Prayers of the People: ~ Christmas Eve & Christmas Day '21 Year C

For December 24/25, 2021, Readings: Christmas Eve ~ Luke 2:1-20 at Creche, Isaiah 9:2-7, Ps 96, Titus 2:11-14, John 1:1-14; Christmas Day ~ Isaiah 52:7-10, Ps 98, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-18

   The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...For a child has been born for us, a son given to us...and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:2a, 6] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” [Isaiah 52:7]

     Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. [Psalm 96:1-2]

      Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things…In righteousness shall he judge the world and the peoples with equity. [Psalm 98:1, 10]

    The grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce…worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly… [Titus 2:11-12]

    [God] has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful words. [Hebrews 1:2]

      In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy...to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah...and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God... [Luke 2:8-11, 13]

   In the beginning was the Word…What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world…And the Word became flesh and lived among us… 

[John 1:1a, 3b-5, 9, 14a]

    There is something almost magical or perhaps enchanting is a better word, that occurs within me when I hear the words from Luke 2, especially when we get to: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night... I become expectant. I become my 7 year old self, hearing the resonant voice of a familiar TV narrator. I am hope-filled. All is right in the world...for this moment. 

     My older self is revels in the mystical phrases of John’s opening of In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the entirety of this passage that fills me from the inside out as I breathe in the familiar ending of And the Word became flesh and lived among us…

     Every year someone asks, "If only we could stay this way all year." The spell cast by the words and the music of a glorious Liturgy as a prelude or the follow up to the early morning glitter of ornaments and lights, and the chatter of little ones and bigger ones ripping paper to reap the rewards, breaks all too soon. Our precious Infant has a far and difficult road to travel in only the few months between now and Easter. What part of it will we travel with him as the moment spins into what we call reality? What part of the reality of others in our community and in the world at large ~ poverty, violence, war, greed, and disasters, natural or human made ~ do we shun, dismiss, ignore or, throw money to, all while decrying the lack of Christ in Christmas?

     Most of the readings for this sacred season are so familiar that even non-Christians will know them. Yet what stands out for me every year, is the short lesson from the Letter of Paul to Titus, that often gets lost in the sparkle of the others. In particular, I am engaged by a phrase in the first of this only two-sentence reading: The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly… [emphasis added]. Jesus, our personal trainer, in our own time! We are so often bedazzled by the glamor and excitement of this season, in stark contrast to the humble surroundings of the birth of our Redeemer, that I am completely drawn to the concept of Jesus training us. The Gospels give us more than just advice, more than just reminders, more than just checklists of nice things to do. Jesus is our trainer, the one that gives instruction and direction to keep us on track, pushing us to go beyond the comfortable, to reach a potential of faith in action that we didn’t ever consider or because we fear the risks in renouncing, or at the very minimum reducing our dependence on all that is earthbound. It is no easy path, but with Christ as my trainer-in-residence, my faith will begin to shape up, become toned and strengthened into becoming a fully-fledged, faith-filled member of The Body of Christ. For me, now, the question isn’t “what is Christmas all about” but rather “when do I allow Christmas to begin in my life?”

            Christ is always in CHRISTmas...let's remember to keep Christ in Mondays, Thursdays, in February, and August. Let us truly Sing to the Lord and bless his name and proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day to ourselves first! Let our lives truly reflect what we say we believe in mindset and in practice. Feel the JOY! The Light shines again and always. Suit up, the training begins NOW! 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

 Leader:  ~ Holy Infant, Lord at thy birth, a great light shines in the darkness and our joy, at long last, is unbounded by the arrival of You, our Messiah, come to redeem our sins and mark us as Your own forever. Hallelujah! Christ our Savior is born!

                                                         Glory to God in the Highest

    RESPONSE:                   And Peace to God’s People on Earth

~ Holy Infant, Lord at thy birth, infuse our souls with Your powerful word that we may stand in Your grace before the earthly powers of our world, our nation, and our community, to renounce impiety and worldly passions. Let us sing to all a new song of great joy as we radiate and model Your Good News of peace, love, and mercy for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                            Glory to God in the Highest

                                                            And Peace to God’s People on Earth

~ Holy Infant, Lord at thy birth, send healing and renewed hope to all who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit, and comfort those who give them support. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                            Glory to God in the Highest

                                                            And Peace to God’s People on Earth     

~ Holy Infant, Lord at thy birth, especially now, surround all grieving hearts with the solace that brightens the darkness, as the high vaults of heaven explode in jubilance and glory for our loved ones entering the gates of eternity. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                            Glory to God in the Highest

                                                            And Peace to God’s People on Earth

~ Holy Infant, Lord at thy birth, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions

                                                            Glory to God in the Highest

                                                            And Peace to God’s People on Earth                      

~ Holy Infant, Lord at thy birth, for our own Shepherds in this sacred field we give great thanks as they keep watch and guide us toward the ultimate pasture of Your salvation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                                                            Glory to God in the Highest

                                                            And Peace to God’s People on Earth

The Celebrant adds: Wonderful Counselor, God’s Word Made Flesh, so activate our wills, so engage our very beings, that we will consciously and intentionally live into Your saving grace each and every day of our lives. On bended knees, and with worshipful hearts, we ask this of You as our Prince of Peace, the exact Imprint of God’s very being; and of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier and Breath of our souls; who together with You, reign in glory as One God, now until the end of forever. Hallelujah! Christ our Savior is Born!  Amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Peacing Us Together ~ 4th Sunday of Advent '21 Yr C

For Sunday, December 19, 2021, Readings: Micah 5:2-5a, Canticle 15/Luke 1:46-55, Psalm 80:1-7, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45

      But you, O Bethlehem... from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days…when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel...and he shall be the one of peace. [Micah 5:2, 3b, 5a]

        And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [Hebrews 10:10]

       My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord...for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant...He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. [Luke 1:46a, 48, 51-52]

      When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb...And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." [Luke 1:41-42, 45]

     Here is yet another chance to pause in the midst of all the busy-ness. Listen deeply to the reading from Micah, as he names the very town from which the one who is to rule Israel is to come and, further he says, when she who is in labor brings forth her child the rest of Israel will return home.

     In the Letter to the Hebrews, we find the Old Testament writings of Psalm 40:6-8, Amos 5:21, and Jeremiah 6:20b remembered in verses 5-7 of Chapter 10. Christ says that the sacrifices of the Old Covenant are dismissed. Burnt and blood offerings do not please God and do not cleanse us from sin. Jesus, as the One expected from heaven, came to please God by obedience to Divine will and to teach us how to follow.   

    Another important moment to listen is in the beauty of the exchange between two kinswomen and consider who they were in their time and who they have become to us. The elder Elizabeth, was a barren woman for so many years until suddenly she is with child, a very important child, John, the Baptizer, who will prepare the way of the Lord. In her day she was likely ostracized in her community for most of her adult life, or at the very least considered a failure because of her seeming infertility. The much younger Mary, recently told by an Angel that she is bearing the Son of God, (can you imagine?!), would also bear shame in her community as well as the uncertainty of Joseph, her betrothed, because of her condition. Would he be able to come to terms with this mystery in such a time? (Of course, we already know he'll have an angelic visitation of his own in Matthew 1:18-25, and will be a loving, protective husband.)

    These women come together and speak to us, to awaken us from the haze of frantic preparations for a celebration that is increasingly more earth-bound than spiritual. In their greetings to each other we discover the unexpectedness of this moment of expectation, the message of embracing the twists and turns of life, and recognizing that God is present at all times ~ when we feel elated and when we feel shamed or anxious or uncertain. We are not alone in the darkest of times or in the happiest. Jesus comes as the face of God to sanctify and save us. Stop, sit, breathe in the peace of the quiet. Let us not race ahead, but remain in the stillness for a time, in the space between not yet and almost, savoring the expectation of Christ's birth, and finding an unexpected freshness in the joy of anticipation for the one of peace [Micah 5:5a]. In days of worry, anger, fear, grief, or any other part of life that is unsettling, let us find our inner peace by knowing that the One Who is coming is already here and ready to peace us all together as His own.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ Holy and Almighty God, open our souls to proclaim Your greatness, and call upon our spirits to rise in joy, as we await the coming of the One of peace, the Light from Light begotten to sanctify and save us.
 
                                                    O Lord of Strength and Mercy
            RESPONSE:                 Magnify our Faith
 
~ Holy and Almighty God, help us to lift up the lowly in this World, in our Nation, and in our Community. Guide us in our quest to implore all earthly leaders to persevere in the cause of peace, justice, and joy for all of Your Creation’s children. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                    O Lord of Strength and Mercy
                                                    Magnify our Faith
 
~ Holy and Almighty God, grant peace and hope to all laid low by chronic illness, poverty, or emotional anguish, and bring comfort to all who love them. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                    O Lord of Strength and Mercy
                                                    Magnify our Faith
 
~ Holy and Almighty God, unburden the hearts of all who grieve with the assurance of new life for those who now rest forever in Your radiant glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                    O Lord of Strength and Mercy
                                                    Magnify our Faith
 
~ Holy and Almighty 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 of Strength and Mercy
                                                    Magnify our Faith
 
~ Holy and Almighty God, bestow extra grace upon those who are anointed to bring us Your Word and Sacraments, as they guide us all to discover and act upon Your will in our lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                    O Lord of Strength and Mercy
                                                    Magnify our Faith
 
 
The Celebrant adds: O God of Hosts, shine Your favor upon us as we make ready to receive the One who comes. Restore us to Your purpose that the fruit of our lives may be a reflection of Your infinite blessings. We ask through Jesus, our Joyful Expectation; and the Holy Spirit, Your Sacred Breath; who together with You, live and reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.

 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: All Stirred Up! ~ 3rd Sunday of Advent '21 Yr C

For Sunday, December 12, 3^rd Sunday of Advent, Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20, First Song of Isaiah/Canticle 9, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18

    The Lord, your God, is in your midst...he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love. [Zephaniah 3:17]

   Surely it is God who saves me; I will trust in him and not be afraid…the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be my Savior... [Canticle 9/Isaiah 12:2, 5]

   Rejoice in the Lord always…The Lord is near. Do not worry...And the peace of God, that passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6]

   Bear fruits worthy of repentance…One who is more powerful than I is coming…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [Luke 3:8a, 16b,c]

      In the midst of this otherwise reverently penitential Advent, our season of waiting for the Nativity of Jesus, we come to the Sunday of Rejoicing. The rose candle, the symbol of joy, will be lighted as a sign of our call to be joyous in the nearness of God, in the coming of Christ. This is time to experience the excitement that in Christ we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and the fire to spark our faith into action. Paul, in this portion of his letter to the Philippians is quite specific by saying Do not worry about anything, because the Lord is near with the peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s hardly easy to relax and not worry in a world seemingly mad with fear and anger, division and hate. Yet all the readings for today exhort us to rejoice, exult, and sing ~ even John the Baptizer, while issuing some serious warnings ~ proclaimed the good news to the people about the One who is coming. Paul did believe, for a while, that he and his followers would know the full Second Coming of Christ in their time. Succeeding generations through millennia have felt the same yet, of course, we do not know when it will happen, only that our faith assures us that it will happen.

     While enjoying the joy, we must also take the Baptizer’s message to heart and take some prayerful time to contemplate our sins. That winnowing fork of Jesus, John speaks of, will gather the faithful but send the chaff that doesn't bear good fruit ~ the unrepentant ~ to burn with unquenchable fire. As I race to hang the stockings with care, I need to consider how am I actually living into the faith that I claim? From these readings it sounds as if my murmurs of familiar words on Sunday morning aren’t quite enough to keep me out of that burning refuse. Church of England Bishop John R.H. Moorman wrote in The Path to Glory in 1960:

“Perhaps the greatest obstacle to reformation of life is fear of what other people will think. If we start to pray, will they think we are getting pious? If we try to be honest, will they think us fussy? If we show forgiveness, shall we be thought weak? And so on. But the ‘baptism of repentance’ demands courage. It is part of the testing and the judgment which is going on all the time in the human soul.”

    Although this is the third Sunday of Advent, it’s a fresh, new moment in time. A chance to begin again, to discover that our God, our Christ, our Holy Spirit is truly in our midst, present, teaching, renewing us in love, and filling us with holy fire. Let us turn our focus toward our God ~ that is, to bear fruits worthy of repentance ~ to refresh our minds and hearts by worship, praise, and prayer. It is time to reconcile who we are in faith with who we want to become. What must I do differently to be thankful, joyful, and live faithfully? This is the time to look through rose-colored glasses to see the joy that lights up the darkness.

      In the Episcopal Tradition, this Sunday is nicknamed “Stir Up Sunday” which comes from the Opening Collect in the Liturgy: “Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.”

     Together in faith we become a spiritual orchard bearing only good fruit, gathered by Christ, our Savior, stirred up in Faith, and brought Home. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! [Philippians 4:4]

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ O God, our Stronghold, stir up our faith that our trust in You will free us from fear and worry. Renew us by Your love as we give You thanks with great rejoicing, exalting Your name by every part of our lives.
 
                                                     O Lord, our Sure Defense              
RESPONSE:                         Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
 
~ O God, our Stronghold, infuse us with such joy that we may turn the tide of hatred and division into the calm waters of Your peace. Guide us to inspire all who design or impose their political pathways on this world, this nation, and this community, toward compassion, justice, and mercy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                      O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
 
~ O God, our Stronghold, restore health and hope for all afflicted with serious illness, addiction, or despair, and strengthen all who give them love and support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                      O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
 
~ O God, our Stronghold, soothe the grieving with the comfort of knowing that You have gathered those we love into the blissful splendor Your Eternal Home. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 
 
                                                      O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
 
~  O God, our Stronghold, 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 Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
             
~ O God, our Stronghold, grant special grace and enduring eagerness to all anointed to serve You in Your Church, as they draw us to You on our journey to salvation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                       Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
             
 
The Celebrant adds:  Most Holy God Who is always in our midst, revive our desire to bear good, worthy, and faith-filled fruit in our souls. Turn us always in Your direction, that we may receive and experience the depth of Your peace that passes all understanding. We ask through the Good News of Jesus our Christ; and the Holy Spirit, the Fire of our faith; who together with You reign as One God, in glory, now and forever.  Amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Un-Trap from the Wrappings ~ 2nd Sunday of Advent, ‘21 Year C

For Sunday, December 5, 2021, Readings: Baruch 5:1-9, Canticle 16/Song of Zechariah/Luke 1:68-69, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

     For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back…carried in glory, as on a royal throne. [Baruch 5:6]

    In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death... [Canticle 16/Luke 1:78-79a]

  I thank my God every time I remember you…And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight…so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless… [Philippians 1:3, 9, 10b]

     [A]s it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight...'" [Luke 3:4]

             "Slow down you move too fast, got to make the [moment] last..." sang Simon and Garfunkel once upon a long time ago. But at this time of the year we seem to be in warp speed. We get mired and wrapped up in the clock ticking, the dates on the calendar flying, there's so much to do, to get from the attic, to buy, to decorate, to cook, to clean, to prepare, to finish in time...so how is THIS supposed to be the season of waiting? The clear question arises ~ for what is it, exactly, are we waiting? Of course we’re (supposed to be) preparing for the coming of Jesus, the birth of the Child raised up by God as our Mighty Savior, as we hear in the Song of Zechariah. John, first cousin of Jesus and the son of Zechariah, as the voice crying in the wilderness, came as Isaiah foretold, to proclaim a baptism of repentance and remind us to prepare the way of the Lord.

      Advent is time again to set aside the habits that have crept in over the last year(s), to think new thoughts about the whys of what must be done; a time to be conscious about the true gift of this life that is to prepare us for the next life; time to take a break from the ordinary hurry and worry and make ourselves ready for the Christ who saves our souls. Yet by habit and culture, we make this time excessively stressful by self-imposed earthly expectations that we accept on behalf of this holiday season rather than making a time for a focus on this holy season. 

      Waiting in these few weeks exacerbates the multiple frustrations of life. There are lines everywhere ~ at the Post Office, the grocery store inside or pick-up, in traffic, the doctor's office, and even the resurging malls! But instead of caving to irritation and anger, we can use it to take long, slow, deep breaths and reflect on our actions of the day, the week, or whatever time frame we choose; the moments that were good, bad, or just indifferent. How often do I remember to look for God in any of those moments and offer a brief prayer, a petition, a thanksgiving? 

       How might a little waiting time with God adjust my perspective during my short time in this world? One minute now, 5 later, in the shower, just after turning out the light...just before opening my eyes in the morning, on the way to work or errands...I can make those times breathing times and God-awareness-moments and the more of those I have, the less stress I will have, or at least the stronger I’ll feel in the midst of it all.

      Another suggestion I’ve seen is to start Dec 1 and read one chapter of Luke per day so that by Christmas Eve we will have read the entire life of Jesus. Perhaps we’ll arrive at a deeper understanding of the meaning of Christmas itself. Even the decorations take on a new vibrancy, as if we prepare our homes for the arrival of an amazingly special guest, the One on whom our entire life depends. So, even though this is the second Sunday of Advent, there's time to catch up and prepare our own way for the Lord.

      The theme for this week is Love. As we light the second candle on the Advent Wreath, take a long, slow deep breath and remember what this preparation time is truly about. Light your own candle and read two chapters in Luke this week (there is time enough) to catch up! Slow down. Don’t move too fast. Let us listen and hear the voice of one crying out in the wilderness reminding us to prepare the way of the Lord within ourselves. Let us un-trap ourselves from the temporary, fragile, and externally imposed wrapping of this life to give Love first, last, and always. We can wrap up in the truer Love we receive when remember that the best gift ever is knowing The Lord is with us always.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY 

Leader:  ~ God of Glory and Praise, calm our rush in preparations for the earthly celebration ahead, that we may take time now to prepare ourselves for Christ, Your True Gift for our life and soul. Overflow us with Your love as we make way for the coming of our Savior in each and every day.

                                                      O Lord, our God

RESPONSE:               Guide us to Your Peace 

~ God of Glory and Praise, for all who cry out from the wilderness of hunger, separation, and fear, urge us to exhort all who govern on this Earth, in this Nation, and in this Community, to deliver the distressed from the shadow of death into the brightness of safety and abundance. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                    Guide us to Your Peace

~ God of Glory and Praise, shine Your healing light and love on those who dwell in the darkness of chronic illness or spiritual isolation, and sustain the energy of all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                    Guide us to Your Peace

~ God of Glory and Praise, hold fast to those traveling the rough way of grief as You embrace our loved ones, now forever clothed with the glory of the Everlasting. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                    Guide us to Your Peace

~ God of Glory and Praise, 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

                                                    Guide us to Your Peace  

           

~ God of Glory and Praise, grant continuing renewal and unlimited energy to all who guide us in our faith and worship, teach us Your words, and share our journey to eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, our God
                                                    Guide us to Your Peace

The Celebrant adds: O God of the Eternal Dawn and Endless Love, guide us to accept and proclaim a new baptism of repentance as we strive to put our life in Christ above all worldly pursuits, that if suddenly called, we will be ready to account for our time in this brief earthly journey. We ask through Jesus the Christ, our Glorious Savior; and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier; who together with You are One God, forever and ever. Amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: With the End in Mind ~ 1st Sunday of Advent '21 Yr C

For Sunday, November 28, 2021, Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Ps 25: 1-9, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, 

Luke 21-25-36

      In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. [Jeremiah 33:15]

       To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul…I put my trust in you…let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes…Show me your ways and teach me your paths. [Psalm 25:1a, 2b, 3]

       Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. [1 Thessalonians 3:11]

    …my words will not pass away. Be on guard that your hearts are not weighed down with…the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly like a trap. [Luke 21:33, 34]

Happy New Year! That is, a New Church Year.  The four-week liturgical season of Advent begins this Sunday in many denominations of Christianity. We also begin the 3rd year in a 3 year cycle of appointed readings from Scripture. These four weeks of Advent are a time of soulful preparation through self-reflection, repentance, and the expectant waiting for the Nativity, the birth, of Jesus. It is a time for us to start over, to unburden our hearts from the weight of worldly worries, and to renew our commitment to a regular pattern of prayer, worship, and sincere Christian action. It is time to remember to answer the call to increase and abound in love for one another, to restore our faith, and to be ready for that day that will come for us all. If we are not alert, that day may arrive unexpectedly, like a trap, and catch us unprepared. Too often we are caught up in the earthly distractions of the tinsel and trappings, the busy and the bustling of celebrating as if THAT DAY, the one in which we are each called on account, will never happen.

        In this season, the word advent is from the Latin adventus which means coming, and we will mark each week by the lighting of a candle in an Advent Wreath with a prayerful reflection before the Liturgy (the Mass or the Service) begins. Each candle represents a theme from the readings of that week. Some people will also use an Advent Calendar or wreath at home to mark each day of the week with a special prayer or meditation on the theme. Advent is the opportunity to be more intentional about preparing for the arrival of Jesus, our Savior.
        This week’s theme is Hope. In yet another year that the lives of millions and the planet itself have been upended and decimated across the world by pandemic, torrential rains, earthquakes, horrific fires, and the devastating violence wrought by humans, it does give pause and perhaps a sharp inhalation of breath and wonder about what could be next. The readings for this day may cause some fear and trepidation as if they hit “too close” to our own time. Some in every generation think “THIS IS IT” as they believe they can interpret the signs. The apocalyptic images in the Gospel are those with which the followers of Jesus would recognize from Zechariah and Daniel in the Hebrew/Old Testament and Jesus used them to make his point about being ready. It didn’t come to pass in that time, nor has it in the millennia since, obviously. And yet, we of faith believe that it most certainly will and as we do not know the day or the hour [Matthew 25:13], keeping ourselves prepared isn’t about fear, but rather it is about faith. Each of us will meet our Maker whether the Earth falls in our time or not. Christ will come again, and/or I will get there before he comes here ~ will I be ready either way? Never have we needed hope or self-preparation more than now.
        As in every liturgical season of the Church, each of our readings gives us insight and instruction to ponder and enlighten us for the week ahead. This week Jesus tells us that his words will never pass away no matter what else happens. Through prayer and attention to our call, we will be ready to stand before the Son of Man. Our Hope truly is in the name and substance of the Lord, and, in our willingness to turn the thoughts and actions of our lives toward the light of God's presence now and going forward. 
        It's definitely not easy to get and stay on the correct course, especially at this time of year with all the false glitter that obscures our inner vision and diverts us from our good intentions. But our path forward begins to clear when we are sincere in our desire to dedicate our lives to Christ, and made easier being actively involved in faith-filled communities, earnest in preparation for his return. Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” We light this week’s candle of Hope to brighten the way ahead and to know that All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies [Psalm 25:9]. Hope is on first and we begin with the end in mind.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Gracious and Upright Lord, lift up our souls, our hearts, and our minds from the lowest valley of earthly worries to the highest vault of heavenly grandeur. Teach us the prayers, the patience, and the trust to stay alert, unafraid, and ready for our salvation through Christ.

                                                        Lord of Love and Faithfulness    

RESPONSE:                 Direct our way to You

~ Gracious and Upright Lord, bring gifts of truth, righteousness, and justice to those who govern across the breadth and depth of Your Creation, globally and locally, and let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness

                                                       Direct our way to You

~ Gracious and Upright Lord, soothe and heal all who suffer with chronic illness and renew those who have lost all hope. Grant respite and refreshment to all caregivers as we now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

 
                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You

~ Gracious and Upright Lord, comfort the bereaved with a foretaste of the glory in everlasting Salvation where our loved ones live again and always. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

 
                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You

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

 
                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You            

~ Gracious and Upright Lord, quicken the energy and spirit of those anointed to deepen our faith, on our journey together, with strength of heart and love for all.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

 
                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You

The Celebrant adds:  Most Holy Jesus, as we enter this season of preparation and waiting, fill us with Your forever words, and keep us open to Your Presence now and in the promise of Your Coming. We ask through Jesus, the Son of Man; and the Holy Spirit, Seat of All Wisdom; who together with You are One God, now and forever.  Amen.

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