Thursday, September 26, 2013


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




Sunday, September 22, 2013

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

Saturday, September 7, 2013

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