Preaching to the Choir

Prayer for Christmas Day on Sunday

2011-12-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

God,
Your light has come into our world to shine brightly in our darkness.
We rejoice in your light, we are so glad because with the light you have set us free.
In fact we know and celebrate that even to this day the darkness has not overcome it.
It is through the birth of your son that your light entered into the world
and we too want to be children of light.
We are grateful for the birth of your son
who has become known as the wonderful counselor.
Our governments need him as their wise counselor
because they have often become stalemated with each other.
Our churches need him as their ideal counselor,
because they are at a loss as how to deal with our culture
that sees the church as irrelevant.
Our families need him as their counselor
because they struggle with how to be a healthy family in this day and age.
We as individuals need him as our sage counselor
to help us in how to live as your children of the light.

And we are grateful for the birth of your son who has become known as Mighty God.
We need a Mighty God to establish justice in this often unjust world.
We need a Mighty God to bring about righteousness in a world
that is often anything but righteous.
We need a great big God to believe in when it appears there is so little to believe in.
We need a strong God when we feel so small, so weak and so puny.

We are grateful for the birth of your son who has become known as Everlasting Father.
We need the everlasting father for those who are fatherless, for those who have been abandoned by their fathers, and for those who don’t have good fathers.
We need the everlasting father for his love and his mercies for all of us.
We need the everlasting father for guidance, leadership, firmness yet gentleness.
We need the father who lives forever that we get to live with forever.

We are grateful for the birth of your son who has become known as Prince of Peace.
We need a Prince of Peace in a world that is always at war with one another.
We need a Prince of Peace to help us navigate the conflicts of relationship
we often meet in life.
We need a Prince of Peace to calm and sooth our hearts, our minds, and our souls.
We need a Price of Peace to establish his Kingdom of peace in our lives forever.

Lord what a wonderful gift you have given us in your son Jesus who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We thank you for this gift today and everyday.
Amen

cross posted at rev abi's long and winding road

Prayer for Advent 4B

2011-12-17T19:58:00.001-08:00

God of Advent,
We are so close to Christmas Day, that
We can see your light shining in the dark
As we come closer and closer.
And as we draw nearer we find ourselves
tempted by all the busyness
Of the holidays to lose our focus on you.
Help us o Lord to keep our eyes on you.

God of Advent,
We have been waiting for what seems like a long time
For that special day to celebrate the birth of your son.
We have waited with hopeful hearts.
We have waited with longing for your peace.
We have waited with a desire for your joy.
And now we wait with a yearning for your love to be born in us again.

God of Advent,
When your steadfast love is birthed in us we will sing of you
And your love forever and ever.
When we are anointed by your love,
we will open our hearts and hands to the lonely, the needy,
the sorrowful, and those who are hurting.
We pray that we are able to share your love with all we meet.

God of Advent,
We pray that we are able to say yes to you when you call.
We pray that we are able to say “Here I am to you Lord.”
We pray that we can be your servants.
We pray that we can say as Mary said so long ago,
“Let it be with me according to your word.”
May all that we are glorify you, and may we rejoice in you
For you are our God, You are the rock of our salvation.
Yes, all our praise and love is focused through Jesus
On you o God.
Amen

Prayer for Advent 3B

2011-12-10T20:08:00.001-08:00

God of Advent,
Pour your Holy Spirit on us as you did so long ago,
So that we may be bearers of your good news to those who are oppressed.
Anoint us with your spirit of hope so that we may heal the broken hearted.
Put your spirit of justice in our hearts so that we may declare liberty to the captives.
Bring forth your love so that we may pardon the prisoners.

God of Advent,
Make this be the day of the Lord when all who mourn are comforted.
Make this be the day when those who are grieving are strengthened.
Make this be the day when those who are in despair rise from their ashes.
Make this be the day where your glory is shown all around.

God of Advent,
Heal and restore our lands where there has been devastation.
Bring peace and reconciliation where there has been wars and fighting.
Reestablish those who have been jobless for too long.
Bring forth your salvation to all.

God of Advent,
May we be like Mary, Praising your name, singing your song from the depths of our souls.
May we spread your good news all around us for all to hear.
May we let people know how much we love you.
May we declare your good works in our lives forever.
Amen

Prayer for Advent 2B

2011-12-03T19:14:00.001-08:00

God of Advent
We come crying out for all, comfort your people.
Make a path for your people that they can find their way.
Speak tenderly to all whose hearts are wounded.
Bring calmness to all who fear.
Be our Shepherd Lord and carry us as one would carry a lamb.
Feed our hunger Lord.

God of Advent
Show us your mercy and favor.
Forgive us our ways when we turn away from you.
And put your peace into our hearts as we turn back to you
Pour your steadfast love over as like a gentle rain.
Breath your righteousness into our souls.
Make us faithful as we wait.

God of Advent
We do wait for your son to come
We wait for the new heavens and the new earth.
We wait in your peace, your patience and your salvation.
And so we pray come Lord Jesus, come.

Prayer for Reformation Sunday

2011-10-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

Here we stand, Lord,
The people you have redeemed.
Here we stand, Lord,
giving thanks to you for you are good.
We give thanks that your love lasts forever.
We thank you that you free those who are oppressed.

Here we stand knowing that it is you
We all can cry out to for help in times of trouble.
We know that you will not only deliver us but
That you will lead our way to where we need to go.

Here we stand by the living water
That you set flowing for all.
We drink freely from your waters
That gratifies everyone who is thirsty.
And we thank you that you also
Give plenty to eat for those who are hungry.

Here we stand with those who reformed the church so long ago
And with those who still are reforming the church today.
Here we stand witnesses to your good news for all.
Here we stand your servants, your followers, your children.

Prayer for Proper 25A/Ordinary 30A/Pentecost +19

2011-10-23T04:21:00.001-07:00

Lord,
You are the one we turn to time and time again
No matter what goes on in our lives.
You are our sanctuary when times are rough.
You are our encourager when we feel discouraged.
You are our God who loves us even when we feel unloved.
You are our host who welcomes us when we feel tired and weary.
You are our nurturer when we need to be taught how to live as your children.
And we are your children, who seek to know you more deeply in our lives.
We are your followers who seek to live as you would want us to live.
We are your servants in a world that has so many great needs.
We are who others look at to see how one lives when they say they believe.
And we come back home to you daily seeking that warmth, that love, that encouragement,
Your hospitality and love makes it possible to then live as your children so that all may find their home in you and feast at your heavenly table of plenty.

prayer for Proper 24A/O 29A/P +18

2011-10-16T05:07:00.001-07:00

Dear God,
Long ago the Pharisees and Herodians asked your son to ask is it lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor or not? One of the major causes for the American revolution was "No taxation without representation". Now, God, we live in a time where the question is how much taxes is enough or too much? God, we pray for wisdom as they decide these questions about taxation, budget, and funding the needs of our country. Help us to remember also, the answer that your son gave was; to give to the Emperor what was the emperor’s and to God what was God’s. Sometimes we seem to forget the part about giving to God what is God’s. Forgive us God and help us to remember to give to you what is yours.. Help us to also remember that you then take what is given back to you and generously use it to spread your good news here and around the world. You make possible what seems to be the impossible. You bring healing and restoration to what seemed like total devastation. You bring peace and justice to where there was once only wars and injustice. You bring salvation and wholeness to the lost and broken hearted. And we thank you for what you have done, what you are doing and what you will do; by giving to you what is yours. And we pray for all people here and everywhere that need you in their lives. And we pray for those here and everywhere who live in poverty, hunger and starvation. And we pray for those here and everywhere who are ill, in pain, and suffering, And we pray for those here and everywhere who are looking for work, trying to maintain their homes and family. We pray for children, youth, and adults here and everywhere. We pray for our churches, church leaders, and church workers here and everywhere. We thank you for hearing our prayers. We thank you for the transformation that you are making in our lives. We thank you for the deliverance of all in this world. Amen.

Prayer for Proper 23A/Ordinary 28A/Pentecost +17

2011-10-08T20:14:00.001-07:00

Holy One,
We are grateful for your daily presence in our lives.
Lord, we thank you for your love that lasts forever.
Remember us O God when you consider all your people.
Bring us all into your arms of salvation.
Lord, we are all in our own exile away from you.
We have chosen to sin against you and your children.
Forgive us, save us, bring us back to you

Hear o Lord, the prayers we bring to you.
We pray for our church, our church leaders and for churches everywhere.
We pray for good weather, good crops and good harvest all over.
We pray for the well being of each of our own communities and for the citizens who live in it.
We pray for wellness for our families, companions, and all those we love.
We pray for all those in need: the sick and the suffering, prisoners, captives, and their families, the hungry, homeless, and oppressed.

Help us to rejoice in you God even we don’t feel like doing it.
Help us to not be so anxious about things instead help us to talk to your about our needs and requests.
Help us to know that peace that only comes from you when we are feeling worried.
Help us to keep our focus on you in our lives, no matter what.
Help us to learn the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Help us to remember that we can do all things through you who gives us strength.

Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen.

Prayer for World Communion Sunday

2011-10-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

GOD,
Here we are linking hearts and hands with our brothers and sisters all around the world as we celebrate world communion.
The meal we have shared in reminds us that there are those who live in a time famine where there is little to nothing to eat. We pray for these people; that by the sharing of our resources and by the work of your hand that one day there would be plenty to eat for all.
The cup we drank from reminds us that in some place there is not good clean water to drink freely from. We pray that by the work of those who are bringing tools to make that happen and by the work of your hand that one day all can drink from clear waters.
By linking hands and hearts we know there is unrest and wars across this land that effect so many lives. We pray that by the work for peace and by the work of your son, the prince of peace that one day your peace will rule in the lives of all.
By linking our hearts we are made aware that many suffer from pain, illness, diseases, un known suffering and death. We pray that by the work of the medical providers, caregivers, healers, and by your hand of healing that one day they would be healed.
We pray that this meal that has brought us closer to you, the meal that is a means of grace, fills our hearts and souls that we live our lives fully for you in what we say and what we do.
We thank you for this shared meal and for all the many ways you feed us throughout our lives with your love and mercy.
Amen.

Prayer for Epiphany 2A

2011-01-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

Lord we praise your name and thank you for your never ending love.
Lord, we wait on you believing that you will hear us and answer.

It is horrifying when we call to mind the shooting rampage this week in Tucson, Arizona.
We pray for those who were killed; six people -- including a federal judge, three senior citizens, a Giffords staff member, and a third grader.
We pray for the healing of the wounded; Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head, a number of others injured.
We pray for both justice and healing for the shooter Jared Loughner.
We pray a prayer of thanks for those who intervened and for the first responders.
We pray for healing for those who were there that day and traumatized by the shooting.
We pray for our elected leaders, politicians and media that there would be attitude of civility.

We pray for the people of Brazil, Sri Lanka and Australia where there have already been many people that have died in the floods..
We pray for safety for all others.
We pray hopefully for long term recovery for the people of Haiti who are still recovering a year later from an earthquake and also from a lifetime of problems.
We pray for restoration of order where there has been a breakdown of law and order in Somalia, where women are being forced into marriage or being beheaded; and in Tunisia, where riots, killings and curfews are a part of everyday life.
We pray for strengthening of the hope, faith and love of so many Christians under persecution whether in Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, India, or Afghanistan.

We want to thank you for Martin Luther King who served you faithfully in a difficult time.
We thank you for his example in our own ministries to keep serving you faithfully.
We thank you for his work to bring justice, rights and peace to your people.
May we continue the work for justice, rights and peace for your people.

Lord, we pray that you will lift us up out of the ditches of our lives.
We pray you will pull us up out of the quagmire of our lives.
We pray you will set us down on the firm rock and keep us safe.
We thank you God for hearing our prayers and responding from your great faithfulness.

cross posted at rev abi's long and winding road

prayer for Proper 17C / Ordinary 22C / Pentecost +14

2010-08-29T04:54:00.001-07:00

Gracious God,
You are a God of hospitality; there is none like you that invites all to come to you.
You have invited all to your home, to your table, and to your arms.
Lord, would that all would hear and receive this good news.
Lord, help us to remember that no one is better than anyone else in your Kingdom.
Help us to then treat each other the way you treat people.
Generous God,
Because you treat us with your tender love,
We take time to pray for our friends, family members and others who need you more than ever.
Pour out your healing on all who need it.
Be generous with your transforming love for those who needs it in their lives.
Bring forth your reconciliation in families, and in places where it is needed.
Gifting God,
You give us the gifts of the spirit to use to further your Kingdom
and to be the Body of Christ in the world.
We take time to remember the people devastated by Hurricane Katrina
and to thank you for the restoration that has already taken place.
Empower us to continue to be your hands and feet
to continue the work that needs to be done there and in so many other places.
There is none like you God in your love, your generosity, your gifting and your hospitality.
And we thank you that you are in our lives, working in us and through us to let people know your kingdom is open to all.
In the name of your son, who opened the doors for all and broke down barriers that kept people from you, amen.

Prayer for P 16C / O 21C / P +13

2010-08-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

Listening God,
Hear our prayers as we come before you.
Hear the ones who are crying with pain in their heart.
Hear the ones who are weeping with grief long into the night.
Hear the ones who are sobbing in their loneliness.

Loving God,
Heal their pain.
Restore their lives
Mend their broken hearts.

Leading God,
Lead us through the dark valleys.
Lead us through troublesome times.
Lead us to our home with you.

Teach us to listen to your voice,
That we may hear the cry of the needy and respond.
Teach us to love that
We may offer care that brings others to you for healing.
Teach us to lead,
With your vision so that we not lead others blindly through life.

Through your son who taught us to pray:

cross posted at rev abi's long and winding road

Prayer for P15C / O20C / P+12

2010-08-14T20:50:00.001-07:00

O God,
Thank you for the rain here in the South where it has been so needed.
Thank you for the sunshine where it has been needed.
Thank you for the rain of grace in our lives where we have needed it.
Thank you for the sunshine of your Son where we have needed him.

O God,
We continue to pray for those in Russia where the fires and high temperatures have caused a higher number of deaths.
We cry for the lives lost in the flooding in China and Pakistan.
We pray for Mexico with escalated drug wars.
We pray for our own country’s continued recession with continued job losses.

O God,
We pray for faith to live our lives as faithful as the Israelites when they passed through the Red Sea.
We pray for faith to be as courageous as Rahab was.
We pray for faith to finish the race as all those who were before us did, who now stand cheering for us.
We pray for faith to keep our eyes on Jesus who started this race and leads us to the very end.

Amen.

Prayer for P 14C / O 19C / P 11

2010-08-08T04:51:00.001-07:00

God of mercy and love,
we come to you with our prayers for ourselves, our families, our friends, our coworkers, our brothers and sisters in the world.
Lord hear our prayers
for our children who start school tomorrow or within a short period of time, may their minds be readied.
We pray for their teachers may their minds, hearts and hands be readied as well.

God of hope and peace,
We pray for those who are sick, in the hospital or facing some kind of physical problem. May their strength be renewed. May they receive the kind of healing in their lives they need. We pray for those who are heart sick may their hearts be refreshed. We pray for those who are grieving, may their tears be felt.

God of justice
We pray for the families and friends of the medical team who were killed in Afghanistan. We pray for those that they were bringing medical treatment to. And we pray for those who killed them. We continue to pray for the Gulf of Mexico and for its restoration. We pray for those who are struggling with job loss and job search. Open the doors or jobs for them Lord. We pray for those in Pakistan whose lives have been devastated by the floods. We pray for those in Russia trying to catch their breath in the midst of the smoke caused by major fires. We pray for all effected by this heat wave.
We pray for the healing of our world.

God of wisdom,
Teach us to learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow.
Teach us to have faith in you when we are fearful and unsure.

Oh Lord we thank you for hearing and answering all our prayers. In the name of the one who taught us to pray,
…….. Amen

Prayer for First Sunday in Lent

2010-02-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

Lord on this first Sunday in Lent
we come praying to you from the deserts of our lives.
For some of us it is a painful wilderness.
For some it is a wild and creative place,
For some it is a silent beauty.
Lord we pray for your guidance,
presence and shelter
as we journey this days of Lent.
Help us to deal with temptation,
Keep us from falling into our old traps,
And deliver us from the evil one.

Lord we lift up to you those with illnesses,
those with unmet needs,
those with financial problems,
t hose with brokenness in their lives.
May your tender loving mercy be poured into their lives
into the places it is most needed like warm soothing salve.

Lord we pray our communities where hardship is present,
where there are the homeless,
where there is traumatic violence,
where there are job losses and fear.
Pour your tender mercy into our communities
so that they may have justice that rolls down like water.

Lord we pray for our country with the divisions,
discontentment,
financial problems abound,
pour your tender loving mercy into our nation
healing and redeeming us.

Lord we pray for our world where there is starvation,
poverty, ongoing war,
slavery and abuse of power,
pour your tender loving mercy into our world
so that your Kingdom may come and your will be done.
Amen.

painting by Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Temptation of Christ (1308-10)

Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday

2010-02-13T22:18:00.001-08:00

Oh Lord,
You call us to go to the mountain top with you
And we follow, not quite sure of what is to happen,
but we like mountain tops,
we like the view from up here,
we like mountain top experiences.
Lord some times we need mountain top experiences with you
when our days are dark and dreary,
when our hearts, are heavy,
when the valleys seem more depressing then ever.
Lord, may this mountain top experience
fill our hearts with your light,
may we be filled with your love,
may we be filled with hope.
Lord, we are aware,
that just as Moses and your disciples were changed by their experiences
that we too are changed and transformed into the image of Christ by your mercy.
Lord, may we have unveiled faces that reflect your love, your hope, and your light.

And Lord we add to this prayer;
These prayers for those in our communities affected by the heavy snows, power outages, loss of work, loss of lives, and illnesses.
We continue to pray for the recovery work in Haiti.
Amen.

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. It is from St. Philip's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Souderton, PA.

Prayer for Epiphany 5C

2010-02-06T21:05:00.001-08:00

Lord,
We are yours and you have called us in the midst of daily lives to follow you, to serve you,
to spread your good news.
We want to do so, but Lord we often feel unworthy, we feel like we are the chief of sinners, we feel unclean, and not holy at all. Your holiness, your love, your presence scares us.
Calm our fears, dry our tears, that we may know deep within ourselves your love, grace and forgiveness.
Empower us to follow you, to serve you, and to tell others the good news.

O Lord along with this prayer, we also pray for the people of Haiti, the rescue workers, the Doctors and nurses who are providing aid and healing to a devastated people.
O Lord we pray for those around us who may be living their own devastated lives.
Provide the resources, the aid, and the human touch they need for restoration.
In the name of your son, who c,
Amen

Prayer for First Sunday in Advent

2009-11-28T19:03:00.001-08:00

To you Lord, we lift up our heads, hearts and hands in prayer.
We put our trust in you, believing that your word is true.
We lift up to you our longing for hope in a despairing world.
We lift up to you our need for hope in a time of deep hopelessness in our world.
We lift up to you our deep desire for hope in a bleak and sometimes depressing world.

You promised hope to Israelites and you kept your promise.
You promised hope in the coming of your son and he was hope for the world.
You promised hope to the early church and that hope was not denied.
You promise hope to us and we pray for your continued faithfulness.

Lord, we pray for strength when our faith falters.
We pray for you to pour on your love so it fills our lives
and splashes over on everyone around you.
Fill us with confidence in your presence in our lives.
Fill us with your joy and peace as we go through this busy time of year.

Keep our minds focused on you, our hearts filled with you and ours outstretched for you.

prayer for Christ the King Sunday

2009-11-22T04:23:00.000-08:00

Oh Jesus,
You are the King of Glory,
You are the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.
And we pray that your Kingdom will reign forever in our hearts and in this world.

Lord, we pray for your Kingdom to come here now,
bringing a kingdom of justice, righteousness, hope, love,
peace, mercy and grace for all.
Lord, we ask that you rule in our hearts,
lead in this world and govern over your kingdom.

But Lord honestly,
We often have our own plans and agendas
And we want to be rulers of our world.
Forgive us for those times.
And Lord we live in a time that would rather idolize the King of Pop
Than worship you.
Help us to know how to live as your Kingdom People in these times.
And Lord there are a lot of Kings in this world who terrorize, over tax, humiliate,
Over exploit, and abuse those they are to lead.
Help us to spread the good news of the different kind of King you are.

Lord, thank you for being a different kind of King.
Thank you for your goodness and kindness in our lives.
Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for loving us.
Thank you for your Kingdom that is unlike any
Kingdom in this world.

prayer for Proper 28B/Ordinary 33B/Pentecost 24

2009-11-15T04:22:00.000-08:00

Lord,
We long for your simple gifts for our lives.
We long for your peace.
We long for your joy.
We long for your hope.
We long for your love.
We long for your touch.
We long for your grace.
We long for your healing.
We long for your touch.
O Lord, open a spring in our lives that daily refreshes us with your simple gifts.

cross posted at revabi's long and winding road

Prayer for Sunday Pentecost 23

2009-11-08T04:26:00.000-08:00

Lord of us all,
Who loves with an everlasting love,
We bring our prayers to you now for
The concerns and needs of those near and those from afar.

First Lord, we pray for the shooting victims at Ford Hood and Orlando.
We pray for their families and loved ones who grieve and those who await their recovery.
We pray for the shooters who were tormented in some way to choose to take the lives of their fellow humans.
We pray for these communities and ourselves that there not be blame placed on those of another belief system.
We pray for healing, understanding, and also safety.
We pray for those who may feel the heat of rage and/or harmful thoughts that they would seek help and support for themselves that no more shootings like these will occur again.
And we praise you Lord for those who bravely stopped the shooting and for those who are counseling and leading the people now.

We pray for those among us who are the widows and widowers,
We pray for those who live lonely lives with families who live far away.
We pray for those whose incomes have stagnated or depleted to put them in difficult financial situations.
We pray for those whose health has faded with age.
We praise you for those whose love for you and faithfulness to you and the church has remained strong.

Lord we pray for those whose countries and lives already have so little have been devastated by the recent typhoons, tropical storms, tsunamis and earthquakes.
We pray for those whose countries have been torn by war and acts of terrorism.
We pray for those whose countries and lives are in the midst of poverty, and famine.
We praise you Lord for those who have helped make changes for the better in these situations, and for those who have continued to give and donate to help in the midst of these crisis.

Lord, we pray for our friends and families who may be suffering from acute, chronic, or terminal illnesses.
We pray for those who have may lost jobs, lost income, lost savings, lost their homes, lost their families in the recession and financial crisis.
We pray for those who have been searching for jobs and have had trouble finding one.
We praise you Lord for those who have taken time to help these in their need, who have been advocates for, supporters of and stood by them.

Lord, all these needs and more sometimes overwhelm us and we often feel helpless, and powerless to help.
We don’t think we have enough to give.
Lord remind us that you took the widow’s mite and saw it as something good.
Lord remind us that when we all give together we can do so much more.
Lord remind us that we have not just money to give.
And Lord remind us that you are the God of all the resources and there is much in your storehouse to be used for good in the world.
Lord remind us that in our giving we are witnesses to your great generosity and love for all.

cross posted at revgalblogpals and preaching to the choir

Prayer for All Saints Sunday

2009-11-01T18:10:00.001-08:00

Almighty God,
we thank you for those who have gone on before us,
pioneers in faith and ministry, thought, word and deed.
We thank you for their example of living a Christ like life
We know that they were no more perfect than you and I,
but we all are your children.

Help us to remember when we are running the race of life,
that all these people stand by us, cheering us on, praying for us, and loving us.

Also, Lord in your compassion,
comfort those who are grieving the loss of their saint(s).
Comfort the churches.
Comfort the Pastors.
Comfort your people.
Amen.

(Forgive me, for not doing this this morning, I substituted for the Senior Pastor who is ill with the flu.)

Sunday prayer Salty edition

2009-09-27T00:24:00.001-07:00

Lord,
Come be the salt in our life that we then can be the salt in other’s lives.
Lord, Teach us how to not be stumbling blocks in the little one’s lives.
Lord, teach us to accept each other even though we are different in our practices and our form of worship and church government.
Lord, Teach us to be the salt that this world needs.
Lord, help us in our walk to be your disciples.
Lord remind us it is for such a time as this that you have called us to be your disciples, to spread the salt of your grace and love in this world.
Lord remind us to spread your hope in a world that sometimes feels hopeless.
Amen

Prayer for Proper 20B

2009-09-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

God ,
When we are hurting you welcome us as the hurting child.
When we are sad, you welcome us as the sad child.
When we are lonely, you welcome us as the lonely child.
When we have done wrong you welcome us as a forgiving God.

Lord you ask us to welcome the hurting, the sad, the lonely
and those who have done wrong just as you have welcomed us.
And so Lord teach us how to be welcoming as you are.
Teach us to love as you love.
Teach us to serve as you serve.
Lord we live in a world that demands greatnesses, demands perfection,
and demands being number one.
What a radical way of being you ask from us.
What a radical way of living you yourself lived.
And yet Lord you knew that this would change the world change people’s lives for the better.
Lord, keep changing our lives for the better.
Amen.

prayer for Proper19B/Ordinary 24B/Pentecost 15

2009-09-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Lord, what a powerful time we have been going through recently.
It has been 8 years since 9/11 and we cannot forget.
We have watched the political goings on surrounding the Health Care bill.
We have listened to people express expressed hate and frustrations in ways that have crossed lines of civility.
We are overwhelmed by the increase of the jobless, the homeless,
and those living in poverty.
We are concerend about the increase of swine flu cases.
Lord sometimes it feels like it is too much.

Lord, we pray for the healing of our land
For the healing of the hearts broken from 9/11
For the healing of the divide in our country
For the healing of those filled with hate that overcomes them
For the healing of those who have lost jobs, lost their homes and now live in poverty
for the healing of the sick and those infected by swine flu
For the healing of our own hearts.

Lord, bring your healing down for all.
Lord use us to bring your healing to this land
That all may know that you are the Messiah. Amen

Prayer for P 18B/O 23B/P 14/Labor day weekend

2009-09-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

Lord of compassion, mercy and justice,
Many have come to you seeking compassion and you have graciously shown it to them.
We too come seeking your compassion
For our needs, our pains, our illnesses,
For our friends, families, and coworkers,
For our neighbors, our communities, and our world.
Lord we all need you to shower us with your compassion.

Lord many have sought you to receive mercy and you given them a multitude of mercies.
We too come seeking to receive your mercy
For our guilt, our shame, our sins,
For our family members, our neighbors,
For our churches, our communities and our world.
Lord we need you to renew us with your mercy.

Lord many is the person who has come asking for justice and you have generously provided justice in their lives.
We too come asking for your justice
For ourselves when we have we been treated unjustly.
For those who have been treated with injustices.
For those whose countries show no justice.
Lord we need you to roll down your justice for all.

Lord, let us also remember the laborers of the world on this Labor Day weekend.
Let us remember those who retired well and those who retired poorly.
Let us remember those who labor in blue collar jobs, white collar jobs and no collar jobs.
Let us remember those who labor in jobs worthwhile, and those whose jobs have no meaning at all.
Let us remember those who labor in the fields, the factories, the government, the service industry, education, health-care and all manner of labor.
Lord let us remember those who labor in free enterprise and those who work in slave labor.
Let us not forget that your son’s labor in this world was not in vain, for he brought compassion, mercy and justice to the world. Amen

Prayer for the eighth Sunday of Pentecost

2009-07-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Prayer for Sunday

Merciful God we praise you for your unfailing love.
We praise you for feeding our hunger for bread and for “the bread of life.”
We praise you for taking our little basket of fish and barley loaves and using it to feed others.

Lord we ask you for your care and healing touch for those who are sick.
We ask for your compassion on those who are suffering in our world.
We ask for you comfort for those who are grieving.

We thank you for your daily tender mercies.
We thank you for your daily love.
We thank you for your daily grace.

We call upon you Lord to empower us as we declare who are to a world who needs you.
We call upon you Lord to inspire us as we seek to inspire others.
We call upon you Lord to strengthen us in our own weakness.

We ask all this in your son’s name,
Amen.

cross posted at rev abi's long and winding road

Prayer for Proper 11B/Ordinary 16B/Pentecost 7

2009-07-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

Compassionate God,
You have compassion enough for all.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

Jesus, out of your compassion for us,
you invite us to come away with you
to a place of rest and quiet.
Help us to say yes and then
to be able to come away with you.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

Lord, out of your compassion you care for
Those who are harassed, helpless, and
Lost. Sometimes we feel that way ourselves
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

Lord in your compassion teach us to follow you,
to trust you, to love you and to love as you love.
Lord in your compassion feed us who are hungry;
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Lord in your compassion heal us in the places we need healed.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

And Lord in your having compassion for us
Teach us to have compassion for others as you do.
Help us to show compassion in action the way you did.
And remind us when it is time to come away with you
for quiet and rest.
Lord in your mercy,
Have compassion for us.

cross posted at revabi's long and winding road

Prayer for Proper 10B/Ordinary 15B/Pentecost 6

2009-07-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

Dear God,
Thank you for this new fresh day.
We thank you for the rest from the night before.
We thank you for this day of Sabbath you have given us;
A day of rest in you,
A day of relaxation in you, and
A day of recreation in you.

We need this time with you Lord,
In the hustle and bustle of our lives.
We need this respite with you Lord,
In the tiredness of our lives.
We need this repose with you Lord,
from the tenseness of our days.
We need this leisure with you Lord,
from our overworked jobs.

So Lord,
Thank you for the Sabbath that quietens our souls
So that we may hear you.
Thank you for the Sabbath that rests us
So that we can draw near to you.
Thank you for the Sabbath that relaxes us to be able to
Open ourselves to your grace.
Thank you for your Sabbath that recreates
us in a time of play with you.
Amen.

cross posted at abi's long and winding road

Sunday Prayer Prophet edition

2009-07-04T01:08:00.000-07:00

God of all,
We know you sent us out to do your work, to face rejection, to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God, to have people turn their backs on us, to be your prophets, to be laughed at, to heal the sick, to be dismissed, to travel light, sometimes broke and sometimes penniless, and sometimes rich and wealthy.

We are reminded to shake the dust off of our shoes when we are not welcome and not listened to. We are reminded that in our weakness you are strong. We are reminded that in all of this Jesus too was rejected and a scandal to many.

Lord today some of us today some of step into pulpits as your prophets in places where we have been treated less than kind, and sometimes out right rejected. Lord, pour your healing salve into the wounds we carry.

Today, some of us are so wounded from the attacks that it is hard to lift our feet to shake the dust off our shoes, pour your healing grace over us that makes Christ power perfect in our weakness.

Today, some of us feel like total failures and like giving up, pour your steadfast love into us that we may see ourselves as you see us, and not give up as you yourself did not give up. Amen

Prayer for Pentecost Sunday

2009-05-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Holy Spirit,

you poured yourself out on the people of the early church, pour yourself out on us now.
Holy Spirit you set their tongues on fire with languages so as to speak to one another in ways that could be understood.
Set our tongues on fire to speak in different languages and ways so others may hear the good news about Jesus.

Jesus,

you said you had to go away so that the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the counselor would come and it was so.
Come once again Holy Spirit as the advocate that we all need, as the counselor we all need, and as the helper we all need.

Come Holy Spirit, fan your flames of love and empowerment, set us on fire for you once again. Bring life to each of our dry bones.
Amen.

Sunday prayer

2009-05-23T21:40:00.001-07:00

Jesus,
just as you prayed for your disciples so long ago
Pray for us,
Pray for our wellbeing,
Pray for our protection.
Pray for your joy to be made complete in us.
Pray for our spiritual growth.
Pray for your truth to be made complete in us.

Jesus we often do not know how to pray,
So pray for us,
Pray with us,
That we may be one with you,
One with each other, and
One in ministry to the world.

Jesus,
Pray for your weak ones,
Your strong ones,
You ones who are have illnesses,
Your ones near death,
Your ones who breeze through life,
Your ones who struggle in life.

Jesus,
Pray for those who have lost loved ones,
Those who have especially loved ones in past wars.
Those who have lost ones in the present wars.
Those who fear theirs may die in these wars.

Jesus,
We join you in these prayers for all your people,
And thank you that you do pray for us.
Amen.

Prayer for Easter 6B

2009-05-17T04:42:00.001-07:00

Lord,
Loving God,
We come before you humbly thanking you for your love,
We pray for those in this world who don’t know your love who have not experienced your love, who are in loveless relationships, loveless families, loveless jobs, and loveless lives.

We thank you for your joy, we also pray for those who live joyless lives, whose joy has been taken from them, and who long for a just a little bit of joy in their lives.

We thank you for your friendship, we pray for those who lost their friends or are in need of a friend, or who don’t know how to be friendly.

Lord you put your song in our lives of love, joy and friendship may we sing that song to those in this world who have forgotten the song and how to sing it. Lord may your song fill all our lives, all our communities, all our churches, and our entire world so that the entire universe resounds with your song. Amen

Easter 5B or Mother's day discussion?

2009-05-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

May 10, 2009 [White]Fifth Sunday of EasterActs 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31 (UMH 752)1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8

Easter 5B is this Sunday as is Mother’s Day. Uh oh, how will you preach Sunday? How will you lead worship? Will you honor your mothers? Will you ignore Mother’s day? What will happen? How is it that Hallmark has become God or THE WORSHIP LITURGIST for our churches? Since when did they get to co-op worship and our churches? It almost seems that they have found a way to make a holiday or some kind of recognition for every day of the year now, especially Sunday? And we in the US buy into it. You could spend all your salary on cards of some kind for some one for some designated day if you weren’t careful.

So who is really God? I do like the passages that refer to God as a mothering hen or a nursing mother, or just mother. I like when Jesus said “Jerusalem, Jerusalem. . .How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” Luke 13:31-35
And just think of it Paul tells the Christians in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (The Message)6-8Even though we had some standing as Christ's apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren't aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.

But here are the passages for this Sunday and I don’t see word one about mothers in them;
Acts 8:26-40. This is the strange yet wonderful tale of Phillip’s witnessing to the eunuch by helping him understand what the portion of scriptures he was reading said. This then led to the baptism of the Eunuch. I call it the unhindered gospel.
· Psalm 22:25-31 (UMH 752). From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, 31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it. From a Psalm of Lament we now turn to words of praise, remembrance and worship of the Lord.
1 John 4:7-21. This is more from John on Love, God, loving one another, and abiding in Christ. It can go with the Gospel lesson as well. We love because he first loved us, verse 19
John 15:1-8. Abide in Christ, the true vine, and you will bear much fruit, and even more as the Father prunes you. So how do you preach about vines, vineyards, vine growers and vine dressers to people who may not even know what you are talking about except for the wine they drink?

I’ll be saying more as we go along this week, and you are invited yourself to write something about the scriptures or about Mother’s day. In the meantime, I have included a prayer from Wild Goose publications, Iona;

Loving Mother,who with perfect timingknows when to push; to nudge; to shove;and when to wait,even though panting for change.Grant us the courage to name you;and the grace of your timing.

Sister Christ,who feeds us with warm breast milkwhen the heavenly feast is too rich a fare;and in whose death our own wounds find resurrection.Teach us also to play with you,that we may know the delightof your particular freedom.

Lady Wisdom,who nurtures and wills our growing.Lead us in your wild dance,that we may tread the unfamiliar pathssinging gladly;and find fulfilment for the dreamsthat fit your knowing of us.
Chris Polehill
From Fire and Bread: Resources for Easter Day to Trinity Sunday, Ruth Burgess, Wild Goose Publications: Iona, Scotland, 2006.

Sunday prayer for Easter 4B/ Good Shepherd Sunday

2009-05-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

O Lord, our Shepherding God,
come close to us now
Come near us in our time of need.

Shepherding God,
we need you in our time of anxiety.
We need you in our time of economic uncertainty.
We need you in a time of a globe trotting disease.
We need you to bind our wounds, pour your healing ointment on our heads .
We need the briars, and brambles, and burrs pulled out of our fleece and skin.

Shepherding God.
you guide us with your voice,
Help us to listen and follow no matter where your voice leads.
Help us to trust you.

Shepherding God,
protect us from the hired hands, that do not really care for us and have in the past neglected or abused us

Shepherding God,
thank you for your son who did lay down his life for hose who follow him and for those who are not in the fold yet..
Lord we pray for those who don’t know the shepherd, whose life circumstances kept them from knowing the good shepherd. We pray that by our actions, our behavior, and our reaching out into the community, they may come to know you

Shepherding God,
Renew us, Guide us with your love and renew us with your peace. Amen

Prayer about the Swine Flu/H1N1

2009-05-01T12:40:00.001-07:00

Almighty God, who cares for his children like a mother hen.Care for the ones who already have contracted H1N1 and their family members.Care for you little ones who are so vulnerable to this flu virus.Care for your elderly, those already sick and weak who then are more vulnerable as well.Care for the medical workers who are working day and night to treat those who already are sick, to keep this in check and stop the spread of this disease.Care for our world leaders who are working together to halt the progress of this disease.Care for those who have become stricken with fear because of it.Help us to use wisdom to care for ourselves and one another, and to use regular hygiene.God forgive those of us who may have used this to point fingers, call names or cause phobia of other people because of where the swine flu was first identified.Help us as your followers to be servants in this hurting frightened world.Amen.You won't find many prayers out there just yet. So I thought I would write one.You will find a couple at the Church of England website for General prayers for the developing situation regarding swine flu, for those who have contracted the virus and for the people of Mexico. Bravo for the Church of England.
Here also are the Prayer Points from the Presidental Prayer team:
Pray for God's help and wisdom for President Obama, Health and Human Services Secretary Sibelius and CDC Acting Director Richard Besser.Pray that the illness will be contained quickly.Pray that citizens will be responsible in taking precautions including hand washing and covering sneezes.Pray for parents who will need care plans for their children if their schools are temporarily closed. Pray that those who suspect they are infected will avoid going to work and public places.Pray for no further loss of life. Pray for supplies of flu medication to reach those most in need. Pray that those infected who enter our country will be successfully quarantined.Pray for medical workers who risk their own health as they care for others. Pray for those in Mexico who have lost loved ones to be comforted.

Psalm 32, Easter 4B

2009-04-28T07:01:00.001-07:00

Psalm 23

Today I am meditating on Psalm 23 as I sit outdoors on myporch. I don't really know about sheep, sheepherding or Shepherds, but that doesn't seem to be the point does it. I do know the Shepherd and I want to know him more, and that seems to be the point.

There are a lot of different versions that have been written of Psalm 23 from the Sailor’s Prayer to the Indian’s version to the newest version. Psalm 23 is often described as the most popular Psalm, and most well known. If it is read at funerals, people can recite it with the reader. And even though we no longer in an agrarian society we are still touched by the opening words, The Lord is my shepherd.

Karl Jacobson at the Society for Biblical Literature has written an article called;

“Through the Pistol Smoke Dimly: Psalm 23 in Contemporary Film and Song” It is worth the read because it looks at Psalm 23 is popular among the popular—in songs you might actually hear on the radio or movies that aren’t released directly to DVD. He goes on to show some examples of songs and movies that have used Psalm 23 in them. Why is this important to us? Because I think it gives us a look at what culture is doing with scripture and how it is being used and interpreted in a whole different way than we may know. Does it matter on Sunday morning? You bet you it does. Because we may be thinking all warm fuzzies when we read the Psalms, and at the same time it has been read, sung or spoken in some other way. And those are the people we are to be witnessing to, and reaching out to. And we need to know, because that says to me that they don’t really know the shepherd and that they need to know the shepherd.

So if we know the shepherd are we letting others know him as well and what he means to us? Or is it that we too don’t know the shepherd? "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," by W. Phillip Keller, which was first published in 1969. Mr. Keller was able to bring a unique perspective to the 23rd Psalm, based upon his life experience. As he explains it: "I grew up in East Africa, surrounded by simple native herders whose customs closely resembled those of their counterparts in the Middle East . . . I actually made my livelihood for about eight years as a sheep owner and sheep rancher . . . later, as the lay pastor of a community church, I shared the truths of this psalm, as a shepherd, with my "flock" every Sunday for several months."book "to keep in mind that the poet is recounting the salient events of the full year in a sheep's life. He takes us with him from the home ranch where every need is so carefully supplied by the owner, out into the green pastures, along the still waters, up through the mountain valleys to the high tablelands of summer." "Obviously, David, in this psalm, is speaking not as the shepherd, though he was one, but as a sheep, one of the flock. He spoke with a strong sense ofpride, devotion, and admiration. It was as though he literally boasted aloud, 'Look at who my shepherd is -- my owner -- my manager! The Lord is! . . . After all, he knew from firsthand experience that the lot in life of any particular sheep depended on the type of man who owned it. Some men were gentle, kind, intelligent, brave, and selfless in their devotion to their stock. Others were not. Under one man sheep would struggle, starve, and suffer endless hardship. In another's care they would flourish and thrive contentedly. . . It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways. Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance. . . . Yet despite these adverse characteristics Christ chooses us, buys us, calls usby name, makes us His own, and delights in caring for us."

Barbara Brown Taylor, in her work on shepherds and shepherding, offers us the insight that sheep might not be as dumb as we've been led to believe. She even suggests that the bad reputation sheep have may have arisen out of rumours spread by members of the cattle industry!"Cows" she says "are herded from the rear by hooting men on horseback cracking whips, but this doesn't work with sheep at all. Stand behind them making loud noises and all they will do is run around behind you, because they prefer to be led. You push cows, but you lead sheep, and they will not go anywhere that someone else does not go first - namely their shepherd - who goes ahead of them to show them that everything is all right.""Sheep tend to grow fond of their shepherds," she says. "A shepherd can apparently walk right through a sleeping flock without disturbing a single sheep, while a stranger could not step a foot in the fold without causing pandemonium. Sheep develop a relationship with their shepherd that is quite exclusive. They develop a language of their own that outsiders are not privy to. A good shepherd can distinguish a bleat of pain from one of pleasure, while the sheep learns that a click of the tongue means food, or a two-note song means that it's time to go home."
There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows of readings and recitations from the classics. He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23.
Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation -"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" - the crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the Psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verse to life.
But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up. "Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?" The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.
With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears. Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training - but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?"
The young man quietly replied, "Well sir, you know the Psalm . . . I know the Shepherd."

1 John 3:1-7

2009-04-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

1 John 3:1-7
Children of God
We are children of God, loved children of God. Thanks be to Jesus for his death and resurrection. And because we are children of God we want to be like Jesus so we purify ourselves as He is pure. On the other hand there are the ones who are rebellious against God. They choose to go against God, sin against God.

There are so many people who have no idea what this means to be children of God. They have no idea what it means to be loved and especially have love lavished on them. Too many have been rebellious against their parents and their family and the world they don’t know how to be any other way. If they found a loving family they would run the other way or try to make it into something they were familiar with.

The problem is that not many church families are truly that loving. And they are especially not loving to outsiders, strangers or people that are different than them. At the same time there are church families that recognize this and have been working hard at being loving.

Just a reminder we are called to be children not childish.

On an Iowa roadside, the old man chats with a pregnant runaway. For the girl, family is a prison, to be broken out of. The old man tells her that he used to give each of his kids a stick and say, "You break that." Of course they could. Then he'd tell them to tie some sticks in a bundle and try to break that. And they couldn't. "Then I'd say, 'That bundle - that's family.'" The next morning, the old man wakes up to find the girl gone, with the hint that she'll be returning home. On the ground is a bundle of sticks with a bow tied around it. -Scene from David Lynch's movie The Straight Story, cited by Richard Corliss in "A Grand Quest," Time, October 25, 1999, 120.
We are an imperfect family, but we are family.

Acts 3:12-19, Easter 3B

2009-04-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Acts 3:12-19 Easter 3B

Prior to these verses in Acts, Peter and John have healed a person who was a beggar and crippled. All the people were astonished and came running to find out what is going on for this person. Verse 12 begins with; When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. He thus uses the occasion to witness to Jesus, death and resurrection. In verse 16 we read; By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. In verse 19 he then calls them to repentance so that so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. I wonder why the lectionary stops at verse 19 when there is a comma and it continues into verse 20 which says; 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. But don’t you just like that, repent so that your sins may be wiped out and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Peterson in the Message say; so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you. Wow we certainly are in some times that could use some showers of refreshment from God. And yet how has our unwillingness to repent, to turn, to change, has gotten in the way of our receiving the refreshment God has for us? The locale where Peter preached this sermon had special meaning. Solomon’s Portico was a gathering place for all who came to the temple. It was not the vestibule of the temple, but the eastern range of a columned and roofed part of the temple precincts extending around the outer court. While attributed to Solomon, it was almost certainly built when Herod the Great renovated the temple during the two decades just prior to the birth of Jesus. Everyone who came to the temple, Jews and Gentiles, Jerusalemites and pilgrims alike, would have assembled there. The Beautiful Gate through the east side of the portico gave access to the temple courts from the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives. The poor and disabled would come there begging for alms from the multitude. This was the occasion for Peter’s sermon to the amazed crowd after healing the man lame from birth (vss. 2-8).You could focus on the by faith in the name of Jesus this man has been healed.You could focus on repentance and what comes from it.You could focus on the various names of Jesus that Peter refers to; the Holy and Righteous One, the author of life and servant Jesus.But what makes this passage hard is the tone of anti-Semitism by Peter. So which way is a Preacher suppose to go with this Acts passage for Sunday?

Psalm 4, Easter 3 B

2009-04-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

Psalm 4

In verse 1, the Psalmist says; “Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” Isn’t this a prayer for today. Aren’t most people looking for relief from their distress? Aren’t we? Verse 3 gives the answer: 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
But then the Psalmist puts responsibility on the us as well in verse 4; In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. And then again in verse 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
The Psalmist then continues in praise of what God has done in the last verses; Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

There are sure a lot of people who have sleep disorders, sleep problems, difficulty sleeping. This is a Psalm to turn to when one has trouble sleeping. What keeps you up at night? Is it worry? The bills? The debt? Job security? Children? Marital problems? Old resentments and hurt? Memories from the past? Grudges? Guilt over things left undone? The “what ifs,” and the “if onlies?” Lies, deceit? What’s keeping you awake at night?
The Psalmist tells us to cry out to the Lord, and that when we lie down to search our hearts and be silent? Have you done that? Do you know how to do that? Well, in AA they practice this every night as a way of putting to rest any unresolved parts of the day. They can’t afford to let it build up, or it will ruin their sobriety. Neither can we as Christians.
John Wesley would ask the members of the classes of Methodism; “How is it with your soul?” At the Band meetings he would ask, “What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?” two questions for ordination are the same now as they were in Wesley’s day: “Are you going on to perfection?” and “Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?” Here are some more of John Wesley’s questions:
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work , or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone about my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?
20. Do I grumble and complain constantly?21. Is Christ real to me?

B. Wesley’s Band Meeting Questions:
1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
2. What temptations have you met with?
3. How were you delivered?
4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
5. Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?
Reference: John Wesley’s Class Meetings: a Model for Making Disciples, by D. Michael Henderson, Evangel Publishing House, 1997, pp. 118-9

However you choose to search your heart, I hope you sleep well.

The Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-49, Easter 3B

2009-04-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

The Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13-49
We are so familiar with this story and if you have been on a walk to Emmaus it is poignant for you. Don’t you just love it two people walking along, talking and Jesus shows up in the midst of them, only they don’t know or seem to recognize him.
He acts like he doesn’t know anything and ask them Columbo like questions. They are grief stricken and are irritated by his questions, but they answer him anyway. They tell him the recent events, but conclude with telling Jesus that the body was taken. So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Is what the Message has Jesus saying to them. This doesn’t waken them to who he is. He has supper with them. It is in the breaking and blessing of the bread that they recognize who he is. Then he is gone. Their words are then; "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" The scripture goes on to show another time Jesus appears to them and shares a meal with them.

Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled."
45-49He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."
So what does all this mean for you and me? For our congregations? Where have we experienced Jesus and did not recognize him? Where have we had our hearts burning when we met Jesus? In the breaking of the bread? A meal shared? In times of fellowship with someone? Conversation? When have we been slow-hearted and thick-headed? Have we not believed?
Isn’t it interesting that even though these early disciples were slow-hearted and thick-headed, he still chose them to be his witnesses. It is the same today. You would think Jesus would have chosen another group by now, but no he still is about using you and me even with our weakness and strengths to be his witnesses.
Check out Barbara Brown Taylor's sermon on this text, "Hands and Feet," from her collection, Home by Another Way. She points out how Jesus draws their attention to his hands and feet. She points how the hands and feet of Jesus had been important in his ministry, healing people, breaking bread, traveling around with the good news: "They were wounded now--all of them--the hands that had joined him to other people and the feet that had joined him to the earth. They had holes in them, sore angry-looking bruises that hurt them to look at, only it was important for the disciples to look, because they had never done it before....He wanted them to know he had gone through the danger and not around it." Taylor says, goes on to say: "When that world looks around for the risen Christ, when they want to know what that means, it is us they look at. Not our pretty faces and not our sincere eyes but our hands and feet--what we have done with them and where we have gone with them"
In an Easter sermon at Trinity Church in Boston, the Rev. Pamela L. Foster, discusses what it means to be Easter people: “Mr. Paul Rusesabagina, is the former manager of Hotel Rwanda. In the midst of the Rwanda genocide, Mr. Rusesabagina, with great risk to himself, was able to convince Hutu authorities to leave unharmed for longer than anyone would have imagined possible the Tutsi people who had taken refuge in the hotel. This shaky agreement made possible some safe passage convoys that otherwise never would have occurred. In a recent interview, Rusesabagina was asked how he had been able to convince the authorities to grant that precarious asylum. In his reply, he spoke the following sentence: ‘Even the hardest heart has a part that is soft.’ He is one man. We Easter people are many.” See the movie Hotel Rwanda

The I John Passage for Easter 2B

2009-04-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

1 John 1:1-2:2
Fellowship with Jesus, fellowship with one another and dis-fellowship(my new word) with sin. Joy and more joy!
5This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him. 6-7If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth—we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.

1-2I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's.

John in this letter is telling us what God has for us and a guide out of the sin life.

John Wesley in his notes says; "We have for our advocate, not a mean person, but him of whom it was said, "This is my beloved son." Not a guilty person, who stands in need of pardon for himself; but Jesus Christ the righteous; not a mere petitioner, who relies purely upon liberality, but one that has merited, fully merited, whatever he asks."

Check out the sermon “That Our Joy May Be Complete” by Jana Childers Dean and Professor of Homiletics, San Francisco Theological Seminary. She begins with the song, Will the Circle be Unbroken, using that as a metaphor about what we long for in church and life. She does have a way with words.

C. Clifton Black at Working Preacher says this; In simple terms, this is 1 John's theme throughout: the coherence of the church with God's love expressed in Jesus Christ. In practice, it is not at all simple; for soon we learn that the letter's author is distraught over a schism in that church, a divorce over who Jesus is and the difference his coming has made (cf. 1 John 2:18-25; 4:1-6; 5:1-12). The author writes with heartfelt hope that "our joy may be consummated" (1 John 1:4). First, John's memo to the church: let's not pretend that for generations the message handed down is some figment of a sick or infantile imagination. Let's not sing of community while stabbing others in the back. Let's not kid ourselves that we'd never think of such a thing and haven't done it. God is no fool, and Jesus didn't give his life for us to continue living our lies. Easter is God's refusal to leave the world in the lurch, the risen Son's promise to reclaim us and everyone else for his Father.

1 John gives us a window into a first Christian community rife with dissension, if not complete schism. In Acts of the Apostles we see what looks like a very civilized community. John helps us to see that Christians have been bitterly fighting each other since the beginning. Behavioral issues are described in 2:7-8 and 3:10-11. What is clear is that the two factions had forgotten how to love each other despite their theological differences.

Check out this article: Sin Is When Life Freezes (I John 1:8) by Dorothy Solle. Perhaps her title says it all, and that not only do we freeze, but our relationships freeze, our fellowship of the community freezes, our fellowship with God freezes. She has several illustrations in this article that are good too.

Psalm 133 for Easter 2b

2009-04-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

Psalm 133 NIV
A song of ascents. Of David

1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

The Psalms for Sunday’s Lectionary continues the theme of being in community with one another as one of unity. The message says it this way: How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! Yes, that's where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life. I didn’t want to leave the women out of this community.

This is literally a song of ascents, sung by the worshipers as they went up the high place; Jerusalem and ultimately to the temple which was on the mount.

Nancy Koester at working Preacher.com says the following; As the Temple in Jerusalem was the high place for the Jewish people, so Easter is the high point of the Gospel. From here the Gospel spreads around the world. Jesus has risen from the tomb, and he raises us up from unbelief to faith, from death to everlasting life.Faith in the risen Christ draws people--not only to see things from this Easter point of view, but to see things with our fellow Christians. The risen Lord creates a new family of those who believe in him. The Gospel flows down freely from the summit of Easter and makes one family in Christ. Easter unites Christians around the world. Standing on this high place, we become one in faith, hope and love. According to the New Interpreter's Bible, the word "kindred" (which may also be translated "brothers") does not mean blood relatives, but a people joined by God's grace1.

What is all the liquid about? The high priest's hair was saturated with oil (Exodus 29:7), signifying his total consecration to God. Mount “Hermon” (v. 3, west of Damascus) receives copious rain; for Jerusalem (“Zion”) to receive as much would be true abundance. From Chris Haslam Revised Common Lectionary Commentary

More from Nancy Koester; In our times of conflict and economic distress, Psalm 133 is like water on parched ground. People who are divided and estranged from one another need God's call to "live together in unity." For them, this Psalm offers hope and the promise of kinship in Christ. And people suffer scarcity in everything from food and housing, to justice and love. The message: God loves us abundantly and holds nothing back.Easter is like the oil of blessing, bringing people together in faith. Easter is like the dew of Mount Hermon, flowing with abundant life.

Quotes and illustrations from the African American Lectionary
“There is a difference between unity and uniformity. Dwelling together in unity does not mean that we are rubber-stamped into a similar form. The church is not to be involved in cookie cutter Christianity. Christian unity is not brought about by mechanical restrictions and regulations. Christian unity is a heart union of believers ready to work together for the purpose of glorifying God and furthering the work of his kingdom.”

-Raymond E. Brown The Unity and Diversity in New Testament Ecclesiology
“Unity is the need of the hour.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“When it was born in Jerusalem, the church was a fellowship. When it went to Greece, it became a philosophy. When it went to Rome, it became an institution. When it went to Europe, it became a culture. When it went to America it became an enterprise. How the Church needs to return to being a Fellowship again.”
-Lance D. Watson

During Vacation Bible School, a class was interrupted when a new student was brought in. The little boy had one arm missing, and the teacher was very nervous that one of the other children might comment on his handicap and embarrass him. As the class time came to a close, she asked the class to join her in their usual closing ceremony. “Let’s make our churches,” she said. “Here’s the church and here’s the steeple, open the doors and . . .” The awful truth of her own actions struck her. The very thing she had feared that the children would do, she had done. As she stood there speechless, the little girl sitting next to the boy reached over with her left hand and placed it up to his right hand and said, “Here, let’s make the church together.”
- Author Unknown

During Vacation Bible School, a class was interrupted when a new student was brought in. The little boy had one arm missing, and the teacher was very nervous that one of the other children might comment on his handicap and embarrass him. As the class time came to a close, she asked the class to join her in their usual closing ceremony. “Let’s make our churches,” she said. “Here’s the church and here’s the steeple, open the doors and . . .” The awful truth of her own actions struck her. The very thing she had feared that the children would do, she had done. As she stood there speechless, the little girl sitting next to the boy reached over with her left hand and placed it up to his right hand and said, “Here, let’s make the church together.”
- Author Unknown

I heard a story about a visitor to a mental hospital for the criminally insane. The visitor was shocked to see that only 3 guards were supervising more than 100 dangerous inmates. He asked the guide, “Don’t you fear these people will plot an escape and overpower the guards?” “Don’t worry about that,” The guard assured him. “Lunatics never unite.”
- Author Unknown

“Unity, rather than majority is the principle of corporate guidance. More than mere agreement, it is the perception that we have heard the voice of God. We do not seek compromise, but God-given consensus.”
-Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

Easter 2B, Acts 4:32-37

2009-04-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

-Karl Barth once said the following: The Christian community is the Easter community. Our preaching is Easter preaching, Our hymns are Easter hymns,Our faith is an Easter faith. When you read the Acts passage for the lectionary this Sunday, you get the feeling he was basing what he said on this very passage.

Acts 4:32-37 32Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). 37He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

How far we have come from those early days of the Christian Community. Dan Clendenin reminds us of the findings in the book the UnChristian, which is a must read for all of us. David Kinnaman of the Barna Group presents statistical research and extensive interviews from a three-year study that document how an overwhelming percentage of sixteen to twenty-nine year olds view Christians with hostility, resentment and disdain.

broadly and deeply negative views of Christians aren't just superficial stereotypes with no basis in reality, says Kinnaman. Nor are the critics people who've had no contact with churches or Christians. It would be a tragic mistake, he argues, for believers to protest that outsider outrage at Christians is a misperception. Rather, it's based upon their real experiences with today's Christians.

According to Kinnaman's Barna study, here are the percentages of people outside the church who think that the following words describe present-day Christianity:
* antihomosexual 91%
* judgmental 87%
* hypocritical 85%
* old-fashioned 78%
* too political 75%
* out of touch with reality 72%
* insensitive to others 70%
* boring 68%
It would be hard to overestimate, says Kinnaman, "how firmly people reject — and feel rejected by — Christians" (19). Or think about it this way, he suggests: "When you introduce yourself as a Christian to a friend, neighbor, or business associate who is an outsider, you might as well have it tattooed on your arm: antihomosexual, gay-hater, homophobic. I doubt you think of yourself in these terms, but that's what outsiders think of you" (93).
Gabe Lyons of the Fermi Project who commissioned the Barna research remembers his first look at the data. "I'll never forget sitting in Starbucks, poring through the research results on my laptop. As I soaked it in, I glanced at the people around me and was overwhelmed with the thought that this is what they think of me. It was a sobering thought to know that if I had stood up and announced myself as a 'Christian' to the customers assembled in Starbucks that day, they would have associated me with every one of the negative perceptions described in this book" (222, his italics).
Acts 2:47 says they "enjoyed the favor of all the people". I don’t know that it matters that we enjoy the favor of all the people, because we know that the early church was persecuted and martyred as well. But I do believe that if we are living in Resurrection Faith and as Easter people the community is more of a community that it is now.

I think that you can not take this Acts passage out of chapter 4 and present it on its own standing. I think you have to read it in context. Peter and John were temporarily held for their preaching and then released. They come back to the group and report the events. They all then join in prayer. Read the prayer.
After they are through praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God's Word with fearless confidence. The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind!

This kind of community cannot be forced, cannot just come from NCD or doing what all the other famous so called successful churches are doing. This kind of community comes from the courageous leadership of the leaders, prayer, and most of all from God through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the members being willing to receive what God has for them. Then they can be of one heart, one mind, and one community.

Easter 2b Lectionary Discussion

2009-04-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

I missed preaching Easter Sunday, but I love what our preacher did on Easter Sunday. The title was Taking Mary's Part, it was great. I am not preaching this upcoming Sunday either. In fact I don't preach again until May. But if I were preaching this Sunday at Trinity it would be on the Gospel lesson. And it would be in C and C as this Sunday we have a guest preacher for Traditional. I was thinking this morning of the sermon series that my former Pastor, Creede Hinshaw from long ago did, called Easter People. I have always wanted to preach a series called Easter People.

Easter 2b Gospel passage is John 20:19-31. It begins with the disciples hiding out behind locked doors in fear of the Jews. It is the initial appearance of Jesus to them coming through those locked doors. His words to them; "Peace to you". After he has shown himself to them and their recognition, he tells them again, peace to you, but guess what you are now the ones being sent.
Not sure they got that right then and there. But for a dose of assurance he breathes on them the holy spirit so they can do the work of forgiveness in the world.

Well in comes Thomas later after Jesus appearance. He must have gone into deep hiding or something to not be with them. He doesn't believe them at all that they have seen Jesus, after all they have been behind locked doors. It isn't until eight days later that they are all together again, and Jesus makes his second appearance. This time Thomas believes after some persuading from Jesus.

Jesus then says those words to them; "you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."

And so the question comes; How to preach this passage? You can take the approach of the doubts we have, but doubt is not a word used here in the passage. Richard Carlson at WorkingPreaching.org points out that actually Thomas has a response that is conditional using the words "if"..."then". He then goes on to ask and say: How often do we approach our faith relationship as a legal contract in which we seek to establish the terms by which we will respond with faith? "If I have historical proof...If I have a sign...If near-death experiences can verify...If God would do...If Jesus would cure...Then I will believe in Christ...Then I will know that God exists...Then I will know that there is life after death...Then I will make a commitment of faith."

Frederick Buechner wrote in the sermon, "The Seeing Heart," on this text. We've all heard Thomas called "the Doubter," but Buechner focuses on his other name, "the Twin." He confesses that "if you want to know who the other twin is, I can tell you. I am the other twin, and unless I miss my guess, so are you."

You know it would be easy to judge the disciples who hid away in that room behind locked doors led by their fears. It would be easy to smirk at Thomas as well. But I am thankful they decided to come out from behind those locked doors and fears and get about the business of being sent into the world empowered by the breath of the Holy Spirit. But what has happened that we now are the ones seemingly locked behind the doors of the church building or behind our fears? What has happened to our being sent into the world? When did we stop going and started staying behind locked doors? What will it take to get us out again?

prayer for Fifth Sunday of Lent

2009-03-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Merciful God,
Have mercy on our souls,
according to your unwavering love;
according to your abundant mercy
wipe away our sins and the guilt we have carried for so long.

Instead write on our hearts your love
Your boundaries for our lives
Your salvation that sets us free from our sins.
To live the abundant life you have for each of us.

Lord we would see Jesus,
We would love Jesus,
We would follow Jesus
We would serve Jesus.

Lord,
Create in us clean hearts,
Renew your spirit within us.
Do not turn us away from your presence,
do not take your holy spirit from us.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in us a willing spirit.
Write on our hearts, your love O God,
Amen

cross posted at revgalprayer pals and revabi's long and winding road.

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Lent

2009-03-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

Gracious and Compassionate God,
As we journey through our time of Lent
Our time in deserts and low places
Our time on the mountains and high places
We continue to seek you.

We need you more than ever
in our busyness
our loneliness
our sadness
our depression
our anger
our happiness
our joy
our excitement

We need
your presence
your compassion
your grace
your comfort
your renewal
your healing
your peace
your joy
your love
your salvation

Lord we arereminded that
all this is embodied
in your son Jesus
in his life
his death
and his resurrection

and that all
this was freely given
that we may have
abundant life
eternal life
fullness of life
freed lives
loved lives
loving lives
grace giving lives

Come Lord
pour your mercy and grace and love and salvation over us
And for these gifts from you we are grateful. Amen
cross posted at rev abi's long and winding road

Prayer for Third Sunday of lent

2009-03-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

Creator God, we listen as the heavens declare your glory,
We seek to likewise sing of you r glory.

And yet sometimes our word s fall short.
Our very actions cause us to fall on our face.

Lord even if we appear foolish to the world
Let us proclaim Christ crucified.

May we burn with zeal for you,
That we let nothing get in our way of telling others out Jesus

Lord let your presence be in us, around us
breathing new life into us,
so that we may do this work you have called us to

Now let the words of our mouths
and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you,
O LORD, our rock and our redeemer.

cross posted at revgalblogpals and rev abi's long and winding road.

Prayer for Second Sunday in Lent

2009-03-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

Oh, God of love, power and faithfulness,
We journey with your son,
ever closer to Jerusalem,
to his cross his true destiny.

We hear his words
“Take up your cross and follow me,”
but we aren’t sure if it’s the crosses of this life,
or the actual cross of death.

We hear his words,
“deny your self,”
and wonder which self it is;
the self we put on for others,
or the self centered self
that wants it all for ourselves?

Whichever it is,
it seems like Jesus
sure is asking a lot of us
and we aren’t sure we can do this.

God we will need your holy spirit
to be able to do this.
God we will need your grace and mercy
to be able to do this.

We remember
that you empowered your disciples,
the early Christians
and others who decided to follow you,
we believe that you will do likewise for us. Amen.

cross posted at rev abi's long and winding road and revgalblogpals

Prayer for the First Sunday in Lent

2009-02-28T22:32:00.001-08:00

God,
As we take this journey
That draws us ever closer to you
Walk with us
Sustain us,
Nurture us.

God, as we go through
The wilderness of lent and of our lives,
Send your manna to us,
give us wisdom to turn from temptation
And your grace to turn to.

God, as we walk through the pot holes of life,
The valleys, the pits of life,
Guide us with your hand
Keep our feet steady,
And our vision on you.

God, whether we choose to give up something for lent
Or do something positive,
Let us not do it out of obligation
Or the tyranny of oughtness,
But out of love for you.

Keep us in your paths of love, mercy and grace.
Lord help us to remember we are not alone
but that we are walking with our fellow/sister travelers .

Lectionary Discussion of Epiphany 5b

2009-02-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

Here are the scriptures, some key verses to them and then thoughts.

Isaiah 40:21-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
When I was in college and seminary, these verses sustained me through those long weary days and nights of studying. I suppose they have been sustaining verses for others as well. How might your people need to be sustained these days? The immeasurable greatness and power of God

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 6 The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground. but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Compassion for the neediest. What kind of compassion, do your people need? What is their need? What steadfast love do they need?

1 Corinthians 9:16-23 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. The expanding reach of the gospel. This too shows the inclusiveness of the Gospel and the early church.
This passage is fitting for these days because we are having to proclaim the gospel in a multicultural, muti-religious, mult-iphilosophies world. How do we do that? How doe we become all things to all people that I might by all means save some? How? The expanding reach of the gospel.

Mark 1:29-39 He 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 out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do."

There are three focuses I just chose to point out in the verses. In our church it is UMW Sunday and I am going to focus on Jesus healing her and that she began to serve. That Jesus after prayer was clear about going to neighboring towns to proclaim the message and that is what they did. Jesus the miracle-worker; power without limits . This shows the inclusiveness of the Gospel and Jesus’ ministry. Here Jesus again reaches across the barriers of his day to heal someone, to preach the good news.

So what are you preaching on this Sunday? How are you preaching these passages or any of the passages you are preaching on.

Prayer for Epiphany 3B

2009-01-24T22:12:00.000-08:00

Almighty Compassionate God,
You care for all your peoples, whether they are here around us or in far off places, you care enough to call people to bring the good news to them.

You care about our country during these tough economic times, and times of transition to a new president and his cabinet.
You care about countries like Gaza, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan who have deeper problems and needs than we do.

You care about those who are sick, in pain, in the hospital, home bound and in nursing homes, your compassion extends to them.
You care about those who carry heavy burdens, broken hearts, grieving, lonely and anxious, your compassion extends to them as well.

You care for the great number of people losing their jobs, losing their homes, losing their bank accounts as well as those who have had none of those for a long time.

You care for those of us who answered your call to preach your word, teach your word, Pastor your flock, and lead in songs of praise, your compassion extends to us as well.

Lord we thank you for your compassion, your care, your mercy and the good news of your son Jesus Christ. Amen

Prayer for the 2nd Sunday of Epiphany

2009-01-18T00:23:00.000-08:00

Beloved God,
You know us inside and out and you still call us to serve you.
Lord, honestly we are often hesitant, afraid, and wish to remain hidden.
Empower us to listen for and to hear your call
Empower us to answer your call with “Here I am Lord”
Empower us to follow you when you call us to follow you.

Lord of mercy and justice,
So many have gone before us working to bring
Justice and peace to our country and our world.
Their footsteps seem to big to step into to continue the work you have called us all to;
so we hesitantly step one step at a time, bringing your seeds of hope, justice and peace in a world crying out for them.

Lord of hope,
We pray for our country, our leaders and especially our new president as he is inaugurated into leading our country in tumultuous times. We pray for healing of our country, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace.

Lord of peace,
We pray for your compassion and healing for those individuals in our congregation who need it. We pray for your comfort and presence for those who are grieving lonely and oppressed. We pray for warmth, shelter, clothing and food for those who are without.

Lord we say to you this day,
“Here we are your servants willing to preach your word, offer care where care is needed, presence where presence is needed, your and love where your love is needed.”
Lord, strengthen us for our ministry today and everyday.
In the name of the Father, son and the Holy spirit amen.

cross posted at rev abi's long and winding journey

Prayer for the First Sunday after Epiphany, Year B

2009-01-11T03:51:00.000-08:00

Creator God,
Your creation story is told again and again with each person’s baptism.
Your invitation to be part of the body of Christ is offered anew at each baptism.
Your claim on your children, that they are your beloved is told at each baptism.

Spark our memories of our baptism and your claim on our life.
Spark our desires to be part of the body of Christ.

Lord our world is angry, sad and confused with the battles in the Mid East, the Drug wars in Mexico, the economic woes, and the pain and suffering of your little ones all around the world.
We see the damage to your beautiful creation.
We see the destruction by natural disasters.
And we wonder how long?
We feel unsafe and insecure.

Lord in those times,
Spark us to remember our baptism.
Spark us to remember that it is in you that we are truly safe,
truly secure and that it doesn’t matter how long.
In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Ephiphany/Christmas 2 Sunday Prayer

2009-01-04T00:52:00.000-08:00

God of Time and Space,
You are not bound by calendars, day timers, PDA’s and watches,
teach us to not be bound by them either.
God of the stars, the heavens, the planets and their orbits,
you sent a star to guide the magi on their journey to the Christ Child,
Send your star to guide us on journeys of faith.
God of Creation, your word spoke creation into being,
you sent your son as the light into a world of darkness,
God may your word still speak to us today,
May your son still be the light in our worlds of darkness.

God our dark world is a hotbed of fighting, pollution, starvation, and homelessness.
Teach to once again be stewards of your earth.
Bring forth you peace in the midst of the battles.
May there be plenty for those who are starving.
May there be homes for those without homes.
And just as the Magi brought gifts to the Christ Child
may we bring gifts to the Christ Child again. Amen

cross posted at my regular blog

Lectionary Discussion for Jan 4, 09 Epiphany Sunday

2008-12-30T14:57:00.001-08:00

Hi friends, sorry, I am a little late. I have been enjoying my family here in Florida. I hope that this is a good New Year for everyone.
Here are the scriptures for Epiphany Sunday, Jan 6, 2009;
Isaiah 60:1-6 Arise, shine; for your light has come. I learned this verse as a GA in the Baptist Church. How then shall we arise and shine? What is this light we are to shine in the world of darkness? Isaiah saw it that the Lord would come upon you and then Nations as well as Kings would come to you. What is this darkness the light shines into? Is it not time for us to rise and shine and give God the glory? What would that look like in your church? What would happen in your community?
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (UMH 795) A Psalm of Justice from God.
Ephesians 3:1-12 Paul tells why he is a prisoner for Christ. He tells them the mystery that is now made known, that Gentiles are now fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Paul goes further to say he is a servant of this Gospel and the least of saints. He says he is all this to bring the good news to the Gentiles boldly for Christ. What happened that we decided to make the mystery ours and exclude the Gentiles? What happened that we stop boldly telling the Gentiles the good news? Is that how we lost our boldness, and instead of being a prisoner for Christ we a prisoner of ourselves? How can your people be freed to boldly share the good news that the gospel is for all people? Who are the Gentiles in your community?
· Matthew 2:1-12 The three wise men come who have seen a star and are following it. The stop for directions from Herod, got the directions to Bethlehem of Judea, and went on their way. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. What can we say that hasn’t been said about this passage? Where will your focus be? Following a star from afar even to its end? Worshiping the child? Home by another way? The Herods in our world today? Being overwhelmed with joy? The wise men from the East as seekers? The gifts they brought? The prophesy fulfilled?
A little about Epiphany:
The Epiphany is one of the oldest feast-days in the Christian Church. It was first celebrated in the Eastern Church to commemorate the manifestation of Christ to the World. We commonly use the word epiphany to describe a revelation or an "aha" moment. The word epiphany has Greek origins, and it originally meant appearance or manifestation. The feast of Epiphany is associated with the visit of the wise men from the east who have come to Judea in search of the new born king of the Jews. They have observed his star or portent at its rising. His coming has been ‘revealed’ to them, and in the star light has literally shone forth. We can, therefore, see why this passage is set for Epiphany. There is no little irony and revelation, however, in the fact that when we get to the story of the crucifixion at the end of Matthew’s Gospel we will hear of the sign ‘This is Jesus, the king of the Jews’ placed over Jesus’ head on the cross (Matt. 27:37). Epiphany is an unfamiliar word to many of us -- even to many Christians. Here are some phrases that may help it to make more sense:
a revealing of the presence of God;
the light of God radiating outward and inward;
a gift, a reminder that God is here.

Lectionary Discussion for Dec 28, 08 Christmas B1

2008-12-30T14:55:00.000-08:00

Christmas B1December 28, 2008First Sunday after Christmas Day one of the “low” Sundays of the Christian year. But it is also the First Sunday in the Christmas season. This puts us in a different place than those around us, what does it mean to live in the incarnation, the Christmas season? What is it that our members need to hear to be able to live as Christmas Christians? And what is it that we have to say to the those who don't know what this means? What is it that they need from our preaching?Isaiah 61:10-62:3 The prophet speaks not only of the restoration of Jerusalem , but of its "vindication" that "shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch." Isaiah presents a holistic vision of salvation or shalom.
Safiyah Fosua at Preaching Helps, www.umcworship.org, offers this: "The worst was over and better days were ahead. The words of this hymn in Isaiah are a reminder to the forlorn and bedraggled that even the worst trials eventually end. On this Sunday after Christmas, invite both those who have narrowly escaped ruin AND those who are in the midst of troubling times to reaffirm that God keeps promises and does not abandon us." Psalm 148 (UMH 861) All the orders of creation join in praise to GodGalatians 4:4-7 God's adoption of non-Jewish believers as children makes us God's children and — indeed — heirs to the promises of God's covenant. Consequently, as adopted sons and daughters, we do what children do (call their father Abba—"Daddy" for instance or “Amma! Mother!” ) and receive what children receive: blessing and inheritance.Luke 2:22-40 Luke describes the song (Simeon) and the prophecy (Anna) that accompany the presentation of Jesus at the temple at the time of his family's offering of the sacrifice for the firstborn.
Anne Osdieck of the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University asks the following question: “–and you yourself a sword will pierce – so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” What does Simeon’s statement to Mary mean to you?
This is a message to our older people who have been faithful that they are still useful in God's Kingdom, and that when they see God that they too can have a vision and be prophetic like Simeon and Anna. (Whoa, does that mean us?)
This is a message to our families about how important all we do and what we make important in our lives effects our children's. I met a family Sunday morning that I thought were visitors, turned out they had been members for 16 years. Why were they there, well Travel Soccer wasn't traveling and playing during the holidays. Travel Soccer had become their priority and well their temple. I can understand in this day and age when people are trying to get scholarships for their kids and competition is great that parents feel like they have to do all they can to get those few scholarships. However, I wonder what we are teaching our children about the priority of Jesus in our lives. So when we look at this very poor couple who take their kid to the temple to do the customary ritual, we see where their priority lies. And for that they receive blessings beyond compare.

Let us know what it is you are preaching on and focusing on? Thoughts and ideas?
Or maybe you aren't preaching at all or taking time off, let us know. Or maybe you are the lowly Associate Pastor preaching this Sunday after the big crowds for Christmas Eve, let us know.
And Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I am taking some time off from Christmas day to the New Years.

Lectionary Discussion for Christmas Eve 08

2008-12-30T14:54:00.000-08:00

Well friends, you made it through the fourth Sunday of Advent now comes;
Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7Psalm 96 (UMH 815)Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-20

Isaiah 9:2-7 Isaiah speaks of new hope to come in his own day for the war-torn regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, the heart of Galilee , which became the center of the ministry of Jesus. The prophecy concludes with the now-famous words: "For a child has been born for us, a son given for us: titles given to the coming child: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. This child will usher in justice and righteousness "from this time forward and for evermore" (v. 7). This is the child born in a stable. Last week John spoke of the light coming, and now this light has come into the darkness of the world. Psalm 96 (UMH 815) A psalm of jubilant praise for the glorious reign of God!Titus 2:11-14 The grace of God has appeared in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God's grace in Christ continues to cleanse and free us from the power of sin the Titus passage tells us is that God acted by giving us a gift in Jesus Christ, "bringing salvation to all," and that the appropriate response to such an act is "to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly" (2:11, 12).Luke 2:1-20 "The Christmas Gospel" or “The Christmas Story”. Jesus is born, angels announce this to shepherds, and Mary ponders the message of the shepherds in her heart. What is the biggest challenge for you in preaching this all familiar passage on Christmas Eve? Possible focus; Who the message came to and how we are like or different from them? How would we (will we) have responded to the angel's message? Would we (Will we) have gone on to Bethlehem to find the baby? Would we (will we) spread the good news? Where is our joy this Christmas Eve? You could also focus on verse 10 "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. How is we are afraid, and how can we not be afraid? How is it that we are afraid when it involves the holy? Or you could focus on 14b "on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Or you could focus on Mary's response in verse 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Most want to hear the Luke passage and story, you could have that read along with whatever passage you choose to be the focus of your preaching. So let us hear from you about Christmas Eve preaching and Communion.

Tomorrow I'll introduce the passages for Sunday.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Lectionary Discussion for Dec 21, 2008

2008-12-30T14:53:00.000-08:00

We are almost there, if you can just hang in there, we will all make it together.
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Advent:
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16Luke 1:47-55 (UMH 199)Romans 16:25-27Luke 1:26-38

And then you turn around and have Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7Psalm 96 (UMH 815)Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-20

And then you turn around and have
December 28, 2008First Sunday after Christmas DayIsaiah 61:10-62:3Psalm 148 (UMH 861)Galatians 4:4-7Luke 2:22-40

I sincerely hope you then take some time off.
Right now let’s focus on this Sunday’s passages:

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Nathan brings good news and a reality check to David. The good news: God intends to establish David's lineage permanently, although conditionally. The reality: God has been present with God's people by being in their midst as they have traveled and has no need for David to build a temple. How does this passage speak to us today? What does it say to us who have built fine churches, permanent places of worship that now we can barely afford to maintain? What would it be like if we worshiped this homeless, wandering God instead of this “domesticated God” we have made for ourselves? After all whatever church we building we are in, its God’s not ours.
Luke 1:47-55 (UMH 199) The Song of Mary. It is a song of praise, humility, prophesy and justice. Is it not a song we need to hear today? And how can this become more than just a song, but a reality? Romans 16:25-27 A concluding doxology to the God who can strengthen us all. A word that many need to hear; not our strength, but God’s strength. What would happen if all people believed that the message of God’s saving plan is for “all nations”?
Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will become pregnant by God and bear the Son of the Most High whose throne will be eternal. She consents. Would we say yes? Would say that "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."? I fear that we women have said yes, and are paying the price for saying yes, while we serve congregations filled with people just punching their ticket and unwilling to say yes. What could God do for the wounded, the disenfranchised, and the needy world in the world through your hands? Who is the unlikely one that God would use in your church? What is God doing in your midst? Do we believe this; For nothing is impossible with God?

So what passage are you preaching this Sunday? What will be your focus? What are your thoughts on these passages or the ones you are using? I am not preaching this Sunday and would be interested in your thoughts.

Lectionary Discussion for Dec 14, 2008

2008-12-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

December 14, 2008 Third Sunday of Advent (Purple or Blue) Gaudete Sunday

The scripture readings are found at Vanderbilt Divinity Library
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 This passage makes me wish I was preaching from the Old Testament this Advent. What a powerful passage; 1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news. Every verse is rich with what this good news is. Jesus Christ used the words of Isaiah 61:1 and 2 when he publicly claimed his calling in Luke 4:18-19 of the New Testament. Jesus stopped short of declaring the day of God's vengeance. IN its original context it is written to the dashed hopes of the earliest returnees from the Babylonian Exile. They return only to find all is not well nor how they dream it would be.
Verse 3 says They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. How are we oaks of Righteousness? What would an Oak of Righteousness look like?
Verse 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. So how has your church built itself up? How have they rose up from the former devastations and repaired itself? How is this a message of hope for us today?
Verse 8 For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; If the Lord loves justice do we and if we don’t why not and what will it take? And if the Lord hates robbery and wrong doing, do we and if don’t why not? How does this verse fit the present day situation? How do we need to hear this again and again?
Dr. Robert Linthicum, Partners in Urban Transformation writes the following; In other words, the prophet who is sent by God (in fact, even the Messiah) would come to the people both with the good news that jubilee was to be reinstated and practiced in Israel, but also to make it happen by his spiritual, political and economic intervention in the land. It would be the Man who would proclaim liberation and organize the people to deal with their spiritual and physical poverty and powerlessness. But they would do it themselves! It would be the people who would take charge of their situation, rebuild their walls, repair their ruined cities, and bloom where they were planted by God. The people would empower themselves. But they would never have empowered themselves, if there were not One to come to them and declare, “Let us rebuild!”

Psalm 126 (UMH 847) A Psalm celebrating the restoration of the fortunes of Zion by God and the joy that followed. I like this in verse 1; “we were like those who dream.” Do you still dream, does your church, what is your dreams? Verse 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; "The LORD has done great things for them." So how are our mouths filled with laughter and shouts of joy? What great things has God done for you and for your church?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 16 Rejoice always is the beginning words of this selection from Thessalonians. Paul promises that with the coming Parousia, God will keep them and protect them, but that there were some things they were to do as faithful. The believers' task is to direct their energies towards the holiness God offers and enables. This includes always rejoicing, praying constantly, giving thanks in all things, not suppressing the spirit, not despising prophesying, holding fast to what is good and abstaining from every form of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely. Has the God of peace sanctified you? Do you know this God of peace? What kind of peace is this? Is this peace the world needs? 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. How has God been faithful in your life? Do you believe that he will do this that Paul talks about?

John 1:6-8, 19-28 Here comes John again; 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. Everybody wants to know who he is and assume he is someone else. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. How are we to be the witnesses to light these days? How is it that the world needs this light these days? The leaders were bothered by John’s baptism since he wasn’t who they thought he was? How does that get played out nowadays? Where does Baptism fit into Advent? Where does it speak to the light and to the darkness of our lives and world?
Bruce G. Epperly at Process and Faith Lectionary says the following: In Advent, we recognize both our witness to the light that has come and to the light that will come. As light bearers, we need to ask: How do we personally live our witness to the light? Do we hide our witness or will we let it shine in ways that bring justice and transformation in our communities, families, nation, and daily relationships? Advent spirituality calls us to see all of life as vocational. The challenge for Advent is to look beyond the limitations of life and our fears for the future in order to imagine along with God new possibilities and then live out these possibilities in practices and actions that will, one step at a time, transform us and our world. Where will God call us next? Toward what Advent adventures is the spirit leading us? Where are we being “anointed” to do great things for God and the world?

The joyful Sunday in Advent (known as "Gaudete") is represented by rose (or pink) instead of the penitential purple color. Gaudete is the imperative plural form of the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice). It is a command ordering us to rejoice! In these days of penance and preparation leading up to the feast of our Savior's birth, it reminds us of the joy that is to come, and serves, amid this season of penance, as a kind of 'break' when we recall the hope we have because of the coming of Jesus.

Lectionary Discussion for Dec 7, 2008

2008-12-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

December 7, 2008 Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 40:1-11 1. Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. You may have some people who need to hear this word of Comfort, and being spoken tenderly to that her sins have be paid. On the other hand, your people may need to also hear, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. How are we to do this? How have we not been doing this? What valley needs to be lifted up? What mountain and hill made low? What uneven ground made level? And what rough place made plain? And how will this be done with Jesus coming? The word of our God will stand forever. We are heralds of good tidings; and we need to lift up our voice with strength to declare "Here is your God!" The prophet offers a balm for the festering wounds of exile. What wounds in your church, your area, our state, our country our world needs this balm?

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (UMH 806) What a beautiful Psalm speaking of the favorable work of God in his Land. This is a motif of restoration, by God.

2 Peter 3:8-15a 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. Isn’t this the good news? 10a The day of the Lord will come like a thief. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness? Here is how you are to wait. 14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15a and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. The gift and the demand. We are people of promise, but do we act and live like we are?
Mark 1:1-8 1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. No babies, mangers, Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds or wise men. Mark has an unusual way of beginning the good news of Jesus Christ. And on top of that he begins with John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He is the one preparing the way of the Lord. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. What a strange person to prepare the way of the Lord and to begin your Gospel with. Would you follow this person and be baptized by him? 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." What a powerful thing to say for John about Jesus. How many of us would be wanting to claim the spotlight? How may of us would be willing to be the one’s preparing the way for the Lord, and even admit we are not worthy to stoop and untie the thongs on his sandals? And how does the message of repentance fit today’s world and people?
So this is a beginning a new place to start, a new birth, how is it your people need a new beginning? How are your people preparing for this beginning, advent, birth of Jesus, his coming into our lives?

And so what are your thoughts for this Sunday? What are your preaching? What are the texts saying to you?

picture a path in the desert to Kilimanjaro

1st Sunday in Advent Prayer

2008-11-30T00:39:00.000-08:00

Dear God,
Thank you for the time spent with families and friends over this holiday.
We begin today this journey of Advent with anticipation and hope.
We anticipate your coming today in our lives.
We anticipate the celebration of your birth.
We anticipate your coming again.
We hope for your presence in our lives today.
We hope for new beginnings.
We hope for healing in our lives.

Lord, our world cries out for hope and yet does not know where to look for that hope.
So Lord we cry out to you for the hopeless of the world.
We cry out to you for those who are in despair.
We cry out to you for those who are desperate.

Our hearts ache with yours Lord, when violence occurs and lives are lost.
We pray for those who mourn the loss of lives in Mumbai India.
We pray for the WalMart worker killed in the stampede of people on Friday.
We pray for those who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances.
And Lord as we observe World’s Aid Day, we pray for those who are still affected by Aids.

Lord we pray for your coming again that it may be soon for you are the hope of this world.
Amen.

Lectionary Discussion for Sunday, Nov 30

2008-11-24T12:42:00.000-08:00

November 30, 2008 Advent 1

Advent 1 begins with Graphic images from Mark and Isaiah. Maybe it does that as a way of saying for us as believers, its all different how this Christmas thing is done. These scriptures really speak to us a word of hope in a time of economic crisis, climate change, continued terror, and uncertainty. At the same time, your church members have already done some shopping and heard the Christmas carols via Muzak and wonder why in the world are we focusing on these passages?

Mark 13:24-37

Here are some of the graphic images from Mark, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' From the fig tree learn its lesson. We are tolo watch and keep awake three times. And there is a promise in this. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Everything we unwrap at Christmas will not last. All that pretty wrapping paper piled in heap for the trash man to pick up, no matter how hard we worked at wrapping that present. But Jesus words will never pass away.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Paul talks to the church in Corinth that in every way they have been enriched in him so that they are not lacking in any spiritual gift as they wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen them to the end, so that they may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him they were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. According to Paul we lack nothing, and yet if we listen to the ads we lack everything and if we just had this one more item, bigger house, certain car we would have it all (but actually still want more.) Watch the ads this time of year, how does it lead us to believe that we don’t have enough, and then that effect our relationship with God, our families, one another?

Isaiah 64:1-9

Here are some of the graphic images from Isaiah: O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence--
2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil. the prophet invokes the ancient image of the Lord as the cosmic, divine warrior who, according to Israel's collective memory, has victoriously 'come down' to Israel's aid. With a tone of desperation, the prophet implores the Lord to act likewise in the prophet's here and now. “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people." (64:8-9) People on wall street, those working for the banks and mortgage companies may be praying that the heavens would tear open and they would be rescued somehow or another from the awful financial shape they are in. What would happen if during this Advent season if our prayer was; You are the potter, we are clay, we are all work of your hand, mold me and make me….”? How would Christians then impact the world if that came true? What would our churches look like? Our families? Ourselves? How would we celebrate the season?

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

A Psalm asking for God to come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

As your read these passages, what do you hear God saying? What do they say about advent? What do they say to your congregation? Yourself? How will you preach them?

Let us hear from you.

Prayer for Christ the King Sunday

2008-11-23T00:44:00.000-08:00

Merciful God, thank you for your son, who came to be our savior and Lord. We celebrate His Kingship; even though for some of us who have no King it is hard to understand what that means. God they nailed on Jesus cross the words calling him the King of the Jews. It was a joke. Lord let it not be a joke to us now. Your son, seems to be a different kind of King, he is the one who came to serve and not be served like so many earthly rulers. He still comes to us in faces, places, situations, and people that we would not recognize. And forgive us Lord because we do miss your son, and we don’t have eyes to see. Forgive us when we discount your children who are the least, the lost, the imprisoned, the sick, the stranger, the unclothed, the hungry, and the thirsty. Forgive us when we don’t serve them just as you serve us.
Lord we take time to remember the firefighters who are fighting the fires in Southern California, and those who have lost homes to the fires. We pray For world leaders who have come together to deal with the global financial crisis. We pray for all who are losing their jobs during this down turn. We pray for wisdom for our country leaders having to find ways to deal with the downturn. We pray for the continued problems in the Congo. We pray for the people of Zimbabwe who are faced with an outbreak of deaths brought on by cholera. We pray for the disease and unrest in the Mideast. We pray for peace. We pray for our President Elect as he prepares himself for taking office, brings on his cabinet and other government workers.

God today as we enter our places of worship to lead your children in worship speak the words through us that your children need to hear, including ourselves. Lord, pour your holy spirit into us that we will be servant of you with love and grace. Lord we worship and adore you. Amen.

Lectionary Discussion for Sunday, November 23

2008-11-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Ezekiel writes about God seeking out his sheep, those lost, the weakened ones, the scattered, and those needing rescuing. In verse 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. He goes on to say how he will then heal them, take care of them, make sure they have good grazing area, and strengthen the weak. But then he speaks a note of judgment for the fat sheep, who have abused the weak ones, and who forced the scattering. We like hearing the news of God being the shepherd; it reminds us of Psalm 23. We won't and don't like hearing the news of judgment, because it us who are the ones being judged. Yep, we are the fat sheep. How will you preach this good news of grace and judgment? How can we be the ones who God works through to bind up the wounded, feed the hungry ones, and strengthen the weak?

Psalm 100 (UMH 821) A joyful Psalm of praise to God.

Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul starts with a note of thanksgiving for the Christians in Ephesus for their faith, and their love of the saints. He then prays for them that God will give them wisdom, revelation, and enlightened heart to all that is there in the relationship with Jesus. He then makes a statement about Christ being the King. So you can preach on what it means that Christ is your King, and what hope, what riches we have because of this. But what does it mean that we don't have Christ as our King? I like what Paul says in verse 18 and 19 you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. Wow we live in a world that feels hopeless with the economic situation; all that people have invested their money, their time, their selves in has left them empty and hopeless. We have that hope to offer this world. How can we offer it to this world? How can we offer Christ to others? How will you preach this good news?

Matthew 25:31-46 Ah the separation of the sheep from the goat by Christ the King. But which one are we? And how is this a message of judgment on us? And how will you then preach this? How many times have we missed Jesus in our lives? How did we do that? How do we keep doing that? How can we stop doing that? One year I preached this and came up with the idea that I was really a Shoat or a Geep, a combination of the two. Isn't it interesting that in the Ezekiel passage the judgment is between sheep and sheep but here it is between sheep and goat. Safiyah Fousa at Preaching Helps says; "we do not believe in salvation through works of righteousness, it does seem to follow that God is very concerned about our responses to the myriad needs around us. In what ways can we, as individuals and as churches, respond more faithfully to the cries of the indigent, to the ever-increasing numbers of strangers and prisoners, and to those who are chronically ill?" If we were called upon today to define the least of our city, our neighborhood, who would they be and what would they need?
Be sure to read "Blogging toward Sunday at Christian Century written by Christian Coon, the pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Deerfield, Illinois. on this passage. Christian makes reference to the book by Sara Miles; Take this Bread about her journey from being raised as an atheist to becoming a Christian and starting a food pantry at her church.
A note on Christ the King Sunday preaching from Karoline Lewis, Assistant Professor of Preaching, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN; at Working Preacher: Approaching our mom or dad, we would say something like, "Mom, when I turn my head like this," (which was then demonstrated with great intent and vigor) "my neck hurts." The response was always, "Well, then don't turn your head like that." This is a logical answer, indeed, but frustrating for a child of eight-years-old or so. It may be the case that a similar conversation occurs in the minds of preachers for this Sunday. "When I try to preach Christ the King Sunday, my neck hurts." The answer may be something like the following, "Well, then don't preach Christ the King Sunday." The result of moving back and forth between text and liturgical context can indeed be a pain in the neck. We are given texts that are rich and unique on their own merits, yet in our efforts to preach the day we do not preach the text. Sometimes the chosen lens through which to read them can seem forced or even manipulative. We find ourselves searching for what Christ the King Sunday says about the text rather than what the text might say about what it means to claim Christ as King. On Sundays such as this, it is a good reminder that the sermon takes place within the context of a worship service. It may be best to let the rest of the hour preach Christ the King and not the sermon itself.
Bruce G. Epperly at the Process and Faith lectionary ask the following questions of us who are preaching; What are we to say about the celebration of the reign of Christ" or "Christ the king" in a pluralistic age? Are such global affirmations simply whistling in the dark in a world in which 1) the majority of the world is non-Christian; 2) fear for the future of the planet is ubiquitous; 3) some of the most vocal Christians also advocate USA imperialism, unrestricted capitalism, incarceration and deportation of undocumented residents, and discrimination against persons on the basis of sexual identity? If Christ is "king," where is Christ's kingdom? If Christ is Lord, where is Christ being followed in ways that are saving the planet and its peoples?

And isn't it interesting that Jesus who is King saved he came to serve all becomes the one served but unrecognized.

So what about you, what are preaching for Sunday? What are your thoughts on these passages? What gets your goat or your compassion for this Sunday?

Sunday prayer

2008-11-16T00:25:00.000-08:00

Merciful God, in the stillness of this morning, we come on bended knee, bended heart, and bended mind, yielding ourselves to you. We ask for your breath to be breathed on us as we prepare to go into your sanctuary to worship you.
We admit there are ways we sinned this week with word and deed and sometimes inaction, or carelessness. Forgive us we pray so that we can be freed from those chains to lift our hands in praise to you and to receive your grace and mercy.
God, we come before you not just for ourselves but for those of our congregations who are sick, suffering, home bound and in nursing homes. We pray for those carrying grief heavily around their hearts. We pray for those worried about their jobs, their homes, and their diminishing retirement income. We pray for our family members, and our friends.
We pray for our world that is at war, in starvation and in chaos. We pray for people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and others who are displaced by war. We pray for those who children died in the collapse of the schools in Haiti. We pray for all people that are in the midst of pain and struggle that you would be their salvation, their refuge and dwelling place. And we pray for the end to modern day slave trade. We also pray your wisdom for the world leaders who have come together to address the worldwide economic crisis.
Lord, today’s scripture reminds us that we have been given so much by you only to hide it, or squander it. Lord, help us to know how to put to use the resources that you have given us so that it yields greater value not for us, but for you. Help us to know how to lead our churches to not hide the resources you have given them either.
Thank you for Lord for your many gifts and resources you do give us. Thank you for your many blessings and for your tender mercies.
We pray all this and more through your son Jesus.

Lectionary discussion for Sunday, Nov 16th

2008-11-11T06:07:00.000-08:00

This week's lection:Ordinary Time/Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The lectionary scriptures found here.

Judges 4:1-7 During the period of Judges that ruled from the time of Joshua's death until King Saul. Joshua had warned them of apostasy and what did they do? They put their hand in the cookie jar anyway. Oh boy aren't we like that. Out of this arises the story of Judge Deborah. Calling her the wife of Lappidoth was another way of saying that she had a fiery spirit. There is not a lot known about her, although we know she judged and people came to her for her leadership. At this point of crisis with Israel in the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, Deborah took charge. She put together an army with Barak in charge of some and worked up a battle plan that had them working together to rescue the Israelites. Safiyah Fosua at Preaching Helps brings up the point about the cooperative work they had to get things done. You could address the connectional system or cooperating with each other in getting the church's ministry done or working with other ministries in the community. Ralph Klein at Working Pastor says that "Deborah is among the most prestigious female leaders in the Old Testament and her exemplary leadership may provide encouragement to lay and ordained female leaders in the church today." I think it could give encouragement to our children, our youth, our marginalized, and those maybe feeling a call into the ministry.There are two accounts of Deborah's battle, in chapter 4 and in chapter 5. The latter is written in archaic poetry that is probably one of the oldest documents in the Old Testament. There are several differences between the accounts as well. In the poem, Deborah is identified as a "mother" in Israel (5:7) Bruce Epperly at Process and Faith Commentary says "there is one nugget that is worth preserving—the visionary spirituality of Deborah. Despite the oppressor's power, Deborah was inspired by a vision of freedom. She first saw and then she proclaimed the military strength, residing among the Israelites, despite their subservient position. She claimed the vision of freedom and victory in a challenging time. She reminded them that God would provide them with opportunities to rebuild their society."
Psalm 123 or Psalm 76 (UMH 797) Psalm 123 is a Psalm calling for mercy from God for our contempt.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Paul continues his lessons on behavior as Christians in the period of waiting for Jesus' return. And he tells them not to worry, don't get caught up in all the prophecying, number games, and books written about the time of Jesus' return. Just live your lives as always ready and "let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation." He concludes with "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing." He tells them that we are destined for salvation and not wrath. We are to live as people of hope, faith and love, and yet how many of us do that? How many people outside the church are longing for that kind of hope, faith and love, and yet when they look at us that is not what they see. We are living in a time of economic uncertainty, that is having a ripple effect. How can these words be a light in the midst of this uncertainty?
Matthew 25:14-30 One of Jesus parable telling us what the Kingdom is like; "it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them." Jesus then proceeds to tell how then the property is divided up and entrusted "to each according to his ability. Then he went away." We are let in on how each one dealt with what is given them and we can see why the man chose each according to his ability. "After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them." The settling of accounts is quite unsettling to read; two get to enter into the joy of the master. One who is afraid of the owner's retribution hides it and does receive his retribution. Many a Pastor have used this as a stewardship sermon, and it might well be one. The question is stewardship of what then? Just our money? What about our membership vows we make, there is a many of our church members that aren't stewards of those at all or just one. Is this about risk taking? Is this about God trusting us? How will you preach this if you do preach this passage?Bruce G. Epperly says that "the heart of the parable is the challenge to faithfully and boldly explore and develop God's gifts in our lives. This scripture challenges persons and congregations to think big and live big. In light of God's abundant life, we are called to be spiritual visionaries who ground our visions in the transformation of daily personal and institutional life. What great thing is God calling you toward today? What vision of your congregation's future is luring your church forward? What limitations do we need to break out of both personally and congregationally in order to become God's partners in healing the world?"When I served the three point charge in Wadley and didn't have that many members, At each church I gave each member an envelop of money and challenged them to ask God what to do with that money and challenged them with this passage. Well one church combined their money and put in more money to help the poor in their community. In one church they all did a variety of things with the money but found ways to double the money for some ministry, or some need. I didn't have to invite them into the master's joy, they shared the joy they received from doing it. And many went on to continue doing things to grow a ministry. One church just could not figure out what to do and just returned the money given them. It was rather depressing. It wasn't long after that that church closed. There was no joy there.

So what are you preaching and what direction are you going in. Share your thoughts on the lectionary if you want or just share your thoughts in general.If you are preaching other passages, series, etc let us know.

I am not preaching this Sunday, I preached last Sunday and it was enough.Thank you all. I'll try to do better about posting these, I am sorry I got off track.

Sunday prayer

2008-11-09T09:49:00.001-08:00

Dear God, source of wisdom and truth. Grant us your wisdom to always be prepared for you coming today and everyday. We don’t know how or who or when that may be. But Lord, let us be ready, let us not be found unprepared and miss the joy of your presence.Lord we pray for ou President Elect and vice President elect, give them wisdom as well as they prepare to lead us during this financial crisis we are presently in.We pray also Lord, for the continued fighting and strife in our world. We pray for the countries that have been affected by this hurricane and those that are in the path. We pray for other parts of our world that are in times of crisis and need.We pray for wisdom as we gather in our various places of worship to worship you. We pray your spirit guides us who preach this Sunday, those who lead in worship, those who teach and those who greet. We pray that our minds, our hearts, and our souls be focused on you.And Lord we pray that you would come Lord Jesus, come and that we welcome you with open arms. Amen

World Communion Sunday and Proper 22A/Ordinary 27A/Pentecost +21 October 5, 2008

2008-09-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

I love World Communion Sunday. It invites the imagination of the worship committee, visually, liturgically and for singing. The preacher, however this week has some very difficult passages to pull together to preach on and tie in World Communion. Good luck to each of you. I would love to hear what all you all are doing.

Now on to those difficult passages:

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 The Ten Commandments are given; but don't forget those last passages that the people were afraid for God to speak to them and Moses told them to not be afraid for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin." Maybe we could use a little of the fear of God in our lives. Is it enough to have the ten commandments posted in our yard? On a wall somewhere?
Psalm 19 (UMH 750) I love this Psalm; "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork." If you don't preach on this, it is a good Psalm to read in the service.
Philippians 3:4b-14 3:7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 3:8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Would that we could say that. 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death. What would that look like for us as Christians, how would this fit into World Communion Sunday?

Matthew 21:33-46 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? 21:43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. How have we rejected Christ in our lives? How are we producing fruit and how are we not producing fruit? How are we the messengers today or the tenants?

What other questions and thoughts are rumbling through your thoughts as you prepare for Sunday's Sermon?

Sunday's Prayer (late edition)

2008-09-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Gracious God,
Thank you for this day.
Thank you for your presence in our lives.
Thank you for this day of worship and focus on you.
Thank you for your goodness to us.
Lord, forgive us when we take you for granted.
Forgive us when we take others for granted.
Forgive us when we take ourselves for granted.
Thank you for your forgiveness, may we live our lives as your forgiven people.
Lord we are grateful that our leaders care about the economic situation in our country, but Lord, can they go a little further than just Wall Street to Main Street to down the street to across the street and to those who make the street their home? Lord, may we do our part to make it so.
Amen

cross posted at my blog

Sunday Prayer

2008-09-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

Gracious God, today as we labor in your vineyard, your Kingdom, guide our work.
As we stand in the pulpit with all our labor for a sermon, may all that is said bring forth fruit.
May your vineyard flourish, may your Kingdom flourish.
May your spirit flow forth like water watering the land, may our souls be filled with your goodness, your mercy, your kindness.
Oh Lord we pray for our brothers and sisters
who were devastated by the power of hurricane Ike.
Oh Lord we pray for those who have lost their homes,
lost their jobs, lost their savings, in this economic crisis.
Lord, presently, life just doesn't seem fair.
Life seems precarious, and unsure.
Lord we turn to you to right the wrong, bring peace to war torn lives,
comfort to those who are in pain and suffering, and love to those who feel unloved.
Oh Lord the list goes on of the needs in this world.
How do we find the words, to say, except to turn to you our rock and our salvation.
And so Lord to you we turn and place our trust. Amen

Sunday prayer

2008-09-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

Merciful God, we ask that your loving kindness be showered on the communities of faith we serve. We ask that where there is conflict that there is ability to speak the truth in love. We ask where there are divisions that restoration would be brought about by the power of your love. Help us to be ministers of reconciliation in a world full of hate, pain and alienation. And keep on forgiving us, so that we might learn to forgive ourselves and in turn forgive others.

We pray also for those who have already been through the devastating power of hurricanes this season and those who are in the path of those to come. Amen.

Lectionary Discussion for Sunday, Sept. 7th

2008-09-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

I am sorry about not getting last week's lectionary done and blogged. I was at a conference where I thought I would have internet access, but didn't. Then when I got back I did not have a minute to spare. Remind me to next time ask one of you all to do it.
I also want to remind us to lift up in prayers those who have already been through the hurricanes. Then pray for those in the path of Hurricane Gustav.
I hope you have a good Monday off and be safe.

So here we go with the upcoming lectionary.
September 7, 2008
Ordinary Time/Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 12:1-14 The Passover. I wonder if we have become so accustomed to reading this from our Christian Tradition looking back with Christian eyes, what would it be like to put ourselves in this story when it happened? How will you address the deaths of the first borns?
The following comes from Worship Planning Helps of the GBOD :
"Whatever the origins of the rituals described here and elaborated over time in biblical and extra-biblical texts, our text for this week points in the direction of several emphases around this ritual and its meaning in the life of God's covenant people. The ritual described here unites families and neighbors, establishes a common meal, seeks and trusts in God's protection, and, above all, foreshadows God's intention to deliver and preserve God's people from oppression and the powers of death.

Which of these emphases do folks where you are need to focus on or to hear more about today? How are you or people among you or around you engaging in concrete practices to unite family groups and neighbors? Where are you facilitating in the sharing of common meals with neighbors? How are these meals functioning as signs of trust in God's protection and proclaiming God's intention to deliver from whatever forces of oppression and death you may be facing together?" Now these will preach!

Psalm 149:1 or Psalm 148 (UMH 861) Sing praises to the Lord I don't know about you, but singing praises to the Lord while preparing for war just makes me uncomfortable. At the same time this passage addresses justice issues.

Romans 13:8-14 How to live in the Love of Jesus Romans 13 continues the "house rules for Christian living" begun in Romans 12. The Romans and Matthew passage fit each other well. Verse 8 reads "Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." Has debt taking over your members lives; the debt of the country, the church's debt, and their personal debt? Is it coloring how they look at everything else, the way they think and live their lives? How will you address this so they can "love one another?"

Matthew 18:15-20 Dealing with conflict in the church And yet both of these passages may make it look like you are getting on to your members, and judging them. And maybe they need to hear some of this, but how will proclaim this to them? This passage deals with reconciliation. Perhaps in the larger context of a world in conflict the church has something to offer in the terms of reconciliation. What does it mean to bind and loose?
And again from worship planning by the GBOD:
"Where are the living examples of people and processes that follow what Jesus taught and trust in God's support for working through conflict where you are? Do you have mediators in your congregation? Persons involved with VORP (Victim Offender Reconciliation Process)? Diplomats? Arbitrators? Contract negotiators? Labor representatives involved in resolving disputes? How might you invite their input and participation in your worship planning team as you design worship for today?

To what degree do you have teaching and processes in place in your congregation to live out Jesus' teaching in this week's text? Who is teaching these principles? Who is reminding folks how to live them and of ways the congregation is ready to help that happen?

How does the celebration of Holy Communion where you are take seriously acts of reconciliation? How does the Peace work where you are? Is it just a greeting time? Or is it, as our ritual intends, an opportunity to seek peace or, at a minimum, declare an intention to seek peace with those with whom one may be in conflict?"

I also wonder if we can draw attention to the sacraments, the things we do in worship live out these scriptures?

Just my thoughts for this Sunday, what are yours? The questions are to help stimulate conversation and thinking. Perhaps you are focusing on something else or going a different way, let us know.

For Sunday's Lectionary, Aug 24

2008-08-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

Lectionary Discussion for upcoming Sunday

Matthew 16:13-20

Jesus asks the disciples what's the word on the street about him, and then puts it even closer to home, who do you say I am. Simon Peter gets it right, and Jesus blesses him with a new name, the rock, by saying that upon him will the church be built.

The Gospel of Matthew was written shortly after the failed Jewish revolt against Rome. In the wake of the destruction of the Temple and devastation of Jerusalem, God's promises to Israel were at stake.

Do members of your church know what the word is on the street about Jesus? About the church? About your church? Who do we say Jesus is? Who holds the keys of the church now? And what does that mean? How are we to use these keys? Are we still to be silent about Jesus being the Messiah?

Why Peter? Why not one of the other disciples? Why us?

Exodus 1:8-2:10
"Powerful God-Courageous Women" The welcome mat is no longer there in Egypt for the Israelites. Here is the story of Moses' beginnings. This story proves that even Moses was a basket case, (Just a joke.) But I think what is so powerful in this story is the story of the women, Shiphrah and Puah, his mom, and his older sister involved in keeping Moses alive and safe and giving him a new beginning. This all happens under a repressive regime and one that wants all the Hebrew male children killed. This is good justice material. "It's God's compassion, God's faithfulness, God's tender care that are extended by the compassion, faithfulness and care of the courageous women, including, mysteriously, the pagan princess." taken from Weekly Seeds written by Katey Huey. Would we be so courageous? How do we seek justice in today's world for those who are treated injustly? How would you present this story to your members? What is it that they need to hear?

Romans 12:1-8,
We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, pure and clean according to Paul. We are to have our minds renewed, transformed. The body of Christ has many parts, many gifts, What does it look like today to present our bodies as living sacrifices, when we don't do any formal sacrifices anymore? What would it look like if we really were the body Christ as Paul describes it? I like what Paul says, God has been kind to me? Do we recognize how kind God is to us?

Psalm 124
This Psalm declares the protection and help from God in a time of crisis and threat.

So now its your turn, join in the discussion and let us know what you think and where you are headed for Sunday.

A prayer for Sunday

2008-08-17T00:34:00.000-07:00

Gracious and loving God,

We come to you having spent ourselves in preparation for leading in worship, preaching and other duties of being a Pastor. We come some of us with heavy hearts, physical ailments, tired minds, weary souls and overworked bodies. We ask for your grace to face these hours, to deliver your message to your people, to stand strong when called to do so, to bring the healing touch to those who need it, to be the calm presence in the midst of the storms of life. We ask for your Holy Spirit to empower us with your love, your grace, and your mercy. We take this time Lord for the nurturing of our souls that we may serve you this day and all the days of our lives. Amen.

cross posted at rev abi's long and winding road

Lectionary Discussion for Sunday July 17, 2008

2008-08-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Proper 15A/Ordinary 20A/Pentecost +14August 17, 2008

Genesis 45:1-15 “And now, the Rest of the Story” This is the other side of Joseph and his brothers. 45:5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. Here is the reconciliation of a family with much weeping, hugging and kissing. There is a fine line here of Providence and Theodicy Joseph interprets his years of suffering and displacement as part of God's plan for the salvation of his family.
Notice also the process that takes place before the actual reconciliation. Today, medical researchers speak of the “forgiveness factor,” that is, the importance of forgiveness in overall emotional and physical well-being. Long-held grudges imprison us in the past, limit our freedom and creativity, and block God’s highest possibilities for our lives. Perhaps, over many years God was present inspiring Joseph anew each day to let go of the past, forgive his brothers, and embrace new possibilities for his life. Bruce Epperly

What does your congregation need to hear from this passage? The providence of God? The forgiveness? The Reconciliation? Maybe all of them.

Psalm 133 (UMH 850) verse 1 says; How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! The Psalmist then goes on to describe that unity in a most beautiful way.

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 God does not reject Paul goes on about the relationships of the people of Israel to God, stating that God does not reject them. He then compares their relationships with our relationship to God; that God neither rejects us but is merciful to all. I was uncomfortable with the words "God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all."

Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 Going to the dogs In verse 11, Jesus says; "it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19 For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. Jesus was talking about the Pharisees religious practices, but even the disciples could not understand. This is followed by the story of the Canaanite woman seeking healing for her daughter. In it is the strange exchange between Jesus and the woman about feeding the dogs the children's food. But Jesus is moved by her faith, and heals the daughter. This passage might be hard to interpret to 21st century Christians unless you are Rabbi Rob Bell. I don't know about you but I don't like how Jesus treats the woman.

Who are the "Canaanites" in our society, those we would push aside or not welcome? -"Canaanite" signified "pagan" to the Jews of Jesus' time. The area of Tyre and Sidon, on the Mediterranean coast northwest of the Jewish region was where those called pagans traditionally lived. Who are treated like "Dogs" in our world? The term dogs (or in this case, literally "little/worthless dogs") was used by Jews to refer derogatorily to non-Jews. What are some of our rituals, traditions that we view as important but in the long run are not?

Where will you be heading this Sunday? What thoughts and ideas do you have for this Sunday?

Lectionary Discussion for August 10

2008-08-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

August 10, 2008 Ordinary Time/Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Here are the passages for the week:
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 "Here comes this dreamer.” Joseph’s being loved more by his father, and his previous dream gets him into trouble with his brothers. They conspire to first kill him, but then sell him into slavery. Jacob’s patterns are passed on to his own children. How do we treat the dreamers in our congregations? How do we deal with conflict in our families? Our church? Our world? Where are you focusing in this text today?

Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b (UMH 828) 4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually. 5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, and then brings us to the story of Joseph.

Romans 10:5-15 “Beautiful Feet” Lots to preach on in these passages; righteousness that comes from faith instead of righteousness that comes from the law, confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him, and "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Then Paul’s rhetorical questions that leads to; "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Do we believe that the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him? Do we believe there is no distinction? Are our feet beautiful for bringing the good news to others?

Matthew 14:22-33 “Water Walker” The disciples are in trouble out in a boat in a storm, and Jesus comes walking toward them on the waves. Brave Peter asks Jesus to command him to come to prove it is him. Peter gets out of the boat, walks a way on water, but when he notices the wind starts to drown. Jesus admonishes him for his little faith and doubts. Only when Jesus gets into the boat and the water and wind is calmed down do they all worship him and recognize him for who he is. Are we water walkers or stay in the boat kind of people? What takes our eyes off of Jesus? And when we recognize him do we worship him? What are the storms battering our lives these days? Our Churches? What does this passage have to say to your congregation? Where are you focusing? the night? the trust to step out onto the water? the wavering? or the going on after sinking? Or the worship?

One question that comes from the Preaching Helps is; What does a preacher do with miracle stories two or more weeks in a row? How will you help people in your congregation see the sacred in these stories? How will you deal with Jesus’ strong words of rebuke to Peter? Are they words for us today?

What direction will you go with these passages?

Now its your turn.

Lectionary Discussion for Aug. 3, 20o8

2008-07-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

August 3, 2008Ordinary Time/Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Genesis 32:22-31 Jacob wrestles with the angel and has his hip put out of joint. He gets a name change and a blessing from the angel. No longer will he have the name "Grabber" (Jacob) but now he will be called "Wrestler-with-God" (Israel). 32:30 tells us; So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." How poignant. Perhaps when we see God face to face we too have had life altering experiences. Perhaps that is why so few want to really see and experience God. And perhaps that is why so few churches want to really see and experience God. If preaching this it is helpful to set the context of the passage that Jacob is heading home to meet Esau. What does this say about our God and about us in relation to God and to others? When have you wrestled with God and what were you left with?

Psalm 17:1-7, 15 (UMH 749)

Romans 9:1-5 Paul writes with passion his deep anguish and sorrow for his people, the Israelites that have it all. Perhaps we need to ask when is it we have felt such passion and concern for someone(s) who did not know Jesus? And if we feel the compassion for them what are we doing to reach them?

Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus tries to withdraw after hearing of the death of John the Baptist but is unable. And when he meets the crowd he is moved to compassion on them, but the disciples want to send them away for lack of food and the time of day it is. Jesus will have none of that and tells them they are to give them something to eat. Thus comes the story of the five loaves and two fish feeding the five thousand. Matthew's Gospel includes two near-duplicate stories (see also Matthew 15:32-39) which are close parallels of two in Mark (6:32-44 and 8:1-10). Luke (9:10-17) and John (6:1-13) also include the "feeding of the five thousand" or a parallel. Jesus told the disciples to feed them, what is he telling us to do today? Who is it that is hungry in your community? How are you feeding them? Vs 19 reminds of our communion words, maybe you are celebrating communion Sunday. At the end there was plenty to go around. How is that we the churches till believe in scarcity and not a God of abundance? What will it take for us to believe differently? And yet we live in a country with abundance, we throw out tons of food daily, while there are areas of the world starving.

What are thinking, which way are you headed for Sunday?

painting of Jacob wrestling with the Angel

Painting of the feeding of the Five Thousand

Sunday's Prayer

2008-07-27T04:46:00.000-07:00

Loving God,
Be with us as we finish our preparations mentally, emotionally and spiritually; to begin our days, go through our days, and complete our days. Be in us as we walk into our places of worship and meet with so many different people to be able to be their spiritual leaders. Be in our heads to help us think clearly. Be in hearts to be able to know ourselves and to keep us calm in any anxious moments. Be in our souls to keep us centered and to guide our way with your Holy Spirit. May the words of our mouth, the meditation of our hearts, and the spirit of our souls be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals and my blog rev abi's long and winding road

Lectionary Discussion for July 27

2008-07-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Ordinary Time/Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Green)Genesis 29:15-28 More deception, only this time it is Jacob that gets deceived by Laban. This already dysfunctional family system -- one that has cast out a legitimate child and his mother (Ishmael and Hagar), allowed a younger son to trick his father and steal his brother's birthright and blessing (Rebekah, Jacob and Esau) -- here becomes even more dysfunctional -- two wives in a week, the wrong one first, and the set up in that alone for more trouble to come. And that's not to mention the agreement Laban requires for Jacob to receive the wife he wants -- yet another seven years of service beyond what he had already provided. A family in need of a good family therapist, when will they ever learn? Don’t forget that these two women, Leah and Rachel are the mothers of the 12 tribes of Israel whether by pregnancy or surrogacy. How could Jacob not realize he was having sex with wrong woman! Is there a way to work in the novel The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant? How will you preach this PG life story?
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b (UMH 828)

Romans 8:26-39 Some of the most favorite passages quoted or used of Paul’s from Romans. The Spirit intercedes for us. “All things work together for good for those who love God.” Nothing can separate us from the love of God. But what about the predestination? This is a message of hope, of God’s love, how do we the church make sure that message is getting out there to those not in the church? How will you preach the richness of this passage?

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Another parable about the Kingdom. This time it is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field. It is like is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened. It is like treasure hidden in a field. It is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.. the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind. "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." Well you get the picture in fact you could say Jesus was painting a picture of the Kingdom with these images. What images might Jesus use today? How will you preach these parables?

Sunday Prayer

2008-07-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Sower of the seed,
You know each one of us inside out. You know our coming and going. You know our thoughts and our feelings. And you love us deeply. Your love cries out to all who will hear it. Lord may we hear your love today. May we sow the seeds of love in a hungry world starved for true love—your love.

prayer for Saturday

2008-07-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, let me never speak

What bounds of truth exceedeth;

Grant that no idle word

From out my mouth proceedeth;

And then, when in my place

I must and ought to speak,

My words grant power and grace

Lest I offend the weak.

(Johann Heermann - 1630)

Lectionary for July 20th, 2008

2008-07-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

July 20, 2008 Ordinary Time/Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Genesis 28:10-19a On the lam on the road to Haran, Jacob had this famous dream of a ladder stretching from earth to heaven with the angels of God ascending and descending on it. The LORD stood beside him and reminded Jacob of the covenant with his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham. 16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place--and I did not know it!" 17 And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." We can all sing the song, “We are climbing Jacob’s ladder…” When was the last time we met God in a dream? When have we been on the lam and God’s grace intervened? And when that happened did we stop to worship God?

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 (UMH 854)

Romans 8:12-25 Paul reminds Christians at Rome of the Spirit's witness that we are the adopted children of God and heirs with Christ. Marion Soards says; The language of sonship that is lost in many contemporary translations is not in itself a totem to be revered; yet, its use here is important for particular theological reasons. When Paul tells the Romans—men and women alike—that they will become "sons of God," he is making a statement about status as it was constructed and understood in the ancient world. In the patriarchal culture of antiquity, normally a son or sons were the heirs to the goods of the father of the family. The oldest son received a double share of the goods, while other sons received lesser portions. Women were "married off" and not normally the focus of inheritance. Thus, when Paul declares that "all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (literal translation of v. 14 mine), he is talking about becoming related to God in such a manner that "we" have an inheritance from God, which is itself an inheritance with Christ. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God. How will you preach this to your congregation? How does your members need to hear the message of adoption? And what about the eager longing of creation what does your church need to know about this?

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 This is another Kingdom Parable. "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. The question became then what are we to do about the weeds. And Jesus says to them, don’t do anything right now. I’ll have the workers take care of it at the time of harvest. What was Jesus saying in the original context? How are we to live with “evil around us”? What does it mean to us today, the eschatological interpretation that Jesus gives his parable?
If it were my choice I might choose to preach on Jacob and his dream. But we are preaching the Gospel and I’ll be preaching the Matthew passage. I might also choose the Romans passage because I know a little about adoption. This Parable of the wheat and weeds is going to be difficult for Sunday. Which passage are you preaching and how will you preach it.

photo from fresh expressions

Sunday Prayer

2008-07-13T01:24:00.000-07:00

Creator God, you are still creating today in our midst. You are still sowing your seed of the Kingdom of God in our midst. You are still lighting our path with your word. Lord today as we worship you; come refresh us once more with your Spirit. Come seed our hearts with your good news. Come pour your mercy over us. Lord may we go through out this day praising and worshiping you. Thanks be to you Creator God. Amen

Sunday prayer

2008-07-12T01:13:00.000-07:00

God of Pilgrimage

God of Pilgrimage

be with me on my journey

through this life;

guard and defend me,

shelter and feed me,

challenge and inspire me,

teach me and lead me,

and when my days are ended

welcome me home at last

to rest in your love forever.
Source UnknownFound in Ely Cathedral England

Photo

Discussion for July 13, 2008

2008-07-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

The following are the passages for this Sunday's lectionary: Proper 10A/Ordinary 15A/Pentecost +9

Genesis 25:19-34 This is the continued story of the descendents of Abraham focusing now on Isaac, his wife Rebecca and their children Esau and Jacob. The two struggle from the beginning in their mother’s womb. Jacob becomes mom’s favorite while Esau is his dad’s. It also is the story of trickery on mom and Jacob’s part to get Esau’s birthright. Struggle and rivalry are present throughout this story. And isn’t it that way throughout life, yet God’s promise of a people who will be a blessing would be fulfilled. Where is the message your congregation needs to hear? Are there internal struggles or rivalries or personal struggles and rivalries? What is God teaching you in the midst of these struggles and rivalries?

Psalm 119:105-112 or Psalm 25 (UMH 756)
Romans 8:1-11 I have always like that, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Paul then elaborates further on how this can be. Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death. We are now in the spirit not in the flesh, since the Spirit of God dwells in us. How then can we be condemned? What does life look like through the lenses of the Spirit? How is that we condemn others? How can this passage be lived out in our lives?

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 This is the parable of the sower and the seed in 1-9 and then explained in 18-23. You can preach this from the sower standpoint, the seed, or the soils. Or you can preach it from the stand point of having ears to hear, why Jesus told stories anyway. It is a familiar passage to most people. If you have a congregation that has their own little garden or farm, they may relate. If they are urban and don’t, how will you preach this passage to them? In the places you and the people of your congregation live, work, and spend their time, where are the people likely to be caught along the beaten down pathway? Where and how are folks not having much "root in themselves" to receive the word of God's kingdom? Where is the word of the kingdom getting choked out by other concerns? How are you or others trusting that God can bring a fruitful harvest even from such places? How are you or others joining God's word, declared in this parable, to convert that soil into good soil? ( I borrowed these questions from Planning Helps at the GBOD website.)

I am preaching on the Matthew passage as we continue our way through the Gospel at St. John. I am taking the tact of how are we prepared to hear and understand the word? I borrowed from Homiletics the idea of the (N)Nitrogen, (P)Phosphorous, and (K)Potassium that is in the fertilizer. I am working on what they represent in what we “fertilize” our hearts with so we can be prepared to hear and understand the word. I have a baptism Sunday and will mix that in too. Now to work out all the components of this idea.

Which passage are you preaching on? Where are you headed this Sunday? What thoughts and ideas has the spirit given you for Sunday? Are you preaching on a series, let us know. What will you do for worship? Look forward to hearing from you all.

Picture of Fertilizer produced in Muscle Shoals munitions facilities
T.E. Robinson, Bakewell, Tenn., 1946

Sunday prayer

2008-07-06T00:39:00.000-07:00

Lord, on this holiday weekend, when people are out of town, we pray travel mercies for them.
We pray for rest and renewal for all. We pray for ourselves as we come to worship you.

We remember today Lord, the sacrifices that have gone into the making of this nation.
We remember that we have freedom and at the same time pray for those who do not.
We remember that we have the right to a fair trial, and pray for those where there is no justice. We remember we can pursue happiness, while we pray for those who at best can only survive.

Lord today we bring the sacrifice of our love, our selves, and our souls,
may it be a sweet smelling fragrance to you.
Amen

Sunday, July 6

2008-07-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

Proper 9A/Ordinary 14A/Pentecost +8
July 6, 2008

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49,58-67 What importance did prayer play in this scripture? What does that mean for us today? What happens when we don’t get what we prayed for? How different it is today in choosing our spouses. How do we choose our spouses? How do we continue to let God be involved in our marriages, and how we treat our spouse. Not sure I would like a ring in the nose as a symbol of a proposal. I don’t even want to be treated that way.
Also, you could use this a story about our faith journeys and how they often intersect with other faith journeys. Where are you on your faith journey? Where is your congregation? Where does it intersect with others?

Psalm 45:10-17 or Psalm 72 (UMH 795)

Romans 7:15-25a I love verse 15: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” How many times, I have prayed to change a bad habit, my overeating, my compulsive eating, whatever it is and instead do the direct opposite? What is it that we do that we keep trying to change? What sin continues in our life? Who has rescued us from our sin? Paul tells us that we cannot save ourselves only Jesus can. In our self help society, independent society, this is good news. Paul is speaking for every person and the struggle of being human. And yet he points to God’s grace for our lives. How have you experience God’s grace in your life? How has your congregation? How have they experienced God’s grace defeating sin in their life? Maybe this is a Sunday to use a witness to that.

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 What about this scripture are you going to focus on? The dancing, eating and drinking with the sinners? Or the “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Either way you can’t lose. We are tired and heavy burdened in our society today. And yet again, we don’t have anything to do with sinners, and we have made religion a sour tasting thing.
Maybe they both go together.
Also you have the words of Jesus "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another.” It could be a jumping off place to discuss how your church is reaching out to the younger generation, using some of what Lovett Weems said at conference?
On the statue of Liberty it says;-Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free. (Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus) Jesus offers the true new Colossus. This is no longer true in our country for those from other countries, you got to win the lottery now to be able to come in and then you have to go through all kinds of gyrations.

What are your thoughts for Sunday? What are you preaching on? This Sunday is part of the 4th of July Weekend, how will you handle it in worship? How will that effect your preaching? Where are you headed this Sunday?
Let us know....

June 29, 2008

2008-06-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

June 29, 2008Ordinary Time/Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Genesis 22:1-14 The attempted sacrifice of Isaac. The notion that God tests humans -- The New Interpreter's Bible suggests that this was not a time of testing as much as it was a time of confirmation. Look at Genesis 22:12: "For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me." So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." Verse 14. You could focus on Abraham saying “Here I am.” Twice to God and once to his son. How will you deal with those that have lost their babies in the womb, in birth, SIDS or some other way? How will you deal with the fact that there are people who suffer from post partum depression and have heard voices or what they thought was God’s voices to kill their infant? And some have killed their infant? You could deal with what is it we need to sacrifice in our lives, lay on the altar to God? You could focus on Abraham’s trust that God would provide and that God did provide, and then God did provide? But what about the times God does not provide? Does God test us? Why would God ask someone to do this?

Psalm 13 (UMH 746) A Psalm of lament.

Romans 6:12-23 When we are baptized, buried, and raised with Christ by water and the Holy Spirit, we are given not just a new life, but a new master, no longer sin (which leads to death), but God and righteousness (which leads to life). Paul recognizes that the power of sin is still active in the world of the believers, so that Christians are confronted with the real peril of falling back into the submission to sin that will result in the Christians' following the baser instincts of human existence rather than God's will and leadership. In one sense Paul is telling the Romans that God has already rescued the Christians out of the mud and cleaned them off through the bath of baptism, so that Paul admonishes these same believers to stay out of the mud, to resist any subsequent urge to return to the mud-bath from which they have already been rescued. the positive dimension of Paul's teaching—that having been "brought from death to life," the Christians have the opportunity to give themselves to God and to live according to God's righteousness, i.e., God's will, God's power, God's action in the world for salvation, God's purposes. Verses 17-18 contrast the conditions of being either "slaves of sin" or "slaves of righteousness." In this same vein, the singer-songwriter Bob Dylan summarized the matter in a song entitled, "Gotta Serve Somebody"—part of which goes, "You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed,"You're gonna have to serve somebody."Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord"But you're gonna have to serve somebody."
Either we are baptized, and live that out or we are not. Either we live in the power of the Holy Spirit and the resurrection or we don’t.
The slave language is a little out of date, but the serve language is not although not all people want to hear the word serve. How is your congregation keeping their baptismal vows? What kind of accountability is there to be able to do that? May you can introduce the new part of the vow that was voted on at General Conference.

Matthew 10:40-42 expect, look for, and bless those who will offer welcome. is the end of a larger instructional passage. Finally after a lengthy exhortation on the opposition they could expect to receive, they received the words about hospitality found in Matthew 10:40: Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. In other words, those who welcomed them were also welcoming God. 10:42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple -- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward." As with the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt 25:31-46), it does not matter who receives care. What matters is the care that is offered. I read where this had to do with all the visiting preachers that were in the early church. Maybe it has to do with then all of us who are itinerant in our ministry. But then who have we offered the cup of cold water to? How are we offering the cold water? What is the cup of cold water? How are we welcoming? How are we not? How do we go beyond the handshake or passing the peace to helping people feel welcome in our church? Where are we welcoming? Maybe Lovett Weems’ question of “when we gather on Sunday Morning to worship, whose missing” fits here.

Image from Mustard Seeds blog:

A prayer for Saturday

2008-06-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Luther's Sacristy prayer
Lord God,
You have appointed me as a pastor in Your Church,
but you see how unsuited I am to meet so great and difficult a task.
If I had lacked Your help, I would have ruined everything long ago.
Therefore, I call upon You:
I wish to devote my mouth and my heart to you;
I shall teach the people.
I myself will learn and ponder diligently upon You Word.
Use me as Your instrument -- but
do not forsake me,
for if ever I should be on my own,
I would easily wreck it all.

sacristy picture

a cartoon for Sunday

2008-06-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

a cartoon from Non Sequitur for Sunday's sermon on the Gospel lesson from Matthew :

Lectionary discussion for June 22

2008-06-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here are the lectionary readings below: And I don't mind saying they are troublesome passages esp Gen and Mt. How are we to preach these to our parishioners in the pews?

Genesis 21:8-21 Sarah wants Hagar and son sent away. All after she has Hagar give Abraham a son. And so she and her son is sent away. But God does not abandon them or let them die in the desert even though God sides with Sarah. Why did Sarah want this to happen? Where was her heart? Where was the hospitality? You might could use this scripture to talk about the cut offs that happen families or how children are the ones often caught in family feuds and divorces. Or how God is the God of dispossessed even though he had Isaac in mind for the inheritance. God hears Ishmael's cry (Ishmael means God harkens). The story of the woeful drama of Abraham's two sons still echoes in the violent Middle East conflict today between Arabs and Jews
Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 or Psalm 17 (UMH 749)
Romans 6:1b-11 Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? Paul says no, our church members probably think yes for them and no for everybody else. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. So why can't I stop sinning? And if I sin is grace still available? So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Perhaps the truth is not many of us believe in the resurrection power. Baptism makes the difference for Christians. In baptism, we die to sin. We are baptised into Christ's death, as well as into his resurrection. This is pretty Methodist though after all sanctifying grace is at work in our lives.
Matthew 10:24-39 "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master." This is the starting place Jesus has for this set of instructions to his disciples. We are heir to the same kind of opposition the teacher receives, that just makes me want to be a disciple right now. Have no fear, you are worth more to God than a sparrow. Acknowledge me, I will acknowledge you. And the whole thing of not bringing peace but the sword. But I thought Jesus was the Prince of peace and we are to be peacemakers? And what about dividing up familes and setting each other against each other? "Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. and Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." There is no cutting corners following Jesus, no luke warm, no maybe today or tomorrow, its yes or no. Vss. 21-22 reflect persecutions which the apostolic church endured in the decades immediately before the Roman-Jewish war of 68-70 CE, but not at the time of Jesus' ministry ca. 30 CE. These sayings on persecution and discipleship were drawn from Mark 9:41 and 13:9-13. A parallel saying to that of vss. 34-36 occurs in Luke 12:51-53.So

What and how will you preach these texts this Sunday? Where willl you be going? Theme? Worship ideas? Let us hear from you

moving

2008-06-02T05:02:00.000-07:00

To all the readers of this blog; I am moving and will be out of commission for awhile, especially this week. If you want to know more about the move go to the st john rev abi blog for details. In the meantime you might want to check out the Text this Week, which features lots of links to commentaries, articles, sermons, children's sermons, worship ideas, etc. I find it very helpful in my developing my sermon. But the best thing you can do is read the scripture, pray over it, let God speak to you through the scriptures.

Here are the scriptures for this week: June 8, 2008Ordinary Time/Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Green)
Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 33:1-12 (UMH 767)
Romans 4:13-25
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Which one will you be preaching? I'll be preaching from the Matthew passage.
The Genesis passage tells us of Abraham's call, his responding to that call, taking his wife and his nephew lot to move to the land God would show him. Right now I can say I feel like Abraham with this move. Abraham didn't know where this land was, yet he moved. He was not young and neither was his wife, but they went. He went in stages it says. Why did God choose Abraham? How was Abraham able to do what God asked him to do? What does this say about God? His people he chooses? Us? We certainly aren't as willing to get up and move as Abraham appears to be. How does God appear to us today? and how do we respond? How will you preach this passage?

The Romans passage tells us more about Abraham. It is Paul's take on why Abraham was able to do this to move to this unknown land. It is also one of Paul's arguments for salvation by faith and not the law. It is Paul's way of saying that this faith can be ours too, this salvation, eternal life. It was also his way of saying the Gentiles are included too in God's salvation story.
What does this passage say to us today? How would you preach this passage to your church members?

The Matthew passage is a collection of several healing events along with the call of Matthew to be a disciple. In verse 9 It says that Jesus said to Matthew come follow me and he got up and followed. But when the pharisees see the dinner party, they want to know why Jesus is eating with sinners and tax collectors. And Jesus answers "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." This leads into the healing of daughter of the synagogue leader, and the healing on the way of the woman who touched his garment. When was the last time somebody said about us; she/he eats with sinners and tax collectors(you put the description in there)? Probably not in awhile or long time. What does this mean, are we then to go out and find a bunch of sinners and have a meal with them? Who are the sick today? Who are the sinners? the tax collector? Thos who have need of a physician? Have we learned what it means "I desire mercy, not sacrifice?" How do we live that out in our churches our own selves? How will you preach this to your members? Clearly, Jesus has come to bring gospel medicine (to use Barbara Brown Taylor’s phrase) to a sick world.

You are welcome to make your comments.
This is the only post for this week I'll make.

Matthew 7:21-29 for June 1st

2008-05-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:21-29
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Come on and sing with me now: "The wise man built his house upon the rock, the wise man built his house up the rock. And the rains came tumbling down. The rains came down and the floods came up, the rains came down and floods came up. And the house on the rock stood firm." Its a good kid's song that includes motions. But how many people have been flooded out, because they weren't built on the rock? Florida where I grew up was all sand, and you just didn't build on it, you had to make a good foundation. And if you built on the beach you were likely to get washed away. But this parable refers Perhaps he thinks of the houses being built beside and in a Palestinian wadi, a ravine with steep sides. Dry in the summer, it turns into a raging torrent when the rains come. The “wise man” (v. 24) prepares for what is to come by going to the effort of building on the side of the ravine, but the “foolish man” (v. 26) does not think ahead and so takes the easy way. Jesus has just finished the Sermon on the Mount and talks about building your house on the rock. Mount ----Rock. Is there a connection with the words here as well?

What is the foundation for your life? Have you heard the words of God and put them into practice? or have you done just the opposite? In Huntsville where we are buying a new house, the Realtor kept telling us about the type of clay that was there that shifted and often messed up the foundations and structures of the houses. She told us that even with her own house she has had to have work done to shore up the foundation. If your own life foundation is not built on the Rock how can you shore up your foundation or move to be on the rock?

And lets not leave out how this passage begins with "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Pretty powerful words from Jesus to the point "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Even more powerful words.

If this is your chosen passage for Sunday how will you preach it?

Romans 1:16-17; 3:19-31

2008-05-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

For Sunday the scripture is Romans 1:16-17; 3:19-31

1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. 27Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

In these two verses of chapter one, Paul establishes the theme of his letter. Paul writes concerning the gospel, a news-report that tells us of the righteousness of God, of his faithfulness to his promises.

When John Wesley grasped the full meaning of St. Paul's doctrine of justification by grace through faith in 1738, the fire of the "Great Awakening" was kindled. The occasion was a prayer meeting in Aldersgate St. London, at which Martin Luther's "Preface to the Epistle to the Romans" was read. Wesley, like most other Anglican clergy at the time, had forgotten the substance of the gospel. He was a pietist; staying a believer and progressing in the Christian life was a matter of effort - obedience to the law of God. Wesley had forgotten that through faith in Christ he was totally acceptable to God; he stood approved in the sight of God. At that time, the English church was a dry and cold affair and so most of the revivalists left and formed Wesleyan congregations. Some of those who grasped the full meaning of the gospel and its power to effect salvation for the lost, remained in the Anglican church rather than leave it and join with their "Methodist" friends. They were called "Evangelicals" - believers loyal to the gospel of God's grace, and loyal to the "reformed catholic faith" (Anglicanism). They could remain committed to the Anglican church because they understood that the gospel itself is the power of God for the salvation of the lost, not institutional organisation. This understanding of the gospel was to fire many other churches and has continued to do so up till today. How have we lost this fire, this full meaning of the gospel? How have we become ashamed of it and hidden it away? Is this message still relevant for today?

Romans 3:21 resumes the thesis statement of 1:16–17, as Paul unpacks the idea of how the coming, dying, and rising of Jesus Christ performs God's salvific "righteousness" The statement, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (3:23), essentially summarizes the context of 1:18–3:20. In response to humanity's sorry state, God does at least three things through Jesus Christ: God justifies, God redeems, and God effects atonement . From Working Preacher.org

This is also an inclusive message, and yet we often exclude. We somehow feel better than others, especially those who sin or aren't saved. Is this what has caused the fire to go out?

If you are choosing to preach this passage this Sunday, how will you preach it?

Gen 6:9-22, 7:24, 8:14-19 for this Sunday

2008-05-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Here is the Old Testament Passage for this Sunday Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
6:9 These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.
6:10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
6:11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
6:12 And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth.
6:13 And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
6:14 Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
6:15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
6:16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks.
6:17 For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.
6:18 But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
6:19 And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.
6:20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive.
6:21 Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them."
6:22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
7:24 And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred fifty days.
8:14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.
8:15 Then God said to Noah,
8:16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you.
8:17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh--birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth--so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
8:18 So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
8:19 And every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the ark by families.

It is the beloved story from our child hood days. Churches decorate their nurseries and children's rooms with Noah Ark pictures. People do the same with their homes. My kids can tell you the story. Its when we get older that the innocence of this story wears away and you have quite an ugly picture of human beings doing what they wanted when the wanted. Then God gets mad and destroys the earth with a flood. Only Noah and his family is spared, and two of every kind of living animal. Why them? Well, its says he was a righteous person and walked with God.

How righteous are we and how do we walk with God? What does it mean to be righteous? The Hebrew word translated “righteous” (tseqeh) can equally be translated “just”, because the word has about it not the sense of moral fastidiousness but rather of acting justly, equitably and compassionately towards humanity and of being in a covenantal relationship with God. The implication of the word is that one is living in obedience to God’s call and thus is following God’s moral standards in one’s commitment to humanity.

God promised to never flood the earth again, yet if we look around us we live in times very much like Noah's. What's the difference? Are we to make a difference? Is it time for another ark?

If God told us to build an ark or do something as spetacular as that, would we do it? Could we withstand the putdowns from those around us or just being different, living differently than others? Would we stay as righteous as Noah did?

In 2007 Evan Almighty was made as the story of Noah. There were some parts that could have been shored up. But they did get the part right of Noah doing what God asked him to do.

A lot of people wish that God would once again destroy the bad people, but if they got their wish would they be one of those people and not know it?

You might want a little fun with it, by adding What I learned from Noah's Ark.

Or you could use Bill Cosby's Noah's Ark

So how will you preach the Genesis passage this Sunday?

artwork; Edward Hick's Noah's Ark

Proper 4A/Ordinary 9A/Pentecost +3

2008-05-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

The scriptures for this coming Sunay, June 1 are:

Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 God commands Noah to build the ark. God floods the ear after finding mostly sinful people on the earth. Noah is spared on the ark with his family and two of every kind of animal. After 400 days the waters ceded and they were able to come out on dry land. It is important to know that Noah was a righteous man who walked with God (Genesis 6:9). (You could begin sermon series on the Genesis stories.)

Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28, (29-31) What is the gospel? It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith. It is nothing to be ashamed of. In it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith. Why? Because we have all sinned. It is not by our power or might of good works that we are saved but we are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God does at least three things through Jesus Christ: God justifies, God redeems, and God effects atonement to deal with the state of humans. When Paul thought of atonement through the sacrifice of Jesus' blood, he had in mind the whole Jewish liturgy for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The liturgy provided for the shedding of the blood of innocent animal victims, one whose blood was sprinkled symbolically on both the altar and on the people, and one driven away into the wilderness bearing the sins of the people away. This annual celebration provided Jews with an awareness of God's forgiveness and a renewed consciousness of their worthiness to regard themselves as the covenant people having a special relationship with God. This liturgy once more been established their special relationship with the God who had faithfully preserved them as God's chosen people through the ages. Since their God could only be regarded as holy, their covenanted relationship with God restored them to the status of a holy people. (You could begin a series on Romans beginning with this Sunday and going for the next 16 Sundays of the lectionary.)

Matthew 7:21-29 Do we just say Lord, Lord? Or do we do the will of God? Do we prophesy in his name? Do we cast out demons in his name? Do we do a lot of good deeds? Guess what those thing won't get us into heaven. Nope, not according to Jesus. He says we are to listen to his words and act on them. The parable Jesus tells illustrates what he means. This ending to the "sermon" challenges us to live what we believe, rather than just go through the routines of devotion. Above all else, Jesus spurned those whose behaviour revealed their hypocrisy because their actions did not correspond with their pious words. This concludes the sermon on the mount.

So, which passage will you preaching this Sunday?

Sunday prayer, Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

Merciful God,

Have mercy on us in our shortcomings, our failings, our railings against you and our sins.Have mercy on us when we presume we can use war to fix what's wrong with the world or regions of the world.Have mercy on us when we send young men and women to do the work of those who stay behind and decide when and where to send them, whose lives are then shed on fields we sent them to protect.Have mercy on us when we don't honor those who naively put on the uniform to serve, who are too young to understand, and who have hope to make a difference. Have mercy on us when we don't remember those who did give their lives on foriegn soil in wars numbered, named and un-named.Have mercy on us when we ourselves cause war in our homes, our families, our friends, our work, our neighbors, our churches and within ourselves. Have mercy on us, Lord. Thank you for your loving mercy, Lord. Remind us that blessed are the peacemakers, for we shall be called children of God.

Pentecost 2A/O8/Proper 3

2008-05-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Greetings on this bright Sunny Monday morning; How did Trinity Sunday go in your church? Now on to this week's lectionary;

Isaiah 49:8-16a Isaiah has some wonderful imagery here to work with. It is a image of hope and restoration. And yet as Safiya Fosua at Preaching Helps asks who is the "you" in the passage? Are we the you? Is Israel the you? But it also lifts up the imagery of Mother God, Mother Zion, and yes, Mother church. How do your people need this image today? How do we need to come out and show ourselves or how do we need to be inviting others to do so, and creating an environment to do so?
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 4:1 Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. What does it mean to be the servant of Christ and the steward of these mysteries? How do we live this out as the church? Have we been found trust worthy? How do we hold each other accountable without destructive criticism and judgmentalism getting in the picture? How do we encourage, challenge and affirm our servant hood and stewardship?
Matthew 6:24-34 "The Hippie/Flower Child/Godspell" passage. Actually its the " You can't serve two masters passage, cause if you do, you will be owned by one and will find yourself in a heap of anxiety passage." So how is one to live? How do we strive first for the Kingdom of Heaven and all these things will be added unto us? How does our recent oil/food crisis impact this? What about the issue of why 20 somethings aren't coming to church? And what about the recent article about how the young evangelicals are looking at elections this time around? How do your members need to hear this passage? It is important to know In the Greek text the verb “to worry” that Jesus uses repeatedly in this passage is merimnate which, as Ronald J. Allen points out in Volume 3 of The Lectionary Commentary (Eerdmans 2001) really carried more of the sense of “fear” in the first century—in particular what people “feared” was tribulations in the end time and also other insufficiencies of life. Worry and fear are first cousins in any event. (Taken from This week at Calvin Seminary)

So now, what passage will you be preaching on this Sunday and what direction?

Prayer for Trinity Sunday

2008-05-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Prayer for Trinity Sunday

Gracious God,

Thank you for this new day.

Thank you for the opportunity to worship as your body of Christ.

Thank you for the Holy Spirit who fills us with the truth and wisdom.

Holy one, we pray for those who are suffering in China from Earthquakes, Myanmar from the Cyclone, and those who suffer from starvation.

Lord we pray for your peace with justice throughout your whole world.

And now;

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Art work of He Qui

cross posted at St John's Rev Abi and RevGalBlogPals