Ascending Prayers: The Real Transformers

What the caterpillar calls
the end, 

the rest of the world calls 

a butterfly.

― Lao Tzu*

Holy God of Heaven and Earth,
       I'm so oblivious to the everyday ways of my small privileged part of the world that I blitz past the most remarkable occurrences of Your Creation. How can I fail to see the magical, the amazing, the dazzling displays our earthly life has to offer? And in so doing, I also fail to get Your message. 
       I guess I'm so caught up in paying the bills, grouching about some political ***, um, person, or yelling at the guy in the car ahead of me that I simply ignore the transformations all around me.  Ah, and that is the word isn't it - transformation. 
       Help me to connect the dots, Lord, from the transformations of nature to the transformation of my soul. The night into day, the winter into spring, the tadpole into frog, my everyday life into eternal life. In the darkest of nights, in the saddest of times, the end of what was is always another beginning. A dying to the old becomes a new birthing of promise and potential. Remind me again, tomorrow, please, I promise to stop, see, and be transformed.  amen.


*Lao Tzu, a legendary, and perhaps mythical, philosopher and poet of ancient China, is the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching (dow day jing), a classic Chinese text of philosophy, some time in the 4th, 5th, or 6th century BCE.  He may have been a contemporary of Confucius, and he is also considered to be the founder of Taoism (dow-ism).  Taoism is a philosophical, ethical religious tradition in China that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, which is at once the source and the driving force of everything that exists. 






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Ascending Prayers: I Can, Can, Can, Can't I?

Dear God,
    It's seems too simple, John Wesley's Rule of Life.  Just do good, all the time, in all ways, in all places, to everyone for as long as possible.  But I realize that sometimes in the seemingly simple there is deep complexity. I must look deeply within myself to be conscious and intentional about my thoughts and actions to see where I am on track and where I am not.  Dear God, I'm off track more than I'm on and I am in such need of Your help. I want to do the good You have called me to do. Having Wesley's words as a kind of mantra will help to guide me but at the end of every day, I need to return to You in my prayer. Please breathe the good of Jesus into my soul as the fuel to fire my life in Christ. Give me the courage and fortitude to spread the Good News through good actions throughout all the days of my life, for as long as I ever can.  amen.  


John Wesley [1703-1791], born in Epworth, England, was an Anglican cleric and with his brother Charles, also Anglican, and Charles Whitefield, a Calvinist, are credited with starting an evangelical movement known as Methodism and strongly influenced the Holiness and Pentecostal movements. He argued against Calvinism, especially pre-destination, and remained committed to the Anglican Church and its sacramental theology. He effectively trained and used non-ordained itinerant preachers to develop small Christian discipleship groups with religious instruction to effect social reforms particularly in prison reform and abolitionism. By the end of his life he was known as "the best loved man in England."

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular 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. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Up to Maya

It is this belief in a power 

larger than myself 

and other than myself 

which allows me to 

venture into the unknown 

and even the unknowable.

Dear Jesus,  
Here is my prayer ~  Please help me to remember, and put into action, the wisdom of these and many other words of Maya:

\

AMEN!

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular 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. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: ASCENSION! Yr A

for Thursday, May 29, 2014, Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53, Psalm 47 or Psalm 93

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them...as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them...
 Luke 24:50, Acts 1:9b-10

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Do not complain. Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution.
― Maya Angelou* [April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014]

...They said, "Men of Galilee why do you stand looking up toward heaven?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

Dear Jesus of the Highest Height ~ as we wait in earnest for Your Spirit to reveal Your plan for us and have the eyes of our hearts enlightened, we are filled with the joy of Your presence among us still. And yet also with some sadness, we convey to Your care our Beloved Sister Maya, who now today shares in Your promised inheritance of eternal love and life.  Bless us, Jesus, son of God. The wisdom words You have given us, and the words we have from Dr. Maya, will ascend in our hearts and minds and souls until we, too, arrive into the Promised Land of Eternal Hope, Freedom, and Peace.  amen.

*Dr Maya Angelou, actor, author, poet, producer of plays, university professor, and so very much more, who had a tumultuous youth and early adulthood sometimes experiencing the sadder and seemier parts of life, rose to such local and international heights and respect that she became a living icon.  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings began our journey with her. We have much more to learn from her about living life, even while she has this day gone to her destiny in God. We have been blessed by her life among us and her words which will remain.

The Feast of the Ascension is one of the five major markers in the Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus, the others are Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. It is one of the essential elements of Christian credal statements and one of the significant mysteries in the life of Christ.  In Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox theology, the Ascension is interpreted as the culmination of the Mystery of the Incarnation, in that it not only marked the completion of Jesus' physical presence among his apostles, but consummated the union of God and man when Jesus ascended in his glorified human body to sit at the right hand of God the Father. The bodily Ascension into heaven is also understood as the expression of Christ's two natures: divine and human.  The mythology, the mystical, and the mysterious all combine to fuel the fires of discussion, disagreement, and theological divides across generations and denominations.




Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular 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. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: Got hope?

We should ask God to
increase our hope when it is small,
awaken it when it is dormant,
confirm it when it is wavering, 

strengthen it when it is weak, 

and raise it up when it is overthrown.  

                     ― John Calvin* [1509-1564]


        Well, God, I think I'm a pretty hopeful person.  But as I think about it in this moment, I'm not sure what I'm hopeful about.  When I was young I was hopeful about a happy marriage and great kids, a successful career and lots of travel.  Some of it has happened.  Some of it went a very different way.  There were times when things were so bleak I didn't care enough to even want to have hope. But then, through no action of my own, hope blossomed again.
          SO, what am I hopeful about now?  I'm not sure other than the usual list:  good health, healthy family and friends, world peace, ending hunger and violence, etc. Oh, and being a good and useful Christian. Hmm, maybe I should say something about my relationship with You - I will work on that.  At the very least, I know that when life is painful and chaotic, I can pray for the desire to hope. And, when I am feeling hopeful,  help me to remember to give thanks to You. I do know that You are always here.  amen.



*John Calvin, was born Jehan Cauvin in France. The ordained Calvin left the Roman Catholic Church and became a major player in the Protestant Reformation. His writings were contentious and he was influential in at least one execution.  He and his contemporary, Martin Luther, had respect for one another early on though each had a differing theological view. There was a disagreement between Luther and a Reformer in Zurich, Huldrych Zwingli, over the interpretations regarding the Eucharist. Calvin's opinions on the matter caused Luther to equate Calvin with Zwingli. From those tempestuous beginnings, Calvin's theological perspective is seen as the major influence for the Reformed, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches throughout the world today.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular 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. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: We'll wait upstairs, 7th Sunday of Easter

for Sunday, June 1, 2014, Readings:  Acts 1: 6-14; Ps 68: 1-10, 33-36; 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; Jn 17:1-11

From Jesus we know that God was here before us, God is with us now, God is our ultimate destination for eternity.  We wait, again, in expectation and wonder for all that is to come in this earthly life. We are to be one in Jesus, united through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit who rests on we who believe. We do not know what is to come but our souls are safe by knowing and serving  God. Now and then we can take a break in our own Upper Room to pray, and watch, and wait together for the full flowering of the glory of God to be revealed.

Let Us, God’s People, Pray

LEADER:  ~ O God of All Grace, You were God before the world existed and You are with us now. Jesus has brought us to know You, to cast our anxiety upon You, and to receive the protection of Your steadfast love. We humble ourselves before You to rejoice in Your glory revealed.

                           God, Holy and Mighty

RESPONSE:      Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Support and strengthen those in political leadership in every part of this Earth.  Keep them from bowing to pressure to deviate from the course of Justice, Mercy, and Peace for all the people of Your Creation.  We pray especially for: Barack, our President; Jack, our Governor; Tom, our County Executive; and Dennis, our Mayor.

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Refresh and renew the hope of those coping with serious illness or injury. Comfort and energize those wearied by giving love and care. Please rest Your Healing Spirit upon them all as we pray especially for: Karen Brennan,

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Surround those who are suffering the loss of those they hold dear. Infuse their hearts with comfort and peace in the knowledge and promise of Your eternal life for us all.  We pray especially for:   

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Empower the leaders of Your Church who bring us together into Your Holy Place and lead us out to do Your work in this world. Grant them spiritual wisdom, souls yearning for You, and hearts open to the challenges of being Christ’s emissary to guide us on The Way.

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

The Celebrant adds:   Holy God of Power and Glory, there is never a better time than this moment to reflect, revive, and renew our conversion of life to Your purpose. Grant us the stability of our faith that we may be obedient to Your call.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier; who live and reign with You, One God, now and beyond forever.   Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular 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. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: It's that neighborly thing

The bible is very easy to understand. But...[t]ake any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world...
                                                 ~ Søren Kierkegaard* [1813-1855]

Jesus said, "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, all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these. [Mark 12:29-31]

Dear Jesus ~ 
        I don't have any idea when I last examined my relationship with the Commandments. I know that I haven't killed anyone or stolen anything (well, nothing very big and not since I was a kid). But then You already know what I have and haven't done.       
       I go through each day, week, month, and year and just assume I'm doing reasonably ok as a Christian. Well, actually, I don't really think about it at all; I just wander through time doing everyday stuff and as life goes, some days are better than others and I do better on some days than I do on others. It's time, now, to look closer at how I know that I love God and all of my neighbors and, how I act upon that love. Dear Jesus, help me to Love. Give me the compassion, the empathy, the humility to live into all that I profess to believe. It is a struggle, each and every day, to be intentional and conscious of being a Christian with all that You expect of me and all that represents to the world. It's very hard work. So, please, please, I need all the help You can give me, and I will work at being better at Love (with a capital L as in Christian Love). amen.   

and also Love:
Thy Hispanic Neighbor
Thy Hindu Neighbor
Thy Asian Neighbor
Thy Poor Neighbor
Thy Rich Neighbor
Thy Elderly Neighbor
Thy Teenaged Neighbor
Thy Terrible-Twos Neighbor
Thy Terrible Parent Neighbor
Thy Thoughtless Next-Door Neighbor
Thy Driver-on-the-Road Neighbor
Thy Cranky Neighbor
Thy Mentally Ill Neighbor
and all of Thy Other Neighbors


*Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and wrote extensively on Christian Ethics, psychology, and the philosophy of Religion.  He often focused on personal choice and commitment and the art of Christian love. He was a strong critic of some of his philosopher contemporaries such as Swedenborg, Hegel, Goethe, and Hans Christian Anderson. It is impossible to distill his vast work into a small space as his work continues to influence the discussions of intellectuals and religious philosophers to this day. Fear and Trembling and Either/Or are only two of his most well-known works still being read.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular 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. Requestors will remain anonymous.