Wednesday, January 22, 2014

PRAYERS FOR THE THRID SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY



EPIPHANY 3


OT Psalm 27



1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
    to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
    they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
    yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.



In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

So much swirls around me
sickness and pain
surgery and chemo
I feel tossed on the wages
amidst their winds and rain

They sap my energy
trying so hard to keep
family and friends afloat
fearing we will be swamped
and left adrift upon

Only you can still the storms
and throw me a lifeline
be present in the anguish and doubt
guide me into the safe harbor
of your sheltering care and love

In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

Though I feel forsaken
and alone
left to summon strength
to face loss and hurt
extending myself beyond limits

Overcome with grief that
bends and breaks my heart
until numbness replaces feelings
and hope and memories fades
fatigued beyond endurance 

Only you can take my burdens
and make them your own
holding me up when I am ready to fall
drying my tears
and healing my brokenness

In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

You are my shelter
when I am lost
You are my strength
when I am weak
You are comfort
when I am mourning
You are my hope
when I am dying

In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

Amen



NT   Matthew 4:18-22


18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.


We have been casting our nets
for a long time
Hoping to land a big catch
that would bring us riches and fame

Maybe we have been doing it wrong
Jesus
Maybe we don't have the right gear
best rod and reel 
to bring in the catch we want

Perhaps we need better bait
to haul in our dreams 
lures that would entice allies
who could asks us in landing 
The Big One

Tell us Jesus
are we on the right lake
standing where the we can 
cast into a big school
and land the prize winner?

What's that Jesus
What is it we should be fishing for?

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.

Fish for people
Catch them so they can follow you.
Is that what you want, Jesus?

We will need rods of faith
and reels of love
to bring people into the path
that you ask us to follow

We will need to go wherever
people are searching for answers
persons who are lost and looking
seeking hope in the darkness around them

We will cast our nets 
with our faith and discipleship
inviting others to seek you out
learn to pray and laugh and live

We will become part of your fleet
going out into all the world
speaking words of hope
preaching the gospel of peace

We will become like you 
Jesus
and fish for people
and bring them into the Kingdom
of love and mercy

Amen




Of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
    to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
    they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
    yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.



In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

So much swirls around me
sickness and pain
surgery and chemo
I feel tossed on the wages
amidst their winds and rain

They sap my energy
trying so hard to keep
family and friends afloat
fearing we will be swamped
and left adrift upon

Only you can still the storms
and throw me a lifeline
be present in the anguish and doubt
guide me into the safe harbor
of your sheltering care and love

In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

Though I feel forsaken
and alone
left to summon strength
to face loss and hurt
extending myself beyond limits

Overcome with grief that
bends and breaks my heart
until numbness replaces feelings
and hope and memories fades
fatigued beyond endurance 

Only you can take my burdens
and make them your own
holding me up when I am ready to fall
drying my tears
and healing my brokenness

In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

You are my shelter
when I am lost
You are my strength
when I am weak
You are comfort
when I am mourning
You are my hope
when I am dying

In you, Lord God
and in you alone
I am safe
I am home

Amen



NT   Matthew 4:18-22


18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.


We have been casting our nets
for a long time
Hoping to land a big catch
that would bring us riches and fame

Maybe we have been doing it wrong
Jesus
Maybe we don't have the right gear
best rod and reel 
to bring in the catch we want

Perhaps we need better bait
to haul in our dreams 
lures that would entice allies
who could asks us in landing 
The Big One

Tell us Jesus
are we on the right lake
standing where the we can 
cast into a big school
and land the prize winner?

What's that Jesus
What is it we should be fishing for?

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.

Fish for people
Catch them so they can follow you.
Is that what you want, Jesus?

We will need rods of faith
and reels of love
to bring people into the path
that you ask us to follow

We will need to go wherever
people are searching for answers
persons who are lost and looking
seeking hope in the darkness around them

We will cast our nets 
with our faith and discipleship
inviting others to seek you out
learn to pray and laugh and live

We will become part of your fleet
going out into all the world
speaking words of hope
preaching the gospel of peace

We will become like you 
Jesus
and fish for people
and bring them into the Kingdom
of love and mercy

Amen

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