People's Prayers

Monday, January 29, 2018

Prayers of the People: Take Flight! 5th Sunday after Epiphany '18 Yr B

For Sunday, February 4, 2018, 5^th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B, Readings: Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147: 1-12, 21c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23,

Mark 1:29-39

Lift up your eyes and see...Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth...those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles...
[Isaiah 40:26a, 28, 31]

[The LORD] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; there is no limit to his wisdom. The LORD lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground. [Psalm 147:3-6]

I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
[1 Corinthians 9:22b-23]

[Jesus] came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them...In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went to a deserted place, and there he prayed. [Mark 1:31, 35]

This reading from Isaiah is filled with non-judgmental, hope-filled language of restoration, rebuilding, and renewal. In it, Isaiah reminds us that we have heard this before, that God has always promised to remain with us and, as during the Exodus, God's power never fails, never grows faint or weary. The prophet calls us to lift our eyes to look at Creation and see. In a poetic turn not only are we protected by the wings of God, but God gives those in exile - and us - wings of our own to lift us out of our weakness and weariness. This part of Isaiah is known as Second Isaiah and also as the Book of Consolation, for those who were in exile from Jerusalem, and, for those of us who feel exiled in our own time and place whether from a sense of home, family, political stability, or general health and well-being.

       The Psalmist reminds us of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the gathering of the exiles to return home, and how God recognizes and heals the wounds and broken hearts, God lifts up the lowly.
         Paul's letter, in his not always easy way, speaks of his meeting people where they are in order to offer the way of the Gospel and salvation. What Paul is trying to tell the Corinthians - and us - is that we need to welcome, listen, and not judge. That is a true balancing act in the difficulty we all have in loving our neighbors as ourselves as well as being open and inviting about our faith.
Jesus lifted up Simon's mother-in-law and she was freed from the fever. Her response was to honor Jesus in the best way she knew how. His response to all that had happened that day was to separate himself to pray in preparation for his next work. Isn't that what we each must do at some point each day?
This week the readings from Isaiah, the Psalm, and the Gospel all use the word lift. Paul, by extension, is lifting up those he wants to be saved. Let us honor the gifts of God, the healings, the words, and works of Jesus, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, by accepting our wings, soaring to new heights of commitment, and proclaiming the message by word and example. But first, let us pray, on our own and together, for wisdom, strength, and constant renewal. It's all there for us to claim. Haven't you heard? We are lifted up ~ We can fly!

  LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Everlasting Creator, You call us each and all by our names, and offer us wings like eagles to soar in this life and the next. Grant us the fortitude to meet others where and as they are, that together we may hear, accept, and share in the favor of Your limitless wisdom and abiding strength.

O Lord, Great and Mighty

RESPONSE: Lift us again to Your Service

~ Everlasting Creator, guide us to be unwavering reminders, to those in Earth-bound political authority, of the limits and transience of human power, and their absolute duty to prosper all who are living lowly in this World, this Country, and this Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, Great and Mighty

Lift us again to Your Service

~ Everlasting Creator, bind the wounds and heal the hearts of those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and grant stamina to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

O Lord, Great and Mighty

Lift us again to Your Service

~ Everlasting Creator, we celebrate our memories and commend to You, all who have left the exile of this mortal life for Your infinite and eternal paradise. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, Great and Mighty

Lift us again to Your Service

~ Everlasting 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, Great and Mighty

Lift us again to Your Service

~ Everlasting Creator, continually renew the strength of Spirit in those who preside at the sacred feast of Christ’s table, as they share with us in the work for and the blessings of the Holy Gospel proclaimed. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord, Great and Mighty

Lift us again to Your Service

The Celebrant adds: Gracious, All-Knowing God, free and restore us from the fever of sin, that we may be raised up to serve You by our lives of faithfulness, gratitude, and constancy in prayer. We ask this through Jesus, our Healer, and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, who live and reign with You as One God, beyond the ages of ages. Amen.

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Monday, January 22, 2018

Prayers of the People: Awe-Fully Lacking? 4th Sunday after Epiphany '18 Yr B

For Sunday, January 28, 2018, 4^th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B, Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13,
Mark 1:21-28

I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. [Deuteronomy 18:18b-19]

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures forever. [Psalm 111:10]

...we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up...anyone who loves God is known by him...for us there is one God...from whom are all things and for who we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. [1 Corinthians 8:1, 2b, 6]

Jesus...entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching...Just then there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out...But Jesus rebuked him...and the unclean spirit came out...they were all amazed... [Mark 1:21b, 22b, 23, 24a, 26a, 27]

In the intervening time since I first wrote this piece (prior Yr B) I realize that I have lapsed yet again into rote worship with a mildly inattentive, and perhaps slightly soiled spirit. Thankfully our Lectionary schedule revives and retrieves the awareness of my detachment for me. Time to breathe in, savor, and begin, again:

It is difficult to admit to myself, let alone anyone else, that I don't actually remember the last time I was amazed or astounded by Jesus. I've been very moved during a retreat, in Sunday worship, by hymns and readings, in my personal prayer, and in other ways - but I'm suddenly aware that, whether through unconscious assumptions, a mild case of apathy, perhaps even some complacency, my sense of amazement and wonder is seriously lacking. Jesus has been a part of my life for so very long, I've been taking it all for granted, as if it's all easily understood, as if "I've got this."

As for the "fear" that the Psalmist speaks of, I do remember that as a child I was afraid of God, terrified at times and threatened that my misbehavior was grounds for eternal damnation. It's hard to distance oneself from that kind of image and language. So how can I begin to have wisdom if I am frightened of my Creator who loves me and who I am supposed to love?
This fear of God or "of the LORD" isn't meant to be the kind of fear we associate with being scared and worried, or afraid of being in trouble. Rather, the ancient sense of the word tells us that in being filled with love, respect, and awe, we will fervently desire to be faithful in our daily lives, offering ourselves to God through our thoughts and actions. It's the kind of "fear" we have when we don't want to upset, offend, or anger anyone we truly love.
If we consciously engage with and love God more, if we sincerely want to know God the Creator, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, from whom all things are, and for whom we all exist [1 Cor 8:6], our wisdom will increase and our amazement will rebound. With faithfulness and awe of God as our life's primary work, our little forays into eating in the temple of an idol [1 Cor 8:10], that is, giving in to the earthly temptations and everyday distractions that surround and pull us away from God, will be easier to overcome.
It is time once again to find that amazement, to be astounded at the life and work and words of Jesus, to open our daily life and frequent prayers with true wonder, love, and praise. What can happen? I bet it's pretty awe-ful... Here's a way to begin, start well and just sing out with gusto:

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

[composed by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885, translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hein]

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, arouse and provoke us to rediscover amazement and awe in Your truth, equity, and righteousness. Turn us away from the puffery of mere knowledge and the empty glamor in temples of idols, to full engagement and accountability in the work You have given us to do.

Compassionate Lord

RESPONSE: You know us by our Love

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, embolden our resolve to demand of those in authority in this World, in this Country, and in this Community, the fulfillment of basic needs, economic justice, and mercy for all Your people, as the fundamental necessities for peace, human rights, and the moral and ethical survival of our souls. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Compassionate Lord

You know us by our Love

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, warm the spirits of all who are confined by illness, severe weather, or loneliness, and re-kindle the energy of all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

Compassionate Lord

You know us by our Love

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, help our hearts rejoice as You clothe the newly departed with Your garments of heavenly glory and infinite abiding peace. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Compassionate Lord

You know us by our Love

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

Compassionate Lord

You know us by our Love

~ O God, Almighty and Everlasting, place Your Voice in the words of all who lead us in the Church, to speak to us as Your true prophets that we may hear and heed Your wisdom and commands. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Compassionate Lord

You know us by our Love

The Celebrant adds: O God of Truth and Equity, from Whom all things are and for Whom we all exist, free our spirits from all that is unclean and build us up in love. Re-ignite our desire to be Your faithful and faith-filled servants, constantly astounded by the breadth and depth of Your Power and Glory. This we ask through Christ Jesus, our Messiah, and the Counsel of the Holy Spirit, who together with You live and reign as One God, infinite and eternal, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Prayers of the People: Fish Tales, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany '18 Yr B

For Sunday, January 21, 2018, 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year B, Readings: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:6-14, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31,

Mark 1:14-20

So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord...And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

[Jonah 3:3a, 4b-5]

For God...alone is my rock and my salvation...my safety and my honor...and my refuge. [Psalm 62:7a, 8b]

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short...for the present form of this world is passing away. [1 Corinthians 7:29a, 31b]

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea...And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. [Mark 1:16-17]

I love the Book of Jonah! In an early part, he tries to hide from God, running off to a ship in the opposite direction of where God is ordering him to go. Then, thrown overboard by the crew, he gets caught in a whale of an experience! (I just had to go there) After praying to God and being granted his release from the fish, he finally, if grudgingly, goes where he is told to go and tells the people what God wants them to hear. He is so convincing that the people hear, believe, and repent. Later in this story, Jonah - who never wanted to be a prophet - is actually angry because God changes direction and decides not to destroy the city after the people overthrew their own evil ways because of Jonah's prophecy. Such a human response: wait, what, you're NOT going to kill them? But I said what you told me to say... The book leaves us as it finds us with Jonah still unhappy.

Paul, who thought that the Second Coming of Jesus was imminent, grimly but accurately reminds even us now that our time in this life is short and we need to pay attention to how we are living.
And then there is Jesus who calls the next group of disciples - Simon, Andrew, James, and John - to leave their current lives NOW and follow Him. Can you even imagine walking away from your life as you know it, from family, and responsibilities, and all that you have worked for because someone like Jonah, Paul, or Jesus says you must? What level of trust does that require? I cannot quite grasp it, and yet, there is this nagging from the still small voice inside that I can do better, I can answer the call, I can live a life that calls others to see, respond, and join me in the net cast by God. It does sound a little fishy to an un-faith-filled ear, but then, is there a better way to be caught? Tick-tock...

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God, our Rock and our Salvation, You call us through Prophets and Teachers, through the Gospels of Jesus, and from within our very souls through the Voice of the Holy Spirit. Open our ears and hearts to recognize that our appointed time has grown short. Let us, in the fleeting breath of our human existence, hear again, trust, repent, and leave our nets to follow You.

Lord Almighty

RESPONSE: Help us hear, believe, and heed Your call

~ O God our Rock and our Salvation, grant us the courage to walk the true path of discipleship and bring to account for restitution, the leaders of this World, this Country, and this Community, for the words and actions that diminish the lives of all Your people instead of enhancing them. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord Almighty