Processing with God: Narrative Lectionary, Liturgy, Prayers
Author: katyandtheword
Pastor Katy has enjoyed ministry at New Covenant since 2010, where the church has solidified its community focus. She now works at Capital CFO plus as the Non Profit Director. All opinions expressed on this blog are her own and do not reflect those of Capital CFO plus. Prior to that she studied both Theology and Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She also served as an Assistant Chaplain at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and as the Christian Educational Coordinator at Bethany Presbyterian at Bloomfield, NJ.
She is an writer and is published in Enfleshed, Sermonsuite, Presbyterian's today and Outlook. She writes prayers, liturgy, poems and public theology and is pursuing her doctorate in ministry in Creative Write and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
She enjoys working within and connecting to the community, is known to laugh a lot during service, and tells as many stories as possible. Pastor Katy loves reading Science Fiction and Fantasy, theater, arts and crafts, music, playing with children and sunshine, and continues to try to be as (w)holistically Christian as possible.
"Publisher after publisher turned down A Wrinkle in Time," L'Engle wrote, "because it deals overtly with the problem of evil, and it was too difficult for children, and was it a children's or an adult's book, anyhow?" The next year it won the prestigious John Newbery Medal.
Tolkien states in the foreword to The Lord of the Rings that he disliked allegories and that the story was not one.[66] Instead he preferred what he termed "applicability", the freedom of the reader to interpret the work in the light of his or her own life and times.
because I don’t even know what my ducks are anymore.
How do I prioritize when everything is important? How do I do self care when my hours are chunked in weird ways and the schedule remains nebulous and to the wind.
Even when I breathe sighs of relief, or take moments of joy…I know that the ducks are waiting.
Sometimes they quack at me in the middle of the night, awakening me with all the things I’ve forgotten, or all the problems I’m not sure how to solve.
Lord knows, (that’s you God) that I don’t have my ducks in a row.
My work is never perfect no matter how much I try, my kids need more attention than ever (not to mention socialization) and I can’t seem to find a minute for myself.
Plus everything is different, still! Again! Always!
And ignoring the fact we can’t keep the house clean anymore isn’t really working either.
Are these even the duckies I should be worried about? What ducks am I missing? I’m sure I’m missing some, somewhere.
And I wonder if this is how Jesus felt, as he was chasing down that Wild Goose of the Holy Spirit.
Did he look around at the ducks and said, one of these is the goose, but I just can’t find the one I’m supposed to chase down and catch first.
But maybe, hopefully, the chase is enough. Hopefully between the chasing and the quacking, I have a moment to reflect on what I have completed, or what has gone right.
Or perhaps I will give myself one of those adulting prizes: for sleeping or eating or drinking water or moving around or taking medication. Those all count as important things done.
God, maybe my ducks have never been in a row–after all they are all your ducks and geese anyway. But help me to organize myself in such a way that I can let go of the ducks I can let go of and chase the right things to pursue the Holy Spirit of inspiration, comfort, energy and hope.
Maybe it isn’t about ducks at all, maybe it’s really about the Wild Goose of the Holy Spirit. Remind me to chase down the Wild Goose, and that this Wild Goose Chase is surely worth it.
God will help us to flourish, even at such a time that we don’t know where our ducks are.
Remind us of this we pray. Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy
Read about my journey towards a doctorate in ministry in creative writing and give a small donation towards my tuition! About Me: My Story & My Writing
All Original Prayers by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl, permission to use with credit
Prelude Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Fernando Ortega
Opening Prayer (1)
O Holy God,
like Isaiah the prophet, we stand in awe of Your glory,
feeling tremendously small and polluted by our sin,
and the sin of our society.
Even so, You touch us with Your burning presence,
and we are made clean and whole.
O God, our Creator,
continue to build this household of faith into what You want us to be.
O Christ, our Savior,
lead us to do as You will.
O Spirit, our Power,
strengthen us for the work of the Kingdom.
Amen.
Call to Worship (Response is Isaiah 6:3) (2)
Glory in God’s holy name. Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
99:9Exalt the Lord our God. Worship at his holy hill,
for the Lord our God is holy.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
145:17The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
145:21My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord.
Let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Call to Confession
John Calvin, whose work and theology are the basis for the Reformed tradition, including our Presbyterian faith, notes that when we compare ourselves to others, we may think highly of ourselves. But when we compare ourselves to God’s absolute holiness and goodness, we see how far we fall short of who God created us to be. Let us be reminded of God’s holiness and our need for forgiveness.
Prayer of Confession (from Isaiah 6:1-7)
O Holy Lord, when we see that just the hem of your robe fills the whole temple, we know we are a people of unclean lips.
When the six-winged seraphim attend you, we know we are a people of unclean lips.
As the angels proclaim that the whole earth is full of your glory, we know we are a people of unclean lips.
When the thresholds shake and the place is filled with smoke, we know we are a people of unclean lips.
Woe to us! When we see you, O King and Lord of hosts, we know we are lost because we know we are a people of unclean lips.
(Silent confession)
Assurance of Pardon
God touches us with burning coal,
and our guilt departs, our sin is blotted out.
Thanks be to God for the Good News: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Gloria Patri: (Blue #579) Glory Be to the Father
Prayers of the People/Lord’s Prayer (traditional)
Celebration of Birthdays and Anniversaries
Hymn of Dedication Just As I Am, Without One Plea
Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee O Lamb of God, I come! I come
Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind Sight, riches, healing of the mind Yea, all I need, in Thee to find O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve Because Thy promise I believe O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Doxology (Blue, #592) Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
(1) From prayer based on Isaiah 6 from My Redeemer Lives website.
(2) 1 Chronicles 16:10; Psalm 99:9; Psalm 145:17, 21. King James Version.
Prayer of DedicationBlessed are you, God of all creation;
through your goodness we have these gifts to share.
Accept and use all that we give and all that we are
for your glory and for the service of your kingdom. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord
Take thou our minds, dear Lord, we humbly pray; give us the mind of Christ each passing day; teach us to know the truth that sets us free; grant us in all our thoughts to honor thee.
Old Testament Reading (NRSV) Isaiah 6:1-8
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 33 And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
What comes before “Here I Am”? Rev. Barb Hedges-Goettl
Affirmation of Faithfrom the Westminster Confession of Faith
God alone is the Holy One.
There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection.
God alone is the Holy One.
God is a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, and incomprehensible.
God alone is the Holy One.
God is almighty; most wise, most holy, most free, and most absolute,
God alone is the Holy One.
God works all things according to the counsel of his own immutable
and most righteous will for his own glory,
God alone is the Holy One.
God is most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness
and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.
God alone is the Holy One.
God is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom,
are all things.
God alone is the Holy One.
God is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands.
God alone is the Holy One.
To him is due from angels and from human beings, and every other creature, worship, service, and obedience for
Give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and faithfulness
On the day I called, you answered me,
You have increased the strength of my soul; Come let us worship God
Call to Worship:
God only you are holy
When you instill our hearts with fear and wonder, you remind us of your power
Sweep our breaths away, as we worship you today.
Come let us worship God
Invitation to Confession: As you are called to confession, it is because the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. God’s mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning.
Prayer of Confession: Dear God, we confess that we often do not understand your call. Too often we obsess about holiness, and how to be holy with you instead of letting ourselves wonder. We confess that we forget that there is work be done, and have trouble hearing your Call. Forgive us, please, and teach us to be a resurrection people we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession: Lord, we become so frustrated when humans don’t do what we want them to do. We think of Isaiah, who surely had a troubled heart when he went to bed. Yet he awoke to visions of holiness and glory.Help us to be able to see some of your
Assurance of Pardon: God is forever faithful, God who promises Emmanuel God with us, Jesus is coming! God will not turn away from us, but give us forgiveness. Know in your hearts the Good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of Dedication: Holy, Holy, Holy God, Let us go forth saying that All the Works shall praise thy name from earth and sky and sea! You are merciful and mighty! Let us go forth proclaiming the God of three persons, the blessed Trinity, we pray. Amen.
Hymns: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Eagle’s Wings, Here I am Lord, Amazing Grace,
Prelude Lord, I Want to be a Christian Joslin Grove Choral Society
Opening Prayer (adapted from Jonah 2:7-9 NRSV)
O Lord, we remember you. Our prayers come to you, in your holy temple. Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty. But we, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you; what we have vowed we will offer. Deliverance belongs to you, O Lord. Amen.
Call to Worship (adapted from Psalm 145)
The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love.
All God’s works shall give thanks to the Lord and all God’s faithful shall bless the Lord.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love. God’s works make known to all people God’s mighty deeds
and the glorious splendor of God’skingdom.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love. God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and God’s dominion endures throughout all generations.
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart. In my heart, in my heart, Lord,
I want to be a Christian in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving…. Lord, I want to like Jesus…
Call to Confession
God calls us to love those who are against us, and to pray for them.
God calls us not to rejoice in wrong, but to rejoice in the right.
This is a very tall order, and we often fall short.
Prayer of Confession
Lord, the hardest thing you asked was that we love our enemies. We know how we’d like to love them:
We’d love our enemies to be far away. We’d love them not to compromise our security.
Forgive us and change us, O God. We’d love them not to scare us or change the way we live. We’d love them to be lovable.
Forgive us and change us, O God. You know, God, We’d love it to be popular to love enemies. We’d love our neighbors to respect us for this good deed. We’d love the people on the news to provide examples of how to love.
Forgive us and change us, O God. If loving enemies were easy, Jesus wouldn’t have told us about the tax collectors and gentiles, Who love only their friends. (Matthew 5:46-47)
Forgive us and change us, O God. If loving enemies were easy, we know We wouldn’t need your strong arms to bear us up in difficult times. We wouldn’t need the blood of your Son to save us from human sin. We wouldn’t need your Spirit flowing among us, wiping our tears. We wouldn’t need the Bible to tell us what the world does not.
Forgive us and change us, O God. Give us the strength to stop hating
And halt the cycles of violence and revenge. Teach us forgiveness,
which we know is suffering love through piercing tears. Forgive us and change us, O God. When our community looks at our congregation, Hears our words and sees our deeds, Help them to know that you, the God of love, live among us And that they can come to us to learn about Christian love of enemies.
Forgive us and change us, O God.
(Silent confession)
Assurance of Pardon
God loves us when we are yet God’s sinful enemies,
God saves us through God’s immeasurable grace, God gives us a gift we did not deserve,
Thanks be to God for the Good News: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Gloria Patri: (Blue #579) Glory Be to the Father
Prayers of the People/Lord’s Prayer (traditional)
Hymn of Dedication O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee (no intro)
O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care
Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay, And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee In closer, dearer company
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that send a shining ray Far down the future’s broadening way;
In peace that only Thou canst give, With Thee, O Master, let me live.
Doxology (Blue, #592) Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Prayer of Dedication
Blessed are you, God of all creation;
through your goodness we have these gifts to share.
Accept and use all that we give and all that we are
for your glory and for the service of your kingdom. Amen.
Jesus calls us: by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call.
Give our hearts to Thine obedience, Serve and love Thee best of all.
Old Testament Reading Jonah summary with selected verses (NRSV)
1:4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up.
3:10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. (NRSV 3:10)
4:2-11 “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.”
The Lord God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered.
8 When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” 10 Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”
Message Whaddyaknow? Rev. Barb Hedges-Goettl
Affirmation of Faithfrom the Confession of 1967
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. God’s redeeming work includes the social and the cultural, the economic and the political, the scientific and the technological, the individual and the corporate.
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. God’s redeeming work includes the natural environment as exploited and despoiled by sin.
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. God’s redeeming work fulfills the divine purpose for human life under the rule of Christ and all evil be banished from creation.
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. God’s redeeming work brings about the rule of Christ, the heavenly city, the household of God, a new heaven and earth, a marriage feast, and an unending day culminate in the image of the kingdom.
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. God’s redeeming work brings about God’s triumph over all that resists the divine will and disrupts God’s creation.
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. God’s redeeming work is already present as a ferment in the world, stirring hope in all people and preparing the world to receive its ultimate judgment and redemption
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. God’s redeeming work provides an urgency to present tasks and our striving for a better world. It does not identify
We believe that God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of human life. In steadfast hope, we look beyond all partial achievement to the final triumph of God.
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak In living echoes of thy tone
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children lost and lone
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead The wandering and the wavering feet
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed Thy hungering ones with manna sweet
O fill me with Thy Fulness, Lord, Until my very heart o’erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show
Charge and Benediction
PostludeCalled as Partners in Christ’s Service
Called as partners in Christ’s service Called to ministries of grace We respond with deep commitment Fresh new lines of faith to trace May we learn the art of sharing Side by side and friend with friend Equal partners in our caring To fulfil God’s chosen end
Christ’s example Christ’s inspiring Christ’s clear call to work and worth Let us follow never faltering Reconciling folk on earth Men and women richer poorer All God’s people young and old Blending human skills together Gracious gifts from God unfold
Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission In a small or global sense Help us bear each other’s burdens Breaking down each wall or fence Words of comfort words of vision Words of challenge said with care Bring new power and strength for action Make us colleagues free and fair
So God grant us for tomorrow Ways to order human life That surround each person’s sorrow With a calm that conquers strife Make us partners in our living Our compassion to increase Messengers of faith thus giving Hope and confidence and peace
When Adam and Eve had to leave the garden, they thought it was over. They had messed up too big for God to care for them.
And then God dressed them.
Abram & Sarai wandered the desert, Noah looked out over the flooded land, Moses’ mother hid her son in the reeds, Elijah wandered the desert of Sidon and as the widow gathered sticks for her last meal, they thought it was over. Jonah thought it was over, in the storm and then in the whale.
When the Hebrews fell under Caesar’s rule, subjugated and marginalized, forced to prove their citizenship–their very personhood and they looked for savior after savior, they thought it was over.
Then a baby was born in a barn.
The baby grew and taught and showed grace.
And then he died on the cross. And the disciples cried, because they through it was over.
God, you know it’s not over til it’s over. We can lose all hope–we can see the depths of evil, we can learn how selfish humans are capable to be.
We can confess that this is a part of who we are and how we live.
But God, we know, you are the master of sticking in extra time and grace and hiding abundance in plain sight.
Our God is the hope of the immigrant that causes them to risk everything for a better life.
Our God is the God of the addict, stretching and searching for the relationships they need to make it one more. day.
Our God is the God of the sex worker, striving to work any way they can.
Our God is the God of the queer community: defying stereotypes and dichotomies.
Our God is the God of elections: nail-biting, fraught and full of division.
Our God is the never-ending God. The God of imperfect and open ended stories.
We are a resurrection people. Our God is a God of love not a God of political power or wealth or oppression.
God, thank you for reminding us that it’s not over til it’s over. Remind us to take care of ourselves and to keep doing the work, because Evil will not have the final word.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..I guess I’ll be praying on and off throughout the day……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. need to still get to the grocery store…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Take a drink of water…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..I hope they truly count every single vote……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Still hard to wait here God……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
This is very stressful, deep breaths, maybe I should listen to music……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………????????????????………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Hey God, I’m still waiting, it’s really hard, please help……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….God, you must be weary too. Help everyone be safe please……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………remember to eat today……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Help me to wait please, Calling on your name God…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..If I can’t sleep that’s ok……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Grover said remember to breathe, in and out…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Amen
Lord, help us during this time of anxiety and illness and woe to pursue peace.
Peace is not the quiet, stilled silence of two different sides, but the active and creative power that you put into being when you created the world.
God, you know it’s funny that you’ve made us to be counting beings.
When I am anxious at night, I count sheep, sometimes I count steps or play counting games to distract myself.
We’ve even been counting off scripture at worship: reading “together” at home when I hold up my fingers 1-10.
And sometimes we advise each other to count our blessings when things look their bleakest.
When Abraham was worried about his legacy, God advised him to count the grains of sand, or to count the stars.
When my son, who has autism, is anxious he counts off the schedule on your fingers.
One finger: go to the store, second finger: go to the bank, third finger: go to the blue house (home) and play iPad.
All will be well as long as he ends up home playing iPad.
God, I am aware that we are counting first: vote, second: wait (and wait and wait) for the results, third: accept the results and peacefully pass power, fourth: so we can all end up safe at home.
Funny how we are counting, each and every vote to pursue peace. Funny, and not so funny, because it fits so well.
Help us to count, God.
Help us count every single vote. Help us count as an act of peace.
Help us to count each and every vote. Help us to count each and every person as a child of God. Help us to count the steps of peace.
One
Two
Three
One Lord and Savior, Two Natures, Three Persons
One breath out, Two short breaths out, On Three we sigh together
(Just to be clear) One breath out, Two short breaths out, On Three we sigh together
God, I’m in the midst of some kind of crises of faith.
As a person who always believe in happy endings, I’m not convinced it will all turn out alright in the end.
Because God, we are still being called into your story.
Like Jonah, who first refused the call. He didn’t want to go. He wasn’t going.
Ninevah wasn’t worth it.
Or maybe Jonah wasn’t worth it.
Either way, he didn’t wanna and God couldn’t make it.
So he hopped a boat to sail away–like the runaway bunny.
And then, the storms came, the dice were rolled and the fingers were pointed to Jonah.
God, Someone said whoever needs to go to Ninevah better get going…
but I know the truth, I know why it’s a crises, because the answer is us!
We are Jonah. And my crises of faith, is I don’t know if we can right ourelves.
God, I know you are speaking, whispering, yelling in our ears. God I don’t have faith that we have the ears to hear.
You say, help those who are in trouble: the lgbtquia people who are threatened, the black people who suffer state violence every single day, the women who are losing their jobs and their rights, the children and families who are still in f—ing cages!
And see, I know I’m like Jonah, because if/when people repent, can I practice grace?
I don’t have faith that I can.
So I’ll have to rely on yours Lord.
Holy Spirit, help me to breathe into this crises of faith, I pray.
katyandtheword 