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

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

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

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

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

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

                                               

                                     O LORD Most High

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

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

                                    O LORD Most High

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

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

                                    O LORD Most High

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

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

                                    O LORD Most High

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

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

                                    O LORD Most High

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

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

                                                                          

                                    O LORD Most High

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

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

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

Meditation Moments: Follow the Other Brick Road

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




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

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



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




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

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

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

   

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

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

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

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

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

                                               

                                 Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

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

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

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

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

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

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

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

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

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

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

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

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

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

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

                               Faithful Creator, Giver of Light

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

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

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

Meditation Moments: Revere this Greek Bearing Gifts

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

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

Creator God of All Seasons

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

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

Meditation Moments: Que Selah, Selah?

You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you pardoned all their sin.         Selah
                               Psalm 85:2 [NRSV]


        The illumination of the Word of God takes many forms in and outside of the Incarnation. In the gold, the silver, and the rare colors found in elaborate calligraphy from the ancients, to the archaeological, etymological, and scholarly explorations of language, history, and context, to one's prayerful, mystical, and personal relationship with the Bible - be it in a particular passage, a chapter, a verse - we, who engage with it, find a light on our path, a resonance within ourselves, and also, fairly often, more questions than answers.         
        There have been, are now, and are yet to be innumerable studies of the texts, resulting in so many interpretations, so much knowledge, and fresh understanding and yet, with all the work of highly educated researchers and religious scholars, professors, and world class preachers of varying denominations and cultures, Christian and non-, there is one tiny little word that no one, ever, anywhere has truly figured out:  Selah. 
        Selah is found 71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in the book of Habakkuk.There are many theories about it - it may be a musical direction, a liturgical pause, perhaps it connects thoughts. It occurs at the end of some verses and most often at the end of the psalm itself. 
        You won't find it at all in the psalmody of the American Book of Common Prayer, or in the New Zealand Prayer Book, or even in some Bible printings. But it is in most Bibles. And it is a mystery. We simply don't have an absolute definition. As a North Carolina United Methodist Minister, James Howell, says, "I find myself fond of the fact that we don't really know. We never master the Bible, and I suspect God chuckles a bit when we're befuddled. When we join that angelic host for worship in heaven...then we'll get it and do the 'Selah' thing ourselves."  

Holy and Mystical Lord God of Heaven,
        In this Advent season of sacred waiting, I will seek to find Your Voice in the small words as well as the grand, in the quiet as well as the thunder, in the commonplace as well as the extraordinary. As I anticipate a boisterous and joyful celebration of the birth of our Savior, I will also revel in the Mystery of You who can not always be fully known, but who is always fully present in every moment to me. Remind me to look for You through your Word in every form, in every way, in every day and, experience again, the illumination of and for myself. Selah. amen. 
      



        


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

Prayers of the People: What are You Giving? 2nd Sunday of Advent

for  December 7, 2014, 2nd Sunday of Advent, Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11, Ps 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1-8 

          And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [Mark 1:5]

         Can you imagine it? The whole town and the countryside waiting in line...but not at the mall, those people were waiting for John to baptize them! Their lives were filled with wars, pestilence, racial hatred, and oppression and here comes this person from the desert telling them to straighten up and straighten out - the way of the Lord must be prepared! To be fair, they all thought that the Messiah's arrival was imminent and for them, it was. We've gotten a bit complacent, 2000+ years later, forgetting the admonishment about not knowing the time that Christ will come again. We have set aside imminence for: whatever.

           Yet here today, in our world filled with wars, disease, racial hatred, and oppression, from the first chapter of the first Gospel ever written, John is still the voice crying...in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  [Mark 1:4] Are we listening and heeding or is it just that same old familiar refrain we hear on the way to Christmas, in the soul-less wilderness of an increasingly secular society, more interested in buying and receiving presents, than in presenting ourselves to our God?

           To repent means literally to "turn from" or even to "turn toward." Through the waters of baptism we are forgiven, cleansed, and the fire of sin is doused. Let us reclaim the forgiveness and cleansing of our baptism and if it truly is more blessed to give than to receive, now is the time to give - the gift of ourselves preparing for the Coming of Christ who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. 
 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Gracious LORD of Comfort and Hope, Your messenger, John the Baptizer, calls us to prepare the way for the One who is coming; the One who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. As we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, we come before you seeking the patience of heart and faithfulness of soul to live in holiness and godliness, ready for our Savior, Jesus. 

                                      O Righteous God of Steadfast Love

    RESPONSE:       Help us heed the Baptizer’s call and turn our lives back to You  

~ Gracious LORD of Comfort and Hope, the world is in turmoil with war and disease; with racial, religious, and political hatred; with devastating natural disasters, fear, and poverty.  Let us use this sacred waiting time to speak up and take positive steps to hold ourselves and our political leaders accountable for actions that favor only a few to the detriment of the very many. We must all repent as we us pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    O Righteous God of Steadfast Love

                                    Help us heed the Baptizer’s call and turn our lives back to You

~ Gracious LORD of Comfort and Hope, in this season of prayerful expectation, we ask Your special care for those who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit through illness, addiction, or despair. Uphold, also, the hearts of the ones who see to their daily needs.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    O Righteous God of Steadfast Love

                                    Help us heed the Baptizer’s call and turn our lives back to You

~ Gracious LORD of Comfort and Hope, as we embrace those grieving the loss of loved ones, we celebrate those who have departed their earthly woes and entered the peace that passes all understanding through Your eternal salvation.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    O Righteous God of Steadfast Love

                                    Help us heed the Baptizer’s call and turn our lives back to You

~ Gracious LORD of Comfort and Hope, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, silently or aloud…

                                    O Righteous God of Steadfast Love

                                    Help us heed the Baptizer’s call and turn our lives back to You

~ Gracious LORD of Comfort and Hope, as we look ahead in excited anticipation of the joy that is coming, we, more than ever, need the assistance of the earthly guides, anointed by You, to help us make straight our own path to the way of Christ.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                    O Righteous God of Steadfast Love

                                    Help us heed the Baptizer’s call and turn our lives back to You

The Celebrant adds:  Jesus, Lord at thy birth, let us be impatient to make perfect our preparation, longing to know You as the Christ, with refreshed hearts, renewed joy, and profound faith in Your salvation. We ask this through You, the Holy Spirit, and our Creator God, who together are our One God, on earth as it is in heaven, for ever.  Amen.

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

Meditation Moments: Saving while Shopping?

                                                           The First Week of Advent

 

              As we await the advent (the coming) of the birth of Jesus, we are also told to be waiting for Christ’s Second Coming, a concept much harder for many of us to grasp than the pretty tree with lights, decorations, and beautifully wrapped gifts that are closer at hand than the other - or, are they?
        But just looking at the current moment, the First Sunday of Advent is the start of a new Liturgical Year which will take us from the waiting and preparation for the holy Nativity, through the life and teachings, death and Resurrection of Christ, and beyond. 
        As with the secular “New Year” it’s a time to renew good intentions, an opportunity to make a sacred New Year’s Resolution to keep Christ in every-day thoughts and actions in the midst of so much busy-ness in life, especially in the current season of shopping and over-indulgence. For my "resolution" I want to think more about shopping for Saving in a new way – how can I add more to my spiritual budget for the eternal future of my soul and spend less of my spirit being consumed with the short-term, material stuff of this temporal earth-bound life? 
        Paul tells us this week in 1 Corinthians 1:3-9: “…for in every way you have been enriched…in speech and knowledge of every kind…so you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Dear God of Patience in Waiting,
Let me begin yet again, especially this first week of Advent, to find and use those gifts each day for the glory of You, the love of Jesus, and to prepare the way of the Lord for the here and now, and, for eternity.  amen.



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