Bidding Prayer for Hope

Come, let us pray for the church in all its variations throughout the world. People are invited to share their prayers silently or quietly God of all times and places, reveal your presence in and among us. Your people yearn to proclaim your presence with Jacob’s surety. Too much distracts us from your grace and … Read More

A Few Words

Every time I read Psalm 68 I remember a Bible study group I led early in my career. Someone shared parts of this Psalm as the opening devotional, commenting particularly on the psalmist’s invitation to ascribe glory and power to God. Another person in attendance immediately asked, “Why? Why should we give God credit for our strength, our success, our own achievements?” As a new and young pastor, I was rather taken aback by the question. I don’t remember where the conversation took us that night, but it’s likely that my answer is very different now.

It is like answering a question in German when the one who asked only speaks English. It’s not as simple as saying that God created all that is and so we must respond with gratitude and glory.

The need to worship God, the ability to ascribe to God glory and power, is born out of experience rather than intellectual decision. I think of that parishioner who asked the question in Bible Study. Clearly, there was something missing from the church experience if, after many years of membership, he was asking why we ascribe to God anything.

30510_387050549163_6316799_nIt’s easy for me to say that I can’t imagine my life without God. The times I have felt hopeless would have gone very differently if I did not believe in a loving God. The times when I have experienced joy would have just been happy little momentswithout God. I would not be who I am if I did not believe that Jesus died on my behalf, that God loves the particularity of me.

I also know that anyone listening to me can point to any place of war, tragedy, violence, poverty, hunger, homelessness, etc. and say that God is absent from the world. The language of faith is particular, as “ingroup” speak. We ought to be living an embodiment of the words we speak. We should, in this way, become the word incarnate. Talk less.

RCL – Year A – Seventh Sunday of Easter – June 1, 2014
Acts 1:6-14
Ps 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
John 17:1-11

A Path for God’s Steps

20121004_164907O God, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
Like the ancient Israelites, we turn from your ways again and again without seeming to learn. Yet, your love for them, O Lord, never ended.

You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin.
You pardoned the sins of your people for generations. Will you continue to pardon us when we break relationships with you, ourselves, and our neighbors?

You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
Surely, you must be angry at what has been done in your name. Will your turn from your anger yet again, in spite of what we, your people, do and fail to do?

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation towards us.
You are the God of our salvation but we often act as if this could not possibly be true. Can you put away your indignation toward us even as we continue to respond in anger toward others?

Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
You have forgiven your people in the past—over and over again. We long to serve you more fully even as we choose lesser gods to serve. Our children hardly know you. Will you gather your scattered people once more?

Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?
We have lost the joy of life in you. We seek after our own small pleasures and hold those who truly suffer at arm’s length. Breathe new life into us, that we may sing of your glory without hesitation.

Show us your steadfast love, O God,
and grant us your salvation.
We have chosen war over peace, squandering resources over feeding the hungry, maintaining injustice over fostering equity, fear over love, and self-reliance over trust in you. O Lord our God, grant us your salvation.

Let me hear what God the Sovereign will speak,
for God will speak peace to the people,
Quiet the chaos in us and around us that we may truly hear your Word of peace louder than all other words.

God will speak to the faithful,
to those who turn to God in their hearts.
We long to hear you speaking, even out of the cacophony of our own making. Turn the hearts of the faithful to you.

Surely God’s salvation is at hand for those who fear God,
that God’s glory may dwell in our land.
We stand in awe when confronted with your power and reminded of your abiding presence. Save us from all that we have done to distance ourselves from you. May we be active witnesses of your saving grace.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Your steadfast love and faithfulness surpasses all that we can know and understand. When we see you in everyone we meet and live in the justice this seeing calls forth, then righteousness and peace will kiss each other and all will be blessed.

Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
You will rejoice when all your children stand together to care for each other and for creation with passion and joy.

God will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
You, O Lord, give what is good. May we be open to the abundance you provide.

Righteousness will go before God,
and will make a path for God’s steps.
May we our feet walk the path of righteousness wherever God’s steps may lead.

RCL – Year C – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost – July 28, 2013
Hosea 1:2-10 with Psalm 85 or
Genesis 18:20-32 with Psalm 138
Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)
Luke 11:1-13

Promise, Prophecy, and Prayer

As I drove to work yesterday morning I found myself singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” I sang it all the way through before I realized what I was doing. It filled me with a strange nostalgia. The next thing I knew I was thinking of other songs and hymns that mark different eras in my life.  “Beautiful Savior” was the first hymn I learned in youth choir. “Crown Him with Many Crowns” was a favorite in high school. In college it was Petra’s “For Annie.” In seminary there were many, but “Here I am Lord” was at the top. Later, “It is Well with My Soul” topped my list of favorites. These days, I often find myself humming “Grace Like Rain.” My ride to work went by very quickly.

Today it occurred to me that in a generation or two these songs that have such meaning and power for me, will fade away. Of course, I experienced a twinge of sadness that this music doesn’t connect with younger generations so much today. But then excitement and wonder pushed any sadness away. What songs will the church of tomorrow sing? Will another generation be able to create a soundtrack of hymns and praise songs for their lives?

And strangely, I kept thinking about Abram. In one conversation with God about the promise of children, he entered into a covenant that changed nearly everything about his life. Did he know that he stood on the brink of something totally new? Did he wonder how God would speak to future generations? Did it occur to him that his sons and grandsons would know God in ways he couldn’t imagine or foresee? Did he look to the future with hope and expectation? God made him a promise that changed everything.

We don’t have these kinds of conversations with God today. Partly because the world is different. Partly because Jesus took away the need for such promises. Jesus is the conversation we have with God. Love. Grace. Forgiveness. Salvation. Words spoken right out loud.

But things change. We forget. We get lost. Lent is a good season for remembering. It is the perfect time to be still and listen for God. How is God speaking today? Where is God speaking today? Who is listening and what are they hearing?

Things can change and still be okay. God can lead us anywhere. No matter what changes, as long as we are in conversation with God, it is okay. We are not alone, lost in the wilderness and left to our own devises. Everything may feel and look different, and yet people still find a way to praise God, come together to worship. It has been happening for thousands of years. We don’t worship the way Abram worshiped. We don’t worship the way the disciples worshiped. People that come after us aren’t going to resemble our practices either. That’s not important. What matters is the relationship we have with God, one another, ourselves. THAT is what gets lost in the cacophony of sound around us. And when the worship itself, or the music itself, becomes more important than the relationship, we are not listening anymore.

I don’t know about you, but I think there is prophecy and promise still to come.

 I believe that I shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Wait for God;    be strong, let your heart take courage; wait for God!

RCL – Year C – Second Sunday of Lent – February 24, 20132013-02-16 14.51.27

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17–4:1
Luke 13:31-35

God is Present: An Advent Prayer

montana_20080622_4_bgO Love Incarnate, wrap your everlasting arms around all those who mourn this day, and lift up the hearts of those who cannot see beyond the darkness. When we would lose ourselves in grief and anger, touch us with grace enough to turn to you. When anticipation of your birth is forgotten amidst tragedy, violence, and grief, draw us closer to you. We long for the surety of your love even as we tremble in fear.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.

Light of the World, remove the shadows of our own sinfulness and selfishness. Your light shines even when our eyes are blinded by gun shots still echoing through our nation, and around the world. Human brokenness turns us from you and we go hungry and cold when you would hold us close. We search for answers and come up with angry impulses, forgetting that you speak loudest in the silence. When we would buy guns to protect ourselves from our neighbors, reveal yourself in the faces around us. We yearn to see you in our midst.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.

Promise of Salvation, the star over Bethlehem has dimmed and we are in danger of losing our way to you. We want to protect ourselves and blame others for the ills of our society. We would rather not see you in those with mental illness or acknowledge our responsibility to care for those who cannot care for themselves. With every act of violence, we grow more distant from one another and more fearful of those who seem different. You would save us from ourselves. We have only to make it to Bethlehem and kneel before you, accepting once again that you are the Savior and we are not. Bend our knees. Calm our fears. Open our hearts. We need your saving love.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.

Mighty One, your mercy is truly from generation to generation, including this one. Reveal to us, once again, your strength and your power. You are the one who can bring humility to the proud and powerful and lift up those who so often go unseen. We are all hungry in these days of war, violence, and death; you alone can fill us with goodness. It is your mercy we need on this Sunday of Love. It is your might that will bring us to our knees to honor your birth and to trust that you will guide us safely home. Lead us away from mourning into joy that we may honor you once again.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.

RCL – Year C – Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 23, 2012

Micah 5:2-5a
Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]