A PRAYER FOR HAILEY

( An 11 year old 5th grader, a little girl and classmate of my granddaughter, who was a victim of bullying, and yesterday morning stopped the pain herself in her room.)

PSALM 80

14.    Return to us, God Almighty!

    Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine,

15     the root your right hand has planted,

    the son[e] you have raised up for yourself.

16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;

    at your rebuke your people perish.

17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,

    the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

18 Then we will not turn away from you;

    revive us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;

    make your face shine on us,

    that we may be saved.

O God

Our God

We grieve this day in our vineyard

A vine has been cut down

Nourished by care

Pruned by attention

Cultivated by family and friends

A vine has been cut down

Now there is a space in the vineyard

An emptiness where green and growth

Flourished and radiated

Sprouted and grew

A vine has been cut down

and will not grow again

a space that cannot be filled

a loss that cannot be replanted

O God

Our God

We grieve this day in our vineyard

We feel helpless when the storms

batter and bruise our vines

with angry words and torments of hatred

We weary of thorns of bitterness

that choke the freshness of youth

and shatter the innocence of childhood

We confess too often we stand silent

when disturbances strikes

at our most precious fruit

       Return to us, God Almighty!

    Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine

Watch over our vineyards

and keep them safe

from the wolf at the door

and the storm in the night

Watch over our vineyards

and help them grow

with our love and protection

so they can dance in the sunlight

       Return to us, God Almighty!

    Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine

Watch over our vineyards

and make us better gardeners

that can preserve and protect

our precious vines

Watch over our vineyards

keep them safe and warm

in your loving care

this day and all days

Amen

A PRAYER FOR LENT 1 OT

Psalm 91 (MSG)

 1- You who sit down in the High God’s presence,

    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,

Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.

    I trust in you and I’m safe!”

That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,

    shields you from deadly hazards.

His huge outstretched arms protect you—

    under them you’re perfectly safe;

    his arms fend off all harm.

God of might and glory

stretch out your arms

surround and protect us

We fear the unknown

the cry in the night

the call we dread

We summon our strength

dig down for resources

to face our distress

But we fall short

our strength runs out

energy sapped

spirits depressed

God of might and glory

stretch out your arms

surround and protect us

Our burdens to family overwhelm

Never enough time

too many tasks

inadequate words

interrupted conversations

Parenting a constant challenge

to children growing too fast

Being a care giver to parents

who falter and forget

We need care

Someone to give us a break

lend a shoulder for our tears

listen to our despair

God of might and glory

stretch out your arms

surround and protect us

Hallelujah

You wrap your arms around us

preventing us from falling

standing us upright

to go and give again

Hallelujah

You allow no harm to swamp us

no concern completely devastate us

You stand guard beside

hover over bedside and workplace

Hallelujah

You are ever present

We need only to reach out

Feel deep within our souls

To find you there

Thanks be to you

O God

Our protector and savior

Amen

A PRAYER FOR LAST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (MSG)

16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

Shine through us, God

that we may bring light

to a world of darkness

Many live in the shadows

afraid to come out

afraid to be detected

unable to see around them

Huddled forms

Invisible stirrings

Silent lives making no sound

fearing to be heard

Shine through us, God

that our light can brighten their lives

Show them a path

that leads to your love

shatters every darkness

and leads to life with you

Shine through us, God

that we may bring peace

to a world of conflict

Many live amidst shot and shell

guns in the day

rockets in the night

soldiers on the doorstep

Widows and orphans

mourning and despairing

Tending the wounded

burying the dead

Shine through us God

that our light may bring them peace

Show them the ways of shalom

building neighbors

creating community

arresting the Gods of war

Shine through us, God

that we may bring a presence

to a world of loneliness

Many feel abandoned

Forgotten as the world races on

Cast out of the way

Sidelined from living

Youth left to raise themselves

Aged discarded as useless

Disabled pushed aside

Strangers encountered as aliens

Shine through us God

that our light may bring them love

Show them the power of fellowship

Embracing persons as they are

Empowering them to be more

Enriching them with grace and forgiveness

Shine through us, God

that we may bring light

to a world of darkness

bring peace

to a warring world

bring love

to a lonely world

Amen

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 4 NT

1 Corinthians 13

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are impatient lovers

We want our love to be rewarded

our love to be acknowledged

welcomed

make a difference

Teach us patient love

that bears a cross

Love without strings

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are selfish lovers

We want our love to the best

Love that shows how good we are

Trumpets our accomplishments

Puts us in the best light

Show us love that is invisible

Leaves no trace

Expects no reward

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are controlling lovers

We expect our love to defeat every obstacle

Overcome others' resistance

Meet our objectives

Overwhelm our enemies

Help us to love without expectations

Often rejected

Love because we should love

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are mistrusting lovers

We doubt we are loved

the way we love

not appreciated

cared for

respected

Teach us to love humbly

invisibly

simply

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

For we are cowardly lovers

We are afraid to love

Unwilling to love with our whole selves

holding back

unsure of the consequences

Empower us to love with abandon

Freely

Wholly

Completely

O God

Who loved us first

Teach us how to love

Amen

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 4 OT

Jeremiah 1:4-19 (MSG)

1 1-4 The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin. God’s Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah. It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. This is what God said:

5 “Before I shaped you in the womb,

    I knew all about you.

Before you saw the light of day,

    I had holy plans for you:

A prophet to the nations—

    that’s what I had in mind for you.”

6 But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me.

    I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”

7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’

    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.

I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.

    Don’t be afraid of a soul.

I’ll be right there, looking after you.”

   

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

A prophet to the nations—

    that’s what I had in mind for you.”

A prophet to who?

To the nations

To the kings and rulers

Governments and rulers

To speak Your Word to them

To say aloud what the Your Spirit lays upon

our hearts and in our souls

    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.

I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

We know what you want us to say

To speak of peace and justice

To proclaim Good News for the poor and oppressed

They will ignore us

Turn a deaf ear

Close their minds and hearts

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

They will get angry

Protest against our interfering

with their settled ways

They will attack us

Threaten us

Crying out:

"Who will rid us of this meddling priest."

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

    Don’t be afraid of a soul.

I’ll be right there, looking after you.”

With you beside us

we will speak your Word

With your presence

we can withstand whatever comes

With your Spirit

we can stand in the courts and marketplace

With your grace

we can be messengers of the Gospel

Boldly we go forth to be your prophets

Humbly we ask your guidance in this mission

Gratefully we offer our thanks for your trust in us

Amen

 A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 3 NT

Luke 4:14-21 (NIV)

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

    and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

What shall we preach?

good news to the poor.

Preach Christ's good news

Good news that poverty will cease

and the hungry shall feast

Good mews that the lame shall walk

and the dead shall rise

What shall we proclaim?

freedom for the prisoners

Proclaim Christ's freedom

Freedom from tyrants and oppression

from masters and slavery

Freedom for new choices and paths

today and tomorrow

What shall we declare?

recovery of sight for the blind,

Declare Christ's vision

Vision to see the pain of the world

and the wounded and dying

Vision to see the lamb and lion together

and the swords broken and rusty

What shall we trumpet?

the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Trumpet the Jubilee year

A Jubilee where children are safe to grow and play

and where the lame leap and run

A Jubilee where the blind see and rejoice

and where everyone dances to the music of The Lord

What shall we preach?

The Good News of Jesus Christ

Now and forever

Amen