People's Prayers

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Meditation Moments: Lighten up

It was only a smile, and

little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald* [1896-1940]

Lord of the Dark and Deep,

As I walk alone and quickly through the streets of the city with eyes downcast or, stroll in a solitary evening ponder on the beach looking out at the sea, lost in my own if only thoughts, suddenly a stranger says, Hello, smiles, and moves on. The bigger surprise is that this small action expects no response. The place I'm in becomes immediately brighter and I feel enveloped in a circle of warmth and light; my return smile is automatic and sincere, if unseen.

In receiving a smile unexpectedly and from an equally unexpected source, I am thankful for the one who smiled. In offering a smile to another that is unexpected, I return the gift to Creation. Let me remember to receive and give a moment of warmth that will lighten up all around, and always in Your name. amen.

*F. Scott Fitzgerald, considered one of the greatest authors of the 20th century, Fitzgerald is remembered for many short stories and novels, many of which have been made into films such as The Great Gatsby, Tender is the Night, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

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.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Meditation Moments: Living it up and down

Life is what happens
when you're busy making other plans.
~ John Lennon* [1940-1980]

Dear God of Twisting Paths and Uneven Roads,

Funny how plans change suddenly - sometimes things come right outta left field with no warning. Do I thank You if it's a good thing or do I blame You if it's a bad thing? I try to remember the thanking part because I was raised to, but as for blame, no, I don't. But then, I've never believed that You run a chess board moving me here or there by whim, giving or taking away. I also don't believe that I have more grace than someone else who has had a bad turn. And then there is that Free Will thing.
Stuff happens in the course of a life and there are ups, downs, ins, outs, and choices to be made. There are moments of incredible joy, moments in the depths of despair, and moments that run the gamut from one to the other. What is important to me, is just knowing that I can call to You when there is no one else, and even when there is someone. Sometimes I just need to tell You all that is happening so I can spare others, or, even practice with You so I can tell others. For that, I will always remember to thank You.

Life is good, real, indifferent, joyful, short, lovely, sad, scary, lonely, quiet, loud, shared, full, busy, and, mine, to choose how to live it. Thank You, for life - up and down. amen.

*John Lennon, British born, singer, song writer, activist, founding member of The Beatles...and so very much more.

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: The Philadelphia Eleven, 49 Years On

A reprise of the original post in 2014:

Church of the Advocate - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 29, 1974
The First Eleven WOMEN Ordained as PRIESTS

Forty NINE Years Later...

...It seems incongruous to some who don't remember before, that women being ordained is such a big deal. And it is still heretical to many others for reasons I will NEVER understand, that on that July 29 in 1974, the Feast of Mary and Martha, 11 women became Priests for the Church and for all of us. The rest of the world, Anglican and otherwise, is still catching up, wrestling with the issue, or completely denying Holy Orders to women.
I don't have any profound statements or pronouncements to add to what has been said in many places elsewhere including two articles below, but I am posting the names of each of these courageous women. The hardships, the triumphs, the travesties, and travails they endured are beyond imagining, yet each one felt the strong call and forged the seemingly impossible path for those who have followed. How many of us will ever be faced with such challenges? Here are those women, some of whom have now left this earthly plane. Please pause at each name and pray a thanksgiving and let us also pray for those in this world still denied their opportunity simply because of their gender. Let us remember and thank:

~ Merrill Bittner

~ Alla Renée Bozarth (Bozarth-Campbell)

~ Alison Mary Cheek

~ Emily Clark Hewitt

~ Isabel Carter Heyward

~ Suzanne Radley Hiatt

~ Marie Moorefield Fleischer

~ Jeannette Ridlon Piccard

~ Betty Bone Schiess

~ Katrina Martha van Alstyne Welles Swanson

~ Nancy Constantine Hatch Wittig

God of ALL Genders, Races, Colors, Ethnicities, Heights, Weights, Sexual Orientation, Ages, and all Other Categories,
Please grant a special place in heaven for all of these women, who struggled to answer your call, and for all of those who supported them in their quest. Also bless the Bishops who defied the status quo and helped make this ordination day possible. Sanctify all those with the courage to push the barriers knowing many obstacles will not yield easily if at all, and that their own suffering for the cause will make the road easier for those that come after. Open the eyes, hearts, and minds, of those who continue on a path of needless discrimination without justification that prevents others from fulfilling their own destinies. We have all been blessed by these women, and their legacy will last as long as faith in You continues. amen.

Here are the links to 2 articles and the entire celebration service in Philadelphia:

http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/women/celebrating_the_philadelphia_e.html

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/07/23/philadelphia-11-shattered-stained-glass-ceiling-40-years-later-now/

Here is the Liturgy as it was recorded live on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at The Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where The Eleven were ordained 49 years ago:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/live-demand-worship

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

Monday, July 28, 2014

Prayers of the People: With Last Week's Yeast, 8th Sunday after Pentecost

for August 3, 2014, 8th Sunday after Pentecost, Readings: Gen 32: 22-31; Ps 17: 1-7, 16; Romans 9:1-5; Mt 14:13-21

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and all the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled... ~ Matthew 14:19b-20a

In last week's Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus used several parables to explain the Kingdom of Heaven to the disciples. In one he likened the Kingdom to "...yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." [Mt 13:33] Is it too much to presume that the bread broken and blessed by Jesus and served by the disciples was made by one or more women? The Gospel this week tells us that "those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children." [Mt: 14:21, emphasis added]

On July 29, 2014, the Episcopal Church in the USA remembered and celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the ordination of the first 11 courageous and barrier-shattering women. Besides all the men who have gone before and come after, let us also remember and celebrate the overlooked women in this Gospel, in the Church, in everyday life, who are the bread-makers, the child-bearers, the mothers, daughters, sisters, nieces, aunts, grandmothers, and, priests to us all. Let us use the yeast we are given to leaven the world, especially the children, and raise everyone to new heights of health, education, prosperity, and, love.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of Abundance, when we wrestle with all the issues, ideas, and dilemmas of everyday life, You feed our souls through the words and actions of Jesus. If only we will listen, learn, and let our actions reflect Your message.

Jesus, Bread of Life

RESPONSE: Help us to incline our ears to You and heed Your words

~ O God of Abundance, on this Earth with ample prosperity to feed, heal, and care for its people, why are so many without so much? Help us find ways to reach the conscience of the political and corporate leaders of the world, of our country, and our community, so they fix their eyes on justice, and turn from the menace of war to the humanity of peace. Let us work most particularly for the health and safety of all of the world’s children. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Bread of Life