A PRAYER FOR THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV)

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

We are bent and broken

Our wounds never seem to heal

We hurt in many places

in our bodies

in our minds

in our souls

We have illnesses

too numerous

cancers and sores

strokes and falls

surgeries and pain

Lay your hands upon us

Lord Jesus

and we will be whole

We are bent and broken

Our hearts are very sad

Our countenance brought down

We seldom smile

seldom laugh

seldom sing

We lose too many

Friends and family

Relationships

Colleagues and jobs

Moments and possibilities

Lay your hands upon us

Lord Jesus

and we will be whole

We are bent and broken

Our Spirits are very low

We have lost direction

Lost focus

Lost direction

We don't have trust or faith

We wander aimlessly

Reaching out into the cosmos

Reaching out for a hand

Searching for a presence

Lay your hands upon us

Lord Jesus

and we will be whole

Come, Lord Jesus

Heal our bodies

Mend our hearts

Restore our souls

Lay your hands upon us

Lord Jesus

and we will be whole

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE 13th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Psalm 80

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,

you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth

2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.

Stir up your might,

and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts,

how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,

and given them tears to drink in full measure.

6 You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors;

our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;

you drove out the nations and planted it.

9 You cleared the ground for it;

it took deep root and filled the land.

10 The mountains were covered with its shade,

the mighty cedars with its branches;

11 it sent out its branches to the sea,

and its shoots to the River.

12 Why then have you broken down its walls,

so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?

13 The boar from the forest ravages it,

and all that move in the field feed on it.

Restore us, O God;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

We are a proud people

We believed that this land

was Our new Eden

A gift you gave to our forefathers

and foremothers

to carve out a new life

a new beginning

Forgive us

that we took possession of it

from its native people

through genocide and conquest

turning them

aliens in their own land

Restore us, O God;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

We are a proud people

We plowed the land

and brought forth its bounty

crops and fruits

that fed our families

and nourished our people

Forgive us

that we enslaved millions

to harvest and till the land

oppressing them for hundreds of years

denying them dignity and honor

forcing them to sit in the rear

Restore us, O God;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

We are a proud people

We have built up a nation

designed cities and states

that drew back the wilderness

and tamed the land

using its waters and minerals

for power and light

Forgive us

for turning Your Garden

into polluted skies

and water that is fouled

cutting away its forests

diminishing its beauty

Restore us, O God;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

We are a proud people

Forgive us

Bend our pride into humble thanksgiving

Burn away our arrogance

so we may acknowledge that

this wondrous land is your creation

Teach us that we are its stewards

not its owners

and our lease can be cancelled

Remind us that all we are

and all we have

is a gift from you

Restore us, O God;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE TWELTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Genesis 15:1-18 (NRSV)

15 1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the Lord; and The Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

We have so little faith

that you will give us what we need

Yet every morning we rise

we are blessedly beyond our dreams

We worry that our cupboards will be bare

and have little to eat

Yet you provide from the bounty of your creation

so we may be nurtured and fed

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

We wish to be loved and cherished

so that we will not be lonely

You give us family and friends

to care and loves us

We hope for success and achievement

to leave a footprint in our life

You give us hands to build

and minds to be creative

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

You give us your Son

Jesus the Christ

Who shows us how to live

and rose to give us life eternal

You give us Your Spirit

who dwells within us

to guide and direct us

refresh and renew us

For all the gifts you give us

O God, we thank you

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Luke 12:13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

We've got made, Lord

Just look at us

The stock market is booming

our investments are growing

our savings account is bulging

We have money to splurge

things to buy

and stuff to collect

We've got made, Lord

Just look at us

Our house is in good shape

all paid off

renovated to the hilt

Yard is trimmed and groomed

Pool is refreshed and ready

Ribs are on the grill

We've got made, Lord

Just look at us

Three cars in the garage

Places to go and things to see

Trips to take and cruises to sail

time to kick back

and soak in the rays

take it easy

We've got made, Lord

Just look at us

We worked hard

showed up every day

exceeded expectations

Now we can ease up

enjoy retirement

not worry bout a thing

We've got made, Lord

Just look at us

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?

Forgive us, Lord

We get carried away by all

of our accomplishments

and forget that everything we have

is a gift from you

Forgive us, Lord

We grow arrogant and proud

thinking what we made is our achievement

when all we do and create

comes with your guidance and assistance

Forgive us, Lord

for gathering things of the earth

and neglecting to lay up

treasures in heaven

and spiritual gifts

Forgive us, Lord

and remind us that our

work for you is never done

til you call us home

To be with you

Amen