Prayers of the People: Our Living Planet ~ 2nd Sunday in the Season of Creation '19

For Sunday, October 20, 2019, Readings: from Encyclical Laudato, Si**, Psalm 104:1-5, 14-15, 27-27, 31-33, Job:12:7-10, Luke 18:9-14

Season of Creation Week II*

  Our Living Planet  

     We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth; our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her aid and receive life and refreshment from her waters. [from the Encyclical Laudato Si, by Pope Francis]

       Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God...you are clothed with majesty and splendor... [Psalm 104: 1]

     But ask the animals...the birds of the air...ask the plants of the earth and they will teach you; and the fish of the air will declare to you...that the hand of the LORD has done this... [Job 12:7-12]

      I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves shall be exalted.  [Luke 18:14]

        We are bombarded daily with terrible news about the condition of our planet from disastrous environmental events such as poisoned water systems and food supplies, hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes, and more, that devastate huge areas and billions of people, habitats, and creatures. And there are also the continuing deadly effects of political wrangling, war, and disease on the very existence of humans and other living things. All of this requires our continuous attention and  deliberate purposeful action as our obedience to the God-ordered stewardship of the Creation we inhabit. 

        But for this moment, today, we celebrate. Today we are called to re-awaken our consciousness to our earthly surroundings close by and well beyond our mere location to learn and more deeply know this great gift of our Creator ~ planet Earth. We re-examine its lushness, its highest peaks and deepest depths, the fragrances and the freshness; re-discover our companion creatures and the extraordinary interconnections of life among the plants and organisms that support us all. We marvel at the vastness of the oceans, the rhythm of the tides, the flow of rivers. We see what has gone before, where we are currently, and discover again our world's potential. Most importantly, we examine how to maintain and expand protections from industrial waste, general pollution, and especially the vast impact of simple, everyday thoughtless and thoughtful actions individually, collectively, and globally. This Earth and her resources feeds our bodies and provides oxygen for our breath, and breath-taking beauty. All that we humans do on and to this planet will live in and follow through the health and wellness of our children, in every generation to come. 

         How magnificent is Our Living Planet?! The psalmist tell us that in God’s hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being. Yet make no mistake, it is also in our own.     

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Living, Loving Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, open us to the humility to understand our true place in, and responsibilities for Your Creation, to learn from every living creature and life form, and to be voice and champion for the protection and preservation of this fragile Earth, our island home.

                                                    O Lord, Breath of our Being

RESPONSE:                We bless You by our faith and action   

~ Living, Loving Creator, seize us all with the utmost urgency, individually and especially in the halls of all governments in our Nation, around our Globe, and in our Community, to take definitive planet-saving action now. Let us exalt only the work of Your Hand by assuring the well-being of the eco-systems and environments that sustain our very existence. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Breath of our Being

                                                       We bless You by our faith and action

~Living, Loving Creator, fill all who live in chronic pain or critical life circumstance with Your peace and healing; and give strength to those who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

  

                                                       O Lord, Breath of our Being

                                                       We bless You by our faith and action  

       

~ Living, Loving Creator, keep us in the knowledge that love never dies, and those we have sent ahead have new life in the  holy grandeur of Your Eternal Kingdom. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Breath of our Being

                                                       We bless You by our faith and action

~ Living, Loving Creator, 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, Breath of our Being

                                                       We bless You by our faith and action

                    

~ Living, Loving Creator, set ablaze the spirits of those who lead us in Your church and beyond, to guide and join us as reverent custodians and managers of this temporal treasure You have given us.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

  

                                                       O Lord, Breath of our Being

                                                       We bless You by our faith and action

                                                                                                      

The Celebrant adds: God of Splendor and Majesty, excite and amaze us each new day with the abundance available in Your precious gift of this living, breathing planet, the literal ground that supports our earthly being and its elements within us all. Kindle our fervor to actively engage and assure its health and wholeness for now and always. We ask through Jesus, our Teacher and Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, the Divine Energy of our souls, who together with You are One God, forever and ever. Amen.

* Click here for more information about: Season of Creation ~ In The Beginning

**  1st Reading: Quotes from the Pope Francis' Encyclical on Ecology, 2015, Laudato Si, On Care for our Common Home…on humanity’s relationship with the Earth:  “[The earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.

           We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth; our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.

           Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which we live. We are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it.

          Today, the analysis of environmental problems cannot be separated from the analysis of human, family, work-related and urban contexts, nor from how individuals related to themselves, which leads in turn to how they relate to others and to the environment.”

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Prayers of the People: Oh, Bother! ~ 19th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, October 20, 2019 ~ 19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 121, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, 

Luke 18:1-8

Persistence 
Photo by Christina Brennan Lee, The Burren, Ireland

     Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him until daybreak…Jacob called the place Peniel, saying “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” [Genesis 32:24, 30]

         I lift my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

[Psalm 121:1-2]

       I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable...For the time is coming when people...will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. [2 Timothy 4:1b-2a, 3a, 4]

" ...yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming." And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?...I tell you he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" [Luke 18:5-7, 8]

      We are God's people. And persistence is the order of the day. Jacob, in wrestling with the man until daybreak, is all of us wrestling with our innermost selves, the unjust judge within us, fearing our self-perceived failings and lackings. But as Jacob prevails despite a life-long wound to remind him, less about the struggle and more about his capacity to withstand, overcome obstacles and personal history, and be preserved by God, so do we.

      The Psalmist’s words bring us to the dawn of inner comfort as our help comes from the Lord and is always within us if we but remember and believe.

       The writer of 2nd Timothy calls us to be persistent, whether the time is convenient or not, to proclaim the message, and to be steadfast in the ministry to which Christ calls us, because people – including us – will wander away from the truth and believe whatever they like. 

       The parable that Jesus tells is a way to keep the disciples, and us, from losing heart and abandoning prayer. The widow keeps up the good fight to the annoyance of the judge who believes he is an entity unto himself. We also stubbornly yield to the sense of singularity of our own stature or desires at times, with no apparent care or interest in the needs of others beyond our own. Yet this widow – a woman with no husband was the least of the least in those days – kept coming before the judge, a bothersome, constant, squeaky wheel whose noise the judge could no longer ignore or endure. He grants her the justice she seeks but only in order to be rid of her. So, too will God grant justice to us who cry – or rather, pray – day and night, though never to be rid of us. God’s Presence is always within, always available even in our struggles with doubt and the frustrations and injustices of daily life. 

         Jesus leaves us with that final disconcerting question: And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? How do we answer? By returning again, and again, and again to Scripture, to prayer, to patience, to giving and receiving support in a community of faith and discipleship, to carry out our ministries fully. Let us feel bothered if we wander away. Let us be bothered enough to listen, remember, and turn back to the Gospel Truth, each time we turn only to ourselves as judge. Let us be a bother in patience, persistence, inspiration, to all we meet. Let our faith bloom amidst the rocks and obstacles of this human sojourn. Oh, yes, do bother!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Watchful, Loving God, as we wrestle with the unjust judge inside ourselves, awaken us to Your strength within us, to carry and proclaim Your truth in our every thought, word, and action.

                                                     O Lord, our Help

RESPONSE:                 Preserve us in faith and truth

~ Watchful, Loving God, arouse our inner courage, in this time of unending urgencies, to be the persistent and bothersome conscience of all who serve in the halls of government across this Planet, this Nation, and this Community, on behalf of all Your people and the very Earth itself. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                     O Lord, our Help

                                                     Preserve us in faith and truth                      

~ Watchful, Loving God, grant healing and hope to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and revive the energy and dedication of all who serve their needs.  We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

  

                                                     O Lord, our Help

                                                     Preserve us in faith and truth

         

~ Watchful, Loving God, grant divine comfort to those who grieve as You joyfully welcome, for all eternity, all to whom You gave first breath and received their final earthly sigh. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

  

                                                     O Lord, our Help

                                                     Preserve us in faith and truth

~ Watchful, Loving 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, our Help

                                                     Preserve us in faith and truth

                     

~ Watchful, Loving God, enrich and inspire the souls of all who bring us to Your Word and Sacraments, and guide us to carry out Your ministry in all facets of daily life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                     O Lord, our Help

                                                     Preserve us in faith and truth

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O Lord our God, quicken and embolden our faith that in all times, whether unfavorable or good, we may persevere in learning and sharing through the Gospel message, so that others will listen and walk with us in prayer and faith. We ask through Jesus, Son of Man, and the Holy Spirit, the Persistent Voice within, who together with You are One God, above all, forever and ever. Amen.

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: In the Beginning ~ 1st Sunday in the Season of Creation '19

For Sunday, October 13, 2019 ~ Readings: From Meditations with Julian of Norwich*, Psalm 100, James Weldon Johnson**, Luke 17:11-19

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 on this page.  

     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, shine again in the darkness that covers us when we distance ourselves from You. As we inhale Your eternal Breath, we know the comfort and strength You wrap us in, enclosing You in us, never to leave.

                                                      

                                                        Good Lord, Steadfast and Faithful                                        

RESPONSE:                   We return 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 tiny hazelnut, and to govern justly, mercifully, and with humility. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Good Lord, Steadfast and Faithful

                                                       We return 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

                                                       Good Lord, Steadfast and Faithful

                                                       We return 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’ve left this life now soar in the peace and glory of new life in Christ. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       Good Lord, Steadfast and Faithful

                                                       We return 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

                                                       Good Lord, Steadfast and Faithful

                                                       We return to You in thanks and praise

                       

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

                                                       Good Lord, Steadfast and Faithful

                                                       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 and praise as grateful sheep of Your eternal pasture. Remind us of our role in faithful action to care for the land, the sea, the air, all of humanity, and every living creature granted 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 God now and forever. Amen.

*Reading #1: From Meditations with Julian of Norwich

I saw that God was everything that is good and encouraging.

God is our clothing that wraps, clasps, and encloses us so as never to leave us.

God showed me in my palm a little thing round as a ball about the size of a hazelnut.

I looked at it with the eye of my understanding and asked myself: “What is this thing?”

And I was answered: “It is everything that is created.”

I wondered how it could survive since it seemed so little it could suddenly disintegrate into nothing.

The answer came: “It endures and ever will endure, because God loves it.”

And so everything has being because of God’s love.

** Reading #2  The Creation by James Weldon Johnson

And God stepped out on space,

And he looked around and said:

I’m lonely—

I’ll make me a world.

And far as the eye of God could see

Darkness covered everything,

Blacker than a hundred midnights

Down in a cypress swamp.

Then God smiled,

And the light broke,

And the darkness rolled up on one side,

And the light stood shining on the other,

And God said: That’s good!

Then God reached out and took the light in his hands,

And God rolled the light around in his hands

Until he made the sun;

And he set that sun a-blazing in the heavens.

And the light that was left from making the sun

God gathered it up in a shining ball

And flung it against the darkness,

Spangling the night with the moon and stars.

Then down between

The darkness and the light

He hurled the world;

And God said: That’s good!

Then God himself stepped down—

And the sun was on his right hand,

And the moon was on his left;

The stars were clustered about his head,

And the earth was under his feet.

And God walked, and where he trod

His footsteps hollowed the valleys out

And bulged the mountains up.

Then he stopped and looked and saw

That the earth was hot and barren.

So God stepped over to the edge of the world

And he spat out the seven seas—

He batted his eyes, and the lightnings flashed—

He clapped his hands, and the thunders rolled—

And the waters above the earth came down,

The cooling waters came down.

Then the green grass sprouted,

And the little red flowers blossomed,

The pine tree pointed his finger to the sky,

And the oak spread out his arms,

The lakes cuddled down in the hollows of the ground,

And the rivers ran down to the sea;

And God smiled again,

And the rainbow appeared,

And curled itself around his shoulder.

Then God raised his arm and he waved his hand

Over the sea and over the land,

And he said: Bring forth! Bring forth!

And quicker than God could drop his hand,

Fishes and fowls

And beasts and birds

Swam the rivers and the seas,

Roamed the forests and the woods,

And split the air with their wings.

And God said: That’s good!

Then God walked around,

And God looked around

On all that he had made.

He looked at his sun,

And he looked at his moon,

And he looked at his little stars;

He looked on his world

With all its living things,

And God said: I’m lonely still.

Then God sat down—

On the side of a hill where he could think;

By a deep, wide river he sat down;

With his head in his hands,

God thought and thought,

Till he thought: I’ll make me a man!

Up from the bed of the river

God scooped the clay;

And by the bank of the river

He kneeled him down;

And there the great God Almighty

Who lit the sun and fixed it in the sky,

Who flung the stars to the most far corner of the night,

Who rounded the earth in the middle of his hand;

This great God,

Like a mammy bending over her baby,

Kneeled down in the dust

Toiling over a lump of clay

Till he shaped it in is his own image;

Then into it he blew the breath of life,

And man became a living soul.  Amen.    Amen.

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com