People's Prayers

Monday, July 22, 2019

Prayers of the People: Waiting by the Door ~ 7th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, July 28, 2019 ~ Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138, Colossians 2:16-15, (16-19), Luke 11:1-13

…Abraham remained standing near the Lord…and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”

[Genesis 18:22b, 23b]

When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me. [Psalm 138:4]

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition...and not according to Christ. [Colossians 2:8]

I tell you…at least because of his [friends’s] persistence, he will get up and give [his friend] whatever he needs. "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks the door will be opened for you. [Luke 11:8-10]

Persistence is the theme for this week’s group of assigned readings. Perseverance will be rewarded. The most astonishing example, I believe, is in Abraham’s diplomatic, if bold, questioning of God about God’s plans for the wicked in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham knew his nephew Lot, a decent man, had settled in Sodom and with all the concern of a loving uncle, he begins asking if God’s intentions are to sweep away the righteous with the wicked? In a deliberate but respectful tone he asks first if there are fifty righteous, then 45, 30, until he gets God to agree not to destroy the city if 10 righteous are found. Makes me wonder what the rest of Abraham’s day was like.

Paul chimes in with the reminder that we who have received Christ must continue being rooted in him and established in the faith. We are particularly instructed, in his persistent way, not to be taken captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition…not according to Christ. As Paul says, we were made alive together when God forgave us our trespasses, erasing our tarnished records. Luke begins with the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray and he gives them a framework to follow that we use to this day, including the reminder to ask for forgiveness and to forgive others.

Jesus, as he often does, follows with a story. This parable of persistence may make many of us in western culture a bit squirmy and even silently (or worse) judgmental. A friend who would knock at midnight and be told to go away only to continue until the door is opened and the request fulfilled is at the very least, we might say, annoying or even rude. But the code of hospitality and community is so strong in other cultures that despite the inconvenience, one asks and the other aids. Some of our own discomfort with this story is far less about ourselves being awakened late by a friend in need but rather because asking for help for ourselves seems quite antithetical to the “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” mindset. For some, asking for help connotes weakness and fear of being perceived as inadequate by others. Yet knowing when and how to ask for help is a marker of personal strength, even spiritual maturity.

Jesus explains and reinforces the expectation of God that we are to continually Ask of, Search for, and Knock on God's eternal door to be given, to find, and to have opened to us all that God offers. It isn't difficult once you get started. The Psalmist knows the answer will come and our strength is increased by calling on God. Ralph Waldo Emerson tells us, "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed but that our power to do is increased." So, we have learned from Abraham how to ask, and from Paul that we already have the forgiveness we seek. Jesus has opened us to persistence in prayer with the faith that God is always just there, waiting to open the door.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God, Faithful and Loving, restore our wandering hearts to the certainty of Your mercy and truth, that in the darkness and the light of this mortal life, we will persevere in faith, being filled with the substance that is Christ within us.

Most Patient Lord

RESPONSE: We find our strength in You

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, infuse the rulers and authorities of this World, this Nation, and this Community, with the wisdom not to sweep away the righteous with the wicked. Release them from the temporal captivity of a philosophy or empty deceit that is only according to human thinking, not according to Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Most Patient Lord

We find our strength in You

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, ease the pain and anguish of all who are suffering and refresh the energy of all who give care and support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Most Patient Lord

We find our strength in You

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, calm the sorrow and tears of those who mourn, as You grant to all of our faithful departed, the glory of everlasting life in You. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

Most Patient Lord

We find our strength in You

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

Most Patient Lord

We find our strength in You

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, instill further grace and tenacity in faith to all who are anointed to pastor us in wellness and in sickness, in joy and in sorrow, in preaching and in teaching, as they guide us to Your glory and the salvation of us all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Most Patient Lord

We find our strength in You

The Celebrant adds: Gracious God, endow us with the persistence to ask often for the awareness of Your Presence in our lives, to seek Your help to forgive others as we are forgiven, and to knock constantly on Your door to Eternal Life. Turn us from the human pathways of trespass and trial into the fullness of Christ our Savior. We ask through Jesus, the Bread of Life, and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier, who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.

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Monday, July 15, 2019

Prayers of the People: The Mary-er the Better ~ 6th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, July 21, 2019 ~ 6^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Genesis 18:1-10a, Psalm, 15, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. [Genesis 18:1-10a]

Lord, who may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart…there is no guile upon his tongue…he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor. [Psalm 15:1b-3]

And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death...provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith... [Colossians 1:21-22, 23a]

But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her. [Luke 10:41-42]

Rublev's Trinity

Of course, the focus for today's readings is the iconic Martha and Mary story in Luke's Gospel. But there is another icon to mention from today's reading in Genesis, arising from the visit to Abraham as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. It opens with "The Lord appeared to Abraham" and then tells us that Abraham looked up and saw three men yet strangely spoke to them in the singular of "My Lord..." The men who sit at Abraham’s table were beautifully captured by the 15th century Russian Orthodox iconographer, Andrei Rublev, in his famous, and my personal favorite of all icons, "Rublev's Trinity." This icon, as icons always are, is filled with much symbolism which I encourage you to explore.* But for this moment, it is his stunning interpretation that speaks to me of the "three in one" mystery of the Trinity. As for the rest of the reading, a cliff-hanger of sorts for Sarah and Abraham, as we imagine them pondering the parting words of the men who say she will have a son.

The Psalm is filled with God's instructions on how to find our way to heaven, the Holy Hill, and Paul congratulates the Colossians for their turn from evil deeds to the fullness of God through Christ. But it is the age-old Martha/Mary conflict that draws the most attention. Then as now, the everyday tasks take over life and some days, or many, there’s simply not enough time left over for God.

We're all so very busy despite all sorts and conditions of modern technology in our western culture that is supposed to encourage and allow more leisure time. Martha was trying to have Jesus understand all that she had to do and needed Mary’s help. Lucky Mary wins the round with Jesus patiently explaining to the harried Martha to take a breath and relax, sit down and choose the better part. I’m wondering if Martha is looking at him with the “and just who do you think is going to get all this cooking and cleaning done for all these people” look?

Who of us doesn’t struggle with making the better part of life as time with our Trinity? Someday, I’ve often mused, I’ll have the time to continue securely established and steadfast in the faith without shifting from the hope promised in the Gospel. It isn’t even a question of “balance” in our lives. We are to be faithful to God in Christ first and then get on with the other stuff. Sure, easy to do when you don’t have to make a living, or meet every deadline, do the shopping, prepare the food, cope with the interminable interruptions such as weddings, births, sickness, and whatever else life throws at you. And if you have children or teens at home, there are a thousand other things to do. Naturally we know that someday, once everything settles down, we can get on with the business of the God and faith stuff. But God is always with us, Christ always within us, the Word always surrounds us and all we need to do is breathe consciously in and out with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit on our lips and in our hearts.

I saw a sign once that said, "Someday is not on the calendar." Busy may accomplish earth-bound tasks in the life where someday never arrives. But being merely busy doesn't draw us closer to Christ, it keeps us away. Let us mindfully, intentionally, deliberately choose the better part of the very brief God-given life we have and all that needs doing will truly get done. The Mary-er the better.

*click here to learn more about: Symbolism in Rublev's Trinity

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Invisible, Immortal God, grant us the courage to lead a blameless life free of guile, with no contempt for our neighbor. Guide us to always do what is right, reject evil, and strive to present ourselves to You, mature in Christ, proclaiming his wisdom to all we meet.

Lord, in Your Fullness

RESPONSE: Keep us steadfast in our faith

~ Invisible, Immortal God, strengthen us to speak the truth from our hearts that will reconcile to Your Will the earthly rulers of all thrones, dominions, and powers in every corner of this world, great and small. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord, in Your Fullness

Keep us steadfast in our faith

~ Invisible, Immortal God, restore health and hope for those with chronic pain in body, mind, or spirit, and refresh all who bring them comfort and care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Lord, in Your Fullness

Keep us steadfast in our faith

~ Invisible, Immortal God, lift grieving hearts with the joy of eternal life in glory, now bestowed on those we have loved in this life. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

Lord, in Your Fullness

Keep us steadfast in our faith

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

Lord, in Your Fullness

Keep us steadfast in our faith

~ Invisible, Immortal God, look with extra favor upon those who lead us in Your Church and teach us to recognize when You arrive in the heat of the day, or the cold of the night. As servants of the Gospel they shepherd our souls to follow, together, in the footsteps of Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord, in Your Fullness

Keep us steadfast in our faith

The Celebrant adds: Lord God of Promise and Presence, release us from the traps of worry, busyness, and distraction that we set for ourselves, estranging us from You. Infuse us with the wisdom to choose the better part of the life you have given us to live, the hope of Christ within us. We ask through Jesus, Firstborn of All Creation, and the Holy Spirit, Counselor to our souls, who together with You are One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Monday, July 8, 2019

Prayers of the People: Simply. Difficult. Necessary. ~ 5th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, July 14, 2019 ~ 5^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Psalm 25:1-9, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37

“Surely, this commandment…is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away…No, the word is very near to you; is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.” [Deuteronomy 30:11, 14]

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you…Gracious and upright is the Lord…He guides the humble in doing right and teaches his way to the lowly. [Psalm 25:1a, 7a, 8]

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from [God's] glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience... [Colossians 1:11]

[Jesus] said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" [The lawyer] answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all our soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself…" But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” [Luke 10:26-27, 29]

We bounce around non-sequentially in the Old Testament in this season after Pentecost, and this week we slip in near the end of the book of Deuteronomy, only a few chapters shy of the end of Moses’ life. Moses, in this reading, is outlining the many positive ways following the Commandments will bear fruit for the still traveling Israelites – in body, in livestock, and in the soil. He wants them to understand the do’s and don’ts of life in God’s care. God delights in and prospers those turning their hearts and souls in obedience. Moses assures the gathered that the incentive to obey is strong because The Law is protective – it helps resolve earthly squabbles, the dietary rules of the time are for physical health, and best of all, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far away. The Psalmist confirms that God, to whom we lift our souls, is gracious and upright and guides the humble in doing right.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians also speaks of bearing fruit through faith in the Gospel of Jesus. He, like Moses regarding The Law, tells them the Word of Jesus is close as the Gospel has come to them, and in turn, to us all. We will bear its fruit in every good work as we grow in the knowledge of God.

The lawyer in the passage from Luke speaks words that are so familiar we could recite them yet we still find them difficult to live. This was a shocking parable in its time and might be in our own day if we use a substitute for Samaritan such as Satanist and contagious for the man beset by robbers on the road. Perhaps, in that way, we can understand the apprehension of those who passed by without helping. One’s adherence to The Law that forbade touching one who is “unclean” is extra-convenient when faced with a distasteful situation. And just imagine the utter amazement of on-lookers that this victim would be helped by so unlikely a person – a foreigner, a stranger, one not like the others.

The “Summary of the Law” as the sentence uttered by the lawyer is known, gives us everything we need to hear, understand, and accept as the way of the Gospel. It is a succinct and complete restatement of all of God’s Commandments. If we truly love God so completely in heart, soul, strength, and mind we’d never consider coveting, killing, thieving, adultering, etc. Living as the personification of that deep love is our sole purpose for being and embracing it is also to absolutely love our neighbors as we love ourselves – that is, we will love our neighbors as if they are ourselves, all of us being created by and through God’s unlimitable, unconditional love.

Then our lawyer, very learned in The Law, wanting to justify himself, continues and gets more legalistic in his question “who is my neighbor?” The answer is clear, simple, yet complex. From the parable Jesus shares, even the lawyer understands we are to show mercy to everyone, whether liked, unliked, feared, mistrusted, dangerous, contagious, annoying, wrong politics, wrong age or gender- identity, wrong religion or skin color or legal status, etc. Anyone who needs help IS our neighbor, and we become as the Samaritan when we have or can find the means or other neighbors to give help. Our neighbor is us. If we cannot love ourselves we cannot love God or our neighbor. If we are mistreating our neighbor, we are reflecting how we love – or don’t love – ourselves.

Paul prayed, as we must, for our strength, endurance, and patience from God. The Samaritan showed mercy ~ above and beyond ~ Jesus us tells us to go and do likewise. We must hear, taste, ingest, digest, live into, and breathe through the words again: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Simply. Difficult. Necessary.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Gracious Lord, free us from the darkness of the fear and suspicion of those, even if unlike ourselves, who are our neighbors in Your sight. Open us to the knowledge of Your will through Your word already within us, that our acts of love and kindness will be a true measure of our full faith in Christ.

O God of Goodness and Love

RESPONSE: To You we lift our souls

~ O Gracious Lord, grant enduring patience and soul support to those upright and honorable people who uphold the principles of integrity, compassion, and mercy, serving now in national and local governments, across Your Earth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Goodness and Love

To You we lift our souls

~ O Gracious Lord, rescue and give hope to the poor, the weak, and the sick, and give comfort and strength to all who assist them. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O God of Goodness and Love

To You we lift our souls

~ O Gracious Lord, rest the hearts of those who grieve, as all who have died, now shine in the eternal light of Christ’s heavenly peace. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

O God of Goodness and Love

To You we lift our souls

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

O God of Goodness and Love

To You we lift our souls

~ O Gracious Lord, we look to our faithful ministers of Your Word and Sacraments as our guides of truth in action. Endow them with steadfast faith to urge us in humility along right pathways to share in the inheritance of the saints. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Goodness and Love

To You we lift our souls

The Celebrant adds: O God of our Salvation, fill us with the spiritual understanding and wisdom to lead lives worthy of You, bearing the fruit of the Gospel to our neighbors, and ourselves, being made strong in Your glorious power. We ask through the forgiveness and redemption of Jesus, our Christ; and by the love of the Holy Spirit, who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, July 1, 2019

Prayers of the People: When the Wolf Falls ~ 4th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, July 7, 2019 ~ 4^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14, Psalm 66:1-8, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16,

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you… and it will be known that the hand of the Lord is with his servants…

[Isaiah 66:13a, 14b]

Bless our God, you peoples…who holds our souls in life… [Psalm:66:7a, 8a]

You who have received the Spirit should restore [a transgressor] in a spirit of gentleness…Bear one another’s burdens…

for you reap whatever you sow...

if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life...let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. [Galatians 6:1b,2a, 7b, 8b, 10]

[The Lord] said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few...Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves...Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' And if anyone...shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not it will return to you...But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you...say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you.' [Luke 10:2a, 3, 5-7, 10-11a]

There is nothing new happening in the world. The world is and has always been a fearsome place. Wars, threats of war, battles for power, hate mongering, violence, poverty and desperation, extreme weather, and multiple other catastrophes destroy lives daily everywhere around the globe. We truly are but sheep among wolves in the fields of ancient and new history and humanity. But there are more of us now than ever before and we think that we "know" more given the increasing rapidity of the broken "breaking news," misinformation, disinformation, “viral” and manipulated Us vs Them social media posts, wearying ourselves into the anxiety of alternating chaos and paralyzing ambivalence. Yet Isaiah provides a glimmer of our consoling God who comforts us, nurtures us, and, as the Psalmist says, who holds our souls in life. All we need to do is know that, accept it, live it.

Paul slows us down by reminding us that we who have received the Spirit are to do our best to bring back into the community, in a spirit of gentleness, those who have transgressed in some way. As Jesus tells the disciples, enter a house in peace. If we are not welcomed, we are free, through Jesus, to shake off the dust and move along, without accepting the taunts, threats, or disbelief. Each of us must take responsibility for ourselves yet bear one another’s burdens. We can’t make an unbeliever believe by argument, but perhaps through observing our sincerity and faithfulness, a fearful soul will begin to open.

We reap what we sow, says this part of letter to the Galatians, and we are not to grow weary in showing others helpful care according to the teachings of Christ. We are to find joy in the humility of serving God in the Jesus that lives in everyone. In faith, with prayer, and in community we can let go of fearing the wolves who will mock us - or worse - and embrace the commitment to live the life we are called to live. Let us walk together, in the Family of Faith, to follow the Gospel path, offer Peace to all, and accept what returns. Let us shake the dust of complacency from ourselves as Christ's lambs, and labor among the wolves in the fields of God. Even the strongest most vicious wolf among us will fall eventually; let us always live with and offer the welcome of Jesus’ saving power and love. Whether accepted or refused, the offer transforms the bite.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Loving Lord, who holds our souls in life, arouse us in heart and mind to bear one another’s burdens as we labor in Your fields. Help us sow to the Spirit to reap a plentiful harvest for the good of all, especially for the family of faith.

O God of All and Everywhere

RESPONSE: We find our strength in You

~ Loving Lord, spare the lambs of Your pasture from the wolves of unbridled self-interest that lurk in many global and local governments now and in the ones to come. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of All and Everywhere

We find our strength in You

~ Loving Lord, comfort all who are trapped in chronic sickness, poverty, or depression, and lighten the hearts of all who give support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O God of All and Everywhere

We find our strength in You

~ Loving Lord, as You console hearts in the depths of grief, infuse a spark of joy that grows into rejoicing, to know that those we have sent to You are a new creation of life, love, and peace for all eternity. We pray especially for…add your own petitions

O God of All and Everywhere

We find our strength in You

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

O God of All and Everywhere

We find our strength in You

~ Loving Lord, grant infectious energy and contagious inspiration to those You have appointed to lead us on the Path to everlasting life in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of All and Everywhere

We find our strength in You

The Celebrant adds: Nurturing, Knowing God, excite our desire to shake off the dust of our own complacency and to immerse ourselves in Your service. May our lives bless You by all that we do in the spirit of gentleness and in the name of Christ. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our Sustainer, who together with You are One God, infinite and eternal. Amen.