Prayers of the People: The Shining! Last Sunday after Epiphany, Yr C

For Sunday, February 7, 2016, Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year C, Readings: Exodus 34:29-35, Ps 99, 2Cor 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a]

          And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. [2 Corinthians 3:18]

      And while [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.  They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem... Then from a cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" [Luke 9:29-31, 35] 

          The Transfiguration story is at once mystery, miracle, and milestone. Jesus became a shining, glowing, gleaming, shimmering beam of radiant glory! A metamorphosis. At the top of the mountain, Jesus is the connection to both human and divine. The mystery of the Eternal Hand of God is a miracle of Jesus. We are quite familiar with the miracles Jesus performs through the Spirit of God along the way of his ministry - changing water to wine, healing the blind, the lame, casting out demons, raising the dead. But this is unique among them as this is a miracle of God within Jesus, transforming him in the sight of others.  

         The milestone is glorious yet subtly somber. Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus about his departure which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. It seems like only a few weeks ago we birthed him, baptized him, and heard him speaking with the elders in the Temple and now, already, they speak of his departure from his human existence. How time flies in the Lectionary!

         For us in our time, such readings may seem all too familiar and we know that we are heading into the time of Lent, preparation for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Even if it is difficult to get our culturally jaded, multi-media savvy, western minds around this sublime moment in the life of our Redeemer, we can take away the voice that comes from the cloud, that tells us that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, His Chosen. We must listen.  How can we possibly ignore our Shining example?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Almighty, Magnificent God, in the splendor of Christ transfigured, un-blind the eyes and unblock the ears of our souls to see outside of our selves, to listen to the Voice of the Gospel, and to embrace and engage the mission of Jesus in our own time.

Jesus, Messiah of Light and Love

RESPONSE:           Unveil our hearts to know and serve You

~ Almighty, Magnificent God, free the minds of those who are in or seek governmental power on this Earth, that they may exchange entrenchment to enhance personal and political gain, for the emancipation of all God’s people from war, famine, disease, and intolerance. We pray especially for: add your own intentions

Jesus, Messiah of Light and Love

Unveil our hearts to know and serve You

~ Almighty, Magnificent God, release from suffering all who are mired in the pain of body, mind, or spirit, and resilience to those who offer support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own intentions

Jesus, Messiah of Light and Love

Unveil our hearts to know and serve You

~ Almighty, Magnificent God, brighten the shadows for all in the woe of bereavement, as those who have left the bonds of earth now live in the glory and radiance of new and unending life in Christ. We pray especially for: add your own intentions

Jesus, Messiah of Light and Love

Unveil our hearts to know and serve You

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

Jesus, Messiah of Light and Love

Unveil our hearts to know and serve You

~ Almighty, Magnificent God, endow those chosen and anointed as the exemplars of Your Word and Will, with fortitude and vitality as the beacons on our sacred path. We pray especially for: add your own intentions

             Jesus, Messiah of Light and Love

Unveil our hearts to know and serve You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Gracious, Noble, Lord God, illuminate us from within, and transform our faith into action; keep us from disinterest and indifference in seeking Your purpose in our lives. We ask through Jesus the Christ, our Salvation, and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, who together with You are One God in Glory, now and for all time beyond time. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Prayers of the People: Un-cymbalic Love 4th Sunday after Epiphany, Yr C

For Sunday, January 31, 2016, 4^th Sunday after Epiphany, Year C, Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Ps 71:1-6, 1 Cor 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

       The word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you...Now I have put my words in your mouth." [Jeremiah 1:4-5a, 9b]

       In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed...you are my crag and my stronghold. [Psalm 71:1, 3b]

       If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal...And now faith, hope, and love abide...and the greatest of these is love. [1 Cor 13:1, 13]

       And [Jesus] said, "Truly no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown...there were many widows...a severe famine...yet Elijah was sent to none...there were many lepers...and none of them was cleansed except Naaman, the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. [Luke 4:24-28]

        1st Corinthians 13: 1-13 is so very much more than a pretty thing to recite at a wedding. In the context of all the readings for this Sunday, it brings the Word to now, to our time, to our space. There is dissension, hatred, intolerance, and rage in seemingly every facet of human life today through war, famine, and disease. There is a cacophony of clanging voices of politicos and power mongers disparaging everyone who is not one of them. 
        Let us take a breath and discover a more excellent way to live, how to exploit, express, and experience LOVE, acceptance, understanding, and support from within ourselves to all others whom God has created. God is our refuge and our strength. Let me not be ashamed of my function as part of the Body of Christ but rather to grow and to act consciously in faith, in hope, and especially, to grow, live, and act consciously, and intentionally, in, with, and through love. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, our Refuge and our Stronghold, You knew us, and formed us, and consecrated us before our earthly birthing. Calm our fears, defuse all rage, teach us a more excellent way to feel and reveal Your Love in all that we say and do.

O Lord of Hope

RESPONSE:           Deliver us from evil and apathy       

~ O God, our Refuge and our Stronghold, give our mortal tongues the words of justice, mercy, tolerance, and compassion to touch and fill the hearts and souls of all who hold power in countries and communities across this planet. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Hope

Deliver us from evil and apathy

~ O God, our Refuge and our Stronghold, sustain the faith of all who suffer with chronic pain, depression, or disease, and refresh the energy of those who assist with their care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord of Hope

Deliver us from evil and apathy

~ O God, our Refuge and our Stronghold, soothe the hearts of those who grieve as the heavens erupt with rejoicing for our loved ones now arriving. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Hope

Deliver us from evil and apathy

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

O Lord of Hope

Deliver us from evil and apathy

~ O God, our Refuge and our Stronghold, nourish the gifts of our pastors who connect with us in community and inspire us to seek our life’s fulfillment in Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Hope

Deliver us from evil and apathy

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds: Steadfast God of Truth, embolden our Faith, invigorate our Hope, and permeate our cells with Your purest Love that we may be a living, conscious reflection of Your Word. We ask through Jesus, the Incarnation of Love, and the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Faith, who together with You reign as One Holy and Eternal God of Hope.  Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Prayers of the People: Drink Up! 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Yr C

For Sunday, January 24, 2016, 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year C, Readings: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Ps 19, 1 Cor 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21

        Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. [Nehemiah 8:2a]

        By [the statutes of the LORD] also is your servant enlightened...cleanse me from my secret faults...O LORD my strength and my redeemer. [Ps 19: 8a, 11 a, 12 b, 14b]

        Just as the body is one and has many members,, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body ~ Jews or Greeks, slaves or free ~ and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. [1 Cor 12:12-13]

       [Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit,] stood up to read, and the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

            "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...he has anointed me to 

             bring good news to the poor...proclaim release to the captives 

             and recovery of sight to the blind..."   [Luke 4:14a, 16b, 17-18a]

       "So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them...God saw everything he had made, and indeed it was very good." [Genesis 1:27, 31a] And there are many of us, over 7.3 billion and growing. So very many members, digits, organs, and limbs, all created in the image of God, and all one body - all ordinarily the same and each extraordinarily different. ALL parts of the body - individually and corporately, locally and planetarily - are arranged by God, the ultimate and pre-eminent Architect, Electrical, Chemical, Plumbing and Systems Engineer. We are endowed from before birth with different gifts that are not our own, but in our human lives are to be given out to and received from each other, to have the same care for another...if one member suffers, all suffer...if one member is honored, all rejoice together in it.      
      The waters of Baptism flow in a variety of ways and directions. The entire Body has been given the waters of the Spirit to hydrate our souls, to cleanse our hearts, and to purify our intentions whether known or unknown to the members. Let we who hear with understanding be conscious of the Spirit within us. Let us drink deeply, again, and strive for the greater gifts as the living members of the Body of Christ. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Most High God, Creator of Body and Soul, from the tips of our toes to the tops of our heads, all that we are functions as part of Your Plan. Cleanse us from our secret faults and enlighten the workings of our bodies, minds, and souls to be mindful instruments of Your justice and honor.

                                              O Lord of Flowing Glory

RESPONSE:    Our Strength and our Redeemer          

~ Most High God, Creator of Body and Soul, pour Your Holy Spirit on the hearts and minds of all who govern the countries of this world, our own country, and our local community. Help them strive to hear with understanding, and act with courage and compassion, for the benefit of all of Your Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                               O Lord of Flowing Glory
                            Our Strength and our Redeemer

~ Most High God, Creator of Body and Soul, relieve the pain of those who suffer from illness, anxiety, or addiction, and refresh all who provide care and comfort. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions


                               O Lord of Flowing Glory
                            Our Strength and our Redeemer

~ Most High God, Creator of Body and Soul, lift the heavy weight of mourning from hearts laid low in grief, as those who have now left us in this life, rejoice and dance in the everlasting light and music of heaven.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                               O Lord of Flowing Glory
                            Our Strength and our Redeemer

~ Most High God, Creator of Body and Soul, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                               O Lord of Flowing Glory
                            Our Strength and our Redeemer

~ Most High God, Creator of Body and Soul, we give You thanks and praise for the women and men appointed to lead us in Your Church to open the scrolls of Your Word, and guide us toward the fulfillment of our purpose in You. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                               O Lord of Flowing Glory
                            Our Strength and our Redeemer

The Celebrant adds: Lord of Freedom and Favor, grant us the desire to drink deeply of the Spirit of Baptism and to seek the courage to bring Good News, release, and new sight, to ourselves and each other as members of the Body of Christ. We ask through Jesus, our Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our Fount of Wisdom, who together with You are One God, throughout all eternity. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Prayers of the People: Not So Black and White... MLK, Quintin Primo, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, Yr C

For Sunday, January 17, 2016, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, MLK-Bp Primo*, Year  C, Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5, Ps 36:5-10, [1 Cor 12:1-11**], 
John 2:1-11

       For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn... [Isaiah 62:1]

      Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed... there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [1 Corinthians 12:1,4-7]

     The congregation is free and the Diocese is free. And being free, we are both free to be One. What binds us together now is our common loyalty to Jesus Christ and to this branch of His Church.  [Bishop Quintin Primo from The Making of a Black Bishop*]

          When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you or me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." [John 2: 3-5]

          As with so many Biblical anecdotes, the story of the wedding feast of Cana is so well known that through the centuries people of many beliefs and no faith have heard it. On the face of it, it seems pretty black and white, Jesus turned water into wine - his first miracle, and he didn't think he was ready. While quite an accomplishment, the setting for this first sign may not seem auspicious enough for such a pivotal event. Making wine for a wedding feast doesn't seem to serve humanity in any important way. But the volume is significant; it is an abundant amount of wine late in the celebration. It is a metaphor for the way the love and Presence of God fills us all to the brim as the new wine fills the jars. The moment made his disciples believe in him. All was clear and black and white for them at that moment: Jesus, Son of God, Worker of Miracles! Let's follow him everywhere!
          Jesus was the embodiment of God's gifts as we each are, in our own individual ways. For us mere mortals, discerning our gifts is not easy and many of us are wont to disclaim them, hide under a mask of artificial humility, mistaking confidence for conceit. We may not all have the greatness to save the world but each one of us has abilities, knowledge, and talent that makes us unique, useful, even admirable ~ if we accept them. Perhaps it is easier to hide from them as if claiming them may require some responsibility for using them appropriately. Jesus accepted his gifts and used them for teaching, preaching, and healing. Dr. King and Bishop Primo used their gifts and did change the world and, often, especially with Dr. King, at their own peril.
          But Jesus, Dr. King, and Bishop Primo were special people, called by God to do great and memorable things that are written down in stories and lists in print. "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent..." says Isaiah, and Dr. King, and Bishop Primo. What is Zion for me? What will call me from just dreaming about what I might do someday to pushing myself to action now? The Gospels are clear about what it is we are to do - aren't they? Bishop Primo said,"What binds us together now is our common loyalty to Jesus Christ..." If the Gospel message is so black and white, why are so many Christians arguing with each other? How can there be so many divisions, denominations, theological and ideological differences determining who's in and who's out and who's right and who's wrong, who should be condemned (or worse) and who should be accepted? If hierarchy cannot define a Christianity, based on the Gospels, that brings us all together, it does beg the question, "So, really, What Would Jesus Do?" Not all so black and white after all, unless, we do everything He tells us.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, Most Loving and Righteous, give us ears to hear again the Spirit-charged words and voices of Your servants Martin and Quintin. Help us to activate our own spiritual gifts, that through Your loving-kindness, we may change the substance of our lives from self-serving into full-service, to be true of heart and strong in faith.

Lord of Faithfulness and Justice

RESPONSE:             In Your light our souls are free at last

~ O God, Most Loving and Righteous, let us not keep silent; let us speak loudly and continuously for those who are lost and forsaken in this life. Let us not rest until all governments and authorities, locally and globally, make The Dream into truth with peace, justice, and mercy for ALL of Your people. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

Lord of Faithfulness and Justice

In Your light our souls are free at last

~ O God, Most Loving and Righteous, calm the hearts and minds of those who languish in the uncertainty of physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges, and lighten the load for all who attend to their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Lord of Faithfulness and Justice

In Your light our souls are free at last

~ O God, Most Loving and Righteous, console all who mourn with Your steadfast and priceless love that has gathered those who have gone ahead, into the joy and abundance of Your House forever. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord of Faithfulness and Justice

In Your light our souls are free at last

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

Lord of Faithfulness and Justice

In Your light our souls are free at last

~ O God, Most Loving and Righteous, nurture the gifts of our leaders in Your Church who strive to impart Your wisdom and keep us aware of Your eternal Presence. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

Lord of Faithfulness and Justice

In Your light our souls are free at last

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Holy God, our Well of Life, extinguish the doubt that our hour has come to be drawn into Your light and to know the true freedom of binding together in the Spirit, as one in Christ. We ask through Jesus, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit, Your Wisdom, who together with You, reign as One God now and forever. Amen.

*A reading from The Making of a Black Bishop by the Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr. [1913-1998]:

          "The day of the yearly (Diocesan) Convention arrived. Presenting to the assemblage our (St. Matthew's) formal application to become a self-supporting unit of the diocese, the Rev. Canon James Birney, program developer/director for the diocese, spoke most eloquently, ''What we are doing at this moment is a symbol of what black and white people must continue to do as we offer our lives to be instruments for bringing the Kingdom of God reality on earth. For the past 122 years, the white congregations have patronizingly supported the black mission of St. Matthew's. Today, when black men everywhere are breaking the bonds of patronage which we hope are the last remnants of slavery and inequality, the people of St. Matthew's now both black and white, are freeing themselves and this Diocese from bondage to each other. Subservience and patronage are both gone. The congregation is free and the Diocese is free. And being free, we are both free to be One. What binds us together now is our common loyalty to Jesus Christ and to this branch of His Church. In this Christian context, you are demonstrating the meaning of Black Power.'"

**These Prayers of the People are commissioned by the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew (SsAM) in Wilmington, Delaware, who in 2016 celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the blending of a traditionally white parish - St. Andrew's, founded in 1829, and a traditionally, African-American parish, St. Matthew's, that began in 1845 in the lower level of St. Andrew's as the Robert Smith Sunday School until it became St Matthew's in its own location in 1891. Bishop Quintin Primo, then a vicar, guided St. Matthew's from mission status to parish status in 1968 and lived to see the joyous union of these two parishes into one. As many of us knew him personally, we are pleased to celebrate his life and prophetic voice this day along with the vibrant legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The selection from Bishop Primo's biography (above) is SsAM's second reading on this Sunday in lieu of the lectionary's appointed reading from 1st Corinthians. To learn more about the historical significance and current mission of SsAM see: http://www.ssam.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/09/WelcomeToSsAM_2015.pdf 

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Meditation Moment: Kingship, Divinity, Foreboding...Epiphany!

Readings for Epiphany, January 6, 2016, Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12

       In the time of King Herod...wise men came from the East to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." ... Herod...sent them to Bethlehem...When they saw that the star had stopped they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother...and...they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
[Matthew 2:1-2, 8a, 10-12]


        Twelfth Night - the official conclusion of the Twelve Days of Christmas - is upon us. Now is the time to put the Magi figures into the family creche; well, except they're probably already there or the creche is slowly being packed away for another year. Epiphany - a sudden intuitive understanding, an appearance of God - overwhelmed the Wise Men with joy having traversed afar bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. For many of us, this gleaming incarnation, this theophany, has, perhaps, lost its luster. But let us be as little children once again with the starry-eyed wonder of the season of Christmas with the birth of the Baby Jesus, the shepherds, the baaa-ing sheep, and lowing cattle, choirs of angels, and a multitude of the heavenly host. Let us keep watch again this night as the Three Kings, overwhelmed with joy, kneel to present their gifts to this sacred Child. Gold is symbolic of Christ as King while Frankincense speaks to His Divinity. But what of Myrrh, its bitter perfume, breathes a life of gathering gloom, a medicinal spice used often in those times to anoint the dead. Kingship, Divinity, Foreboding....Come, let us adore Him, who is the heartbeat of God. Let us keep watch with Him, let us follow Him, come what may.

Click on the video for the Robert Shaw Chorale with We Three Kings:

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Prayers of the People: Fire on the Water! 1st Sunday after Epiphany, Yr C

For Sunday, January 10, 2016, 1st Sunday after Epiphany, Year C, Readings: Isaiah 43:1-7, Ps 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

       Thus says the Lord, he who created you...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. [Isaiah 43:1]

       Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

       The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor. 
[Ps 29: 2, 4]

       "...one who is more powerful than I is coming...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand...to gather the wheat into his granary...and when Jesus had been baptized...a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'" [Luke 3:16b-17a, 21b, 22b]

       Whether by aspersion, immersion, or affusion, Baptism is a sacrament, ceremony, or rite, that hearkens back to the Jewish heritage of Jesus. Ancient and modern Jewish rituals of ablution, or washing, for cleansing and/or purification were established millennia before John poured water over his cousin's head in the Jordan River. The word Baptism is derived from the Greek and Latin words for washing and also dipping or plunging. There are a variety of meanings, protocols, requirements, and reasons for such ablutions. Initiation is one as is spiritual regeneration. Some denominations believe that Baptism is necessary for Salvation, others do not. Not all schools of Judaism practice these rituals and neither do all Christians. But for many Christians, this Gospel moment marks the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus, though after this moment he heads to the desert to prepare further. 
       Even if you haven't been baptized, christened, or dedicated, just wanting it, some believe, is enough and so you are baptized through desire. And while anyone can be a baptizer with water, only Jesus brings the fire of the Holy Spirit to set our faith ablaze. Accepting the role and responsibility of faith ~ now there's the perfect way to make your Dad well pleased!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord of Strength and Peace, You call us by name and we are Your own. Gather us as wheat into Your granary that we may be feed for Your sheep and led by Your Will as we discover the beauty of holiness in our lives.

Jesus, Messiah

RESPONSE:           Baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit

~ O Lord of Strength and Peace, let us feel Your powerful voice within us, as we speak of Your blessings and justice for all people, to those who govern or hold authority in all corners of the Earth, nearby and far away. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit

~ O Lord of Strength and Peace, cradle the hearts of the sick, the poor, and the lonely within Your own, and fortify the spirits of all who give of themselves to help. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit

~ O Lord of Strength and Peace, carry the sorrowful through the waters of grief, as those You have called Home now live again in the glory and splendor of Your infinite love and grace. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit

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

Jesus, Messiah

Baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit

~ O Lord of Strength and Peace, enlighten and excite Your disciples of our own day, who pray with and for us, baptize and confirm us, and instruct and encourage us in our earthly sojourn. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O God Who Created Us, immerse our hearts and souls in Your Holy Word, as we strive to be among those with whom You are well pleased. We ask through Jesus, Your Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit, the fire of our faith, who together live and reign with You as One God, now and through eternity. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.

Prayers of the People: Grounded! 2nd Sunday after Christmas, Yr C

For Sunday, January 3, 2016 , 2nd Sunday after Christmas, Year C, Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ps 84, Eph 1:3-6, 15-19a; Luke 2:41-52

       Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. [Jeremiah 31:13]

       For the LORD God is both sun and shield; he will give grace and glory; no good thing will the LORD withhold from those who walk with integrity. O LORD of Hosts, happy are they who put their trust in you. [Ps 84:10-12]

       I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ...may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation...so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know...the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance...the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. [Ephesians 1:17-19a]

       After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers..."Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"...And Jesus increased in wisdom, and in years, and in divine favor. [Luke 2:46a, 49, 52]

       "His mother treasured all these things in her heart." [Luke 2:51b]  So very many times I have heard this story and imagined the scene, especially when my own children arrived at the precocious age of 12. If that had been our experience, those kids of mine would have been so GROUNDED! And, of course it, too, would have been part of the thousand million moments I do treasure in my heart - the wonderful, the delightful, the terrifying, the angry-making...the stuff of parenting. 
       And so we have a glimpse of the Jesus to come as the Hope and Promise of God. We don't really know what this young boy knows about himself or who he is to become. But his intelligence has him eager to learn, to listen and ask questions. The teachers were amazed at his understanding and his answers. He speaks cryptically to his earthly parents about being in his Father's house - does he already know what he means by this or is it a spiritual quest of early adolescence not yet matured?  Whatever this moment was, clearly, Jesus at this young age was already invested in the love and knowledge of God, and, very well grounded. May each of our own lives be well grounded in God so that we, too, may increase in wisdom, and divine and human favor throughout all of our years.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, our Sun and our Shield, enlighten the eyes of our hearts to know the hope of life in You; to live in the eternal happiness beyond mortal pleasure.

O Lord of Grace and Glory

RESPONSE:           Bring us to Christ’s wisdom and divine favor

~ O God, our Sun and our Shield, with our strength in You, let us be about the work of Your House to urge the leaders of this Earth, this Country, and this Community, to walk and act with integrity, to prosper and enhance the well-being and respect of all Your children.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Grace and Glory

Bring us to Christ’s wisdom and divine favor

~ O God, our Sun and our Shield, ease the distress of all who suffer from serious illness, addiction, or homelessness, and lighten the hearts of all who offer care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord of Grace and Glory

Bring us to Christ’s wisdom and divine favor

~ O God, our Sun and our Shield, turn our mourning into joy and change our sorrow into gladness, for those we love now light up the canopies of heaven, rejoicing with You in life everlasting. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Grace and Glory

Bring us to Christ’s wisdom and divine favor

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

O Lord of Grace and Glory

Bring us to Christ’s wisdom and divine favor

~ O God, our Sun and our Shield, sustain the leaders of Your Church and grant them courage and tenacity of spirit. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Grace and Glory

Bring us to Christ’s wisdom and divine favor

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Lord God of Hosts, You call us to the optimism of our faith inheritance. Heighten our desire to know and reflect the immeasurable greatness of Your Power and Presence in every facet of life. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, who reign together with You as One God, now and forever. Amen.



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