People's Prayers

Monday, October 9, 2023

Prayers of the People: In the Beginning ~ 1st Sunday in the Season of Creation '23

For Sunday, October 15, 2023; Readings: In the Beginning*, Psalm 100**, Hildegarde von Bingen***,

John 1:1-14

Creator God, open our eyes to see you reflected in every human face. In the beginning, God created, and it was good. [“In the Beginning Liturgy” by Mark Earey]*

Shout for joy to the Lord, all earth, Serve the Lord with gladness, Enter God’s presence with joy! [Psalm 100, “The Psalter: A faithful and inclusive rendering”]**

Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars…So all of creation is a song of praise to God. [Hildegarde von Bingen]***

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. [John 1:1-3, 14a]

Welcome to the Season of Creation!

The Season of Creation originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa in 2008 and is designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective. We are to realize our place in the order of God’s creating and to see and act upon the need to care for our entire life-support system - the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil in which we grow our crops - not merely humanity, but our total environment, as it pertains to ALL life.

From the early days of the Season of Creation at The Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew in Wilmington, Delaware [www.SsAM.org], we established that “the primary aim of the events of the season is to enable adults and youth to celebrate and experience the inextricable link which binds together the destinies of all of God’s creatures.” It is a moment of pause to remind ourselves that God calls us to see “what great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions” and for us to renew our commitment to making real the biblical vision of the earth at unity with itself. It is a vision of human beings of all races, backgrounds and walks of life in local communities and among the nations of the earth, living together in love and peace with justice for all. "As disciples of Christ, we are called through our Baptismal Covenant, to be instruments for the healing of our broken world," and with a renewed commitment to personal and communal prayer and action.

We will use Biblical and other readings that pertain to the specific theme of each of the 7 weeks. The alternate readings used will follow the prayers below.

We begin this Season at the Beginning. Professor Wangari Maathai, [1940-2011], a Kenyan environmental and political activist, Member of Parliament as Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, was educated in the United States and in Kenya. In 2004, she was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was honored for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace". Professor Maathai described the Book of Genesis as "the book for environmentalists." "If we had been created on Tuesday," she said, "There would have been nowhere for us to stand! God, with infinite wisdom, waited until the last day!"

Week I's Theme is: In the Beginning

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Creator and Eternal God, You are the Light that shines in the darkness, the Light of all people and all life everywhere. Guide us to know ourselves through Your infinite Word, Christ Jesus. Help us to know that our purpose in life is to love and serve You better by all that we do for each and every part of Your Creation. As You live within each of us clasp and enclose us in You always.

Faithful, Loving God

RESPONSE: We turn to You with thanks and praise

~ Creator and Eternal God, encourage goodness in all who hold political authority across the vast expanse of Your Creation. Guide them to see You in themselves, in every human face, in every glance at the sun, and in the beauty of the earth, so as to govern justly, mercifully, and with humility. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Faithful, Loving God

We turn to You in thanks and praise

~ Creator and Eternal God, grant healing to the spirits of those laid low by illness or life circumstance, and resilience for all who give care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Faithful, Loving God

We turn to You in thanks and praise

~ Creator and Eternal God, may echoes of sweet memory quell the pain of earth-bound grief, as the souls of those who have left this life, now soar in the peace and glory of new life in Christ. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

Faithful, Loving God

We turn to You in thanks and praise

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

Faithful, Loving God
We turn to You in thanks and praise

~ Creator and Eternal God, we give thanksgiving for Your loyal and anointed servants who lead us in Your Church, who re-awaken our wonder, and teach us the way to our true place with You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Faithful, Loving God
We return to You in thanks and praise

The Celebrant adds: Holy God, Divine Architect, release us from all selfish diversion and turn us to never-ending thanksgiving, selfless service, and praise of You, for giving us the breath of life. Remind us of our role in faithful action for the land, the sea, the air, all of humanity, every living creature, and all that is planted in this Earth, given to us by Your enduring love. We ask through Jesus, our Merciful Healer; and the Holy Spirit, the sacred Breath within us, who together with You are our One Almighty and Living God, now and forever. Amen.

*Reading #1: Genesis 1, In the Beginning Liturgy © Mark Earey

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In the empty void and crushing darkness, God spoke light into being. Creator God, bring light into our darkness. In the beginning, God took eternity and formed time and space, seasons, days and years. Creator God, fill and shape the time you have given us. In the beginning, God took land and sea and filled them with life of every kind. Creator God, help us find our place within your diverse creation. In the beginning, God spoke his very image, and the returning echo formed humanity. Creator God, open our eyes to see you reflected in every human face. In the beginning, God created, and it was good.

** Reading #2: Psalm 100
1. Shout for joy to the | Lord, all | earth, Serve the Lord with gladness,| Enter •God’s | presence • with | joy! 2. Know that the Lord is God, Our maker to | whom • we be|long, Our | shepherd, • and | we the | flock. 3. Enter the temple gates, The courtyard with | thanks and | praise; Give | thanks and | bless God’s | name. 4. Indeed the | Lord is | good! God’s love is for ever, | Faithful • from | age to | age. From “The Psalter: A faithful and inclusive rendering”, Liturgy Training Publications (International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc.), 1994

*** Reading #3: Hildegarde von Bingen

Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars. Gaze at the beauty of earths's greenings. Now, think, What delight God gives to humankind with all these things. All nature is at the disposal of humankind. We are to work with it. For without it we cannot survive...The fire has its flame and praises God. The wind blows the flame and praises God. In the voice we hear the word which praises God. And the word, when heard, praises God. So all of creation is a song of praise to God.

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

Monday, October 2, 2023

Prayers of the People: Grape Expectations, 19th Sunday after Pentecost ’23 Yr A

Sunday, October 8, 2023; Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80:7-14, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46

My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines…he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. [Isaiah 5:1b-2]

Restore us, O God of Hosts…you have brought a vine out of Egypt…You prepared the ground for it…look down from heaven; behold and tend this vine, preserve what your right hand has planted. [Psalm 80:7a, 9a, 14b]

…in order that I may gain Christ and be found it him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteous from God based on faith. [Philippians 3:8b-9]

Jesus said [to the Chief Priests and the Elders]…There was a landowner who planted a vineyard…Then he leased it to tenants…the harvest had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce…the tenants seized the slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another… When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do? They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death…” Jesus said to them…,“Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you…” …the Chief Priests and the Pharisees…realized that he was speaking about them… [Matthew 21:33a,b; 34-35, 40-41, 45]

The Gospel this week is back in the now infamous Vineyard. This time Jesus tells us a parable about the tenants who are running the place and trounce the owner's representatives who come to collect the owner's share of the produce. One was beaten, one was stoned, and another killed. Another group was sent and were treated the same way. Finally the owner sent his son, believing that, as things are meant to go, his son would be treated with all due respect. But even the son was killed so the tenants could "get his inheritance." [Mt 21:38b] At first glance, I can't help wondering if some of these tenants had been the disgruntled workers of the previous vineyard parable who worked longer hours for the same pay as those who worked fewer.

At second glance, I feel as if I'm reading a headline about a local, national, or even international situation. The violence of sudden flash-mobs tearing up urban and suburban shopping areas in this country. The epidemic of school shooting tragedies, murders based on racism, gender identity, sexual orientation, and politically fueled rage. Too many drivers act as if entitled to make the roads as perilous as sitting on a railroad track with an oncoming train, and so much more. The headlines on air, online, and in print tell us that “Life” is getting meaner by the moment, as we watch here and abroad to see that, not unlike in Jesus' own time, brutality is the tool of cowards who know no other way to express the fear of their own impotence.

And then there's the third glance, Jesus is giving a local lesson to the disciples about what is happening then, what is to come, and the ever-watching Pharisees unhappily get the picture about who's who and what's what in this parable. And as they should ~ and do ~ know, God is pretty clear in The Law about how we are to behave ourselves and toward one another.

In the first reading, Isaiah opens with a love-song to his beloved and the vineyard with much of the same description of preparation Jesus is using, imagine! In this case, after all the work to dig, and clear, and plant, Isaiah says he expected it to yield grapes. Of course! However, it yielded wild grapes. After doing a little digging myself, there are many sites online telling which wild grapes are edible and which are not. Clearly, Beloved wasn’t happy with the results of his hard work. The vineyard is a reference to the House of Israel. The vine the Psalmist refers to has failed the Lord’s expectations and despite all the work and planning for it to flourish, it denied its roots. And just as clearly a parable as is the one from Jesus, the audience of Isaiah knew as well as the Chief Priests and Pharisees to whom Beloved was talking.

But Paul tells us in Philippians: ...this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 3:13b-14] We may not be able to make the world less mean, but we can each add more Christ-meaning to the world. And, we now have easier ways to meet our grape expectations!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Beloved God, our Master Planter, we, Your humble tenants, often lose sight of our temporal presence on this fragile Earth, our island home. As we strive to accumulate more, our actions seem to show that we value the gifts of Your hands ever less. Grant us the care and consciousness to recognize our call to produce the good fruits of Your kingdom and give to others as You have given to us.

O God of Hosts

RESPONSE: Restore us, Receive us, and Confirm our Faith

~ Beloved God, our Master Planter, climate issues, war, violence in our streets, and severe poverty all surround us. Let us raise our voices to be heard in the halls of the political leaders in our world, our country, and our community, for significant action on and for this planet and for all of Your people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Hosts

Restore us, Receive us, and Confirm our Faith

~ Beloved God, our Master Planter, in Your mercy, enfold those wracked with pain of disease, the anxiety of mental illness, and the throes of addiction. Grant extra energy and compassion to all of their care-givers. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Hosts

Restore us, Receive us, and Confirm our Faith

~ Beloved God, our Master Planter, lighten the burden of those whose hearts are heavy with grief. Give us the peace to replace dirges with comfort in knowing that those we love are welcomed into the glory of You, our Living, Loving God. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Hosts

Restore us, Receive us, and Confirm our Faith

~ Beloved God, our Master Planter, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, silently or aloud…

O God of Hosts

Restore us, Receive us, and Confirm our Faith

~ Beloved God, our Master Planter, our prayers ascend especially for those ordained and steadfast in their life mission to help us find our way to You. With Your grace and their prayer-filled guidance, we share this hope-filled journey together. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Hosts

Restore us, Receive us, and Confirm our Faith

The Celebrant adds: O God in Christ Jesus, You are the Cornerstone of our life and faith. Grant us the courage to live the life You have given us to live, by working consciously and continuously in whatever ways we have, toward the abundance in health and spirit for all. We make our humble supplication to the Son who was slain yet lives again, and the Spirit who breathes holy life into our souls, together with You, as one God, in the timelessness of Your Eternal Kingdom. 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

Monday, September 25, 2023

Prayers of the People: To DO or Not To DO ~ Proper 21, 18th Sunday after Pentecost '23 Yr A

For Sunday, October 1, 2023; Readings: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Psalm 25:1-8, Philippians 2:1-13,

Matthew 21:23-32

As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel... For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. [Ezekiel 18:3, 32]

Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your path. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. [Psalm 25:3-4]

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

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

As we journey through this life, in times such as these, do you, like me and the ancient Israelites, wonder from time to time – “Is the Lord really here, among us?” How much more difficult for us to know God's presence in our own times without being certain if the message we are trying to understand is from an ancient self-proclaimed prophet, whom we can only assume is truly “of God,” or, if it is in the way Jesus bested those righteous, letter-of-the-law chief priests and elders, until they seemed to best him by execution. Yet what do we really know of God? So much of our “knowledge” has been about teaching us the austerity of rules and regulations on avoiding evil and wickedness. Yet, Ezekiel tells us in this passage for today, as he did just a few weeks ago in chapter 33:11, that God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone.

Many of us would say, with a doubt or two creeping in, that we believe God is with us, even without concrete visual sightings of God's presence. But the days are busy and fraught with stress in ordinary routine, the toll of personal trials, and all the current craziness in the world at large. It's likely that we rarely stop and question the location of God in the midst of a Monday afternoon or Thursday night before bed, in an angry or frustrating conversation in person or social media, or even and perhaps especially, in the happiest of occasions. Some weeks it's all some of us can do to find God on Sunday morning in Church as we attend in person or online. But for me, this week's readings say God is here with me, with us, so then, where am I with God? How am I following? In other words, do I just plod along in life without conscious attention to how I express the faith I claim?

Faith is as faith does, actions always tell the tale – just think of the parable of two sons in this week's Gospel. I need to be mindfully awake and present in a given moment, to think through how what I am doing or what I have done, expresses how close to or far from God I am. Is it my personal and unconscious wilderness that allows me to keep God absent while I’m in pursuit of my selfish ambitions and agenda, while I am judging others as less worthy than me, and while not contemplating how to take on the mind of Christ?

Humility in the face of all that God has done is part of Paul's message. Jesus reminds us that it isn’t always the high and mighty legal eagles that have all the answers. It isn’t always the lowly and those we choose to see as less worthy that are less actively faithful. How often do I say I’ll do something and then don’t, or, change my mind and do? Stop, Breathe, Hear, Listen… The message – the Word – is simple enough for everyone to understand. We aren’t likely, in this life, to see in order to believe and we, like the disciples at the beginning, are called to let faith be our guide. Let us each remember, when we're on that road paved with good intentions, to pay attention to God’s presence, in and through Christ and the Holy Spirit, within and around us. Who we think we are might surprise us. When is our yes or our no really maybe? We are not what we say we’ll do. We ARE what we DO. Self-sufficiency is more hindrance than help in discovering Who is among and within us.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of our Salvation, fill us with the knowing of Your loving presence each day of this life as we strive, in humility, to take on the mind of Christ.