Prayers of the People: Perfect Food for the Journey ~ 11th Sunday After Pentecost '21 Yr B

For Sunday, August 8, 2021; Readings: Kings 19:4-8, Psalm 34:1-8, Ephesians 4:25-5:2, John 6:35, 41-51

   Elijah…asked that he might die…Suddenly an angel touched him and said go him, ‘Get up and eat…’ then [Elijah] went in strength of that food forty days and forty nights to…the mount of God. [1 Kings: 19:4-8]

              I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me out of all my terror…I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me and saved me…happy are they who trust in him! 

[Psalm 34:4, 6a, 8b]

         Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger...Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. [Ephesians 4:26, 31-32]

        Jesus said, "I am the bread of life"...No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day...Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life...This is the bread of life that comes down from heaven so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever... [John 6:35, 44, 47-48, 50, 51a]

    This week I long for the good ol’ days of last week and the week before when all the readings flowed together so well, unlike this week when there appears to be very little connective tissue. BUT, let us seek that we may yet find a thread in each to carry us along to the next.
    Unless you turn back a few chapters and then forward a few more, this snippet about Elijah doesn’t give us much about why Elijah asked God to let him die. Obviously, God wasn’t ready to grant that request and sent an angel to order Elijah to eat the food, that suddenly appeared, to give him strength. When done, Elijah was sent on his way to Horeb the mount of God after a journey of the frequent biblical length of forty days and forty nights. For me, the slender connecting thread is Elijah’s obedience without question or argument. His faith in God carried him forward. [If you want more on this story see:  1 Kings 16:29-2 Kings 2:12]
    The Psalmist tells his own story of faith that in seeking God, his call was answered, and God saved him. If we keep God close, we are assured that happy are they who trust in God.
    Paul gives us that familiar phrase don't let the sun go down on your anger. Though he does give us permission to be angry ~ whew, because it's hard not to be at times ~ we are not given license to sin because of it, and we are strongly admonished to put away the by-products of anger ~ bitterness, wrath, and malice. It's not easy to be tenderhearted and forgiving when someone has broken your trust and your heart. In our "real time" of now, it is easier than ever to be goaded into explosive anger by political, religious, and nearly any other subject when there are vicious, reactionary, or merely polarizing opinions voiced on any media outlet you can name. My God-given life is 'way too short to feed the frenzy and be frenzied by the feed. I want to change my anger into positive energy by strengthening my faith and directing it toward solutions to genuine problems rather than to just add more unproductive and flammable trash talk.  
    Jesus tells us no fewer than six times in this Gospel reading that he is our salvation, our bread of eternal life ~ do we hear it, do we know it, do we believe it yet? If we eat of this bread, that is, if we live into the calling of Christ by faith, we are already given eternal life. Easy? Well, not at all, but as we frequently falter along the way, our faith, even if very weak at times, will lift us back to the path.
    Faith, to me, is the connection among these pieces. Faith to journey toward the unknown, to call out to God in distress, to transform our anger into kindness and forgiveness. Our faith in Jesus, the Bread of Life, is truly the perfect food for our journey to eternity.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord of Glory and Greatness, grant us the patience to overturn our bitterness, wrangling, and self-serving wrath in thought, word, and action, and to know our own sin more quickly than another’s. Guide our hearts to forgive as we are forgiven, to live in love with our faith sustained by the Bread of Heaven.

                                             Jesus, Living Bread

RESPONSE:       Our Faith is our Eternity      

~ O Lord of Glory and Greatness, fill us with Your Truth to speak peace-filled words that give grace to those who hear. Sway our intent to join together and turn righteous anger into positive energy for the work of Christ across this Planet, this Country, and this Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Living Bread

                                                Our Faith is our Eternity

~ O Lord of Glory and Greatness, whisper Your word of hope to all who wait and struggle in body, mind, or soul, and calm the hearts of all who give them care. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Living Bread

                                                Our Faith is our Eternity           

~ O Lord of Glory and Greatness, instill deep peace of heart in all who grieve, by knowing that their loved ones now joyfully feast at the glorious banquet of eternal life. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Living Bread

                                                Our Faith is our Eternity

~ O Lord of Glory and Greatness, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Living Bread

                                                Our Faith is our Eternity           

~ O Lord of Glory and Greatness, enrich the souls of those entrusted with our spiritual growth through our worship, study, and prayer, that brings us unity in Christ as members of one another. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Living Bread

                                                Our Faith is our Eternity

The Celebrant adds: Eternal and Ever-Living God, energize our faith and excite our souls that whenever this life brings anger, grief, or distraction from You, we do not fall into sin but seek to live and act as the living legacy of salvation through Christ. We ask through Jesus, our sacred Bread of Life; and the Holy Spirit by whom we are Sealed for Redemption; who together with You are One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Prayers of the People: Grace Filled and Gluten Free ~ 10th Sunday after Pentecost, '21 Yr B

For Sunday, August 1, 2021, Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15, Psalm 78:23-29, Ephesians 4:1-6, 

John 6:24-35

    …the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron…saying to them, ‘If only we had died…in the land of Egypt, when we…ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us…into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ [Exodus 16:2-3]

      He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them grain from heaven…So they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. [Psalm 78:24, 29]

     I [Paul]...beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called...But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift...The gifts [God] gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ...  [Ephesians 4:1a, 7, 11-12]

      Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you....Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."  [John 6:27, 35]

   As with last week’s readings, there are a few parallels among the readings appointed for this 10^th Sunday after Pentecost. In the Hebrew Testament there’s an uprising against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites are complaining about the conditions of this massive journey away from the slavery in Egypt and saying they would rather have died there as at least they ate their fill of bread. They are accusing Moses and Aaron of a plot to kill them by hunger. God hears them and brings on the manna and the meat. But of course, that will only hold them so long. We’ll have another rebellious moment in about 16 chapters while Moses is meeting with God and stays longer than those he has saved think is appropriate.
    The portion of Psalm 78 for today is filled with the imagery of God feeding the people as they travel onward with a little tweaking of the created order.
    Paul begs us to lead a life worthy of the calling outlining for us the grace and gifts that come directly from Christ to each of us. Paul sharply reminds the Church in Ephesus AND us: We must no longer be children tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming…we must grow up in every way into…Christ… WE are to discover and use the gifts and grace we’ve been given for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
    Jesus brings earthly appetites into focus for us now, in our own time, in our own lives. I remind myself again that the Bible is more than stories of "then" it is also "now." All that happened then is happening now, the dreadful things, the lovely things, the boring things, and the long lists of things ~ look at headlines any day of the week. The complainers, the conspiracy theorists, the accusers, even in the midst of the proof of God’s mercy and bounty, were never satisfied on the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is the same today.
    The directive of what to take with us and what to leave behind on our Journey to Eternal Life, is clearly set out for us by Jesus. We are not to work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life…   By Christ we are fed and led. Through him we are redeemed; we are forgiven. All we need to do is believe it as well as we are able, and then live into it by our words and actions, by following him. Christ, our Savior, will never abandon us. Jesus is our manna from Heaven, our Bread of Life. His are truly nourishing words, and always, always grace-filled and also gluten free. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ O Lord, our God, lead us again from the child-like wilderness of blowing about in complaint, false doctrines, and by others’ trickery and deceitful scheming. Awaken us to humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing one another in love to build up the Body of Christ.
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
            RESPONSE:     Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope        
 
~ O Lord, our God, grant us the conviction to speak the truth, in love, to all who hold authority in this Community, in this Nation, and on this Earth. May our words and actions arouse benevolence and compassion and stem the tide of racism, division, and greed. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
 
~ O Lord, our God, release from suffering all who live in the throes of chronic illness, depression, or addiction, and give strength to those who love them. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
           
~ O Lord, our God, release us by faith from earth-bound grief, to know that the joy of Heaven is unceasing for all live anew, in Your eternal arms. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
 
~ O Lord, our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
                       
~ O Lord, our God, refresh and energize all who are blessed with gifts as evangelists, teachers, and pastors. Guide them as they strive to equip us to know our gifts for the work of ministry, as we grow together in Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
 
The Celebrant adds: O God, Creator of All, open us to be willing and worthy to lead the lives to which we are called. Kindle our desire to turn to You again each day, to nourish our souls for the work of heaven that gives life to the world and endures for eternity. We ask through Jesus, our Divine Sustenance; and the Unity of the Holy Spirit; who together with You are One God, for all infinite, imperishable time. Amen.
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope

 

 

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Prayers of the People: No Reservations Needed ~ 9th Sunday after Pentecost '21 Yr B

For Sunday, July 25, 2021; Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44, Psalm 145:10-19, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21

     A man came…bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God 20; loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain…Elisha said, ‘Give it to the people’…but his servant said, ‘How can I set this before a hundred people.’ So he repeated, ‘Give it to the people…for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’   [2 Kings 4:42, 43, 44]

    The Lord is faithful in all his words and merciful in all his deeds…The Lord is near…to all who call upon him faithfully.  [Psalm 145:14, 19]

            I pray that...you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...that you may have the power to comprehend...what is the breadth and length and height and depth...[of] the love of Christ...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  [Ephesians 3:16-18]

          A large crowd kept following [Jesus]...they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted...When evening came, his disciples got into a boat, and started across the sea...It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough...[and] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  [John 6:2, 10b, 16-20]

     The feeding of the one hundred people with 20 loaves of barley, as ordered by Elisha on the word of God, is of course a connective precursor to our reading in John’s Gospel about the feeding of the 5 thousand with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. As in the passage from 2 Kings, in John’s account there were leftovers also, this time 12 baskets full. The feeding of multitudes of 100 and 5,000, occur in today’s readings but also, and adding the feedings of 4,000, they are in the following accounts: Matthew 14:13-21 and 15:32-38, Mark 6:34-44 and 8:1-10, Luke 9:10-17. As we think back to each of those moments for the people in that time, how often, in our time, do we connect having more than enough food available to have leftovers, and using the privilege of some in our culture who say I never eat leftovers as we watch TV news reports, and see advertising asking for help for the too many who are hungry?

     Psalm 145 is describing the character of the God of Israel who is faithful in all his words and merciful in all his deeds and that The Lord is near…to all who call upon him faithfully.

     Paul's prayer from prison reminds us, that God has the power to grant us inner strength when we seek God and are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ through faith. Although the faith exhibited by the disciples who followed Jesus wasn't always perfect, as ours is also far from perfection, the people knew by the signs of his actions who Jesus was. The available 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread were all Jesus needed to satisfy the hunger of a large crowd. Imagine how faith in Christ, as the Bread of Life, could satisfy our spiritual hunger and deepest soul needs. And, after all that had happened on that day alone, as Jesus walked across the water to the boat~ he still had to tell the disciples not to be afraid. How many of us are fearful, anxious, and worried even as we proclaim our faith?

     All of us falter or fail in how we live our faith, some fail with ego-moderating, and others with the suppression of various appetites, others just fall away completely. Even Jesus got angry ~ righteously so, perhaps ~ but still... And God is watching, knowing our hearts more than we do at times, and loving us anyway.

     Stop, breathe, and pray, every now and then, to be rooted and grounded in love, to try and understand in some small way what is the breadth and length and height and depth of our Creator's gift of this life and the next. Whether feeding the 5,000 on the mountainside or strolling across the churning Sea of Galilee on foot, God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, by the power of the work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine from the heavens to the universe, on land and at sea. Let us recognize, as the crowds who followed Jesus, our own hunger for the experience of being fed by faith. 

    We, too, seek the spiritual and eternal satisfaction of Christ’s teaching and healing, and especially the comfort in our souls when in the rough seas of life. When we step out together no matter how fearful, we find the courage, the support, and the overflow of strength in our inner being when we are rooted and grounded in Christ’s love. We don’t need reservations for the spiritual sustenance of Jesus, we only need to show up and ask.   

   How about after dinner we take a walk across the lake?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Enduring and Everlasting Lord, come near to fortify our inner beings that we may be rooted and grounded in faith, fed by Your limitless love, and treasure the eternal fullness of You in our everyday lives.

                                         Faithful, Merciful God             
               RESPONSE:             Turn our fear into courage

~ Enduring and Everlasting Lord, equip us to transform the minds and hearts of all who govern on this Earth, in our Country, and in our Community. Grant us the energy and determination to release all Your people from bigotry, poverty, and dread. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Faithful, Merciful God
                                                       Turn our fear into courage

~ Enduring and Everlasting Lord, give rest and hope to all who suffer from serious illness in body, mind, or spirit, and relief to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

                                                       Faithful, Merciful God
                                                       Turn our fear into courage

~ Enduring and Everlasting Lord, comfort all who mourn as you lift the precious souls of our loved ones to the bliss and beauty of everlasting life in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Faithful, Merciful God
                                                       Turn our fear into courage

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

                                                       Faithful, Merciful God
                                                       Turn our fear into courage        

~ Enduring and Everlasting Lord, enrich and enhance the wisdom and vision of all who lead us in Your Church, as together we sail the unpredictable waters of life on our journey to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Faithful, Merciful God
                                                       Turn our fear into courage         

The Celebrant adds:  Gracious, Loving Lord, endow us with the spiritual insight to know and experience the miraculous breadth, and length, and height, and depth of Your soul nourishing presence in our lives. Grant us the gifts and willingness we need to bring You into the life of this world. We ask through Christ Jesus, our Teacher and Healer; and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter in Affliction; who together with You live and reign as One God now and forever.  Amen.

 

 

 

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Prayers of the People: Flock On! ~ 8th Sunday after Pentecost '21 Yr B

For Sunday, July 18, 2021; Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 23, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

    ‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!’ says the Lord…It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away and have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings… [Jeremiah 23:1, 2b]

    The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want…Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me…  [Psalm 23:1, 4]

    For [Jesus] is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity of place of the two, thus making peace and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross… [Ephesians 2:14-16a]

    As he went ashore, [Jesus] saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd and he began to teach them many things. [Mark 6:34]

     There is an almost synonymous pattern that develops by the piecing together of these four readings. In the first, Jeremiah tells us of the Lord’s serious displeasure with those shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! By shepherds is meant the irresponsible monarchies who failed to protect Jerusalem’s citizens as the Babylonians seized control and drove most into exile. About 20 generations after David was anointed king, God is promising to raise another David-like ruler to care for the people and restore them to safety that they may once again be fruitful and multiply.
     The Psalm, of course, needs no introduction as even non-believers and those of many other faith traditions know this one well. The simple beauty of its idyllic poetry is deeply resonant in the souls of the hopeless and the hope-filled. Of course, it too, is filled with the imagery of shepherding and some of you who have read my prior comments about Psalm 23 will know that I cannot help but mention a little book titled, A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller. You can do an internet search and find it easily and for free. Keller, a real-life 20^th century shepherd, takes us on a walk through this psalm explaining the behavior of sheep and how each verse corresponds to the work of a faithful shepherd and the response of each sheep. It brings the Psalm to our own everyday experience of life and connects us more closely to our ultimate Shepherd.
      Paul, in this letter to the Church at Ephesus, doesn’t use the language of shepherding but the same feel of bringing the divisions among us together in Christ is almost tangible. Breaking down the dividing wall that is, the hostility between us…one new humanity…making peace [to] reconcile both groups to God in one body…so then you are no longer strangers and aliens…but members of the household of God… if those are not words for this moment in time there never were and never will be.
      And, then to this piece of Mark’s Gospel. The focus begins with Jesus recognizing the demanding work done by the apostles and offering them and himself a chance to rest. However, things only got busier as they sailed to the other shore of the lake and his focus sharpens as his compassion kicks in for those he describes as like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus recognized that the needs of the followers were greater than his own or the apostles and he continued to teach and heal as there was no time for this shepherd to rest.
      We each are sheep and shepherd in this life. We are sometimes restless and occasionally restful, we have bouts of fear and anger, and moments of pleasure and joy. We must often go beyond our own needs to bring comfort, goodness and mercy to others.  We are meant to be together in that one humanity, with Christ as our cornerstone joining us together. We are God’s Creation, and to quote Psalm 95:7, we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. So, ok people, let us flock together and flock on to the time when we dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord, our righteousness, gather us again into Your fold, reviving our souls and guiding our pathways, that as we receive, we may also share Your goodness and mercy with each other as members, joined together in Your holy household.  

                   Loving Christ                                                          
RESPONSE:   Teach us and heal us, O Lord        

~ O Lord, our righteousness, reclaim this World, this Nation, and this Community from unfaithful shepherds who scatter and divide Your flocks by evil doing. Bestow special grace and blessings upon all leaders who strive to dispel fear and dismay, who deal wisely and with justice, and who foster safety and hope among all Your people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                  Loving Christ
                                                  Teach us and heal us, O Lord

~ O Lord, our righteousness, anoint with Your love all who are troubled with physical pain, depression, or addiction, and renew the spirit of those who give them help. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                  Loving Christ
                                                  Teach us and heal us, O Lord     

~ O Lord, our righteousness, comfort our hearts as we send those we love into Your open arms, to dwell in the joy of Your glorious House forever. We pray especially for… add your own petitions  

                                                  Loving Christ
                                                  Teach us and heal us, O Lord

~ O Lord, our righteousness, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions

                                                  Loving Christ
                                                  Teach us and heal us, O Lord                     

~ O Lord, our righteousness, embrace the hearts of those who shepherd us in Your Church, replenish their souls with enduring energy, and sustain them with Your guiding hand as they endeavor to lead us to Your eternal shore. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                  Loving Christ
                                                  Teach us and heal us, O Lord

The Celebrant adds: God of Compassion and Hope, urge us on as one new humanity in place of many, that we may break down walls of division, and be reconciled to You in the peace of Christ, as one body through the Cross. We ask through Jesus, the Cornerstone who joins us together; and the Holy Spirit, our Access to the Divine; who together with You are One God, now and forever.  Amen.

 

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Prayers of the People: Plumb the Height ~ 7th Sunday after Pentecost '21 Yr B

For Sunday, July 11, 2021; Readings: Amos 7:7-15, Psalm 85:8-13, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29

      …the Lord was standing beside a wall with a plumb line in his hand…the Lord said to me…’what do you see?” And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by…’ [Amos 7:7-8]

      [The Lord God]…is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him. [Psalm 85:8b]

     Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places...In him we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace...you...when you...had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the...Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. [Ephesians 1:1-3, 7,13,14]

      When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." [Mark 6:22]

     Last week, God told Ezekiel to stand up in order for God to speak to him. This week, the newly-minted and unlikely prophet, Amos, sees God holding a plumb line. God tells him, in effect, that he’s going to use it in the midst of my people Israel. The people of Israel have gotten overly comfortable as the chosen ones, and they will have a rude awakening when they discover through this plumb line that they are not measuring up to God’s expectations as his favorites. Amos is charged with announcing the bad news about what is coming. The local and popular prophet Amaziah tries to scare Amos off but to no avail. Amos knows he is not the usual prophet material, but he also knows God’s voice and how to answer the command, bad news and all.

    The Psalmist then, in one of the most lyrical of psalms, brings us to an understanding of God’s compassion in this excerpt. God speaking peace to his faithful people…mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other… the beauty of this poetry offers hope and healing to us all after the news of the punishment of Israel in Amos.

    Paul, in this letter to the church in Ephesus, while cooling his heels in a Roman prison, also counteracts the harshness for Israel by proclaiming that Christ offers peace to everyone; God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Paul tells the Gentiles and Jews who believed in Jesus, that it is God's purpose for all to be united, as God's own people, living holy and blameless lives through the redemption of Christ. By the riches of grace, we are forgiven our trespasses and sealed by the Holy Spirit. As we set our life's purpose to live in obedience, giving praise to God, and with our hope in Christ, we will reap the reward of our inheritance, life eternal in God’s Kingdom.

     Mark moves us to a later time in the story of Israel. Here we have Herod Antipas, a son of King Herod the Great, now the local governor, tetrarch, in Galilee. The famous dance of his daughter left him and his guests so well pleased and entertained that Herod rashly and boastfully promised her anything, even half his kingdom. When she consulted charming mommy, daughter dearest asked Herod for John the Baptizer’s head. Herod, it seems, actually liked listening to John even if fearful of him. But more fearful was he of the appearance of weakness in front of his guests, and dancing back his own grief over the request, Herod relented, and John soon arrived served up on a platter, having parted company with the remainder of his body.

      In terms of the poetry of the psalmist proclaiming God granting prosperity, and Paul’s positive pronouncement of forgiveness and redemption, there is still the matter of our personal acceptance. The almost fine print from Paul says when you have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him then you/we are marked with the Holy Spirit’s seal. God and Jesus want us to have all that is offered. Our acceptance is demonstrated when we stand tall and upright in our faith, hearing, believing, and living as holy and blameless as we can, with all wisdom and insight he has made known to us. Let us seek to measure up whenever God will plumb the height of our commitment and the depth of our intent.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord, Holy and Mighty, fill us with the desire to be as upright and faithful as a plumb line is straight, that with the wisdom and insight You have given us, we may set our hope on Christ in all that we say and all that we do.

                                                            Eternal God of Glory                                                        

      RESPONSE:   We turn our hearts to You         

~ O Lord, Holy and Mighty, transform and endow with character, honor, and integrity, all who hold power on this Earth, in our Nation, and throughout our Community. Guide us all away from falsehood or fraud and toward decisions and actions of mercy, justice, and peace for all Your people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                            Eternal God of Glory       

                                                            We turn our hearts to You         

~ O Lord, Holy and Mighty, lavish your healing grace on those struggling with chronic pain or the devastation of a difficult diagnosis, and give strength to all who care for their needs. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                            Eternal God of Glory       

                                                            We turn our hearts to You    

~ O Lord, Holy and Mighty, slow the tears of those who mourn, for the lights of those we have sent ahead now shine more brightly, and with heavenly joy, now and forever in You. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                            Eternal God of Glory       

                                                            We turn our hearts to You

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

                                                            Eternal God of Glory       

                                                            We turn our hearts to You                   

~ O Lord, Holy and Mighty, we give You great thanks for those among us who have heard, believed, and shared Your Word of Truth. Bless those who have studied, prayed, and then been chosen to teach and preach the Gospel of Salvation to us to learn and to live. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                            Eternal God of Glory       

                                                            We turn our hearts to You

The Celebrant adds: God of Presence and Promise, from within the mystery of Your Will, we receive the riches of grace granting us the forgiveness of our trespasses, the gift of every spiritual blessing, and the inheritance of redemption through Your Holy Son. Grant us each the willingness and courage to pledge ourselves to the praise and glory of Your name, through every word and action of our earthly lives. We ask through Jesus the Christ, our Redeemer; and the Seal of the Holy Spirit, who together with You, reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.

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