Prayers of the People: The Presentation of Jesus

40 Days Later...  Sunday, February 2, 40 days after Christmas, is packed with theological and liturgical significance. A special Feast day in the Church calendar, it is sometimes overlooked when, as in most years, it falls on a weekday. The official name is: The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. It is also recognized as The Purification of Mary  because the Law of Moses required that she – like the Infant Jesus – participate in a rite of purification 40 days after childbirth. Some Christians marks this as the official end of the Christmas season - because beyond the “12 Days of Christmas” between Christmas Day and the Epiphany - this day concludes the 40 Days of the Incarnation. The day is also Candlemas, a traditional time to bless candles for liturgical use. And of course, the period of time of “40 Days” in itself is frequently used throughout the Hebrew and Christian Testaments of The Bible to highlight auspicious activities.

               The focus of today’s readings for us is the Infant being presented for purification in the Temple in Jerusalem – a fulfillment of prophecy, a revelation. The holy Simeon, an aged, righteous, and devout man is waiting for sight of the Messiah before he will know death. How many times has he looked at a child and wondered – is it him? Yet this time he knows. He takes this Child in his arms; his joy is palpable. Another aged prophet, Anna, breaks out in praise of God and tells everyone about this special Baby. We can easily get caught up in the moment – remember the excitement of special births, baptisms or christenings in your family?

              Then in the midst of the all the elation, Simeon gives Mary a hint of things to come when he says, “This Child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel…a sign that will be opposed…a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Given all that Mary and Joseph have experienced so far – Angel announcements, the difficult journey to Bethlehem, the birth in less than ideal circumstances, shepherds, heavenly choruses, Wise Men, and prophetic dreams…one can barely imagine what the young new mother, Mary, is thinking. Perhaps Cornish poet Charles Causley’s words gives voice to Mary’s thoughts and to every parent’s hopeful yet anxious wish:

Vivid upon her tongue

Unspoken prayers

That she may not outlive

The life she bears.

Readings:  Malachi 3:1-4, Ps 84, Hebrews 2:14-18, Lk 2:22-40  

                                                                                                       Let us, God's People, Pray


Leader: ~ Jesus, the Joy of Simeon who knows Your arrival is a cataclysmic event!  Keep us always surprised and joyful at your sudden arrivals in our hearts and minds and let our lives radiate the exhilaration of being in Your Presence.

                   O Lord of Hosts

Response: We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, we present ourselves to you as pilgrims on Your Way.  Refine and purify our hearts and souls so that we may find favor as servant messengers of Your Covenant.

                  O Lord of Hosts  

                  We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, attend to those who present themselves in the world’s temples of government.  Fill their hearts with Your wisdom, justice, and mercy and diverge them from paths of greed and inhumanity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
                O Lord of Hosts 

                   We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, we ask Your Healing for all who are seriously ill, frightened, or exhausted, and for those who tend to their needs.  Care for them as sparrows nesting by Your altar and give their wings renewed flight in hope. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                    O Lord of Hosts 

                    We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, open our eyes to Your Place of Springs in the desert of sorrow, as the ones whose loss we mourn are set free in peace to a new life in the fullness of Your Salvation and Glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                     O Lord of Hosts 

                     We put our trust in You

~ Jesus, Joy of Simeon, Grant continuous discernment, wisdom, and prophetic understanding to those who guide Your Church and those who worship within it.  May the Spirit Most High keep us all merciful and faithful servants of Your Word.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                      O Lord of Hosts 

                      We put our trust in You

Celebrant adds:  Lord God of Sun and Shield, we, the humble hosts in Your Creation, rejoice with Simeon and Anna, Mary and Joseph, and prepare ourselves for the many risings and fallings yet to come in our own lives.  We re-dedicate ourselves to You on this day and ask Your blessings for strength, integrity, and faithfulness through Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit who live and reign with You as one God, now and for eternity.  Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at  Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayer for S'no Trouble (again)

               Thank you, Lord - the snow is falling 
  (again) and it is lovely to watch.  The sounds of life outside are muted with the cushion of several more inches of unique multi-faceted crystals (again).  The driveway is completely covered (again), the roads are treacherous (again), especially when other drivers feel that the posted speed isn't fast enough and I am driving  on ice 10 mph below that (again).  Not that I'm complaining, Lord (again).  I just always want to be thankful for all that Creation gives.  However, I'm finding that very difficult at the moment (again).   SO, I'm praying to ask that if it isn't any trouble, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP (again)!   sigh But, ok, whatever, thank you, Lord, for listening  (again).  amen.











Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayer for the Bookmark-er

           To the Patron Saints of Libraries:

       Please send a special blessing to the Reader who left this pretty sticky-note as a bookmark in a library book I recently borrowed.  As I turned the page and saw it I thought of the person who put it there and wondered....what did you find on that page?  Did you finish the book?  Did you find it inspiring?  Whatever your life circumstance is, I pray that you truly experience the grace of God and all the Saints.  Go well, be well.  Enjoy and be inspired by your reading, especially things like the Anne Lamott we've now shared.  I hope all of the Stitches in your life repair, renew, and add lovely, surprising new patterns and designs.
                I've kept the bookmark as a remembrance that in God's creation we are never truly alone. Somewhere someone is reading what I'm reading. amen.







Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayer from Inside

Skylight in my home
covered with snow

          Spirit in the Sky ~ My skylight is blocked with frozen snow but I know that You are still there. I may not get out tomorrow, or even the next day, but I will soon and the sun will shine through my skylight again. Please send Your light, warmth, and comfort to those who are always inside and will never get out especially prisoners in jails or of wars, the chronically sick and elderly, those lost in the darkness of mental illness or addiction or in the endless grip of grief.
              Remove the ice of doubt from their hearts and give our prayers flight to lighten their spirits.  Fortify each of us to take an extra moment to defrost the loneliness of just one person today.

              We lift our prayers to You, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier ~ our Spirit in the Sky, the breath in our bodies, the lifeblood of our Faith.  amen. 

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

The Good News is Jesus.  

                    The Other News is that we're the ones who are called to proclaim the Good News. Jesus is the Light in the Darkness, our Teacher who has come to guide us, show us the way, and to shine His brightness along our path.  WE are the ones who are to till the fields, fish the waters, feed the sheep, and lead God's People home.  So the saying goes, "We may be the only Bible some people ever read." WE are the hands, feet, eyes, and ears of Jesus! 

Readings:  Is 9:1-4; 1Cor 1:10-18; Mt 4:12-23; Ps 27 1, 5-13

Let us, God's People, Pray:

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness of fear and sin, You call us, as everyday people, to be the proclaimers of your Good News.  Give us the courage to be Your faithful messengers in all areas of our lives.

        Hear our voices, O Lord.
        Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, You want us to follow and cast Your nets to gather all peoples to Your Saving Power. Grant us the desire to beckon the world to Your Shore and be among those caught in the Glory of Your Salvation.

        Hear our voices, O Lord,
        Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, we pray for You to reveal Your Healing Sight to those who are ill, weary, and frightened, as well as to those who care for them. Dismiss despair and all fear of abandonment by shining Your Holy Face upon them. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

        Hear our voices, O Lord,
        Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, stay with those who are bereaved and give them rest from their grief. Help them and all of us to turn toward God and follow the radiance of You beyond the fog of anguish and gloom. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

           Hear our voices, O Lord,
           Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus, our Light in the darkness, turn the hearts of our political leaders toward You and toward ridding this world of endless war and violence. Help us all work toward the care of each other as brothers and sisters in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

                 Hear our voices, O Lord,
                 Have mercy and answer us.

~ Jesus our Light in the darkness, renew the zest and joy for Your presence to Your Church and her leaders. Reinvigorate the appetite and enthusiasm for spreading Your Gospel and shepherding Your people to Your life eternal. We pray especially for: add your own petitions.

                 Hear our voices, O Lord,
                 Have mercy and answer us.


Celebrant adds: O God, our Creator, Your Servant Paul admonished Your followers in Corinth to be in agreement with each other, and have no divisions or quarrels that diminish the power of the Cross. Endow us, in our own day, with faithfulness and fortitude. Let us not divide Christ among us. Let us be as living proclamations of Your Gospel and follow You, O God, our Refuge and our Strength. AMEN.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space.
                  You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com
All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution
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Prayers of the People: 2nd Sunday after Epiphany and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

           Holiday for Holy Purpose?

         In this country we have converted many federally recognized commemorative dates into "Monday holidays" on which schools, federal, and state offices are closed. For example, we used to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12th and George Washington's birthday on February 22nd. Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day to remember the dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves) was May 30th. Now they and others all fall on a Monday close to the original date - with the exception that Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays were combined for a single day known now as "Presidents' Day."

        When a holiday/date was selected, and Congressionally approved, to honor Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr., his birthday of January 15 was so designated. It, too, has become a "Monday holiday" however, there has been a considerable amount of effort by his family, those who literally walked with him, and newer generations to make this more than a "day-off" from work and school but rather that it be a "Day On" of community service in Dr. King's name. But for many it's still a day off to play. The purpose is especially lost among those who despise his memory and what that must require of us as equal human beings.

         It is critical that we carry Dr. King's message forward to uphold people of all colors, creeds, national origin, sexual orientation, and for any reason that any one is targeted for oppression, brutality, bullying, and discrimination. We are all equal in the Eyes and Heart of God. And, as Dr. King said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."  What service will you do in holy purpose for God's People?

Let us, God's People, Pray:

Readings:  Is 49:1-7, 1 Cor 1:1-9, John 1:29-42, Ps 40:1-12, MLK “I Have A Dream”

Leader:  ~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, You called us before we were born and named us in the womb. We have spent our strength for nothing and vanity.  We now must turn toward You and answer. Our cause is with the LORD,

       

Response: Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, You gave us a new song and often we sing it out of tune and use our own words.  Help us to learn Your words, love doing Your Will, and keep Your Law in our hearts. Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, You have given us all the gifts we need to proclaim Christ’s glory to the world.  Your Servant Martin used his gifts to show the way to freedom for all of Your people - those who are still terribly oppressed and brutalized in our own day and even those who mistakenly believe that freedom is achieved through power and greed.  Help us to compel our governments to demand equality for all, to put an end to the evil acts of those who inflict intolerance, oppression, and terror to Your People.  Let us be Your light to the nations. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions.  Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, let Your Holy Spirit descend upon and give hope to all who are sick, troubled, and weary of life, and also upon those who care for and about them.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions.  Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, lift those who are desolate from the loss of loved ones.  Fill their hearts with peace and comfort as they feel the Lamb of God in their midst and know those they love have indeed found the Messiah.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions. Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

~ O God of Compassion and Righteousness, inspire the leaders of Your Church to know, feel, and share the dream of Martin Luther King.   Exhort them to bring Christ among us, to walk with us to restore the dignity of every human being, and to seek and serve Christ in all.  Let us all work together to see to it that   “…the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together…” inside and outside of our temples of worship.    We pray especially for:  add your own petitions.  Our cause is with the LORD,

              Our reward is with our God

The Celebrant adds:  Almighty God, we see and hear again the example of Your Servant, Martin Luther King, Jr, in his powerful vision and compelling certainty that together we can all live in freedom from fear, oppression, intolerance and hatred.  You have called us to carry this vision, to stop our own thoughts and acts that disrespect and bring harm, and to make certain that Your People will know the peace and freedom of Your Salvation.  We ask Your grace to do Your Will through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who with the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, today and always.  Amen.   

An Excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I have a Dream speech

from August 28, 1963, Washington, D.C.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Full text:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/17/i-have-a-dream-speech-text_n_809993.html

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. 

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Prayer in the Fog

Mystical Shepherd,  


I am enveloped by the opaque vapor created where warm and cold collide.

 

A cinereal ceiling obstructs my sense of sky and I seem no longer to stand but rather to levitate over a groundless cloud.  

My dimmed vision sees neither ahead nor behind, neither above nor below.

 

The silence penetrates my soul. 

YOU are HERE.  

I can live in You.

amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space.

You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution

as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.