Storyteller

O storyteller,
you sit me down
and fill me with tears
and love
and laughter.

Come into my life,
and tell your story
through me.

Ruth Burgess, in 50 Great Prayers from the Iona Community

Our Father

Our Father
who art also our Mother,
our Brother,
our Sister,
our Lover,
our Friend.
Thank you for being who you are
and who you will be,
world without end.
Amen

-Ruth Burgess, in 50 Great Prayers from the Iona Community

Sunday Prayer: Advent 1B

Let us give thanks to God, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, for all the gifts so freely bestowed upon us.

For the the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea,
Creator God, we thank you.

For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Emmanuel, God-with-us,
Gracious God, we thank you.

For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
Gracious God, we thank you.

For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
Gracious God, we thank you.

For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
Gracious God, we thank you.

Sustain the brave and the courageous and comfort those who suffer and face adversity,
Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Guide those who seek to do justice and walk humbly with you,
Gracious God, hear our prayer.

For those who have gone before us, for those who weep this night, and for the dying,
Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Above all, we give you thanks for the promise of your love, born in human form, who comes to us anew,
Gracious God, we give you thanks. Amen.

Saturday: contradictory love

"God's endless love contradicts the world and upsets all its pretentious meanings. The world seeks glory, honor, pleasure, pride, freedom from suffering, greed, hatred, resentment, and such small-hearted self-centeredness that no room is left for loving others for God's sake.
"But the God-Man chose utter poverty, insults, torment, ridicule, hunger, and thirst. Jesus scorned human glory and honor, always wanting the Father's glory and our salvation. Jesus persevered in true and perfect patience. There was no pride in Jesus, only a balanced humility."

~~Catherine of Siena, "Letters"~~

We are thanking the Lord

Matins

Now we are awake
and now we are come together
and now we are thanking the Lord.

This is easy,
for the Lord is everywhere.

He is in the water and the air,
He is in the very walls.

He is around us and in us.
He is the floor on which we kneel.

We make our songs for him
as sweet as we can

for his goodness,
and, lo, he steps into the song

and out of it, having blessed it,
having recognized our intention,
having awakened us, who thought we were awake,
a second time,
having married us in the air and water,

having lifted us in intensity,
having lowered us in beautiful amiability,

having given us
each other,
and the weeds, dogs, cities, boats, dreams
that are the world.

What Do We Know: Poems and Prose Poems by Mary Oliver

Wednesday Prayer: Pre-Holiday

Oh dear sweet Jesus,
the holiday blitz in on,
even before I  relish the day upon which to be thankful.

That crazy blonde lady Target ad,
who drools over the Black Friday flier, and works out in her pumps to get ready for the big shopping extravaganza (have you seen that commercial?)--it makes my stomach sick.
Even the UCC online store has a 25 Days of Shopping Specials, and each day I get an email highlighting the deal of the day.  Really?  UCC?   That is sinful.
Now don't get me wrong,
I like me some UCC bling and I have had a love affair with Target since I was about 12,
but to overload
on the shopping commercials...
it's too much right now.
It's too much.

Oh dear sweet Jesus,
Forgive us,
forgive me.
Help me offer your peace, your hope, your quiet redeeming grace
in the midst of all the lights and glitter and show.

Amen.

Tuesday Prayer: Appalling Sacrifice

Fearful God,

you require of our love

appalling sacrifice;

and your lasting promise

is contained in contradiction.

May we so lay on your altar

our dearest desires

that we may receive them back from you

as unaccountable gift,

through Jesus Christ, Amen.

-Janet Morely, in All Desires Known

Sunday Prayer: Reign of Christ, Christ the King, Last Sunday after Pentecost

Holy God, holy and gracious one
Fill us with a Spirit of Wisdom
Feed us with your justice,
Nurture us with your mercy and grace.

We pray for those who are struggling from
Famine, war, drought, and other causes of hunger,
That deplete humanity, and all the world
Of the bounty of your creation.
Help us God to fed as you do.

In thanksgiving for all the gifts of this life
May we give to those who, for whatever reason
Suffer for lack of food.

Holy God, holy and gracious one
Fill us with a Spirit of Wisdom
Feed us with your justice,
Nurture us with your mercy and grace.

Holy God, help us to see those who suffer
For want of clothing, warmth, safety, shelter,
Help us God, to care as you do.

In thanksgiving for all the gifts of this life
May we tend to those who, for whatever reason
Suffer for lack of clothing and housing.

Holy God, holy and gracious one
Fill us with a Spirit of Wisdom
Feed us with your justice,
Nurture us with your mercy and grace.

Holy God, seeker of the lost,
Help us to find you, see you, know you.

Holy God, bind up the injured,
these we carry in our hearts,
Those in need of your healing.
And, help us to be your hands,
Your compassion, your healing
Love, in all we do.

Holy God, holy and gracious one
Fill us with a Spirit of Wisdom
Feed us with your justice,
Nurture us with your mercy and grace.
Amen.

The Blessedness of Winter

I live in one of the coldest places in the USA, and I can't say I enjoy the prospect of winter approaching.  Yesterday my family and I raked up the last of  the leaves from our yard (12 trees!) and I commented how sad it was to see our beautiful maples looking so stark.  This morning I read the following little devotion and prayer.  It is from Richard Foster's book, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home.

As winter approaches each year, I like to watch our large maple in the backyard begin to lose its covering of summer green and take on a funeral brown.  As the leaves drop, one by one all the irregularities of the tree are exposed.  The imperfections were always there,k of course, but they have been hidden from my view by an emerald blanket.  Now however, the tree is denuded and desolate and I can see his real condition.

Winter preserves and strengthens a tree.  Rather than expending its strength on the exterior surface, its sap is forced deeper and deeper into its interior depth.  In winter, a tougher and more resiliant life is firmly established.  Winter is necessary for the tree to survive and flourish.

Instantly you see the application.  Too often we hde our true condition with surgace virtues of pious activity, but once the leaves of our frantic pace drop away, the transforming power of a wintery spirituality can have effect.

To the outward eye, everything looks barren and unsightly.  Our many deficits , flaws and imperfections stand out in bold relief.  But only the outward virtues are collapsing....the soul is returning to the interior.  Real, solid, enduring virtues begin to develop.  Pure love can be birthed.

Dear Lord Jesus,

In my better moments, I want nothing more than to be like you.  But there are other moments....Help me to see how good conformity to your way really is. In my seeking for you, may I be found by you.  I love you, Lord.  Amen

Richard Foster

A Wednesday prayer....

They Shall Teach Thee
But ask now the beasts,
and they shall teach thee;
and the fowls of the air,
and they shall tell thee:
Or speak to the earth,
and it shall teach thee:
and the fishes of the sea
shall declare unto thee.
-Job 12:7-8

I Will Always Remember: a blessing

I will always remember

the olive-eyed tabby who

taught me that not all 

relationships are meant to

last a lifetime. Sometimes

just an hour is enough to 

touch your heart.

-Barbara Diamond

Sunday Prayer: Proper 28A, Pentecost 22

O God of
all,
God who hears
the cries of those in need
the cries of children, hurt, abused, abandoned, robbed of innocence,
may you O God, be in those cries, and offer solace
and may we be brave. May we not hide away
and perpetuate the hurt by doing nothing.
May we be your hands that touch gently, in true compassion, mindful
Of the sweetness of a child. O God, help us.

O God of
all,
God who hears the cries of those in despair
The cries of women, abused, ignored, blamed as if they caused the hurt,
May you, O God, be in those cries and offer solace
And may we be brace. May we not hide away
Or ignore, or blame the victim, or just stand by doing nothing.
May we be your voice, speaking up for justice, mindful
That one voice will lead to two voices, to a choir. O God, help us.

O God of
all,
God who hears the silence of those who turn away,
Who bury what they have seen, who ignore what they have done,
May you, O God, be in the silence, and offer words
And may we hear deeply into our lives, your call
For us to rise, united, a people who will not stand for
Abuse, violence, harm of any one, harm of any creature
May we be your compassion, the means through which
Your care speaks into the world. O God, help us.

O God of
all,
be with those who are ill, may they find wholeness.
Be with those who weep or worry or cannot sleep
Tend to the fears, remind us that the night,
The darkness, is also the place of life, the womb,
Where love begins.

Tend to the weary, bless
The dying, soothe the afflicted.

Call us
in all we do
to rise up
in love
speak out
in compassion
to be signs of
your love
healing the
broken places
with your mercy.
Amen.

An Evening Prayer

Thursday Prayer

When I hurt, I sometimes feel that you have left me.

I share the hurt of those first disciples when Jesus left them

But now I know your absence can become a new space for your presence. Amen.

~~Richard L. Morgan

Ed. Rene O. Bideaux. A Book of Personal Prayer. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1997. 56.

Riverside....Lay Down Your Burdens

I can't figure out how to embed the track for this song, but it is so worth listening to for the prayer for today,
so, here is the link:
Riverside
When you get there, just push the big play button underneath the title of the album.   Sink into the song.
Blessed Wednesday to you.

Lay down your burdens,
and know that they are being held for you.
amen.

Tuesday Prayer: A Sifter of Dust

A Sifter of Dust
Suppose you know the definitions
of all substances and their products,
what good is this to you?
Know the true definition of yourself.
That is essential.
Then, when you know your own definition, flee from it,
that you may attain to the One who cannot be defined,
O sifter of the dust.
                             -The Rumi Collection, edited by Kabir Helminski

Sunday Prayer: All Saints' Day

Holy One, Creator of all
To You, we give thanks
For every blessing, for You
Are generous, O lover of souls.

Form within us,
Wisdom,
Sustained and nurtured by your
Holy Spirit
That we might,
have the grace to listen
deeply
and respond with compassion

May we be filled with gratitude
For every gift of life,
For family, friends,
And the Saints who have gone before us.

From those who are peacemakers,
May we learn, and follow their example
From those who are pure in heart
May we become likewise, Christ-like.

Holy One, Creator of all
To You, we give thanks
For every blessing, for You
Are generous, O lover of souls.

For those who suffer, we ask for comfort
For those who are ill, we ask for healing
For those who struggle, we ask for peace
For those who worry, we ask for guidance
For those who are anxious, we ask for solace
For those who are hungry, may we give food
For those who are homeless, may we provide shelter
For those who are poor, may we bring sustenance
For all the worries and cares of this earth,
May we be your heart and hands
May we be generous as You.

Holy One, Creator of all
To You we give thanks for every blessing,
for You are generous, O lover of all.
God of every nation, tribe, people, and language,
God of all creation, this great multitude of life
We give you thanks.

Bless us, that we may be a blessing in return.
Amen.

Thursday Prayer

May you be blessed forever, Lord, for not abandoning me when I abandoned you.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for offering your hand of love in my darkest, most lonely moment.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for loving me more than I love myself.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for continuing to pour your blessings upon me, even though I respond so poorly.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for drawing out the goodness in all people, even including me.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for repaying our sin with your love.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for being constant and unchanging, amidst all the changes of the world.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for your countless blessings on me and on all your creatures.

~~Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Ed. Lyn Klug. Soul Weavings: A Gathering of Women's Prayers. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1996. 17.

a belated Wednesday prayer

It is our quiet time.
We do not speak, because the voices are within us.
It is our quiet time.
We do not walk, because the earth is all within us.
It is our quiet time.
We do not dance, because the music has lifted us to a place where the spirit is.
It is our quiet time.
We rest with all of nature.  We wake when the seven sisters wake.
We greet them in the sky over the opening of the kiva.
-Nancy Wood, in  Earth Prayers

For All The Saints....

For all the saints in our lives,
We give you thanks, O God....

For our friend saints,
and author saints,
for our sister saints and brother saints,
for our furry saints,
and mentor saints....
for our blogging saints
and our funny saints,
for our wise saints...
saints we know,
saints that simply surround us,
O holy One...
We give you thanks, this day.
Amen.