People's Prayers

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Prayers of the People: With Eyes Wide Open ~ First Sunday in Lent '20 Yr A

For Sunday, March 1, 2020 , Readings: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew they were both naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. [Genesis 3:7]

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin." [Psalm 32:6-7]

For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ...the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness... [Romans 5:15b, 17b]

The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" [Matthew 4:3-4]

Today, in some Christian denominations, is the First Sunday in* Lent, a season of prayer, reflection, and repentance. While Lent officially began last week on Ash Wednesday, we now begin in earnest over forty days, symbolic of both Moses’ time on Mt. Sinai and Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. Temptation is the theme that undergirds this season. Genesis tells us about the man and woman, later known as Adam and Eve, who succumb to the temptation offered by the serpent, thinking they understood the consequences. With their eyes wide open after partaking of the forbidden fruit, they are suddenly aware of being naked. Paul reflects on the difference between the couple in the Garden and how Jesus stood firm on the mountain. Matthew’s Gospel is more explicit about Jesus' confrontation with the Devil.

Temptation is, simply, the lure of the wanted, the desired. Our mortal time is filled with unlimited varieties of attractions that entice and stimulate our appetites. Temptation is as small as an unhealthy sugary delight, a second glass of wine, or a third helping at the buffet table, and as large as a forbidden relationship, abuse of power, or murder. Russell Moore, a Southern Baptist theologian, ethicist, and preacher once said: Temptation starts with a question of identity, moves to a confusion of the desires, and ultimately heads to a contest of futures. In short, there’s a reason you want what you do not want to want. Temptation is embryonic, personality specific, and purpose directed.** We cannot free ourselves of it which is why we have this season – and beyond – to consciously examine what triggers the desires, and what, as in the case of Adam and Eve, keeps pulling us to the knowing “fall” into the clutches of the wanted-not-wanted. That brings us to repentance and a renewed desire to improve our resistance to those enticements.

The word repent in Biblical Hebrew is represented by two verbs: to return and to feel sorrow. In the post-Resurrection New Testament of Christianity, it can be defined as: to think differently after; to make a change of mind and heart. Unlikely as it is that many of us will find ourselves in an actual wilderness for these forty days, it still is an opportune time to take ourselves away symbolically for a few minutes or more each day. We can look for ways to simplify our wants in this temporal life, to dig down into our deepest selves to find the living Presence of God in Christ within us. We can seek and experience a positive change, to feel sorrow for our sins, and with open eyes, return to the conscious work of living as God intends. It is far less about giving up a piece of chocolate/beer/or bad habit, and more about taking on a spiritual practice to discover again, or for the first time, what true life is all about and how to live it in an authentically Christian way.

Resistance builds on itself and looks ahead rather than in the heat of a moment, as having a spare tire in the trunk of the car. When we summon the courage through the grace of God to resist even mild temptation, we invite the spiritual growth that gives us ever increasing strength and grace to resist more, and so, to grow into the Life in Christ that beckons us. Moore tells us further: Don’t let your urges scare you. Let them instead drive you to pray for the wisdom to see what you were created to be and to do…seek to direct your appetites toward the ways in which the Word of God…tell us they can be fulfilled.

Lent is the perfect time to examine the temptations and distractions, the emptiness or even destructiveness of some activity in our lives, the nakedness in our souls. Through prayer and reflection, meditation, etc., within small groups, on one's own, or both, or even with a pastoral counselor or spiritual director, we can discover ways that bolster our ability to resist evils small and big and bigger. Whether through a Lenten study guide online or in hand, the practice of Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer or another source, or the daily reading of Scripture, among many other ways, one small step begins the journey. The more we resist the glitter and lure of the temporary earthly delight, the less prone we will be to sliding into the cold chill of the shadows of sin, leaving behind the warmth of God's embrace. We can build on the fortitude of Christ within us. Yes, we’ll fail, often, and perhaps spectacularly. So fill that spiritual trunk with the spare tire of prayer and repentance and begin again and again. You won’t be turned away. Jesus, ultimate Resistor of temptation, give me strength to walk consciously on the path toward You with my eyes wide open.

*FYI: The Sundays in the Season of Lent do not “count” in the time span of 40 days which is why the heading is the Xst/th Sunday in Lent rather than of Lent. The Sundays of Epiphany or Advent do count in the time up to their Holy occasions, Christmas and Epiphany. The Sundays beyond the Epiphany and also Pentecost are noted as the ___ Sunday after.

**from ”Tempted and Tried” by Russell D. Moore, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the public-policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Creator LORD, You have given us eyes to see ourselves as we truly are and the heart to accept Your free gift of grace through Christ. Fill us now with the courage to step forward in faith, to repent of our sins, and to turn the life we have been given to Your guidance and to Your service.

O God of Mercy

RESPONSE: We now confess and begin again

~ Creator LORD, impel the political leaders in our World, in our Nation, and in our Community, to rally to Your call and forsake the temptations and vanity of the power of power, and to govern with integrity, equity, and truth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Mercy

We now confess and begin again

~ Creator LORD, sustain the faith and dispel the despair of all who are chronically ill in body, mind, or spirit, and of all who attend to their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O God of Mercy

We now confess and begin again

~ Creator LORD, lift us from our grief into the hope of eternal life and joy, reunited with all who now live again in glory with You. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

O God of Mercy

We now confess and begin again

~ Creator LORD, 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 Mercy

We now confess and begin again

~ Creator LORD, fortify and energize all who are anointed to bring us Your Word and Sacraments. As they shepherd us in faith, we walk together toward wholeness in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Mercy

We now confess and begin again

The Celebrant adds: Most Holy God, You sent Jesus into a world of temptation and trials not so different than our world of today. Accepting obedience to Your Law, he triumphed over it all to save us. Shield us from the lures of false prophets as we begin our own 40 days of reflection. Let us keep our hearts true, trusting only in Your Eternal Grace. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Great High Priest, and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier, who reign with You, as One God, forever and ever. Amen.

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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Prayers of the People: Transfiguration Day: Cloudy with a Chance of Dazzle ~ Last Sunday after the Epiphany '20 Yr A

For Sunday, February 26, 2020, 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]

Why are the nations in an uproar…Happy are they all who take refuge in [the Lord].

[Psalm 2:1a, 13]

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]

We begin the readings for this Sunday with a taste of the Moses story of his ascending Mt. Sinai to await the tablets containing God’s instructions. After waiting for the call for 6 days, he entered the blazing cloud of God’s glory that had covered the mountain and could be seen by those below. What comes later in Exodus is Moses veiling his face after his divine encounter as his own radiance is nearly blinding to the Israelites on his return.

As with Moses and the stone tablets, the Transfiguration of Jesus is at once mystery, miracle, and milestone. Jesus became a dazzling, shining, glowing, gleaming, shimmering beam of radiant glory! A momentary, visible metamorphosis. At the top of the mountain, Jesus becomes the connection, the conduit between human and divine ~ between God and us. Another cloud of God in glory overshadowed them and again, God spoke to say, as at his baptism, “This is my Son, my Beloved…” and most importantly for Peter, James, John, and us: listen to him! 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."

We are quite familiar with the miracles Jesus performs through the Spirit of God along the way of his ministry - changing water to wine, healing the blind, the lame, casting out demons, raising the dead. But this is unique among them as this is a miracle of God within Jesus, unmistakably transforming him in the sight of others. Even if not completely understood, it was, for the disciples with him, a tiny sample of divine radiance.

The milestone is glorious yet subtly somber. Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus about his departure which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. This comes just 6 days after Jesus tells the disciples that he will undergo suffering as will those who choose to follow. Peter was rebuked by Jesus for arguing the point and now he is a witness to the extraordinary Being that is Jesus. And now, Jesus says, Do not be afraid.

It seems like only a few weeks ago we birthed him, baptized him, and heard him preaching in parables, and challenging the conventional norms. Now, already, Moses and Elijah speak of his departure from his human existence. How time flies in the Lectionary! We are about to enter a time of reflection, faith exploration, choosing between repentance and following Jesus and taking the easier path of mortal enticement. Lent is upon us.

For us in our time, such readings may seem all too familiar as we know that we are heading into the solemn preparation for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Even if it is difficult to get our culturally jaded, multi-media savvy, western minds around this sublime moment in the life of our Redeemer, we can remember the voice that comes from the cloud to tell us that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, His Beloved, His Chosen.

Let us choose to listen. After the seriousness of Lent, the dazzle of the Transfiguration will be completely outshone by the indescribable glory of the Resurrection, if we open ourselves. And that will be a new beginning of our journey to our own transfiguring. Happy are those who take refuge in him!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of Majestic Glory, transfigure our souls to radiate as the light of Jesus, shining through the darkness in this mortal life. May Your Holy Spirit rise in our hearts as the morning star each dawn to make known the power, the presence, and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

O Lord, our Refuge

RESPONSE: Receive our prayers

~ O God of Majestic Glory, grant wisdom to kings and all rulers of the Earth, this Nation, and this Community, that they will bow to Your will, mandate, and legislate justice tempered with mercy for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our Refuge

Receive our prayers

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

O Lord, our Refuge

Receive our prayers

~ O God of Majestic Glory, comfort us in knowing that the souls of those who have gone before us, are now enfolded in the dazzling glory of the Transfigured Christ forever. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

O Lord, our Refuge

Receive our prayers

~ O God of Majestic Glory, 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 Refuge

Receive our prayers

~ O God of Majestic Glory, ignite the spirits of all who lead us in Your church, as the men and women who reveal Your Will to us through Word, Sacrament, and guidance on the Way. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

The Celebrant adds: O Lord, our God, You enjoin us to listen Your Beloved Son who told us do not be afraid. Strengthen us to know the Radiant Christ in our hearts, striving to follow Your Law in faith, with courage and conviction. We ask in the name of the Resurrected Jesus; and the Holy Spirit, Your Divine Voice; who lives and reigns with You as One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Monday, February 10, 2020

Prayers of the People: Idol-ic or Eternal, a Choice ~ 6th Sunday after the Epiphany '20 Yr A

For Sunday, February 16, 2020, Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37

…I set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity...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]

Life is about our choices. We all have spiritual choices and decisions to make in this life, even in the midst of unforeseen circumstances. Moses gives the Israelites, and us, the basics of the Law of God ~ the Commandments ~ and outlines the “if this/then that” actions/consequences: I set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. By observing the commandments, decrees, and ordinances and by loving God we choose life. 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 were not 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 are each called in to till, fertilize, or manage. Yet with all we are to do, only God provides the growth.

We also may not be ready to hear the message. It’s so easy to be led astray to bow to the many gods in the gardens of life’s idol distractions ~ the idolatry of social media, of celebrity, of mega-wealth, of choosing the correct side of multiple political issues while fomenting exponentially increasing outrage ~ our own and others; or being around the “right” kind of people while judging and excluding, or worse, "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. In one sense, it sounds as though he’s replacing The Law with his own but read carefully. In his use of You have heard…but I say…Jesus is not reducing but expanding the scope of God’s Law. Most of us avoid murder, for example, but Jesus is warning us that our anger and insult can be a form of violence and subject to God’s judgment. In that vein, it is not a surprise that he says first, be reconciled to your brother or sister.

There is so much depth to each of Christ’s admonitions. These commandments are not simply a basic morality checklist. They are individually and collectively organized around love, trust, and commitment to God through how we are with one another. We must look beyond the literal statements and understand that each and every one of these are intent on us flourishing in this life. By understanding and living into the full expanse of these commandments, we are then able to experience the transformative power of spiritual and relational wholeness. No, not everyone will welcome the love but it’s how we respond that is the crux of the call. We all fail in relationships at one time or another and we have to decide what to do about it. Being reconciled to our brothers and sisters may simply mean I have sincerely offered to work things out. Some will accept, some will not join me in returning to the altar of God. 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. Still an infant in Christ? Grow up. Be in, with, and for Christ; or, not. Idol-ic or Eternal, a choice.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of Blessing and Promise, inject our souls with a conscious spiritual hunger, that drives us away from human inclinations, seek Your ways, and be happy to walk in Your Law.

O Lord, our God

RESPONSE: Our trust is in You

~ O God of Blessing and Promise, may those who govern in our names throughout this world, this country, and this community, be earnest in observing Your decrees and keeping Your statutes faithfully, 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

Our trust is in You

~ O God of Blessing and Promise, we ask your blessings for those who are dangerously ill, distraught, 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

Our trust is in You

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

O Lord, our God

Our trust is in You

~ O God of Blessing and Promise, 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

Our trust is in You

~ O God of Blessing and Promise, may all who serve Your Church feel affirmed and encouraged in guiding us toward growth and grace in You, while we work together as the planters and waterers among Your fields. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our God

Our trust is in You

The Celebrant adds: Holy and Mighty God, turn our hearts away from the idol-ic distractions of earthly existence to choose Life Eternal with You. Grant us courage to reconcile with one another, even in disagreement, and to begin each day with love, determined to carry out the vows we have made to You. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer Lord; and the Holy Spirit, our Divine Counselor; who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Prayers of the People: Salt-ed Light-ly ~ 5th Sunday after the Epiphany '20 Yr A

For Sunday, February 9, 2020, Readings: Isaiah 58:1-12, 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]

This week we pick up on the second installment of The Sermon on the Mount. Last week the feast of The Presentation of Jesus fell unusually on Sunday so we missed the first part of the Sermon, in Matthew 5:1-12, which is a recitation of the Beatitudes. It is always worth re-reading and re-examining what they mean to us individually. One way to approach them is as “Be Attitudes” as there are blessings for each stage along our faith journey. With an attitude of being Christ’s disciples, we aren’t seeking fame and fortune or success by some earthly measure, but rather we change our thinking, adjust our expectations of “life” for a brief sojourn on this earthly plain to the rewards of eternal life in God’s Kingdom. The readings appointed for this Sunday are a good primer on ways to start to think again about how to live this human time 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 in helping another. 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.

Jesus takes us further by giving us a few particulars on the responsibilities of discipleship. He starts by telling us we are the “salt of the earth.” Salt in his time was a commodity of great importance far beyond a condiment, it was currency. Soldiers’ wages were paid in salt – salarium in Latin, from where we get the word salary. Everyone used salt as we use money in our own time. If salt loses its taste, its value as currency drops; it becomes worthless, good only to throw on the street. A serious financial problem arises with tasteless salt ~ imagine your paycheck bouncing.

Today good salt enhances the flavors of our food, and the yeast in bread will not 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 to let our good works reflect the Glory of God as a pathway to eternal life.

Jesus also tells us we are the light of the world, a light on the lampstand of life, filling God’s House with spirit-filled light for everyone, unhidden as a city built on a hill, reflecting and refracting God's glory through us as a prism.

These rich images, along with the blessings from the Beatitudes, are a guide for how we choose to live in discipleship. Jesus 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 to the letter and to teach others to do the same. He doesn't think well of the scribes and Pharisees and while we are challenged to go much farther, the bar is set rather low with them as examples.

It is important to remember that Jesus gave us a summary of the Law: You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…You shall love your neighbor as yourself [Matthew 22:37-39b]. If you do those you will have well fulfilled all the Commandments as God gave them to Moses. Love God; Love your neighbor as yourself. After all, if you truly love God and love your neighbor as yourself you won’t steal, kill, covet, commit, etc. The as yourself part is a very specific clarification that often goes unheard or dismissed. It is to love your neighbor as if your neighbor is yourself; you are your neighbor/your neighbor is you. Not so easy to dismiss one neighbor for another if it is dismissing yourself!

When we follow these instructions, we will receive the blessings outlined in the Beatitudes and our light shall rise in the darkness to shine God’s glory to others. Stay tuned, this week was a mere introduction to the rest of the Sermon. Let us go forth salt-ed and light-ly by, in, and with God's everlasting remembrance.

In the meantime, let us look at another Summary of God’s wishes, this from John Wesley:

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of Power and Wisdom, infuse our souls with the deep desire to move from the self-indulgence of limitless distractions, to being the upright salt of the earth, preserving and enhancing the freshness of Christ’s call to a life of trust in You.

O Lord, our Guide

RESPONSE: Keep our hearts right and unafraid

~ O God of Power and Wisdom, free us from fear and trembling to be Your beacon as a city on a hill, shining Your Light in the darkness. Let us lift our voices to implore all who lead governments on this Planet, in this Country, and in our Community to be just, merciful, compassionate, and honorable in their lives and work. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, our Guide