Prayers of the People: The Garden of Idol Distractions, 6th Sunday after Epiphany Yr A '17

For Sunday, February 12, 2017, 6th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8, 1 Cor 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37

     If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God...the Lord your God will bless you...But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish...Choose life... [Deuteronomy 30:16-18a, 19b ]

   Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Happy are they who observe his decrees and seek him with all their hearts! I will thank you with an unfeigned heart... [Psalm 119:1-2, 7a]

    I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather...infants in Christ. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still people of the flesh...So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose...For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building. [1 Corinthians 3:11b, 2b-3, 7-9]

    So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift...If your right eye causes you to sin tear it out...and if your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it away... 

[Matthew 5:23, 29a, 30a]

       CHOICES. For me, the readings are all about the spiritual choices that I decide to make. Moses tells me the basics of the Law of God, the Commandments, and outlines the “if this/then that” actions/consequences. Choose life, Moses urges, obey the Commandments. Otherwise, by turning away and being led astray to serve other gods is to choose to perish. The Psalmist chimes in with how happy they are who observe the Law of the Lord our God.

        Paul lays it out to the Church at Corinth – they weren’t ready to hear what he had to say and he spoke to them as infants in Christ because they were still of the flesh. He also tells them/us that working together in community with a common purpose serves our God. There are planters and waterers in God’s fields and we’re all called in to till, and fertilize, and manage. Yet with all we are to do, only God provides the growth. 

       I wonder, might I still be one of the flesh being led astray and bowing to the gods in a garden of idol distractions - the idolatry of social media, of celebrity, of wealth, of the socially or politically “right” way to be, or being around the “right” kind of people and eschewing "those" kinds of people?

       And in this continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus furthers the idea of community with a list do’s and don’ts regarding our behaviors with and toward others. For me, the crux of my call to walk in God’s Law is being reconciled to our brothers and sisters and then returning to the altar of God as a gift, an offering of myself.  As we hear Jesus say in Mark’s Gospel, the Greatest Commandment is to love God with all of yourself and love your neighbor as (if she/he were) yourself - if we do all that then we ARE following the Commandments, we ARE living the Law, we are reconciled to God and humanity, and we do Choose Life - eternal life, spiritual nourishment, an open and unfeigned heart. 

       The clear message of the combined readings that I hear is that God gives us free will to choose the path we take and tells us what results to expect. Take it or leave it. Face the consequences. Be reconciled. Grow up in, with, and for Christ. Return to the Garden of the Lord our God.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God of Mercy and Promise, turn our eyes from the idol distractions of earthly existence, and impart a conscious spiritual hunger to our souls that drives us to walk in Your ways as thankful servants working together.

                                             O Lord, our God                                            

RESPONSE:                     Help us put our trust in You

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, temper the judgment of all who govern in our names throughout this world, this country, and this community, so that all will act faithfully, equitably, and in good conscience, for the well-being of all Your people and Your Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

                                               

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, we ask your blessings on those who are seriously ill, addicted, or life-weary, and for all who serve their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

           

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, hold close the hearts in sorrow, as we celebrate all who have departed this life for eternity in Your complete love and perfect peace. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

           

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, affirm and encourage our anointed leaders of Your Church. As they guide us toward growth and grace in You, we join together as Your servants, the planters and waterers, in Your sacred fields. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds: Lord God Almighty, Master of All Creation: Grant us the clarity of spirit to reconcile our hearts with one another even in disagreement, to begin each day with sincere desire to seek and follow Your Will, and to have the wisdom to choose the blessings and abundance of true Life with You, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and through eternity.  Amen.

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: Season and Shine, 5th Sunday after Epiphany Yr A '17

For Sunday, February 5, 2017, 5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Is 58:1-9-12, Ps 112:1-10, 1 Cor 2:1-16, Mt 5:13-20

      Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!...Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free...to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house...Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer... [Isaiah 58:1a, 6-7, 9a]

       Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion...They have freely given to the poor...they will hold up their heads with honor. The wicked will see it and be angry, they will gnash their teeth and pine away; the desires of the wicked will perish. [Psalm 112:4,9-10]

       I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God. [1 Corinthians 2:2-5]

      Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored. It is no longer good for anything...You are the light of the world...No one lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand and it gives light to all in the house. [Matthew 5:13a, 14-15]

          The readings appointed for this Sunday are a good primer on how to get real and start to think again about how to live as God wants. Isaiah tells us that just showing up to do a few good acts and a bit of fasting without the right intention isn’t enough, especially if we’re still pointing fingers and judging others. God sees through our waving of hands and cries of “Look at Me” when self-interest is our prime motivator. Paul carries us along by saying that those who are not spiritually inclined don’t care about what is or isn’t of God and are more likely to get caught up in following the "wisdom" that is merely human. But if we truly seek the wisdom and spirit of God we will be given more ways to understand. 

         Last week in his Sermon on the Mount, we discovered who are the disciples - the ones of his time and, us, in our time. This week, Jesus takes us further by giving us a few particulars on the responsibilities of discipleship. He is clear that he has come to fulfill, not abolish, the Law of God - the Commandments - and that we are to follow even the least of these and teach others to do the same. We hear that we are the “salt of the earth” which, in the time of Jesus, is meant to imply great importance. Salt was more than a condiment, it was currency. Soldiers’ wages were paid in salt and salt was used by everyone as we use money today. If currency is devalued, if salt loses its taste, it becomes worthless. Yet good salt flavors our food, and the yeast in bread won't rise without it. An appropriate amount of salt is vital to our physical health in digestive and other body processes. In being so identified as the salt of the earth, we are called to realize our own worth and potential in God's sight and let our good works reflect the Glory of God as a pathway to eternal life. We are to be the light on the lampstand of life, shedding spirit-filled light to everyone in God's House. I'll take some time this week and think about all the intentional “good works” I do and see what is self-less and what – although still good for others – might be more for my own sense of self-importance; and, in what ways can I shine God's light more brightly for those in the darkness of despair. Let us season God's Earth with faith as disciples of Christ and shine with the radiance of the Holy Light within us.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, Eternal and Holy, endow our souls with the spiritual discernment and deep desire, to move from self-indulgence, to actions that seek mercy, justice, and well-being for all Your people.

                                                O Lord of Light and Life        

RESPONSE:             Energize our Faith in You

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, impart to all political leaders around the globe, in our country, and in our community, a sincere and sacred intent to act with integrity, character, and faithfulness in each decision and in exercise of power. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

                                               

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, hold close the hearts of the sorrowful, whether the loss is new or freshly remembered, and overflow their hearts with the joyful news of all now alive again in Your Everlasting Kingdom. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

           

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, heal and uplift all who are ill or in troubling circumstance, and grant strength to those who give them solace and wait upon their needs. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

           

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, may those who lead Your Church and minister in the name of Christ, be embraced by the yoke of Your truth, delighted in following Your Commandments, and gifted with the ability to guide us by word and example. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O God of Abundant Love and Wisdom, release our fear and trembling as You guide us toward discerning the mind of Christ, salting the earth with actions that reflect Your Spirit, and being the shining lamps that light the pathway to You. We ask through Jesus Christ, Crucified for us, and the Holy Spirit, Revealer of Your Gifts to us, who together with You are One God, forever and ever. Amen.

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: Difficult Simplicity 4th Sunday after Epiphany '17 Yr A

For Sunday, January 29, 2017, 4th Sunday of Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12

        [God] has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? [Micah 6:8]

       Lord, who...may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life...does what is right...speaks the truth from his heart...[with] no guile upon his tongue...does no evil to a friend ...does not heap contempt upon his neighbor...in his sight the wicked is rejected...honors those who fear the Lord...he has sworn to do no wrong...does not take back his word...does not give his money in hope of gain...does [not] take a bribe against the innocent... 
[Psalm 15]

      But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. [1 Corinthians 1:27-29]

      When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are..." [Matthew 5:1-12]

      The Sermon on the Mount, is recorded in Matthew as the first public act of Jesus and we will follow this first sermon for the next several weeks. This week we hear the Beatitudes in concert with the words of Micah, the Psalmist, and Paul speaking to the church in Corinth, all giving an outline and direction in the ways in which to follow God as God wills and, from the Gospel, to become fully Christian. 
     These Beatitudes, or state of blessedness, are qualities of life that describe what we are to actively work toward as we humbly submit ourselves to the will of God. These eight Beatitudes are not describing eight different groups of people, but rather the states of being that we each may manifest within our lives, the attributes of true discipleship. They name our blessings and the corresponding reward for faithfulness. Jesus lets us know we are blessed in the first part of his sermon so that we are uplifted. As his teachings continue, we know we will be enfolded and sustained by these blessings whenever life turns difficult as long as we are doing all we can to live into the spirit of these states of being.
      As I ponder all the readings for this week, I want to experience the message of God, the Psalmist, Paul, and Jesus and actively improve the areas in my life that need some remedial work in doing justice, letting go of contempt for others, recognizing my weaknesses, and being more constructive in peace-making, among all the other ideals listed.  
      The instructions we are given in these readings are quite simple at first glance. Do this, do that, and all will be well except that these directions seem to be more about being than doing, attitude more than activity but both are necessary. Salvation would be so easy to attain if only simplicity wasn't so difficult.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God on High, Source of All Life, refine and purify our hearts that we may recognize our blessings, choose to be and do with our lives as You require, and walk with You as the embodiment of justice, kindness, and humility.

                                               

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

RESPONSE:             Strengthen our trust in You

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, attend to those who present themselves in the temples of government in our World, in our Country, and in our Community.  Fill their souls with Your wisdom, truth, and mercy, and divert them from paths of war, greed, and inhumanity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

                                               

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, we ask for Your healing for all who are seriously ill, anxious, or exhausted, and for those who tend to their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

           

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, turn us from grief as those we mourn are set now free in everlasting peace and a new life in the fullness of Your Salvation and Glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

           

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, grant continuous discernment, wisdom, and prophetic understanding to those who guide Your Church, and to us who worship within it. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Holy Lord of the highest Mountains and the lowest Valleys, draw us close to experience Your Presence in each moment, in our success and in our failing, as we strive to seek Your favor and follow Your will in all that we are and all that we do. We ask through the blessings of Christ Jesus, our Redeemer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our Counselor, who together with You are our One God, now and through eternity.  Amen.

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: Go Fish, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Yr A '17

For Sunday, January 22, 2017, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 5-13, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, 
Matthew 4:12-23

     The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness ~ on them light has shined. [Isaiah 9:2]

    The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then should I fear...Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. [Psalm 27:1a, 10]

    Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. [1 Corinithians 1:10]

    As [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers...casting a net into the sea ~ for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." ...Jesus went throughout Galilee...proclaiming the good news of the kingdom... [Matthew 4:18-19, 23]

     Sometimes, even the smallest amount of good news feels like a small ray of light in the darkness that fosters the hope that things will get better. Sometimes, even that tiny beam of light is very difficult to find and only on faith ~ shaky as it can be ~ will we find the ability to keep moving forward into the always unknown. Isaiah and the Psalmist remind us that the Light is always there even when we feel lost in the shadows. 

      Paul is speaking to us in our own time through his letter to the Church in Corinth: be in agreement...no divisions among us...be united in the same mind and the same purpose and even more appropriate to now, he warns us not to divide Christ. How many Christian denominations out shout one another as the only source for the "true" message of Jesus? How incredibly difficult is it to heal divisions in political opinion let alone in religious? In these often dark and dreary times, in a world seemingly gone mad with violence in action and in words, we are called to put aside our ideological differences and follow the message of Christ's Gospel: love God, love our neighbors as ourselves, proclaim his Gospel, his good news of the kingdom, in all we do and say. 

      Jesus called the soon-to-be disciples away from their fishing boats and nets to follow him and become fishers of people. What does that mean for us? The fisher-folk that I know often start in the darkness of the early morning and insist on being quiet as they wait on the shore, wade into a stream, or move across the water in a small boat waiting for the bait to attract and catch the fish. Even in the darkest moments of life, let us each seek the Light within ourselves however faint and distant it seems. Let us allow ourselves to be reeled into the net that Jesus has set for us, as only when we ourselves are caught can we inhabit the Word, and begin to attract others to the splendid shore of Salvation. Oh, and we can be quiet yet open ~ we'll catch more, or lose more, by our ways and attitudes; we do not need to be eloquent, just sincere. Time again to follow Jesus, our Captain, with the help of the Holy Spirit, our Navigator. Time to go fish!  

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Jesus, our Light and our Salvation, grant us the desire to be proclaimers of Your Good News, to beckon the world to Your Shore, and to be among those caught up in the nets of Your Saving Grace and Glory.

                                               
                                                  Hear us, O Lord

RESPONSE:           Have mercy and answer us

~ Jesus, our Light and our Salvation, inspire and transform the wills of all who govern the peoples of this World, this Country, and this Community, to ensure the care of our planet and the well-being of all humanity through peace, equality, and sustenance. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Hear us, O Lord

                                                Have mercy and answer us

                                               

~ Jesus, our Light and our Salvation, heal the hearts, minds, and bodies of all who are ill, weary, or frightened, and give comfort to all who offer care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Hear us, O Lord

                                                Have mercy and answer us

           

~ Jesus, our Light and our Salvation, banish the gloom of bereavement for all who mourn, as You joyfully embrace those who live again in Your glorious and eternal paradise. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Hear us, O Lord

                                                Have mercy and answer us

~ Jesus, our Light and our Salvation, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                Hear us, O Lord

                                                Have mercy and answer us

           

~ Jesus, our Light and our Salvation, excite again the spirits of all who lead us in Your Church and exhort us to live in and carry forward the power of Your Cross in our lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Hear us, O Lord

                                                Have mercy and answer us

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O God our Refuge and our Strength, endow us in our own day with faithfulness and fortitude to be united with one purpose and one mind as devoted messengers of Your Word and Sacrifice. We ask through Jesus, the Captain of our ship, and the Holy Spirit, our Navigator, who with You are our One God, now and forever. Amen.

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: Hide or Seek? 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, MLK '17 Yr A

For Sunday, January 15, 2017, 2nd Sunday of Epiphany, MLK  Yr A, Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42

   The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. [Isaiah 49:1b]

    He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. [Psalm 40:3a]

    ...just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you -- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift...He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 1:6-7a, 8]

    "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"...The two disciples heard [John] say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following he said to them, "What are you looking for?" [John 1:29b, 37-38a]

         Fresh from his Baptism, Jesus is identified as the Lamb of God by John the Baptizer to two of his own disciples. As he is then followed by these men, Jesus turns and asks, What are you looking for? Andrew, one of those men, spends the day listening and then takes his brother Simon to Jesus saying, We have found the Messiah. Simon, now known to us as Peter, struggled often with the message of Jesus, but even in the face of enormous obstacles, defeats, trials and tribulations, he carried on and carried the message forward along with his brother Andrew and the others who joined them. Yet as I read or listen to the Scripture passages, two thousand+ year old events don't always have much of an impact on my daily thoughts and actions. However this question, What are you looking for?, caught my attention as we are now at the beginning of this new year, with a new political climate, and as we prepare to celebrate - some more than others - the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
         While the significance of the impact of Dr. King's work and words is undisputed, the echoes of his voice are slowly fading nearly 50 years after his death, a reason to be grateful to a Congress of the past that designated the anniversary of his birth as a Federal Holiday. And, it must be said, various groups were not, and still are not, a fan of this particular recognition, but it holds. Sometimes, as with Christmas and Easter, we are more likely to pay attention to a date on a calendar to be reawakened, to listen again and hear anew, to take a step forward.

         In times when certainty has been upended and the status quo is now status unsure, it is critical that we carry Dr. King's message forward to uphold people of all colors, creeds, national origin, sexual orientation, and for any reason that any one is targeted for oppression, brutality, bullying, and discrimination. We are all equal in the Eyes and Heart of God. And, as Dr. King said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."  Jesus, expanding on the traditional Judaic prayer, the Shema Yisrael, tells us in the Gospel of Mark [12:29-31], "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." Nowhere in either Dr. King's writings or in the words of Jesus does it say we have to "like" everyone. But it is clear from both, that we are to care, love, and protect others from hate and hateful acts, even if there is no thanks or even appreciation. But no good action is wasted and what we give out we will receive back. 
       What is your dream for this New Year - will you hide from whatever discomforting challenges may be ahead? Or will you seek opportunities to see yourself in others, step out and step up in uncertainty, and discover that part of yourself is actually what you're looking for?

click here for a short video of the I Have A Dream speech excerpt - Martin Luther King, Jr 1963

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God of Compassion, You called us before we were born and named us in the womb. You gave us a new song and too often we sing it out of tune using our words instead of Yours. Help us to learn and live Your words and will, and keep Your Law in our hearts.

                                               

                                                Jesus, Lamb of God

RESPONSE:             Strengthen us to follow Your Words and Will

~ O God of Compassion, grant us the willingness to stand firm in the face of ruling authorities on this Earth, in our Country, and in our Community, to ensure that strength and power are not spent for vanity, but only to restore the dignity and well-being of every person on this planet. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Strengthen us to follow Your Words and Will

                                               

~  O God of Compassion, send Your Holy Spirit to give hope and healing to all who are sick, troubled, or weary of this life, and to those who care for and about them. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Strengthen us to follow Your Words and Will

~ O God of Compassion, lift the veil of tears from those who grieve, as Your Holy Lamb enfolds our loved ones in the grace, peace, and joy of Eternity. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Strengthen us to follow Your Words and Will

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

                                                Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Strengthen us to follow Your Words and Will

           

~ O God of Compassion, inspire all leaders of Your Church to know, feel, and share the dream of Your Servant, Martin, as we seek and serve the Christ in our midst and in every person inside and outside of our temples of worship. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Strengthen us to follow Your Words and Will

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Almighty God, as Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” hasten our hearts to answer that we seek the courage to join the example of Your Servant, Martin Luther King, Jr., in his compelling certainty that together we can work for freedom from fear, oppression, and intolerance. Embolden us to carry this vision forward, to know and share the peace and freedom of Your Salvation. We ask through the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and our spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit, who together with You, live and reign, our One God, today, always, forever.  Amen.

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.