A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 2 OT

Isaiah 62

2 The nations will see your vindication,

    and all kings your glory;

you will be called by a new name

    that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,

    a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

    or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah,[a]

    and your land Beulah[b];

for the Lord will take delight in you,

    and your land will be married.

you will be called by a new name

We need a new name, Lord

We don't like the one we have now

We call ourselves exceptional

Nothing like us exist

or ever did

We are the richest

We trip over our wealth

Gold piled upon gold

Look at our homes

Look at our fashion

We are the richest

Yet we are empty

all dressed up and no where to go

Empty streets and empty souls

all shine and no substance

Few rich

Many poor

you will be called by a new name

We need a new name, Lord

We don't like the one we have now

We call ourselves mighty

Nothing like us exist

or ever did

We are the strongest

Our armies too many to number

Our arms too muscular to face

We defeat our foes

Overcome our enemies

Conquer anyone and everyone

Yet we are weak

We have clout on the battlefield

but none in our communities

Our casualties are all at home

children with no bread

families with no bed

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

    or name your land Desolate.

Redeem us, O God

Turn us from avarice to sacrifice

from hoarders to givers

So that none may be homeless

but all are welcomed, sheltered, nurtured

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

    or name your land Desolate.

Redeem us, O God

Turn us from warriors into lovers

turning our swords into ploughshares

So none will go hungry

But all are fed, healed, comforted

you will be called by a new name

May we be called children of the Eternal God

May we be called children of the Risen Savior

May we be called children of the Disturbing Spirit

Amen