People's Prayers

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Prayers of the People: Here's the Deal... 17th Sunday after Pentecost, '17 Yr A

For Sunday, October 1, 2017, 17^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; Philippians 2:1-13,

Matthew 21:23-32

The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. [Exodus 17:5-6a]

We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, and the wonderful works he has done. [Psalm 78:4]

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus... [Philppians 2:3-5]

Jesus said to [the Pharisees]: "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going to the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed in him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. [Matthew 21:31b-32]

As we journey through this life, do you, like me, wonder from time to time - Is God here, among us? By our current standards the Israelites had it good; God's presence was clear in the pillars of cloud by day and fire by night. God made a deal with Moses to be always present and have Moses do all manner of fantastic feats to lead the Israelites, feed them, and quench their thirst. Still, it wasn't enough and they grumbled time and again looking back at the hardships of slavery as better than their wilderness journey. How much more difficult for us to know God's presence in our own times without Moses striking a rock for water or Jesus besting those "righteous, letter-of-the-law" chief priests and elders, at least until the time came for them to execute him. Yet even his death is Life for us.

Many of us would say, most of the time, with a doubt or two creeping in, that we believe God is with us, even without concrete visual sightings of God's presence. But the days are busy and fraught with stress in ordinary routine, not to mention the toll of personal trials, and all the craziness in the world at large. So it's likely that we don't always stop and question the location of God in the midst of a Tuesday afternoon or Thursday night before bed, in an angry or frustrating conversation, or even on the happiest of occasions. Some weeks it's all some of us can do to find God on Sunday morning in Church. But for me, this week's readings say, God is here, where am I? Faith is as faith does, actions always tell the tale - just think of the parable of two sons in this week's Gospel. I need to be conscious, awake, and present in the moment to think through how what I do, or what I have done, expresses how close to or far from God I am. Is my wilderness in keeping God absent in pursuit of my selfish ambitions, in looking down on others and judging them as not as worthy as myself, or not pondering how I could possibly take on the mind of Christ? Humility in the face of all that God has done is part of Paul's message. Jesus tells us in Matthew and in Luke to A.S.K. that is, ask, seek, and knock and we will find God always in our midst. So, here's the deal - remember if you're on the road paved with good intentions make a u-turn and keep asking.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord, our Rock and our Salvation, quench our spiritual thirst by the living waters of Your grace. Split the hard shell of our selfish-ambitions and flood us with Your loving presence that we may take on the mind of Christ.

O God of our Journeys

RESPONSE: We put our trust in You

~ O Lord, our Rock and our Salvation, grant us energy and courage to press our political leaders, locally and globally, to seek humanitarian solutions for the issues of our world, our nation, and our community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of our Journeys

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord, our Rock and our Salvation, cradle and comfort all who suffer in body, soul, or life circumstance, and ease the burdens of those who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O God of our Journeys

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord, our Rock and our Salvation, released from earthly woes and trials, welcome those now arrived into new life with Christ Jesus, healed by joy and eternal peace. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of our Journeys

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord, our Rock and our Salvation, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…

O God of our Journeys

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord, our Rock and our Salvation, grant unflagging spirit and energy to all whose priestly vocations nourish our spiritual development, care for our pastoral needs, and encourage us to be closer to You in every day. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of our Journeys

We put our trust in You

The Celebrant adds: Lord within us, Lord among us, help us to be alive in our faith through reflection on Your Word, prayer-filled action, and humble regard for others and Your Creation. We ask through our Savior Christ who, with the Holy Spirit, live and reign with You as 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

Monday, September 18, 2017

Prayers of the People: If only...16th Sunday after Pentecost Yr A

For Sunday, 24, 2017, 16^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16

The Israelites said to [Moses and Aaron], "If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we...ate our fill of bread..." [Exodus 16:3a]

Glory in his holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Search for the LORD and his strength; continually seek his face. [Psalm 105:3-4]

Only, live your life in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ...standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. [Philippians 1:27-28]

When the first came, they thought they'd receive more...they grumbled against the landowner. But he replied to one of them..."Take what belongs to you..I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you..." So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

[Matthew 20:10a, 11b, 13a, 14, 16]

The Israelites were rescued from generations of horrific slavery and tortuous lives. After sending plague upon plague to dazzle Pharaoh and persuade him to Let God's People GO - God parted The Red (aka Reed) Sea so they could escape from the Egyptians again when Pharaoh changed his mind. The escape was no picnic given the initial lack of food and water yet given what they'd left it seems, to us looking back, that things were better on the whole. But the unknown road became more frightening than the known hardships they had fled, even with the proven leadership of Moses and Aaron and their demonstrated relationship with God. And so the whole congregation complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, "If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt..." [Exodus 16:2-3, emphasis added] And God followed through on another promise and generously provided the meat and bread to fill them. It wouldn't be the last time they grumbled. Perhaps they didn't feel that they had gotten what they deserved. In any case, even after meals delivered by wing and frost, they hadn't learned to trust in God.

The vineyard laborers in the parable of Jesus aren't happy that the Landowner is simply using his prerogative to be generous. Same pay for an hour's work as for a full day - who wouldn't get upset about that? Don't those who worked longer and did more work deserve more? How many of us Good Christian People would grumble about that Landowner in the parking lot? If only we could feel - and stop - the creeping envy, greed, and judgment filling us, and allow for simple generosity. Do we ever learn?

It's a difficult balance to fight for equity and fairness for ourselves and others in our temporal life, while relinquishing jealousy and anger at not getting what we perceive is deserved. God isn't leading us by clouds and pillars of fire these days, but by the Word of Christ. Am I seeking it? Am I hearing it? Am I listening? Am I following? My prayer is to try to find that balance, to not leave to the last the cutting back on my envy and grumbling; and, oh yes: Dear Lord, please save me from all that I actually deserve. If only...

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Most Generous God, if only we could remember that Your love for us is limitless as we grumble and complain about fairness in this life. Fill us with the Living Bread that we may stand firm with one spirit, striving together with one mind, for the faith of Christ’s Gospel now, and for the Life to come.

O LORD, our God

RESPONSE: Urge our hearts to seek Your Strength

~ Most Generous God, especially in these times of ongoing natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and destructive wars, equip us with the ability to sway the leaders of our World, our Nation, and our Community toward thoughtful, reasoned decisions based in justice, mercy, and peace. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

Urge our hearts to seek Your Strength

~ Most Generous God, enfold all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit into Your loving cloud of hope, and lift the spirits of those who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

Urge our hearts to seek Your Strength

~ Most Generous God, we commend to Your eternal embrace all, still loved in this life, who now live again and forever with Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

Urge our hearts to seek Your Strength

~ Most Generous God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

Urge our hearts to seek Your Strength

~ Most Generous God, grant unlimited delight and ceaseless wisdom to all who have been chosen to elevate Your Church into a vibrant community of faith. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

Urge our hearts to seek Your Strength

The Celebrant adds: The Celebrant adds: O God of Grace and Glory, compel our souls to desire life with Christ first in our every thought and action, and not leave the release of all judgment, greed, and envy within us to the last. We ask this grace through Jesus, our Hope and our Salvation, and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Sanctifier, who live and reign together with You, 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

Monday, September 11, 2017

Prayers of the People: AS I Forgive Others 15th Sunday after Pentecost '17 Yr A

For Sunday, September 17, 2017, 15^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 14:19-31, Psalm 114, Romans 14:1-12,
Matthew 18:21-35

The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided...the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. [Exodus 14:21b, 29]

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord...Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water and flint-stone into a flowing spring. [Psalm 114:7, 8]

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions...Who are you to pass judgment on...[another]? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. [Romans 14:1, 4]

Peter came and said to Jesus, "...how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times...'[The lord of the slave said] Should you not have mercy of your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?'...So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart." [Matthew 18:21-22, 33, 35]

Jesus tells Peter that seventy-seven times we are to forgive, or, as in an older perhaps more familiar translation, seventy times seven. Sometimes forgiving
once feels beyond my capacity but I sure can snap to judgment in a nano-second.
I do know that my instant judgment of another often has more to do with a projection of what I don't like about myself, specifically the uncomfortable awareness of my own sins. When I push myself to move beyond denial and engage in thoughtful, prayerful reflection of who I am and how I react, I remember the saying, If God forgives you, who are you not to forgive yourself?! And when I dig deeper, I discover that forgiveness received and given isn't a mere slap-dash-high-five-good-to-go. It requires a significant, deliberate, conscious change in me without requiring the same of others. Some days - some minutes! - are easier than others to live up to the challenge of self-changing. But when I purposely accept the forgiveness of God and make a sincere intentional pledge and employ much effort to be better and do better, I experience a lifting of my spirit, a freedom, and a strengthening of my faith.

When I feel forgiven, it is easier to extend forgiveness, understanding, and compassion to others. When judgment and cynicism wane, the work of faith, hope, and love becomes more instinctual though not always less difficult. It is a continuous process filled with detours, back-tracking, failure, and persistence in starting again. Paul reminds us that we are each accountable to God. Perhaps a sticky note that says accountable on the dashboard of my car will help me to remember, in one of those moments, that it is God's favorable judgment I seek. I also need frequent reminders that it is my responsibility to live as a disciple of Christ, with honor. After all, as Paul asks, who am I to judge another?

Jesus is uncomfortably clear that God will forgive us AS we forgive others. Oh how simply difficult. Okay then, it's a new day, the long road is before us, and, we are never alone. Let us follow the wisdom of Moses, Paul, and Jesus, and walk always toward God's dry and holy ground with mercy, compassion, and forgiveness for others in our hearts.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Holy God, Pillar of our Universe, liberate us from the slavery of judgment and anger, keep us mindful of our accountability to You and always aware that You forgive us as sincerely and grace-fully as we forgive all others.

LORD of Mercy

RESPONSE: Grant us the true heart to forgive

~ Holy God, Pillar of our Universe, in these difficult times, energize us to press the urgency of informed decision-making and rational response to crises upon the leaders of our Planet, our Nation, and our local Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

LORD of Mercy

Grant us the true heart to forgive

~ Holy God, Pillar of our Universe, part the waves of illness, pain, and despair for all whose hope is sinking; and lift the spirits of those who provide support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

LORD of Mercy

Grant us the true heart to forgive

~ Holy God, Pillar of our Universe, our souls are comforted by the heavenly embrace and infinite peace of our loved ones who now live again in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

LORD of Mercy

Grant us the true heart to forgive

~ Holy God, Pillar of our Universe, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…

LORD of Mercy

Grant us the true heart to forgive

~ Holy God, Pillar of our Universe, bestow an unlimited capacity for the energy of joy to our Brothers and Sisters anointed and entrusted to guide us by Your Word and Wisdom in worship, in prayer, and in ministry. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

LORD of Mercy

Grant us the true heart to forgive

The Celebrant adds: O God of Wind and Water, our Light in the Darkness, quicken our faith in Your Presence, and impose upon us the character and courage to seek Your dry ground of mercy and compassion for all. We ask always through the blessings of Your Son Jesus, our Christ, and Your most Holy Spirit, our Counselor, who are together with You, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Prayers of the People: Wake up! 14th Sunday after Pentecost '17 Yr A

For Sunday, September 10, 2017, 14^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans 13:81-14,
Matthew 18:15-20

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months...I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. [Exodus 12:1-2b, 13b]

Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song; sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful. [Psalm 149:1]

The commandments...are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself"...love is the fulfilling of the law...now is the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers...Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light... [Romans 13:9b,11b, 12b]

"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven...For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." [Matthew 18:18, 20]

Five year olds have an often startling grasp of reality and a blessedly unrestrained capacity to speak to it. At a 90th birthday party for her Great-Great Aunt, Miss Rebecca, calculating and pondering the meaning of so many blazing candles, suddenly exclaimed to her with genuine dismay, "OH NO! You're almost died!" Our Aunt, taking it all in stride, replied with a broad smile and very natural tone, "Well, I'm a lot closer than I used to be." And so, as Paul says this week, are we all, a lot closer than we used to be.
This week we are given the details of the tricky, and likely nervous-making preparation for the LORD's pass over that spared only the families who were given, and accurately followed, the instructions. Jesus lays out a plan for conflict resolution in the Church, which if followed without a sense of sincere discretion, care, and responsibility, may have a similarly fatal effect for individuals and the community itself. He tells us again, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven which should have a chilling and sobering effect on how we decide to act. Conflict resolution is tenuous in the best of times, a huge responsibility for all parties. The pointing out of faults is always easier when you yourself have none. But if we each look deeply enough into that "troublesome person", most of us can see ourselves at some point or another in our lives. We must each consider, how would I want to be approached if my behavior or attitude was a problem for someone else?
Paul reminds, because we need to hear again and again, as Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I used to hear that as "love your neighbor as you love yourself" and, of course, if one has difficulty loving oneself it would be apparent in the way s/he treats others. Yet in the fuller sense, I now read it as written - love your neighbor as your self. THAT person is YOU. Loving him/her/them, is to love yourself, to discover a mirror image in another and love that part of them that is you. Jesus promises that in unity and community, when two or three or more gather in his name, we bring Christ into our midst. That may not make it easier for us, yet it gives us a place to start; a new song to sing. "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." [Romans 13:10]
But of course the world is full of fanatics, psychotics, and sociopaths, and just plain disagreeable people who don't understand that MY opinion is the correct one! And I'd paint my doorpost with whatever God wants if that would protect those I love, but it appears that is no longer an option. Of course I must admit that I have trouble liking some people let alone loving them, especially the people that want to do serious harm. Try as I might, the reality is that I cannot change what anyone else does; I can only change my response to it. No easy task, no easy solution but one certainty exists: Salvation is nearer to us now, and every passing moment brings it closer. The time is NOW to turn to Christ, to act for Christ, to love in, through, and as Christ - whew, hard work when there are so many other pleasant distractions available and no guarantees that your efforts will be appreciated in this life. If only I could just wait a little longer to get in there and do all that I should. But, time's a-wastin' and for those of us who believe in and want eternal Salvation, this is THE wake up call!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Most High LORD, as Your Love, through Christ, will pass over our sins, guide us to begin in this moment to seek our true calling through forgiving the unforgivable, by living honorably, and honestly work to love everyone we meet as ourselves.

Creator God

RESPONSE: Let us sing You a new song with our lives

~ Most High LORD, strengthen our resolve that together, with Christ in our midst, we will give witness of Your Love to those who lead us in our World, our Country, and our Community, and express our expectations that they will act for the safety, wholeness, and health of all Your people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Creator God

Let us sing You a new song with our lives

~ Most High LORD, comfort and heal all who are chronically ill, live in the relentless demand of addiction, or have lost their sense of home, and refresh all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Creator God

Let us sing You a new song with our lives

~ Most High LORD, grant peace for all who mourn through the faith of knowing that our loved ones now blossom in the eternal sunshine of Life beyond mere living. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Creator God

Let us sing You a new song with our lives

~ Most High LORD, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently. Today in our congregation we pray especially for: add your own petitions

Creator God

Let us sing You a new song with our lives

~ Most High LORD, prepare a special place in Your eternal Kingdom for those who lead us in Your Church, who pray with us and for us, preach Your word to us, and shepherd us to spiritual growth in this Community of Faith. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Creator God

Let us sing You a new song with our lives

The Celebrant adds: O God, Holy and Mighty, awaken our hearts, that in this short life, we now see ourselves as You see us, and as mirrors of one another, with love, compassion and understanding. Illuminate our path with the Light of Christ, the armor that binds against the darkness of sinful action and evil intent. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer and Messiah, and the Holy Spirit, our Fount of Wisdom, who live and reign together with You, One God, Timeless, Immortal, and Infinite. Amen.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Prayers of the People: Coming Back from Behind, 13th Sunday after Pentecost '17 Yr A

For Sunday, September 3, 2017, 13thSunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28

Moses...came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush...the bush was blazing but not consumed...God called to him..."Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no closer...for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." [Exodus 3:1b-2, 4b-5]

Glory in his holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. [Psalm 105:3]

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;...outdo one another in showing honor...never avenge yourselves...for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."...overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:9, 10b, 19, 21b]

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem...and be killed and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." [Matthew 16:21a,b-23]

  From out of the flaming bush, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out from the torture and horrors of their existence as slaves in the ancient world. Moses, probably still trying to grasp that God is speaking to him from a burning shrub, gives a most human response, "Who am I" to do this unimaginable task? Moses had just been minding the sheep in his everyday, ordinary life and suddenly he's called to save a nation - reluctance is the mildest emotion I would have felt! Of course this is a great story worthy of the many dramatic renderings in films and other media that it has inspired. And perhaps because of the magnitude of this command, the primary message seems obscured.
The world of today is not so far away in attitude from the times of Moses. Around the world and in each of our own countries, as many of us go through our days just minding our sheep, there are ever-growing pockets of racial and ethnic hatred, senseless mass killings, and unchecked imposed power creating enslavement through poverty, war, and robust greed, all elements that have never left the human realm.
But God, through Moses, reminds us that, however reluctant, we are each called to step up to Holy Ground and find our own ways to save nations, if only by one sheep at a time.
It is much easier to wander in the wilderness of apathy or cling to the false gods of power and profit as if to save us from ourselves and each other. But last week Paul reminded us of our individual gifts that work in concert with the gifts of others so that we are one body, with many members, charged to live in and through Christ. This week, Paul, gives us a rapid-fire list of how to begin to be the Living Sacrifice that Jesus calls us to be:  Let love be genuine, hate evil, hold fast to good, love one another, outdo, don't lag, rejoice, be patient, persevere, contribute, extend, bless, rejoice, weep, live, associate, and don't claim to be wiser than you are, etc., etc., etc.
       I'm nearly exhausted at the thought of it all yet Jesus reminds us that all that has been done will be repaid in kind by God. If we only Follow him, Jesus says, not setting our minds on human things but on the divine, we will gain the life we were created to live. We must take care to suspend our natural impulse to argue with Jesus out of doubt, fear, or unwillingness that turns us into stumbling blocks obstructing the path of others. We must come back from hiding behind the devilish desires for human treasure and move to the front of the line, as did Peter, seeking to overcome evil with good. One day, one small act, one prayer at a time that leads to another and another and another...

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O LORD, our God, Your Sacred Fire sanctifies our faith, transforms our souls, and guides us to find our footing on the holy ground of this earthly life. Keep our faces turned toward You, that we may not be consumed by human things, but set our minds on all that is divine.

Forever God

RESPONSE: Let us seek and rejoice in You

~ O LORD, our God, kindle the Spirit within us to prevail upon the leaders of this world, our country, and our community to take on actions of honor, dignity, and humanity rather than repay evil with evil. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Forever God

Let us seek and rejoice in You

~ O LORD, our God, guide us to be a listening ear and helping hand to care for those with physical or mental illness or desperate life circumstance, and for those who are struggling to meet those needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Forever God

Let us seek and rejoice in You

~ O LORD, our God, Grant us the joy to celebrate all who have now risen in Glory, free of misery and tears. We pray especially for:

Forever God

Let us seek and rejoice in You

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

Forever God

Let us seek and rejoice in You

~ O LORD, our God, expand your enduring grace for those among us who, like Moses and Peter, are reluctant but willing to take on Your mantle of leadership in ministry on our behalf. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Forever God

Let us seek and rejoice in You

The Celebrant adds: LORD God of Yesterday, Today, and Forever, free us from our desire for the superficial milk and honey of this life, and ignite our passion to Follow, not obstruct, the course of Christ, the ultimate and Divine reward for our living sacrifice. We ask in the name of Jesus, Son of Man, and the Holy Spirit, the Divine Fervor in our hearts, who reign together with You as One, Living and Eternal God. Amen.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Prayers of the People: Keys and Connections 12th Sunday after Pentecost, '17 Yr A

For Sunday, August 27, 2017, 12^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 1:8-2:10, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20

Now a new king arose over Egypt...[who] commanded all his people "Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile...[When the Levite] woman...bore a son...she got a papyrus basket...she put the child in it among the reeds on the bank of the river...The daughter of Pharoah...took pity on him...she took him as her son. She named him Moses, "because," she said, "I drew him out of the water." [Exodus 1:8a, 22a, 2:2a, 3a,b; 5a, 6b, 10b]

Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth. [Psalm 124:8]

...by the mercies of God...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed...that you may discern what is the will of God...We have gifts that differ according to the grace given us... [Romans 12:1b, 2, 6a]

[Jesus] said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him..."I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." [Matthew 16:15-16, 17a, 19]

Just as the well-worn literary device of "It was a dark and stormy night" alerts us to trouble ahead, so do the opening words of this passage of Exodus, "Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph." Of course we mostly know the story of Moses and what is to come so it is easy in a Sunday service to tune out and let the reading roll on while we look for our checkbooks, sneak a peek at a text message on our mobile phone, or think about what is needed for the evening meal. But the re-telling, of this and each of the other specifically appointed readings, gives us a chance to find a new focus, or hear something we hadn't noticed before. This is an opportunity to seek and discover the keys to unlocking the connections between the Hebrew and Christian Testaments and how - or if - it all informs and shapes our everyday life now, IF being the small yet formidable and operative word. Paul reminds us, in a most timely way, that we are one body in Christ with God-given, grace-filled gifts that we are to discover and offer in service to God and each other. In saying, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect, and then enumerating examples of the gifts God has given, Paul both admonishes and encourages us to look beyond ourselves and work together for God's purpose as a welcoming all-inclusive community of many members in Christ.

The disciples express to Jesus at his asking who others think he is, perhaps wondering themselves if Jesus is some sort of re-incarnation of the prophets. But Simon Peter gets the prize for getting the answer correct. Peter - a name meaning rock in Greek - is then awarded the keys of the kingdom of heaven to bind and loose on earth and in heaven. Did Peter, in that moment, feel the enormous weight of the responsibility? Binding and loosing is a rabbinical concept that, as Jews, the disciples - and Matthew - understood. In very simplistic terms it means a communal judgment to bind as in obligation or to loosen that requirement. How does that apply to us in our lives today?

Many of us feel a strong obligation, or at least a commitment, to present ourselves in Church each Sunday, but of course we are free to not attend. So what does a true obligation to the work of Christ actually mean? Ah, that's where discernment applies. Discovering what are and how to use our particular gifts, as well as offering them in the sincere attempt to follow God's will, is the work of a lifetime, our spiritual worship, our living sacrifice. Our human gifts are the keys to unlocking our spiritual gifts when used in preparation for the true life that is to come. All that was, is now, and all that is now, will come again. It is up to us, individually and collectively, to recognize the connections we share with the past and the future that help us to decipher the signs that we are on the right path or diverging from it. To paraphrase mystic/monk Thomas Merton's helpful and hopeful prayer* that begins, "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going...," the fact that I think I'm following God's will does not mean that I truly am doing so, BUT, I do believe that God knows when I am sincere in my desire to please and fulfill my calling. Sincerity of purpose is one key to the loosening of apprehension and the binding of trust. Connecting the lessons of the past and present is the key to the future of life everlasting.

*for the full text click here: Thomas Merton's Prayer

(As for a couple of biblical connections, the word for basket - as in the basket that Moses was placed in - is the same word as ark in Hebrew; ark is not just a vessel for water travel, it is a sanctuary, a safe place as a box or a chest such as the ark of the covenant. In Exodus, all Hebrew boy babies were ordered to be killed by Pharoah to prevent them growing up and revolting against him. Earlier in Matthew, Herod ordered all boys under 2 years old to be killed to prevent a Messiah from undermining his reign. Go forth and discover more each week!)

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Living God, our Maker and our Help, as through the waters that birth us, that Moses was drawn from, that nourish the Earth and sometimes drown it, we often struggle to navigate our lives between the raging and the calm. Let us not drift aimlessly through tide and torrent, but by Your mercy, steer toward the Light of Christ, our Messiah, the Incarnation of Your Holy Will for us.

O Lord, our God

RESPONSE: Renew and Transform us, we pray

~ Living God, our Maker and our Help, empower us to be dauntless in the vigorous pursuit of re-forming the attitudes, agenda, and actions from callous to compassionate on the part of the political leaders of this world, our country, and our community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God,

Renew and Transform us, we pray

~ Living God, our Maker and our Help, infuse all who are lost in the grip of addiction, depression, or serious illness with hope and healing, and comfort all who give of their strength in support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord, our God,

Renew and Transform us, we pray

~ Living God, our Maker and our Help, open wide the gates of heaven, as You receive in joy, those we now commend to the bliss of eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God,

Renew and Transform us, we pray

~ Living God, our Maker and our Help, 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,

Renew and Transform us, we pray

~ Living God, our Maker and our Help, we offer our special thanksgivings for those who guide us by their teaching, preaching, and prayers to discern our own gifts and discover our path to all that is holy and acceptable to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God,

Renew and Transform us, we pray

The Celebrant adds: Holy and Immortal God, awaken us each morning with eagerness to offer ourselves in service to Your Supreme Will, to escape the snares of conforming to what is of this world, and bind ourselves to Your Kingdom. We ask through Jesus, Son of Man, our Blessed Messiah; and the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Advocate, who together with You are one God, omnipotent, eternal, and everlasting. Amen.