A PRAYER FOR THE 23rd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Luke 18:9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

We know we are supposed to pray Lord

We don't always know how

We are good at saying all the correct words

making our prayers flow

Poem as prayers

full of eloquence and meaning

We follow along the liturgy

repeat the words on the screen

or in the bulletin

praying as a whole people of God

We always have our Prayer List

Needs to mention

Friends and family in need

All tidied up so we can beg for your help

Forgive us, Lord Jesus

that we put more importance

on style and substance

and forget we should just come

and be silent

Forgive us, Lord Jesus

that our prayers are often

about what we need or want

and not so much on thanksgiving

or confession

Forgive us, Lord Jesus

that in prayer we tend to

do all the talking 

and not much listening

Forgive us, Lord Jesus

that we forget

you showed us how or pray

by going away from the chaos

to sit alone and pray

Forgive us, Lord Jesus

and remind us to pray

as you taught us

Our Father

Who are in heaven

Hallowed be your name

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

on Earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us

For the Kingdom

the Power

the Glory are yours

Now and forever

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE 22nd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

A PRAYER FOR THE 22nd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,[a] says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

We long to know your way Lord

to live in the ways of truth

We dwell in a land of messages

of avarice and greed

selfish wants and unfulfilled dreams

Each voice crying for us to follow

to happiness and unending desires

Place upon our hearts the knowledge 

that in you all our needs are met

all our wants are filled

our life whole and complete

We long to know your way Lord

to live in the ways of hope

We feel so much despair around us

mountains of gloom

oceans of anguish

that drown us in waves

of sorrow and surrender

Burn your hope into our hearts

Plant within a vision of your kingdom

where the lamb and the lion lie together

joy is known on every street

and every village and town

We long to know your way Lord

to live in the ways of peace

We live in a time of constant war

Struggles for power and riches

Tyrants triumph and hatred reigns

making widows and orphans 

Dead stacked upon dead

Light the flames of peace upon our hearts

Sow the strength to love our enemies

and the courage to turn our swords into plowshares

and study war never more

We long to know your way Lord

to live in the ways of truth

hope and peace

Write them upon our hearts

that we may walk always in your way

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE 21st SUNDAY AFTER Pentecost

A PRAYER FOR THE 21st SUNDAY AFTER Pentecost 

Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)

11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus[a] was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers[b] approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’[c] feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

We are always begging, Lord Jesus

Begging to be healed

Begging to be cleansed

Begging to be forgiven

Begging to be loved

We live with hurt and pains

illnesses and surgeries

going for this treatment

and that procedure

We beg to be healed

Free of pain and distress

Healthy and whole

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

We live with addictions

cravings for pleasure 

becoming enslaved

to bottle and poll

We beg to be cured

Freed from their control

Cleansed in body and soul

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

We live sinfully and selfishly 

guilty of the many wrongs we do

the angry and hurtful word we utter

our own unforgiving nature

We beg to be forgiven

Pardoned to live freely

Forgiven and forgivers

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

We try so hard to be liked

Accepted by peers and colleagues

Admired and applauded 

for our life and accomplishments

We beg to be loved

Cherished for who you created us to be

Precious in your sight

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Heal us

Cleanse us

Forgive us 

Love us

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE 20TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

A PRAYER FOR THE 20TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

(Though this prayer is for October 6th, I thought I would post it now as we prepare to debate the use of force against Syria. Prayer will be much needed in this discussion)

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon—

    there we sat down and there we wept

    when we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows[a] there

    we hung up our harps.

3 For there our captors

    asked us for songs,

and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,

    “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How could we sing the Lord’s song

    in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

    let my right hand wither!

6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,

    if I do not remember you,

if I do not set Jerusalem

    above my highest joy.

Dear God

We are here again

Sitting and weeping 

over so many losses

so many deaths

We cannot sing

We cannot eat

We cannot breathe

We cannot think

The fumes persist

gagging us

killing us

defeating us

Dear God

We are here again

Hanging up our harps

No songs in our hearts

What can we sing?

What can we say?

What can we pray?

Will the world listen

hear our cries

bury our dead

mourn our losses

Will our enemies see

that we are scared

hiding and hoping

that the rain of death cease

Will you, O God hear us

tend our wounds 

stand beside us

wreak vengeance 

on our killers

Dear God

We are here again

Remembering our past glories

when the children played

and the streets sang

No watchman needed on then wall

Restore us

Make us strong in the face of death

Renew our strength to confront our fears

Embolden us to seek your justice

Guide us to rebuild your peace

Vanquish those whose lust

for power and glory

Crush their bow

drown their tanks

silence their guns

Lead us out of the wilderness

of war

into the places of peace

Guide us from the valleys of hatred

onto the mountains of love

Show us the path away from the roads of evil

onto the avenues to Shalom

Amen