

        The Baptizer's voice is back with us this week even as we light the Rose candle, which, along with the readings, emphasizes the joyous anticipation of Christ's birth just ahead. The message of this Third Sunday of Advent is "Gaudete," from the Latin for rejoice and gives us a slight respite from some of the more penitential aspects of Advent. Yet John is a reminder that we must "Make straight the way of the Lord," there is One who is coming, the One who, as he told us last week will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Let us be hopeful, eager, and joyous, but let us not abandon God's call to us to be faithful as God is faithful in the everlasting covenant with us.

        The Psalmist tells us that when God restored the fortunes of those who returned from the long exile they were like "those who dream." [Ps 126: 1a] Look for the Light that is coming, follow it with joy, keep the dream alive!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ LORD God of Peace and Promise, in these troubled times we have a moment of sweet anticipation, to let the joy that is coming take root in our spirits, as a reminder that we carry the Light of Salvation within us. Let us also remember to pray without ceasing, honor Your will to give thanks at all times and to hold fast to all that is good.

                                               

                                 Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

  RESPONSE:    Sanctify us in body and soul as we prepare the way for our Christ

~ LORD God of Peace and Promise, in our eagerness to set aside the daily routines of our privileged lives and enjoy a brief season of celebration, let us not forget the trials and tragedies around us in this world, this country, and especially in our own community, or give up the struggle for peace and justice in our political systems. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

                               Sanctify us in body and soul as we prepare the way for our Christ

~ LORD God of Peace and Promise, renew the hope of those who live with serious illness, despair, or fear, and lighten the burdens of those who attend to their care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

                               Sanctify us in body and soul as we prepare the way for our Christ

~ LORD God of Peace and Promise, may those who sow with tears of sorrow reap fruits of joy with the knowledge that their loved ones are restored to everlasting life in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

                               Sanctify us in body and soul as we prepare the way for our Christ

~ LORD God of Peace and Promise, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

                               Sanctify us in body and soul as we prepare the way for our Christ

~ LORD God of Peace and Promise, we give special thanks for those dedicated, as was John, to lead us as faithful witnesses of Your Word and Sacraments. Continue to enlighten them that they in turn will help us all be ready for the Coming of Christ Jesus. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

                               Sanctify us in body and soul as we prepare the way for our Christ

The Celebrant adds: Holy and Merciful LORD, Restorer of Hope, as we are still waiting for the One who is to come, we plead again for Your help to hear Your call, to purify our hearts and minds, and to live each day as the people of true faith that we wish to be. We ask, as we always do, through Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who together with You reign as One God, now and forever.    Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Meditation Moments: Revere this Greek Bearing Gifts

St. Nikolaos, The Wonder Worker
 A classic Russian Icon
depicting St Nicholas and scenes from his life
painted c late 1400s

         Today is the feast of the historical and mythical St Nicholas, born of wealthy Greek parentage in Asia Minor on March 15, 270, he lived until December 6, 343.  Serving as priest and bishop in Greek territories in what is now modern day Turkey, as Bishop of Myra, he answered the call of the Emperor Constantine in 325 CE/AD to the First Council of Nicaea and, as a staunch defender of the divinity of Christ, became a signer of the Nicene Creed used to this day. Venerated with great reverence in the Orthodox traditions, he is said to have many miracles attributed to him. This Patron Saint of Greece is also considered the patron saint of children, fishermen, the falsely accused, repentant thieves, and pawnbrokers, among others.
        Portrayed in the west as Father Christmas, Sinterklaas, and Santa Claus, the idea of gift-giving at Christmas has emerged from the tales of him leaving coins in shoes left outside, or money left quietly with the needy in all humility and modesty. Good Old St. Nick, known also as Nikolaos the Wonder Worker, might well wonder at how his works of giving have evolved into the practices of today's celebration of Christmas.

Creator God of All Seasons

           Let us take but a moment in our waiting time of Advent, to remember Your Servant Nicholas, a model of humility and simplicity for these and all times. Help us to remember to find a reflection of You and Nicholas in all the ways that we give to and receive from others. Kindle in us, again, a desire to give of ourselves to You in each day, in ways great or small, and intentional. May we recognize as gifts, the Works of Wonder from Your hand, from the hands of those who have gone before, and with whom we share this earthly time. amen. 

Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.