Prayers of the People: Stirred Up in Faith ~ 3rd Sunday of Advent RCL '24 Yr C

For Sunday, December 15, 2024, Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20, First Song of Isaiah/Canticle 9,

Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    In the Episcopal Tradition, this Sunday is nicknamed “Stir Up Sunday” which comes from the Opening Collect in the Advent 3 Liturgy: “Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.”

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

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, our Stronghold, stir up our faith that our trust in You will free us from fear and worry. Renew us by Your love as we give You thanks with great rejoicing, exalting Your name by every thought and action of our lives.

 
                                                     O Lord, our Sure Defense              
     RESPONSE:                     Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
 
~ O God, our Stronghold, infuse us with such joy again for the birth of our Christ, that we turn away from the tide of hatred and division around us. Guide us to inspire all who design or impose their political pathways on this world, this nation, and this community, to turn toward justice, compassion, and mercy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                      O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ
 
~ O God, our Stronghold, restore health and hope for all afflicted with serious illness, addiction, or despair, and strengthen all who give them love and support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                      O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
 
~ O God, our Stronghold, soothe the grieving with the comfort of knowing that You have gathered those we love into the blissful splendor Your Eternal Home. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 
 
                                                      O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
 
~  O God, our Stronghold, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
 
                                                      O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                      Guard our hearts and minds in Christ         
             
~ O God, our Stronghold, grant special grace and enduring eagerness to all anointed to serve You in Your Church, as they draw us to You on our journey to salvation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Sure Defense
                                                       Guard our hearts and minds in Christ                      
 
The Celebrant adds:  Most Holy God Who is always in our midst, continually revive our desire to bear good, worthy, and faith-filled fruit in our souls. Turn us always to You, that we may receive and experience the depth of Your love for us with each and every breath we are given and to give, in turn, to all we meet. We ask through the Good News of Jesus our Christ; and the Holy Spirit, the Fire of our faith; who together with You reign as One God, in glory, now and forever.  Amen.

 

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

Prayers of the People: Stir Up Our Joy ~ 3rd Sunday of Advent '24 WLC* Yr C

For Sunday, December 15, 2024, Readings: Isaiah 12:1-6, Psalm 118:1-9,

Revelation 1:4-6, 8, 12-18; Luke 1:39-45

   You will say in that day, “I will give thanks to you, Redeeming One, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, then you confronted me. Behold! God is my salvation; I will trust and I will not fear, for Yah** [She Who Is] GOD is my strength and my might and has become my salvation.” 

   Give thanks to the ANCIENT OF DAYS who is good; God’s faithful love is everlasting! Let the children of Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah say, “God’s faithful love is everlasting!”…Let those who revere the FIRE OF SINAI say, “God’s faithful love is everlasting!” [Psalm 118:1-2, 4]

    …Grace to you and peace from the One who is and who was and who is to come…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of those who reign on the earth…”Fear not; I am the First and the Last and the Living One. I was dead, and look! I am alive forever and ever!” [Revelation 1:4b,5,17b-18a 

   Now when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb...the baby in me leaped for joy. Now blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of those things spoken to her by the Holy One.” 

   On this Third Sunday of Advent, we light the rose-colored candle to symbolize the joy and anticipation of Christ's birth which is now in sight. In the Anglican/Episcopal Church tradition there is an informal title of "Stir Up Sunday" for this day in the Book of Common Prayer because the opening Collect [a prayer that collects or gathers the themes of the day or service] begins with the phrase: “Stir up your power, O Lord...” The message of this day and this week is "Gaudete," [gow-day-tay] from the Latin for rejoice and it gives us a slight respite from some of the more penitential aspects of this sacred Season that is found in the Revised Common Lectionary. This day is also about the intentional seeking of joy through our personal/home preparations for Christmas. The music and decorations often bring smiles for those of us fortunate to have memories of ourselves as children or our own children with growing anticipation as we leave our US Thanksgiving holiday behind and await the wide eyes on Christmas morning. (Perhaps, some preparation comes with more of a secular mindset than we’d like to admit.)

   For us as adults, this week is also a sobering moment to consider all those near to and far from us, who are suffering in our country and the world from the ravages of war and domestic or other terrorism and violence, the effects of devastating fires, the still terrible conditions of recent hurricanes and earthquakes, or for those who live in abject poverty, among many more hardships. The now annual arrival of Flu, COVID, RSV, etc., with their attending miseries of isolation, further infection and/or death for so many add to the growing anxieties over political issues here and around the globe. Yet now is the time to remember to experience the true joy of Christ's first coming. “Celebration,” in a culture of excess, offers us an opportunity to look beyond the artificial trappings, fun and exciting as they are, and intentionally seek to find the authentic message. Now is the time to restore our part in relationship with Jesus, to find new ways to rejoice in and with our Faith, and to discover, again, the true reason for the season and ways to carry that over into our every day of living. Now is the time, pre-New Year’s Resolutions, to take on a renewed commitment to stir up our joy by giving to and seeking a message from our Christ each and every day in prayer with thanksgiving.

*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and is the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C, here after designated on my posts as WCL and translator of its biblical selections. Learn more about her and her work at her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/ [for slightly more detail, see my blog post for December 1, 2024, Advent I WCL, see link below] The readings and prayers of the people follow.

** In one important note this week, Dr. Gafney’s explains Yah [She Who Is] GOD: “’Yah’ (as in hallelujah/hallelu-yah) is, according to grammatical form, feminine…In some contemporary Jewish feminist practice and prayer…a feminine name for God…also the first syllable of the unpronounceable of YHWH…there are no strictures on pronouncing the first syllable. In Isaiah 1:2, I offer a feminine reading option in brackets for those who so choose.” Dr. Gafney explains her process and sources of translation of each reading she uses in her book, which is impossible to offer in this space. Fascinating and illuminating, not merely because of the womanist highlighting, but for a greater appreciation of and fresh perspective in each biblical reading as most are not, or rarely, used in Sunday preaching or Daily Lectionaries. For slightly more information: See: https://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2024/11/prayers-of-people-advent-ure-begins.html

Dr. Gafney's Readings for Advent III, December 15, 2024:

Isaiah 12:1-6: You will say in that day, “I will give thanks to you, Redeeming One, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, then you confronted me. 2. Behold! God is my salvation; I will trust and I will not fear, for Yah [She Who Is] GOD is my strength and my might and has become my salvation.” 3. Then you all shall with joy draw water from the wells of salvation. 4. And you all shall say in that day, “Give thanks to the GOD OF OUR SALVATION, call on God’s name; acclaim God’s deeds among the nations, make known that God’s name is exalted.” 5. Sing praises to the MIGHTY GOD, who has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. 6 Shout [daughter]! Sing [daughter]! [Daughter,] you who dwell in Zion! For great in your midst [daughter] is the Holy One of Israel!  

Psalm 118:1–9; 14–21: 1 Give thanks to the ANCIENT OF DAYS who is good; God’s faithful love is everlasting! 2 Let the children of Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah say, “God’s faithful love is everlasting!” 3 Let the house of Elisheba’s descendants say, “God’s faithful love is everlasting!” 4 Let those who revere the FIRE OF SINAI say, “God’s faithful love is everlasting!” 5  Out of my distress I called on YAH, THE ARK OF SAFETY; the FAITHFUL GOD answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 With the DREAD GOD on my side I do not fear. What can the children of earth and Eve do to me? 7 The FEARSOME GOD is for me, to help me; I shall look [down] upon those who hate me. 8 Better is it to shelter in the SAVING GOD than to trust in the woman-born. 9 Better is it to shelter in the SAVING GOD than to trust in the high-born. 14 The MIGHTY GOD is my strength and my might and has become my salvation. 15 The sound of song and of salvation is in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the MOST HIGH is mighty; 16 the right hand of the MIGHTY GOD is exalted; the right hand of the MOST HIGH is mighty.” 17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the ANCIENT OF DAYS. 18 The MERCIFUL GOD has punished me severely, but to death did not hand me over. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the FOUNT OF JUSTICE. 20 This is the gate of the LIVING GOD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you for you have answered me and have become my salvation.

Revelation 1:4–6, 8, 12–18: John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you all and peace from the One who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before God’s throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of those who reign on the earth. To Jesus who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us to reign, priests serving his God and Father, to Christ be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Sovereign God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” 12 And I turned to see whose voice spoke with me and turning, I saw seven golden lampstands. 13 And in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Woman, wearing a robe (down to the feet) and with a golden sash wrapped around their chest. 14 Their head and hair were white as wool, white as snow and their eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 Their feet were like fine bronze, like that refined in a furnace, and their voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 And they had in their right hand seven stars and from their mouth a sharp two-edged sword came and their face was like the sun shining with all its power. 17 Now when I saw [the one like the Son of Woman], I fell at their feet as dead. Then they placed their right hand on me, saying, “Fear not; I am the First and the Last 18 and the Living One. I was dead, and look! I am alive forever and ever! And I have the keys of Death and of Hades.”

Luke 1:39–45: Mary set out in those days and went to the hill country with haste, to a Judean town. 40 There she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 Now when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 From where does this [visit] come to me? That the mother of my Sovereign comes to me? 44 Look! As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting in my ear, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Now blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of those things spoken to her by the Holy One.”

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O GOD OF OUR SALVATION, infuse our conscious preparations for the celebration just ahead, with many every-day faith-filled moments reminding us to look beyond the holly and holiday for the Hope, Peace, and Joy we can find before, on, and always after the Holy Day of our Savior’s birth.

                                                      O ANCIENT OF DAYS

                RESPONSE:           Your Faithful Love is Everlasting

~ O GOD OF OUR SALVATION, infuse us with such joy for the birth of our Christ again, that we turn away from the tide of hatred and division around us. Guide us to inspire all who design or impose their political pathways on this world, this nation, and this community, to turn toward justice, compassion, and mercy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O ANCIENT OF DAYS

                                                       Your Faithful Love is Everlasting

~ O GOD OF OUR SALVATION, restore health and hope for all afflicted with serious illness, addiction, or despair, and strengthen all who give them love and support. We now join our hearts to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       O ANCIENT OF DAYS

                                                       Your Faithful Love is Everlasting

~ O GOD OF OUR SALVATION, soothe the grieving with the comfort of knowing that You have gathered those we love into the blissful splendor Your Eternal Home. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                                                       O ANCIENT OF DAYS,

                                                       Your Faithful Love is Everlasting

~ O GOD OF OUR SALVATION, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                       O ANCIENT OF DAYS

                                                       Your Faithful Love is Everlasting       

~ O GOD OF OUR SALVATION, grant special grace and enduring eagerness to all anointed to serve You in Your Church, as they draw us to You on our journey to salvation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O ANCIENT OF DAYS

                                                       Your Faithful Love is Everlasting 

The Celebrant adds: MIGHTY AND MERCIFUL GOD, OUR FOUNT OF JUSTICE, continually revive our desire to bear good, worthy, and faith-filled fruit in our souls. Turn us always to You, that we may receive and experience the depth of Your love for us with each and every breath we are given, and to give, in turn, to all we meet. We ask through Jesus, the Son of Woman, our Sovereign; and the Holy Spirit, the Fire of our Faith; who together with You are One LIVING GOD, MOST HIGH, forever and ever. Amen.

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

Prayers of the People: Holy Yes ~ 2nd Sunday of Advent '24 WLC* Yr C

For Sunday, December 8, 2024, Readings: Isaiah 41:4-5, 8-10, 17-20; Psalm 27:4-5, 7-10, 13-14.4; 1 Peter 3:13-17, Luke 1:26-38

I, GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY am the beginning and will be the end; I am that one…FEAR NOT, for I am with you, be not afraid, for I am your GOD; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. [Isaiah 41:4b, 10]       

   One thing I asked of the FOUNT OF LIFE, that…will I seek: to live in the house of the WOMB OF LIFE, and to inquire in her temple. She will shield me in her shelter when the day is evil; she will cover me under the cover of her tent…If I but believe, I shall see the goodness of SHE WHO IS FAITHFUL in the land of the living. Wait for the LIVING GOD; be strong, and let your heart take courage… [Psalm 27:4-5, 13]

  “Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated…sanctify as Sovereign,” Christ in your hearts…have a ready defense for anyone who asks from you an account for the hope that is in you. Yet do so with gentleness and reverence… [1Peter 14b, 15-16a]

   And the angel came to Mary and said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Most High God is with you.” Now, she was troubled by the angel’s words…then the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit, She will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the one born will be holy. He will be called Son of God…for nothing is impossible with God.” The Mary said, “Here am I, the woman-slave of God; let it be with me according to your word.” [Luke 1:28-30, 34-35, 37-38]

    Slow down you move too fast, got to make the [moment] last... sang Simon and Garfunkel once upon a long time ago. But at this time of the year we seem to be in warp speed. The clock is ticking, the dates on the calendar fly, there's so much to do, to get, to buy, to wrap, to decorate, to cook, to clean, to finish it all in time...so just how is THIS supposed to be the season of waiting? The clear question arises ~ for what is it, exactly, are we preparing? Well, of course, it’s for the coming of Jesus, the birth of the Child…the one born will be holy… raised up as Son of God ~ not exactly represented by inflatable Grinches, Abominable Snowmen, Santas riding dinosaurs or polar bears, that fill the front yards immediately after wobbly Thanksgiving turkeys. Sure, those things are fun for the kids but what are we and they learning about Advent and finding Hope and Peace in the waiting?

   As we light the cancel of Peace this week, we are reminded that Advent is the time to think new thoughts about the whys of what we do; a time to be conscious about what is the true gift of life; time to take a break from the ordinary hurry and worry to make ourselves ready for the Christ who saves our souls. It is a time to reflect deeply to seek the inner peace that we already have when we choose to allow it to surface. Yet this time is made excessively stressful by the earth-bound self-imposed expectations we choose to accept on behalf of this season. In this time of waiting for the holy child’s birth, these meant-to-be spiritually precious few weeks are spent waiting in lines everywhere ~ at the copier, the elevator, the Post Office, the grocery store, in traffic, the doctor's office, and don’t even talk about the mall! But instead of caving to irritation and anger, we can use those moments to take long, slow, deep breaths and reflect on our thoughts, our actions, and our moods of the day, the week, or whatever time frame we choose; to look for “where was God in these” moments. How often have I looked for God in the busyness of a day, or the frustrations of an encounter or task, and offered a brief prayer, a petition, a thanksgiving?

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

   Oh, God, help me to light the Advent Candles of Hope and Peace this week, if only in my mind and heart. Push me to ponder and discover a deeper understanding of Mary’s commitment. Mary, whose title in the Greek Orthodox Church is Theotokos ~ God-Bearer. When we sit with and reflect on Mary’s Holy Yes ~ let it be with me according to Your word… ~ we each are God-Bearers to everyone we speak with, pass by, dislike, or love, no matter our human shapes, sizes, genders, ages, colors, and beyond. Even the decorations can take on a new vibrancy, as if preparing our inner home for the arrival of an amazingly special guest, the One on whom our souls depend. So, even though this is the second 

Sunday of Advent, there's time to catch up and prepare your own way for the Lord. Slow down. Don’t move too fast. Make some time with the Lord to last. God is with us, FEAR NOT, Hope and Peace are in the Lord for whom we wait and who is, at once, already here.

 

*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and is the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C, here after designated on my posts as WCL and translator of its biblical selections. Learn more about her and her work at her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/ [for slightly more detail, see my blog post for December 1, 2024, Advent I WCL]

**Readings for Advent II, December 8, 2024: 

Isaiah 41:4–5, 8–10, 17–20: Who has worked and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY am the beginning and will be with the end; I am that one. 5 The coastlands seen and fear, the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come. 8 Now you, Israel [born of Rebekah], my slave, Jacob, who I choose, seed of [Sarah and] Abraham my dear friend; 9 who I snatched from the ends of the earth, and called from her farthest edges, saying to you, “You are my slave, you I chose and I will not reject you. 10 Fear not, for I am with you, be not afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, truly will I help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” 17 The poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I the GOD WHO PROVIDES will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18 I will open the bare heights, rivers, and in the midst of the valleys, fountains; I will situate the wilderness as a pool of water, and the dry land as springs of water. 19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will place in the desert the cypress, the elm, and the box tree together. 20 So that they may see and know, may consider and comprehend, that the hand of the MIGHTY GOD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Psalm 27: 4–5, 7–10, 13–14 4: One thing I asked of the FOUNT OF LIFE, that [one thing] will I seek: to live in the house of the WOMB OF LIFE all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the WELLSPRING OF LIFE, and to inquire in her temple. 5 She will shield me in her shelter when the day is evil; she will cover me under the cover of her tent; she will raise me high on a rock. 7 Hear my cry, FAITHFUL ONE, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8 To you my heart says, “Seek my face!” Your face, JUST ONE, do I seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not send your slave away in anger; you have been my help. Do not abandon me, do not forsake me, God of my salvation! 10 If my mother and father forsake me, the COMPASSIONATE GOD will gather me in. 13 If I but believe, I shall see the goodness of SHE WHO IS FAITHFUL in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LIVING GOD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY!

1 Peter 3:13-17: Now who will harm you if you all are zealots for good? 14 Yet if you suffer because of righteousness, you all are blessed: “Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated.” 15 Rather, “sanctify as Sovereign,” Christ in your hearts. Always have ready a defense for anyone who asks from you an account for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do so with gentleness and reverence, maintaining a good conscience, so that when you are maligned, they who abuse you for a good way of life in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For suffering for doing good is better, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.

Luke 1:26–38: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee, Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary. 28 And the angel came to Mary and said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Most High God is with you.” 29 Now, she was troubled by the angel’s words and pondered what sort of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Fear not Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Sovereign God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his sovereignty there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have not known a man intimately?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit, She will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the one born will be holy. He will be called Son of God. 36 And now, Elizabeth your kinswoman has even conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for she who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the woman-slave of God; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY 

Leader:  ~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, calm us in our preparations for the celebration ahead, that we may take time, now and always, to reflect on the Holy YES of Mary, to prepare ourselves as God-Bearers of and for Christ, your true gift. Overflow us with Your love as we make way for the coming of our Savior in each and every day.

                                                      COMPASSIONATE GOD  

RESPONSE:               Uphold and Gather us in 

~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, for all who cry out from the wilderness of hunger, separation, and fear, urge us to exhort all who govern on this Earth, in this Country, and in this Community, to deliver the distressed from the shadow of death into the brightness of safety and abundance. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       COMPASSIONATE GOD  

                                                    Uphold and Gather us in

~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, shine Your healing light and love on those who dwell in the darkness of chronic illness or spiritual isolation, and sustain the energy of all who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       COMPASSIONATE GOD  

                                                    Uphold and Gather us in

~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, hold fast to those traveling the rough way of grief as You embrace our loved ones now arrived in the fullness of joy to Your everlasting splendor. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       COMPASSIONATE GOD  

                                                    Uphold and Gather us in

~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                       COMPASSIONATE GOD  

                                                    Uphold and Gather us in          

~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, grant continuing renewal and unlimited vitality to all who guide us in our worship and on our spiritual paths, with food for our souls, as they teach us Your words, and share our journey to eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       COMPASSIONATE GOD  

                                                    Uphold and Gather us in

The Celebrant adds: O GOD WHO PROVIDES, pull us ever closer to keep us from fear and to strengthen our souls. Fill us with the courage to sanctify as SOVEREIGN the Christ in our hearts, the One who is coming, and yet who is always here. Grant us the hope and peace of this Advent time, now and always, so to put our life in Christ above all worldly pursuits. We ask through Jesus, Your Son, earth-born and holy; and the Holy Spirit, She who is also within us all; who together with You are One God, Most High, beyond forever. Amen.

 

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

Prayers of the People: Make Some Time ~ 2nd Sunday of Advent '24 RCL Yr C

For Sunday, December 8, 2024, Baruch 5:1-9, Song of Zechariah/Luke 1:68-69 [Canticle 16], Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

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

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

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

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

   "Slow down you move too fast, got to make the [moment] last..." sang Simon and Garfunkel once upon a long time ago. But at this time of the year we seem to be in warp speed. The clock is ticking, the dates on the calendar fly, there's so much to do, to get, to buy, to wrap, to cook, to clean, to prepare, to finish...so how is THIS supposed to be the season of waiting? The clear question arises ~ for what is it, exactly, are we preparing? It is, of course, for the coming of Jesus, the birth of the Child raised up by God as our Mighty Savior, as we hear in the Song of Zechariah. John, the son of Zechariah, comes out of the wilderness, as the voice crying in the wilderness, that Isaiah foretold, to proclaim a baptism of repentance and remind us to prepare the way of the Lord.  We have wandered from the call to prepare that is not exactly represented by inflatable Grinches, Abominable Snowmen, Santas riding dinosaurs or polar bears, that fill the front yards immediately after wobbly Thanksgiving turkeys. Sure, those things are fun for the kids but what are we and they learning about Advent and finding Hope and Peace in the waiting?

   As we light the candle of Peace this week, we are reminded that Advent is a time to think new thoughts about the whys of what we do; a time to be conscious about what is the true gift of life; time to take a break from the ordinary hurry and worry to make ourselves ready for the Christ who saves our souls. It is a time to reflect deeply to seek the inner peace that we already have when we choose to allow it to surface. Yet this time is made excessively stressful by self-imposed earthly expectations that we accept on behalf of this season. In this time of waiting for the holy child’s birth, these meant-to-be spiritually precious few weeks are spent waiting in lines everywhere ~ at the copier, the elevator, the Post Office, the grocery store, in traffic, the doctor's office, and don’t even talk about the mall! But instead of caving to irritation and anger, we can use those moments to take long, slow, deep breaths and reflect on our thoughts, our actions, and our moods of the day, the week, or whatever time frame we choose; to look for “where was God in these” moments. How often have I looked for God in the busyness of a day, or the frustrations of an encounter or task, and offered a brief prayer, a petition, a thanksgiving?

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

  Oh, God, fill our hearts and minds with Your Peace. Push us to ponder and discover a deeper understanding of John’s commitment and our own. We are each to be the bearers of Christ’s compassion to everyone we speak with, pass by, dislike, or love, no matter our human shapes, sizes, genders, ages, colors, and beyond. Even the decorations can take on a new vibrancy, as if preparing our inner home for the arrival of an amazingly special guest, the One on whom our souls depend.

  So, even though this is the second Sunday of Advent, there's time to catch up and prepare your own way for the Lord. Un-warp. Slow down. Don’t move too fast.  Make some time with the Lord to last. God is with us, Hope and Peace are in the Lord for whom we prepare the way, and who is, at once, already here.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

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

                                                      O Lord, our God

        RESPONSE:                  Guide us to Your Peace

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

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                       Guide us to Your Peace

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

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                       Guide us to Your Peace

~ God of Glory and Praise, hold fast to those traveling the rough way of grief as You embrace our loved ones now arrived in the fullness of joy to Your everlasting splendor. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                       Guide us to Your Peace 

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

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                       Guide us to Your Peace         

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

                                                       O Lord, our God

                                                       Guide us to Your Peace

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

 

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

Prayers of the People: THAT Day Is Coming... ~ 1st Sunday of Advent '24 RCL Yr C

For Sunday, December 1, 2024, Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Ps 25: 1-9, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13,  

Luke 21-25-36

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

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

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

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

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

     In this season, the word advent is from the Latin adventus which means coming, and we will mark each week by the lighting of a candle in an Advent Wreath with a prayerful reflection before the Liturgy (the Mass or the Service) begins. Each candle represents a theme from the readings of that week. Some people will also use an Advent Calendar or wreath at home to mark each day of the week with a special prayer or meditation on the theme. Advent is the opportunity to be more intentional about preparing for the arrival of Jesus, our Savior.

    This week’s theme is Hope. In yet another year that the lives of millions and the planet itself have been upended and decimated across the world by devastating hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, rampant and horrific fires, and the violence wrought by humans, it does give pause and perhaps a sharp inhalation of breath and wonder about what could be next. The readings for this day may cause some fear and trepidation as if they hit “too close” to our own time. Some in every generation think “THIS IS IT” as they believe they can interpret the signs. The apocalyptic images in the Gospel are those with which the followers of Jesus would recognize from Zechariah and Daniel in the Hebrew/Old Testament and Jesus used them to make his point about being ready. It didn’t come to pass in that time, nor has it in the millennia since, obviously. And yet, we who claim faith in Christ, believe that it most certainly will and as we do not know the day or the hour [Matthew 25:13], keeping ourselves prepared is not about fear, but rather it is about faith. Each of us will meet our Maker whether the Earth falls in our time or not. Christ will come again, and/or I will get there before he comes here ~ will I be ready either way? NEVER have we needed hope and self-reflection with faith-filled soul preparation more than now.

   As in every liturgical season of the Church, each of our readings gives us insight and instruction to ponder and enlighten us for each day in the week ahead. This week Jesus tells us that his words will never pass away no matter what else happens. Through prayer and attention to our call, we will be ready to stand before the Son of Man. Our Hope truly is in the name and substance of the Lord, and, in our willingness to turn the thoughts and actions of our daily lives toward the light of God's presence, now and going forward. 

   It's definitely not easy to get and stay on the correct course, especially at this time of year with all the false glitter that obscures our inner vision and diverts us from our good intentions. But our path forward begins to clear when we are sincere in our desire to dedicate our lives to Christ, made easier being actively involved in faith-filled communities and in our personal and earnest preparation for his return. Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” We light this week’s candle of Hope to brighten the way ahead and to know that All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies [Psalm 25:9]. Hope is on first and we begin again on THIS day to move always forward, continually in faith, until THAT DAY.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

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

      Lord of Love and Faithfulness    

RESPONSE:                 Direct our way to You

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

                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness

                                                       Direct our way to You

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

                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You

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

                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You

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

                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You           

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

                                                       Lord of Love and Faithfulness
                                                       Direct our way to You

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

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