Prayers of the People: Big Bright Cloudy Mountains, Last Sunday after Epiphany '17 Yr A

For Sunday, February 26, 2017, 8^th/Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9

       The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain... and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction...The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days... [Exodus 24: 12, 16a]

       For [Jesus] received honor and glory from God...We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven...So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the morning star rises in your hearts...no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 
[2 Peter 1:17a, 18a, 19, 21]

       Six days later, Jesus...led them up a high mountain...and he was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white...While [Peter] was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" ...they fell to the ground...overcome by fear. But Jesus...touched them saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." [Matthew 17:1a, 2, 5, 6b, 7]

       The first reading and the Gospel for this Sunday make significant references to the cloud, first covering and settling on Mt. Sinai when Moses went up to receive The Law, and next, the cloud that overshadows those assembled on the Mount of Transfiguration and from which God spoke. These particular kinds of clouds, in which God is present, are known in Judaism as the Shekinah - a feminine Hebrew word for a name of God. It also translates to "settling or dwelling of the Divine Presence."
       In the Second Letter of Peter, we have an eyewitness account of Christ in the moment of Transfiguration, which has been called a foreshadowing of the Second Coming. Peter seeks to lay to rest all false teaching saying We did not follow cleverly devised myths in verse 16, and later implores us to be attentive...until the morning star rises in your hearts. 
       On Mt. Tabor (the traditional site of the Transfiguration), God speaks from the cloud that envelopes Jesus saying again, as at his Baptism, This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased; and adds in the Gospel account for the benefit and the chosen disciples - and us - listen to him! 

       The 13^th century Italian theologian Thomas Aquinas considered this miraculous moment as the greatest of the miracles of Jesus as it corresponds to the 5 most significant events in his life, the other 4 being: Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension.  It was at this moment, the Transfiguration of Christ, at the top of the mountain, that Human and Divine meet, when Jesus is the connector between heaven and earth, when the temporal and eternal spark a dazzling display of transcendent Majestic Glory, all in the sight of the chosen disciples who then bear witness to the prophecy confirmed. 
       Here, then, from upon those Big, Bright, Cloudy Mountains, is a simple yet complex formula for our human experience: Read and Listen. God wrote the Law on the stone tablets for our instruction and, given all the shining and dazzling glory, it is clear that we are urged to listen to Jesus until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts. How perplexing for Moses, Peter, James, and John in their moments, and not always easy in our own. But Jesus tells us, do not be afraid. Let us go forward together in the Divine Presence of God in Christ.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God of Light and Glory, upon Your Sacred Mountains you gave Moses the Law for our instruction and transfigured Your Beloved Son, Jesus, as our model for life. Rise in our hearts as the morning star, and enfold us in Your Holy Cloud of All-Knowing.

                                                Most Holy Lord

RESPONSE:             Let our prayers ascend to You

~ O God of Light and Glory, uncloud the minds and transform the hearts of the leaders of this Planet, this Nation, and this Community, that they will enable legislation with justice tempered with mercy for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Most Holy Lord

                                                Let our prayers ascend to You

                                               

~ O God of Light and Glory, embrace all who are seriously ill, weary, or anxious, and bless those give them strength of body and heart with their care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Most Holy Lord

                                                Let our prayers ascend to You

           

~ O God of Light and Glory, our Beacon of Hope in the dark times of mourning, give us comfort in knowing that the souls of those who have gone before us are now bathed in the dazzling glory of the Transfigured Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions  

                                                Most Holy Lord

                                                Let our prayers ascend to You

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

                                                Most Holy Lord

                                                Let our prayers ascend to You

           

~ O God of Light and Glory, rejuvenate and sustain those You have given to us as the leaders of Your Church, and help them remember that they may also follow and take refuge in Your wisdom and counsel.   We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Most Holy Lord

                                                Let our prayers ascend to You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O Lord our God, You enjoin us to “listen” to the Transfigured Christ who himself told us “do not be afraid.”  Disperse the clouds of our own making that we may hear the Radiant Christ in our hearts, and strive to follow Your Law with courage and conviction in community with one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Your Beloved Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, 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: Persist with Love, 7th Sunday after Epiphany Yr A '17

For Sunday, February 19, 2017, 7th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18, Psalm 119:33-40, 1 Cor 3:10-11,16-23, Matthew 5:38-48

       Speak to all the congregation... and say to them: You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy...You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge...but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. [Leviticus 19:1-2, 10, 18]

      Incline my heart to your decrees and not to unjust gain. Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless. [Psalm 119:36-37]

      Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells within you? ... God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.  [1 Corinthians 3:16, 17b]

      Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you...if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also...You have heard it said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate you enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...for if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?"  [Matthew 5:38, 39b, 43-44, 46]

      We come now to another segment of the Sermon on the Mount. Going far beyond the familiar Beatitudes, Jesus had much more to say in his gathering in the Galilee. This week Jesus reinterprets the Ten Commandments, not in opposition, but rather, by expansion. This is his new teaching that outlines our path to salvation. In expanding God’s own statement in Leviticus 19:18 to love your neighbor as yourself, we are commanded to care for God's people - “them” and “us”.  We are to love them, and by extension our selves, by not stealing, defrauding, reviling, slandering, hating, or taking vengeance, and so on. Love those who love us, but mostly love those who don't - our enemies, our persecutors, the evildoers. Turn the other cheek? Oh sure, and we’ll likely get slapped again! [for more on the context of what to do with your cheek and why clink on the link: Walter Wink on Turning the Other Cheek] 

      It seems that there is almost as much satisfaction in retaliation as there is in love, perhaps even more in current society when violent reaction by physical and/or social media smack-down is instantaneous and frequently viscious. How are we supposed to love everyone and not respond in kind to a disagreement, a threat, or a despicable action? Of course, loving is never free of pain or difficulty. However, we aren’t called to like our neighbors, or agree with every thought or opinion. Who in your life that you truly love – child, parent, spouse, friend – do you always like?

      American Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, writing in his book Life of Christ in 1958, speaks to our present times when he said: Why turn the other cheek? Because hate multiplies like a seed… And Gandhi said, An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. But the practical question remains, how do we love people we don't like and who don't like us? Perhaps we can start by at least accepting the concept if only because it’s what Jesus is telling us to do, and then work up to trying it. Paul reminds us that we each are God's Temple, that means so are they. It's a very tough sell, especially in these times of instant gratification by whatever means possible. But, if we only ever fight back, we dig in, and we never move out of the hole we dig deeper and deeper for ourselves and the world around us. It does not mean that we unequivocally accept all difficult or dangerous behavior passively. So, we MUST pray.....without ceasing….. and work, together, with and for each other on ways to respond as CHRISTians.

       This week's assignment: Love our neighbors as ourselves, turn our eyes from what is worthless, remember that we and those "others" are God's Temple; oh, and don't forget to turn the other cheek when slapped. Pray for the courage to persist with love in responding thoughtfully, positively, pro-actively, and practically, rather than react in haste, hate, and impulse.  Easy, right? Not. At. All.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Holy LORD, our God, You exhort us to love our neighbors, as if they were ourselves, with every action of our lives. Expand our willingness to see each other, and ourselves, as the living Temples of Your Spirit and Grace, by following the path of Your Commandments.

                                       O Christ, our Sure Foundation                                 

RESPONSE:             Incline our hearts to Your Teaching

~ Holy LORD, our God, infuse the marrow of every leader and member of government throughout our World, our Country, and our Community, with the ethical intent to do justice, to have mercy, and to govern with compassion, working together according to Your Way. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Christ, our Sure Foundation

                                                Incline our hearts to Your Teaching

                                               

~ Holy LORD, our God, ease the distress for those who are sick, injured, or afraid, and for those who selflessly aid and comfort them.  We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                O Christ, our Sure Foundation

                                                Incline our hearts to Your Teaching

           

~ Holy LORD, our God, soften the grief for all who are bereft, as Your glorious gates receive our beloved, now joyfully alive again with You for all eternity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                                                O Christ, our Sure Foundation

                                                Incline our hearts to Your Teaching

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

                                                O Christ, our Sure Foundation

                                                Incline our hearts to Your Teaching

           

~ Holy LORD, our God, we ask Your blessings on those who lead us in Your Church, that they may be revitalized and enlivened, as they enlighten us with the ways to turn, not merely the other cheek, but our entire being toward You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Christ, our Sure Foundation

                                                Incline our hearts to Your Teaching

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O God of Grace and Glory, be ever constant in Your presence and keep us ever faithful to our souls’ Foundation. Guide us toward having the charity of heart and the strength of character to be as giving of our love as we are eager to receive it. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, 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: The Garden of Idol Distractions, 6th Sunday after Epiphany Yr A '17

For Sunday, February 12, 2017, 6th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8, 1 Cor 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37

     If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God...the Lord your God will bless you...But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish...Choose life... [Deuteronomy 30:16-18a, 19b ]

   Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Happy are they who observe his decrees and seek him with all their hearts! I will thank you with an unfeigned heart... [Psalm 119:1-2, 7a]

    I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather...infants in Christ. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still people of the flesh...So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose...For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building. [1 Corinthians 3:11b, 2b-3, 7-9]

    So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift...If your right eye causes you to sin tear it out...and if your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it away... 

[Matthew 5:23, 29a, 30a]

       CHOICES. For me, the readings are all about the spiritual choices that I decide to make. Moses tells me the basics of the Law of God, the Commandments, and outlines the “if this/then that” actions/consequences. Choose life, Moses urges, obey the Commandments. Otherwise, by turning away and being led astray to serve other gods is to choose to perish. The Psalmist chimes in with how happy they are who observe the Law of the Lord our God.

        Paul lays it out to the Church at Corinth – they weren’t ready to hear what he had to say and he spoke to them as infants in Christ because they were still of the flesh. He also tells them/us that working together in community with a common purpose serves our God. There are planters and waterers in God’s fields and we’re all called in to till, and fertilize, and manage. Yet with all we are to do, only God provides the growth. 

       I wonder, might I still be one of the flesh being led astray and bowing to the gods in a garden of idol distractions - the idolatry of social media, of celebrity, of wealth, of the socially or politically “right” way to be, or being around the “right” kind of people and eschewing "those" kinds of people?

       And in this continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus furthers the idea of community with a list do’s and don’ts regarding our behaviors with and toward others. For me, the crux of my call to walk in God’s Law is being reconciled to our brothers and sisters and then returning to the altar of God as a gift, an offering of myself.  As we hear Jesus say in Mark’s Gospel, the Greatest Commandment is to love God with all of yourself and love your neighbor as (if she/he were) yourself - if we do all that then we ARE following the Commandments, we ARE living the Law, we are reconciled to God and humanity, and we do Choose Life - eternal life, spiritual nourishment, an open and unfeigned heart. 

       The clear message of the combined readings that I hear is that God gives us free will to choose the path we take and tells us what results to expect. Take it or leave it. Face the consequences. Be reconciled. Grow up in, with, and for Christ. Return to the Garden of the Lord our God.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God of Mercy and Promise, turn our eyes from the idol distractions of earthly existence, and impart a conscious spiritual hunger to our souls that drives us to walk in Your ways as thankful servants working together.

                                             O Lord, our God                                            

RESPONSE:                     Help us put our trust in You

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, temper the judgment of all who govern in our names throughout this world, this country, and this community, so that all will act faithfully, equitably, and in good conscience, for the well-being of all Your people and Your Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

                                               

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, we ask your blessings on those who are seriously ill, addicted, or life-weary, and for all who serve their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

           

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, hold close the hearts in sorrow, as we celebrate all who have departed this life for eternity in Your complete love and perfect peace. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

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

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

           

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, affirm and encourage our anointed leaders of Your Church. As they guide us toward growth and grace in You, we join together as Your servants, the planters and waterers, in Your sacred fields. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Help us put our trust in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds: Lord God Almighty, Master of All Creation: Grant us the clarity of spirit to reconcile our hearts with one another even in disagreement, to begin each day with sincere desire to seek and follow Your Will, and to have the wisdom to choose the blessings and abundance of true Life with You, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, 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: Season and Shine, 5th Sunday after Epiphany Yr A '17

For Sunday, February 5, 2017, 5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Is 58:1-9-12, Ps 112:1-10, 1 Cor 2:1-16, Mt 5:13-20

      Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!...Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free...to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house...Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer... [Isaiah 58:1a, 6-7, 9a]

       Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion...They have freely given to the poor...they will hold up their heads with honor. The wicked will see it and be angry, they will gnash their teeth and pine away; the desires of the wicked will perish. [Psalm 112:4,9-10]

       I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God. [1 Corinthians 2:2-5]

      Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored. It is no longer good for anything...You are the light of the world...No one lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand and it gives light to all in the house. [Matthew 5:13a, 14-15]

          The readings appointed for this Sunday are a good primer on how to get real and start to think again about how to live as God wants. Isaiah tells us that just showing up to do a few good acts and a bit of fasting without the right intention isn’t enough, especially if we’re still pointing fingers and judging others. God sees through our waving of hands and cries of “Look at Me” when self-interest is our prime motivator. Paul carries us along by saying that those who are not spiritually inclined don’t care about what is or isn’t of God and are more likely to get caught up in following the "wisdom" that is merely human. But if we truly seek the wisdom and spirit of God we will be given more ways to understand. 

         Last week in his Sermon on the Mount, we discovered who are the disciples - the ones of his time and, us, in our time. This week, Jesus takes us further by giving us a few particulars on the responsibilities of discipleship. He is clear that he has come to fulfill, not abolish, the Law of God - the Commandments - and that we are to follow even the least of these and teach others to do the same. We hear that we are the “salt of the earth” which, in the time of Jesus, is meant to imply great importance. Salt was more than a condiment, it was currency. Soldiers’ wages were paid in salt and salt was used by everyone as we use money today. If currency is devalued, if salt loses its taste, it becomes worthless. Yet good salt flavors our food, and the yeast in bread won't rise without it. An appropriate amount of salt is vital to our physical health in digestive and other body processes. In being so identified as the salt of the earth, we are called to realize our own worth and potential in God's sight and let our good works reflect the Glory of God as a pathway to eternal life. We are to be the light on the lampstand of life, shedding spirit-filled light to everyone in God's House. I'll take some time this week and think about all the intentional “good works” I do and see what is self-less and what – although still good for others – might be more for my own sense of self-importance; and, in what ways can I shine God's light more brightly for those in the darkness of despair. Let us season God's Earth with faith as disciples of Christ and shine with the radiance of the Holy Light within us.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, Eternal and Holy, endow our souls with the spiritual discernment and deep desire, to move from self-indulgence, to actions that seek mercy, justice, and well-being for all Your people.

                                                O Lord of Light and Life        

RESPONSE:             Energize our Faith in You

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, impart to all political leaders around the globe, in our country, and in our community, a sincere and sacred intent to act with integrity, character, and faithfulness in each decision and in exercise of power. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

                                               

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, hold close the hearts of the sorrowful, whether the loss is new or freshly remembered, and overflow their hearts with the joyful news of all now alive again in Your Everlasting Kingdom. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

           

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, heal and uplift all who are ill or in troubling circumstance, and grant strength to those who give them solace and wait upon their needs. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

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

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

           

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, may those who lead Your Church and minister in the name of Christ, be embraced by the yoke of Your truth, delighted in following Your Commandments, and gifted with the ability to guide us by word and example. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Lord of Light and Life

                                                Energize our Faith in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O God of Abundant Love and Wisdom, release our fear and trembling as You guide us toward discerning the mind of Christ, salting the earth with actions that reflect Your Spirit, and being the shining lamps that light the pathway to You. We ask through Jesus Christ, Crucified for us, and the Holy Spirit, Revealer of Your Gifts to us, who together with You are One God, forever and ever. 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: Difficult Simplicity 4th Sunday after Epiphany '17 Yr A

For Sunday, January 29, 2017, 4th Sunday of Epiphany, Year A, Readings: Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12

        [God] has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? [Micah 6:8]

       Lord, who...may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life...does what is right...speaks the truth from his heart...[with] no guile upon his tongue...does no evil to a friend ...does not heap contempt upon his neighbor...in his sight the wicked is rejected...honors those who fear the Lord...he has sworn to do no wrong...does not take back his word...does not give his money in hope of gain...does [not] take a bribe against the innocent... 
[Psalm 15]

      But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. [1 Corinthians 1:27-29]

      When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are..." [Matthew 5:1-12]

      The Sermon on the Mount, is recorded in Matthew as the first public act of Jesus and we will follow this first sermon for the next several weeks. This week we hear the Beatitudes in concert with the words of Micah, the Psalmist, and Paul speaking to the church in Corinth, all giving an outline and direction in the ways in which to follow God as God wills and, from the Gospel, to become fully Christian. 
     These Beatitudes, or state of blessedness, are qualities of life that describe what we are to actively work toward as we humbly submit ourselves to the will of God. These eight Beatitudes are not describing eight different groups of people, but rather the states of being that we each may manifest within our lives, the attributes of true discipleship. They name our blessings and the corresponding reward for faithfulness. Jesus lets us know we are blessed in the first part of his sermon so that we are uplifted. As his teachings continue, we know we will be enfolded and sustained by these blessings whenever life turns difficult as long as we are doing all we can to live into the spirit of these states of being.
      As I ponder all the readings for this week, I want to experience the message of God, the Psalmist, Paul, and Jesus and actively improve the areas in my life that need some remedial work in doing justice, letting go of contempt for others, recognizing my weaknesses, and being more constructive in peace-making, among all the other ideals listed.  
      The instructions we are given in these readings are quite simple at first glance. Do this, do that, and all will be well except that these directions seem to be more about being than doing, attitude more than activity but both are necessary. Salvation would be so easy to attain if only simplicity wasn't so difficult.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God on High, Source of All Life, refine and purify our hearts that we may recognize our blessings, choose to be and do with our lives as You require, and walk with You as the embodiment of justice, kindness, and humility.

                                               

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

RESPONSE:             Strengthen our trust in You

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, attend to those who present themselves in the temples of government in our World, in our Country, and in our Community.  Fill their souls with Your wisdom, truth, and mercy, and divert them from paths of war, greed, and inhumanity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

                                               

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, we ask for Your healing for all who are seriously ill, anxious, or exhausted, and for those who tend to their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

           

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, turn us from grief as those we mourn are set now free in everlasting peace and a new life in the fullness of Your Salvation and Glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

           

~ O God on High, Source of All Life, grant continuous discernment, wisdom, and prophetic understanding to those who guide Your Church, and to us who worship within it. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Lord of Hope and Joy

                                                Strengthen our trust in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Holy Lord of the highest Mountains and the lowest Valleys, draw us close to experience Your Presence in each moment, in our success and in our failing, as we strive to seek Your favor and follow Your will in all that we are and all that we do. We ask through the blessings of Christ Jesus, our Redeemer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our Counselor, who together with You are our One God, now and through eternity.  Amen.

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