Decolonize!
Because, Lord I’m tired of Gun violence.
That’s my whole prayer today.
Amen.
Decolonize!
Because, Lord I’m tired of Gun violence.
That’s my whole prayer today.
Amen.

Blue Christmas/Longest Night Comfort Candle Suggested: Liturgy Guide
Nov 27 Hope Candle
Faith as a Way of Life
Habakkuk 1:1-7; 2:1-4 3: [3B-6], 17-19
Prophet grieved by injustice: Faith as a way, not an answer
Matt 26: 36-38 Gethsemane Jesus is grieved, asks Disciples to watch
Hope
God, what does hope taste like?
Does it taste like clear cool water after a faithful run
God says, faith is a path.
God light our path with Hope
Help us tp the light the Hope candle
So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 1 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Dec. 4
Esther Love Candle
Esther 4:1-17
For Such a Time as This, Esther was Made Queen
Salt and Light
Too often we feel in our souls the meaning of for such a time as this!
We need love candles, to light our way.
God sends the Esthers, to love us in terrible times.
God light our path with Love
Help us to light the Love candle
So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 2 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 3 O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Dec 11 Joy Candle
Light of Nations
Isaiah 42:1-9 Through Spirit bring Release to Prisoners
Matthew 12:15-21 Spirit of justice, fulfilling the prophecy
Light of Nations, how we desire you
We long for the taste of freedom
God sends the Holy Spirit to free all prisoners
God light the path to freedom with Joy
Help us to light the Joy candle
So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 3 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 2 O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Dec 18th Peace Candle
Jesus as Immanuel
Matthew 1:18-25
fPsalm 23:14
Holy Spirit, we cannot even fully conceive your peace
But how we need the fullness of God’s Shalom in our souls
God be with us, our Emmanuel, tell us the story until it lives in us
God light our path to Peace
Help us to light the Peace candle
So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 4 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Dec 24 Christ Candle
Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]
Psalm 96 (10-13)
God, you are coming to us in Christ
We long to fill your presence here
God what a miracle you become, a baby
a human translation of God’s love
Come let us welcome Christ
Come let us find you in justice, mercy and light
Suggested Hymn It Came Upon A Midnight Clear or O Holy Night

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
If you enjoy my work please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/554d36e3
Yes
Yes
I am doing the hard work of resting
Sleeping
Trying to let my body heal
Ok God
I’m trying
But I have some words
About resting without the surgery I need
Trying so hard
Not to do
Or think
Just to be
God why is it hard
Just to be
Be Still
And know that
I am God
Easy for You to Say God
Even Jesus
Ran away
To Mountains and Hills
To Lakes and Boats
Even Jesus took naps
And meals with Friends
Even Jesus said: Enough Today is a holiday
and turned everything off
How are you?
everyone is asking
Tired, I answer
What a wealth of meaning
a word can have
I sleep,
and sleep
And try not to do things
And sleep
God, you know its been ten months
Of just living, so when the doctor said how are you doing things?
I said, I just am.
I cannot tell if I am sick
Or I am weary
Come to me
all
All who are heavy
Burdened
Your Promise
Is Rest
But here I am, trying to be
Be still, you whisper, take the time.
So I’m trying, not to try
Why is it so hard?
“Its ok” the Holy Spirit whispers
As I lay down again
Its ok…
I’ll rest in the difficult and restlessness
Amen.
If you enjoy my work please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/554d36e3
Do you want to learn how to write prayers and liturgy? Psalms and Calls to Worship? Confessions and Personal Prayers? This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide.
Sunday November 20th 4pm-6pm (Eastern) $40
Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator
For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”
Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

OK God,
Do I complain about this speed bump now?
The Covid standing in the way of surgery?
I’m taking a deep breath–of gratitude for quadruple vaccinations
And so few symptoms that I did not know
And thankfulness for masks
and frantic prayers that I didn’t infect anyone–and really that I didn’t infect anyone vulnerable.
And for a Day of Work that somehow came together in Coverage
really its a miracle, so easy that I feel guilty about how easy it was
I know you gotta be laughing at that one God
How easily we humans feel guilty, right?
(But I planned to be there and had been excited to see all the people and miss them)
But really, I long for deep healing
The rest and restoration that I could almost taste
The baby-sitting, rides, meals, work, set-ups, coverage, therapy, bracing
I really do not want a drop of it to go to waste, and the idea of setting it all up again is
Daunting
Wearying
Soul-wrenching
So I pray that you have this figured out already
Just like the Church Government meeting I obviously could not go to this week–what with the surgery and/or covid (that I thought I wanted to sign up for)
And so many other things as they go past that I thought, oh I thought I wanted to sign up for that, but I’m glad I didn’t because I realize now that I did not really have the time for that.
Ok God,
What now?
The wait for Monday is a Lot–
And this feels more like a speed bump to healing
It feels like a mountain, or a quest
I lift my eyes to the hills
the annoying, freaking have to climb them hills
From whom will my help come?
Fine it will come from the Lord my God…
But I don’t have to like it today.
Here’s hoping for surgery on the other end.
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta


God I remember–when you came out of the closet–
Flaming!
And Moses, said, What are your Pronouns?
And God says, I am what I am
And Moses says,
Cool, I gotch-you, You’re the God of Pronouns!
And, God says, Good, because I have a feeling,
This will get more complicated!
And then People were doing Violence to one another
So God turned the World On and then Off again
And sent the animals two by two Upon a boat
And hung up God’s weapon, a Bow (that’s an old school gun)
And said, I’m hanging up my weapon, so you will hang up yours
As a sign that Love is Love is Love is Love
And Noah said Cool
And God said, Cool, Because I have a Feeling this might get misconstrued someday
God I remember when Joseph
Draped themselves in a Lady’s Coat
And their bros made fun of them
And tried to feed them to the Lions
And God said, Nope, I claim the Queer One
And then we “retranslated” it as a Rainbow coat, so no one will understand them as Queer
(And you laughed again God, didn’t you? You mysterious and all knowing I Am)
And then Joseph said what you meant for Evil, God meant for Good
No one can take away my God, And God said mmm-mmmmm
And I remember Isaiah, where the prophet saw God,
And clearly identified God as multiples, and referred to God as them
And scholars thought up a new word Trinity–
And we ignored the singular/multiple thing–and God waited, patiently as only God can, for it to dawn upon us.
And then there was when Ruth declared her love and devotion for Naomi
And said where you go I will go, your people will be my people, your God will be my God
And God laughed and said, this will be the foundation text for weddings
This found-family declaration between too women, shh! Don’t tell the Conservatives.
And then came Jesus who instructed us, “Care for the Least of these”
and “Let no one revile you in my name” and “Welcome the Stranger”
And we nodded along like we knew what he meant
and then we disciples whispered among ourselves about exceptions
And God, God you knew
You knew. You knew before we knew
You know, the Bible is so Queer;
It would not even be the Bible, if it did not include rainbows and flames
It would not be Holy without found families
and radical, unconventional love
God only knows, that it is not us who gets to say who belongs to God;
it is but our job to practice welcome and hospitality
Someday, perhaps
we will get the laughter of angels right
And so Coming Out Day Blessings to those who can celebrate
And safe spaces and sanctuary to those who can’t
May those who are Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Ace, Bisexual, Nonbinary, Queer, Androgynous, Demi, Intersex, Questioning, Omnigender, Poly, Pan, and of Two Spirit find the space to be their full self.
And may they scream or yell or ignore or bless God as wish–
Because,
Because
You are God, and you care to endure all those things when your children have suffered so
May we create a world where Coming Out day
that is a true celebration and choice
May all people be celebrated in their fullness we pray–not because of the Bible,
but just Because, We pray this together!
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
**Grocery prices have gone from–I’m worried To Good Lord**
God,
How many prayers
do you get at the grocery checkout Line?
I remember how many I gave to you
when we scanned the credit cards
that one of them would not bounce
Two kids, then three, in the card
Aware that people around me were thinking judgmental things
Or back when WIC coupons were paper
Ostentious, Obvious
Burdensome and Slow
And I prayed I picked all the right items
So I wouldn’t hold up the people behind me
While the babies fussed
And everyone judged how many cookies
and healthy and whatever expensive foods
I bought that week.
These days my prayers, I admit,
are less desperate,
But I pray a little prayer
because every single week
the grocery bill goes up
And I feel the panic in my gut
the awareness of days past (PTSD, yes?)
when I would gather up the kids
cereal and yogurt and milk
Putting every drop back when they finished
Loathe to waste a drop,
because we could not afford it
Jesus
You and the Widow know
that you can’t budget your way out of poverty
Only money can help
God, I’m saying a prayer
For all of us who are stressed
Or holding our breath
Or trying not to cry in the checkout line
“Feed my Sheep” You said
“Feed my Sheep” is our prayer in the checkout line.
Feed us, we pray.
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
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Here’s a Prayer for all those who collapse
at the end
Who are just holding it together
Somehow
Til the end of the Day
And then lose it
When they get in the door
Or are asked to do a thing
Or have to leave their comfort zone/thing/activity
Here are for those for whom the “Simple” tasks are not easy
Socializing
Being Organized
Paying Attention
Meeting People’s Eyes
Going Outside
Sensory Overload
New Things
Exposure
All the Things the one has to Weather
Here is a prayer for those whose bodies react
with twitches, or sleep disturbance, or accidents
migraines or other body aches
This is a prayer for those who have to acclimate
to this STRANGE thing everyone else calls the norm
I want to tell you, God thinks you are beautiful
and perfect, exactly as you are
and I hope you are safe
and beloved–and you have spots of sanctuary
moments of hope
and experiences of full self
Here’s a prayer for those who experience after school restraint collapse
Like ripe apples or rainbows of leaves in the fall
or tacos that are too full of good things to eat
or cake that is overfull of icing and sprinkles–
We all fall apart sometimes,
Jesus wept,
and ran away
and napped on a boat
and cursed a fig tree.
And went alone to a garden to pray–
but asked his disciples to body double him while he was there.
Here’s a prayer for all of us who collapse, because we are overloaded
May we, like Jesus, rage or weep or pray or rest.
Whenever we need to, and find what we need along the way God.
We pray this in the name of your Counselor and Comforter the Holy Spirit–
Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
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Nov 6th Healing Truths
Praying for Truth
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2 Kings 5:1-15a Elisha heals Naaman, a foreigner and leper
Matt 8:2-3 Jesus heals a leper
Psalm 41
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 41)
Bless is the Lord, the God of Israel
God is from everlasting to everlasting
God we love to be in your presence
Come let us worship God
Call to Confession: We come to God to confess those things that still hurt and need healing
Confession: God be gracious to me and heal me for I have sinned against you. I know you consider the poor and the sick and care for them. God, I know there is all kinds of healing in the world, and that you are a healing God. Help us to heal and to continue whatever healing you are doing in the world. We pray this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God you are gracious and promise to raise us up and to heal all sins, so we know the good news In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God you empower us, like Naaman to pursue healing. We pray this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymns: There is a Balm in Gilead, I’ve Got Peace Like a River, O Christ the Healer, Lord I Want to Be a Christian, Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Children: Talk about Baptism and how it cleans sin permanently with the help of confession—its kind of like a bath. Talk about Naaman and how he wants to be special but he just needs a bath. The Pigeon Needs a Bath by mo willems or Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
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Oct 30th Prophecy Truth & Healing
Praying for Truth
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Oct 30th Solomon’s Wisdom Praying for Truth
1 Kings 3:4-9 (10-15), 16-28 Solomon prays for wisdom, 2 women and a baby
Matt 6:9-10 Our Father
Psalm 16
Call to Worship
I bless the Lord, who is always before more
God is is in my heart, instructing me
Be glad, my soul rejoices
My body also rests secure
Come let us go to God
Let us worship God
Call to Confession: God calls us to the wisdom and knowledge, come let us give ourselves to God through confession.
Prayer of Confession God we come to you praying for wisdom. We confess that we do not always know who is right or who is telling the truth. We confess that we are attracted to power or money instead of acting justly or loving mercy. But you hold fast to the boundary, even when we lose it. God is always before us, and show us the path of life and remind us how to walk humbly with you we pray. Amen
Assurance of Pardon: In God we can rest secure, and let us proclaim and rejoice in the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Teach us to pray and live into wisdom, so the paths of truth and healing may unfold before us. Help to know your ways as we go God. Amen.
Hymns: A Mighty Fortress is Our God, When at Night I Meditate, My Shepherd Will Supply My Name, Invisible Immortal God Only Wise, In You Lord I Have Put My Trust, Within Your Shelter Loving God, Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Children: Talk about asking questions and how God is ok with questions. Talk about how “I don’t know” is a legitimate answer and how God is full of mystery. What If by Samantha Berger Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcake

If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!