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

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

Mark 1:19-15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

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

        

                                  Gracious, Loving Lord

        RESPONSE:   We lift our souls to You

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

                                 Gracious, Loving Lord

                                 We lift our souls to You

                                                      

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

                                 Gracious, Loving Lord

                                 We lift our souls to You

             

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

                                 Gracious, Loving Lord

                                 We lift our souls to You

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

                                 Gracious, Loving Lord

                                 We lift our souls to You

             

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

                                 Gracious, Loving Lord

                                 We lift our souls to You

             

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

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

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

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious

RESPONSE:               Let Your Light shine through us

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

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious

                                                       Let Your Light shine through us

                                                      

~ O Lord, Our God, grant comfort and healing to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and lighten the hearts of all who give care and support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious

                                                       Let Your Light shine through us

             

~ O Lord, Our God, the darkness of grief eases in knowing that those we have sent ahead, now live again in Your eternal radiance. We pray especially for:  

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious

                                                       Let Your Light shine through us

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

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious

                                                       Let Your Light shine through us

             

~ O Lord, Our God, enliven and excite the spirits of all who lead us in Your church, that they may be a beacon to guide us across this life’s troubled waters toward the wholeness of eternal life in You. We pray especially for: Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Kevin our Bishop; David, our rector; Lloyd, our Rector Emeritus; Emily and Peter, our Associate Priests; and Maryann, our Lay Pastoral Associate.

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious

                                                       Let Your Light shine through us

             

The Celebrant adds:  God of gods, Lord of All That Is, arouse our desire to ascend the highest peak our souls can reach, to be dazzled by the heart of Christ ~ where Divine and Human connect ~ and to be transfigured in our own hearts and minds and wills. We ask through Jesus, the Beloved Image of God,  and the mystical breath of the Holy Spirit within us, who together with You reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.       

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Take Flight! 5th Sunday after Epiphany '18 Yr B

For Sunday, February 4, 2018, 5^th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B, Readings: Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147: 1-12, 21c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, 

Mark 1:29-39

      Lift up your eyes and see...Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth...those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles... 
[Isaiah 40:26a, 28, 31]

     [The LORD] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; there is no limit to his wisdom. The LORD lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground. [Psalm 147:3-6]

     I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.  
[1 Corinthians 9:22b-23]

     [Jesus] came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them...In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went to a deserted place, and there he prayed. [Mark 1:31, 35]


     This reading from Isaiah is filled with non-judgmental, hope-filled language of restoration, rebuilding, and renewal. In it, Isaiah reminds us that we have heard this before, that God has always promised to remain with us and, as during the Exodus, God's power never fails, never grows faint or weary. The prophet calls us to lift our eyes to look at Creation and see. In a poetic turn not only are we protected by the wings of God, but God gives those in exile - and us - wings of our own to lift us out of our weakness and weariness. This part of Isaiah is known as Second Isaiah and also as the Book of Consolation, for those who were in exile from Jerusalem, and, for those of us who feel exiled in our own time and place whether from a sense of home, family, political stability, or general health and well-being.

         The Psalmist reminds us of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the gathering of the exiles to return home, and how God recognizes and heals the wounds and broken hearts, God lifts up the lowly. 
         Paul's letter, in his not always easy way, speaks of his meeting people where they are in order to offer the way of the Gospel and salvation. What Paul is trying to tell the Corinthians - and us - is that we need to welcome, listen, and not judge. That is a true balancing act in the difficulty we all have in loving our neighbors as ourselves as well as being open and inviting about our faith.
         Jesus lifted up Simon's mother-in-law and she was freed from the fever. Her response was to honor Jesus in the best way she knew how. His response to all that had happened that day was to separate himself to pray in preparation for his next work. Isn't that what we each must do at some point each day?
         This week the readings from Isaiah, the Psalm, and the Gospel all use the word lift. Paul, by extension, is lifting up those he wants to be saved. Let us honor the gifts of God, the healings, the words, and works of Jesus, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, by accepting our wings, soaring to new heights of commitment, and proclaiming the message by word and example. But first, let us pray, on our own and together, for wisdom, strength, and constant renewal. It's all there for us to claim. Haven't you heard? We are lifted up ~ We can fly!

  LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Everlasting Creator, You call us each and all by our names, and offer us wings like eagles to soar in this life and the next. Grant us the fortitude to meet others where and as they are, that together we may hear, accept, and share in the favor of Your limitless wisdom and abiding strength.

                                                     O Lord, Great and Mighty                                                      

RESPONSE:                  Lift us again to Your Service

~ Everlasting Creator, guide us to be unwavering reminders, to those in Earth-bound political authority, of the limits and transience of human power, and their absolute duty to prosper all who are living lowly in this World, this Country, and this Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Great and Mighty

                                                       Lift us again to Your Service

~ Everlasting Creator, bind the wounds and heal the hearts of those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and grant stamina to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Great and Mighty

                                                       Lift us again to Your Service

             

~ Everlasting Creator, we celebrate our memories and commend to You, all who have left the exile of this mortal life for Your infinite and eternal paradise. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                                                       O Lord, Great and Mighty

                                                       Lift us again to Your Service

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

                                                       O Lord, Great and Mighty

                                                       Lift us again to Your Service

             

~ Everlasting Creator, continually renew the strength of Spirit in those who preside at the sacred feast of Christ’s table, as they share with us in the work for and the blessings of the Holy Gospel proclaimed. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Great and Mighty

                                                       Lift us again to Your Service

             

The Celebrant adds:  Gracious, All-Knowing God, free and restore us from the fever of sin, that we may be raised up to serve You by our lives of faithfulness, gratitude, and constancy in prayer. We ask this through Jesus, our Healer, and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, who live and reign with You as One God, beyond the ages of ages. Amen.

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Awe-Fully Lacking? 4th Sunday after Epiphany '18 Yr B

For Sunday, January 28, 2018, 4^th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B, Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 
Mark 1:21-28

       I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. [Deuteronomy 18:18b-19]

      The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures forever. [Psalm 111:10]

     ...we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up...anyone who loves God is known by him...for us there is one God...from whom are all things and for who we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. [1 Corinthians 8:1, 2b, 6]

      Jesus...entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching...Just then there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out...But Jesus rebuked him...and the unclean spirit came out...they were all amazed... [Mark 1:21b, 22b, 23, 24a, 26a, 27]

        In the intervening time since I first wrote this piece (prior Yr B) I realize that I have lapsed yet again into rote worship with a mildly inattentive, and perhaps slightly soiled spirit. Thankfully our Lectionary schedule revives and retrieves the awareness of my detachment for me. Time to breathe in, savor, and begin, again:

        It is difficult to admit to myself, let alone anyone else, that I don't actually remember the last time I was amazed or astounded by Jesus. I've been very moved during a retreat, in Sunday worship, by hymns and readings, in my personal prayer, and in other ways - but I'm suddenly aware that, whether through unconscious assumptions, a mild case of apathy, perhaps even some complacency, my sense of amazement and wonder is seriously lacking. Jesus has been a part of my life for so very long, I've been taking it all for granted, as if it's all easily understood, as if "I've got this."

       As for the "fear" that the Psalmist speaks of, I do remember that as a child I was afraid of God, terrified at times and threatened that my misbehavior was grounds for eternal damnation. It's hard to distance oneself from that kind of image and language. So how can I begin to have wisdom if I am frightened of my Creator who loves me and who I am supposed to love?
      This fear of God or "of the LORD" isn't meant to be the kind of fear we associate with being scared and worried, or afraid of being in trouble. Rather, the ancient sense of the word tells us that in being filled with love, respect, and awe, we will fervently desire to be faithful in our daily lives, offering ourselves to God through our thoughts and actions. It's the kind of "fear" we have when we don't want to upset, offend, or anger anyone we truly love.
      If we consciously engage with and love God more, if we sincerely want to know God the Creator, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, from whom all things are, and for whom we all exist [1 Cor 8:6], our wisdom will increase and our amazement will rebound. With faithfulness and awe of God as our life's primary work, our little forays into eating in the temple of an idol [1 Cor 8:10], that is, giving in to the earthly temptations and everyday distractions that surround and pull us away from God, will be easier to overcome.
      It is time once again to find that amazement, to be astounded at the life and work and words of Jesus, to open our daily life and frequent prayers with true wonder, love, and praise. What can happen? I bet it's pretty awe-ful... Here's a way to begin, start well and just sing out with gusto:

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.  

[composed by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885, translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hein]

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, arouse and provoke us to rediscover amazement and awe in Your truth, equity, and righteousness. Turn us away from the puffery of mere knowledge and the empty glamor in temples of idols, to full engagement and accountability in the work You have given us to do.

                                                       Compassionate Lord                                          

RESPONSE:               You know us by our Love

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, embolden our resolve to demand of those in authority in this World, in this Country, and in this Community, the fulfillment of basic needs, economic justice, and mercy for all Your people, as the fundamental necessities for peace, human rights, and the moral and ethical survival of our souls. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Compassionate Lord

                                                       You know us by our Love

                                                      

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, warm the spirits of all who are confined by illness, severe weather, or loneliness, and re-kindle the energy of all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

                                                       Compassionate Lord

                                                       You know us by our Love

             

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, help our hearts rejoice as You clothe the newly departed with Your garments of heavenly glory and infinite abiding peace. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                                                       Compassionate Lord

                                                       You know us by our Love

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

                                                       Compassionate Lord

                                                       You know us by our Love

             

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, place Your Voice in the words of all who lead us in the Church, to speak to us as Your true prophets that we may hear and heed Your wisdom and commands. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Compassionate Lord

                                                       You know us by our Love

             

The Celebrant adds:  O God of Truth and Equity, from Whom all things are and for Whom we all exist, free our spirits from all that is unclean and build us up in love. Re-ignite our desire to be Your faithful and faith-filled servants, constantly astounded by the breadth and depth of Your Power and Glory. This we ask through Christ Jesus, our Messiah, and the Counsel of the Holy Spirit, who together with You live and reign as One God, infinite and eternal, now and forever.  Amen.

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Fish Tales, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany '18 Yr B

For Sunday, January 21, 2018, 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year B, Readings: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:6-14, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, 

Mark 1:14-20

     So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord...And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 

[Jonah 3:3a, 4b-5]  

    For God...alone is my rock and my salvation...my safety and my honor...and my refuge. [Psalm 62:7a, 8b]

    I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short...for the present form of this world is passing away. [1 Corinthians 7:29a, 31b]

   As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea...And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. [Mark 1:16-17]

     I love the Book of Jonah! In an early part, he tries to hide from God, running off to a ship in the opposite direction of where God is ordering him to go. Then, thrown overboard by the crew, he gets caught in a whale of an experience! (I just had to go there) After praying to God and being granted his release from the fish, he finally, if grudgingly, goes where he is told to go and tells the people what God wants them to hear. He is so convincing that the people hear, believe, and repent. Later in this story, Jonah - who never wanted to be a prophet -  is actually angry because God changes direction and decides not to destroy the city after the people overthrew their own evil ways because of Jonah's prophecy.  Such a human response: wait, what, you're NOT going to kill them? But I said what you told me to say...  The book leaves us as it finds us with Jonah still unhappy.      

          Paul, who thought that the Second Coming of Jesus was imminent, grimly but accurately reminds even us now that our time in this life is short and we need to pay attention to how we are living.      
         And then there is Jesus who calls the next group of disciples - Simon, Andrew, James, and John - to leave their current lives NOW and follow Him. Can you even imagine walking away from your life as you know it, from family, and responsibilities, and all that you have worked for because someone like Jonah, Paul, or Jesus says you must? What level of trust does that require? I cannot quite grasp it, and yet, there is this nagging from the still small voice inside that I can do better, I can answer the call, I can live a life that calls others to see, respond, and join me in the net cast by God. It does sound a little fishy to an un-faith-filled ear, but then, is there a better way to be caught? Tick-tock...

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, our Rock and our Salvation, You call us through Prophets and Teachers, through the Gospels of Jesus, and from within our very souls through the Voice of the Holy Spirit. Open our ears and hearts to recognize that our appointed time has grown short. Let us, in the fleeting breath of our human existence, hear again, trust, repent, and leave our nets to follow You.  

                                                     Lord Almighty                            

RESPONSE:                  Help us hear, believe, and heed Your call

~ O God our Rock and our Salvation, grant us the courage to walk the true path of discipleship and bring to account for restitution, the leaders of this World, this Country, and this Community, for the words and actions that diminish the lives of all Your people instead of enhancing them. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Lord Almighty

                                                       Help us hear, believe, and heed Your call

                                                      

~ O God our Rock and our Salvation, impart and sustain hope for all laid low by illness, homelessness, or despair, and encourage all who provide support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

                                                       Lord Almighty

                                                       Help us hear, believe, and heed Your call

             

~ O God our Rock and our Salvation, lighten the hearts of those who grieve as You receive our faithful departed with open arms in everlasting love and light. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                                                       Lord Almighty

                                                       Help us hear, believe, and heed Your call

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

                                                       Lord Almighty

                                                       Help us hear, believe, and heed Your call

             

~ O God our Rock and our Salvation, we ask Your favor upon all You have chosen to lead us in Your Church. Fill them with the words and actions that will cause us to re-think, re-work, and re-direct our lives toward You. pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Lord Almighty

                                                       Help us hear, believe, and heed Your call

             

The Celebrant adds:  O God, our Safety and our Honor, urge our complacent wills to become the faith-filled and trustworthy lure, that calls others to follow with us, as the fishers of people Jesus asks us to be. Reconcile us to Your heart and steadfast love through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who together with You, live and reign in the bliss of eternal life, now and forever.  Amen.

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Meditation Moments: WE MUST KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE! Martin Luther King, Jr Day 2018

"How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever.

How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, 

but it bends toward justice."

~ The Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Many writers considerably more eloquent than I have written far more useful and perfect words to remember and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

In this year that brings the 50th Anniversary of his assassination, we find ourselves still asking the question: HOW LONG with ever more frustration, anxiety, and fearful wonder at the almost incomprehensible conditions in this Country and in our World. 

In the wise words of my dear friend, the Rev. Canon Lloyd Casson,

"Let us not just commemorate, let us EMULATE!"

"How Long, Not Long" is the popular name given to the public speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 

on the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama, after the successful completion of the 

Selma to Montgomery March on March 25, 1965. 

 The speech is also sometimes referred to as "Our God Is Marching On!" 

The following is an excerpt from that speech. 

The words, never more relevant than today, are his. 

The emphasis is mine:

"...Our whole campaign in Alabama has been centered around the right to vote. In focusing the attention of the nation and the world today on the flagrant denial of the right to vote, we are exposing the very origin, the root cause, of racial segregation in the Southland. Racial segregation as a way of life did not come about as a natural result of hatred between the races immediately after the Civil War. There were no laws segregating the races then. And as the noted historian, C. Vann Woodward, in his book, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, clearly points out, the segregation of the races was really a political stratagem employed by the emerging Bourbon interests in the South to keep the southern masses divided and southern labor the cheapest in the land. You see, it was a simple thing to keep the poor white masses working for near-starvation wages in the years that followed the Civil War. Why, if the poor white plantation or mill worker became dissatisfied with his low wages, the plantation or mill owner would merely threaten to fire him and hire former Negro slaves and pay him even less. Thus, the southern wage level was kept almost unbearably low.

"Toward the end of the Reconstruction era, something very significant happened. That is what was known as the Populist Movement. The leaders of this movement began awakening the poor white masses and the former Negro slaves to the fact that they were being fleeced by the emerging Bourbon interests. Not only that, but they began uniting the Negro and white masses into a voting bloc that threatened to drive the Bourbon interests from the command posts of political power in the South.



Marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge
in Selma, Alabama in March, 1965

"To meet this threat, the southern aristocracy began immediately to engineer this development of a segregated society. I want you to follow me through here because this is very important to see the roots of racism and the denial of the right to vote. Through their control of mass media, they revised the doctrine of white supremacy. They saturated the thinking of the poor white masses with it, thus clouding their minds to the real issue involved in the Populist Movement. They then directed the placement on the books of the South of laws that made it a crime for Negroes and whites to come together as equals at any level. And that did it. That crippled and eventually destroyed the Populist Movement of the nineteenth century...

"Thus, the threat of the free exercise of the ballot by the Negro and the white masses alike resulted in the establishment of a segregated society. They segregated southern money from the poor whites; they segregated southern mores from the rich whites; they segregated southern churches from Christianity; they segregated southern minds from honest thinking; and they segregated the Negro from everything. That’s what happened when the Negro and white masses of the South threatened to unite and build a great society: a society of justice where none would prey upon the weakness of others; a society of plenty where greed and poverty would be done away; a society of brotherhood where every man would respect the dignity and worth of human personality..."

O Creator God ~ guide us to cross the bridge again, together, for the sake of all God's people, in every hamlet, town, city, county, state, and country in this world. Let us keep the Dream Alive, let us fight hatred with love, let us seek You in all that we do, re-dedicate ourselves to Your purpose, and burn the words of Jesus into our very being as he told us to: Love the Lord God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds, AND love our neighbors as [if and because they are] ourselves.  AMEN.

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com