Tuesday, July 16, 2013

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