People's Prayers

Monday, November 19, 2018

Prayers of the People: Un-Earthly King ~ Last Sunday of Pentecost '18 Yr B

For Sunday, November 25, 2018, Last Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Readings: 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Psalm 132:1-13, 14-19; Revelation 1:4b-8,
John 18:33-37

The God of Israel has spoken: One who rules over people justly…is like the light of the morning…But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away. [2 Samuel 23:3a, 6a]

Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; let your faithful people sing with joy. [Psalm 132:9]

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come..."I am the Alpha and the Omega"... [Revelation 1:4b, 8]

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. [John 18:37b]

We have arrived at the Last Sunday after Pentecost, celebrating Christ the King. Coming next we begin the Season of Advent, preparing for the birth of the Child, who frees us from our sins.

The reading from 2^nd Samuel contains the last words of another King, David. The contrast of the just ruler with the godless is stark, explicit, and worthy of comparisons with our own lives. The just ruler, God has told David, is like the light of the morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning…Is not my house like this with God? God will help us all be secure and prosper. But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away…entirely consumed in fire…

The passage from Revelation brings mysterious and almost abstract descriptions that are difficult to comprehend for most modern, western minds. While they also maybe somewhat familiar to anyone who regularly reads the Christian [New] Testament and/or hears them read in a church setting, these words may seem irrelevant in the scheme of daily living in today’s world. How does one concretely grasp Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, firstborn of all creation and also of the dead, ruler of the kings of the earth? Or the Lord God, the Almighty who is and was and is to come, the Alpha and the Omega. Yet we, who would be counted as faithful Christians, should take heed and examine these words more closely. It is in this daily life in this time that we may easily lose track of our allegiances and settle in more with the temporary earthly powers than in the everlasting divine Kingship of Christ. Although Jesus says his kingdom is not from here, it is here and in this time and place where we encounter him, if we seek him, and if we choose to follow.

For me, the crux of this Sunday’s lessons is the moment in John’s Gospel that Jesus tells Pilate that everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice [John 18:37b]. Are we listening? Do we hear it? Interestingly, what comes next is not in our appointed reading and I wish that it was! Maybe it is even more difficult for us to fully understand. In verse 38: Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" For us who endeavor to follow, Christ is our unearthly King in this world who shows us the way to the true unending Kingdom. The easy question for each of us to answer is: To what truth do we choose to belong? The hard question and answer is: How do we live it?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God Almighty, our Light and our Rock, keep us from collapsing in fear whenever we, Your restless multitude, tremble at earthly tumult from both human behavior and natural disasters. In our fleeting mortality turn us always to Christ in whose Kingdom we are forgiven and saved.

O Christ, our King

RESPONSE: Keep us in Your Truth

~ O God Almighty, our Light and our Rock, we implore You to infuse the wisdom, sanity, and humanity of Jesus into all who govern Your people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Christ, our King

Keep us in Your Truth

~ O God Almighty, our Light and our Rock, send healing grace to all who suffer in spirit, mind, or body, and compassion to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Christ, our King

Keep us in Your Truth

~ O God Almighty, our Light and our Rock, ease our grief as the souls of our cherished departed arise from earthly death into the ceaseless joy of Your Eternal Kingdom. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Christ, our King

Keep us in Your Truth

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

O Christ, our King

Keep us in Your Truth

~ O God Almighty, our Light and our Rock, empower the spirits of those who lead us in Your Church, through Your Word and Sacraments, with the peace, unity, and truth of Christ’s all-encompassing love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Christ, our King

Keep us in Your Truth

The Celebrant adds: Christ of All Peoples, rescue us from the power of darkness and transform our anxieties into fruitful action. Keep us striving toward Your purpose by offering our labors to soothe the sufferings of humanity near and far. We ask through Jesus our Christ, the Faithful Witness, and the Holy Spirit, the very Breath of Love, who together with You are our One God, now and forever. Amen.

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Monday, November 12, 2018

Prayers of the People: Our Roles as Stewards ~ 6th Sunday in the Season of Creation '18 Yr B

For Sunday, November 18, 2018, 6^th Sunday in the Season of Creation, Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1a, 2, 4, 8-11; Psalm 116:10-17,

Bishop John E. Hines*, Matthew 7:7-11

So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, that you, O Lord, have given me…set it down before the Lord your God and bow before the Lord…[Deuteronomy 26:10]

How shall I repay the Lord for all the good things he has done for me? [Psalm 116:10]

For the essential question is not, “How shall the Episcopal Church grow?” - but rather, “How can the Episcopal Church be faithful?” For that is the heritage worth sacrificing for - worth passing on to our children and grandchildren. God forbid that they should come to a time and place unashamed of the Gospel, but ashamed of us. [Former Presiding Bishop John Hines]

Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. [Matthew 7:7]

Any of us who attend church regularly and considers her- or himself as a “member” or a “parishioner” or a “congregant” has heard and understands what is meant by Stewardship. Inside the church much is needed in support of the staff, the worship, the physical plant, and all the elements of church (small “c”) that we Episcopals call time, talent, and treasure. Outside the walls the needs are greater in all manner of ways. All of us, each of us in our many ways are called by Our Lord to give of our selves, significantly, from what God has given us. Money, or treasure, of course, is what we hear as foremost on the list of needs and wants for inside and outside.

We also hear of Stewardship as an element to church growth. Bishop Hines wrote that while he would rejoice at a multitude of conversions, his hope was for a witnessing community of unquestioned integrity. Further, he says (to imagined groans from the Finance Chair and others), that the essential question is not, ‘How can the Episcopal [insert other denomination or faith community here] Church grow?’ but rather, ‘How can the Episcopal [other] Church be faithful?’ He tells us that if we want our heritage passed on to younger generations they should come to a time and place unashamed of the Gospel [emphasis added]. We do not want them ashamed of us for creating an exclusive place only for wielding power and influence and losing our way to Christ.

The Rev. Eric Law, in his book Holy Currencies: 6 Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries, shows us a different way to think about the flow of currencies in our lives. Within the usual offerings of time, talent, and treasure is contained a breadth and depth of re-imagining and discovering our personal gifts for ministry that take us well beyond the scope of a seasonal directive (or harangue, in some cases). Stewardship - Missional Ministry - is not merely a specific program for a specific time of year, but rather it is a way of life.

As John Wesley said, "Not, how much money will I give to God, but how much of God's money will I keep for myself?" And that equation works equally well with the other two elements of the stewardship trio: time and talent. I don't know what tomorrow will bring for my community, my country, or this world, but I will pray without ceasing for the faith, the energy, and mindset to be a continuously generous person, to be the Church [capital "C"] as a Christian in the world with many stewarding roles. A faith community builds us up and sends us out and needs our support in every way. The CHURCH is not inside a building, it is in whatever I and we do together, to be true, faithful witnesses as part of the Body of Christ by every thought, word, and action. It's no easy task but Jesus tells us to Ask, Search, Knock ~ Christ will answer and Christ IS the answer, our Steward in Chief. Just A.S.K.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord our God, awaken us to the bounty of Your Creation that we may be grateful stewards of the sacred trust You have given us in the miracle of this earth and its treasures. Grant us the humility and humanity to value and celebrate all of our sisters and brothers in difference and in disagreement, with esteem and dignity, with love and generosity for all.

O God of Power and Wonder

RESPONSE: Let us grow in faith and witness

~ O Lord our God, we offer our prayers for all who lead this World, this Country, and this Community by election, fiat, or inheritance. Inscribe their souls with a yearning for unquestionable integrity, global and local peace, and justice tempered with mercy for all the people in their charge. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Power and Wonder

Let us grow in faith and witness

~ O Lord our God, nestle the aching, the fearful, and the desperate in Your loving embrace, and revitalize all who support their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

O God of Power and Wonder

Let us grow in faith and witness

~ O Lord our God, grant us a foretaste of the joy and glory of Your Heavenly Kingdom as the gates open wide to receive our beloved who now live in the newness of Christ forevermore. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Power and Wonder

Let us grow in faith and witness

~ O Lord our 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 God of Power and Wonder

Let us grow in faith and witness

~ O Lord our God, quicken the spirits of those called and ordained to speak Your Words and celebrate Your Sacraments, inspiring us all to live lives of holy and selfless intention in this earthly life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Power and Wonder

Let us grow in faith and witness

The Celebrant adds: Loving, Patient God, grant us unashamed confidence in the Gospel to take on the mantle of servanthood in Your Name by the giving of our time, our abilities, and our support of others. We ask for guidance to repay all we have been given, to search for our designated purpose to fulfill our vows, and the willingness to knock on the door of Eternal life through our sacrifice of Thanksgiving. We beseech You our Redeemer Christ, our Counselor Spirit, and our Creator Lord, who together are One God, now and through all Eternity. Amen.

Prayers of the People: Birthpangs ~ 26th Sunday after Pentecost '18 Yr B

For Sunday, November 18, 2018, 26^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Readings: 1 Samuel 1:4-20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Hebrews 10:11-14, 15-18, 19-25; Mark 13:1-8

[Hannah] said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.”
[1 Samuel 1:18a]

…there is no Rock like our God…for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed. [1 Samuel 2:2b, 3b]

Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together...but encouraging one another... [Hebrews:10:24-25]

Many will come in my name…and they will lead many astray…When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place…This is but the beginning of the birthpangs. [Mark 13:6, 7a, 8c]

Hannah’s pain was deep over many years at the inability to bear a child. Yet she continued to faithfully pray through her tears and distress and was finally given a son by God. Perhaps our prayers will seem to be unanswered when we don’t get what we most desire ~ the health of a loved one, or peace in the family. Yet Hannah’s words Let your servant find favor in your sight are the words of faith for us to embrace. We cannot know the mind of God, but we can be assured that our minds and are hearts are not hidden for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed. And though we are judged, God grants us forgiveness and salvation though Christ.

The Christian life is not intended to be a solitary journey. Even Jesus had his companions along the way and has told us he’s in our midst whenever two or three – or more – are gathered [Mt 18:20]. We, too, are to be companions in, with, and through Christ, sometimes following, sometimes leading, but often together in a supportive, encouraging, spiritually renewing community. It is through such a community of prayer, worship, and relationship, that we stay connected and are reminded of the faithfulness of God to those who are faithful to God.

The path of Christ is no easy walk. He tells us to beware of those who claim to be him as they will lead us astray. There will be hardships, rumors of wars and wars, earthquakes and famines. It’s all too easy to be fearful with the speed of news of disasters around the world and nearby. But such times are the beginning of birthpangs, birth of the coming again of the glory of Christ. It is all in God’s time, beyond our comprehension. Do not be alarmed, Jesus says and the writer of Hebrews tells us to have the confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us…by our faith we are cleansed in body and in heart so Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Let us keep faith in practice and in hope. Birthpangs are just the beginning of the fresh, new life that awaits.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord Most High, You call us in every time and place to encourage one another with generous hearts, true and wise, in the full assurance of our faith, awakened to the brightness of the everlasting life to come.