Category: Uncategorized

Prayer for the 14 year olds

This a prayer for the 14 year olds

The innocent, knowledgable,

cusp of adulthood, ready to take on the world

pandemic generation 14 year olds–

of whom my child is one of them

with hormones, and a burning need to change the world

learn everything, help everyone,

and a growing awareness,

God you know

of just how complicated this being human thing actually is.

And when the diagnosis is–

as they say in Big Hero 6,

Puberty, there is a whole world out there for us

to learn from them.

This is a prayer as they hear people fight about the future,

and those frustrations,

which let’s be honest, they were always

always aware of,

suddenly become into focus

because that is a part of growing into yourself.

This a prayer for them, that you will walk with them God,

as they wrestle with it all,

because God, I know I’m not handling everything ok,

so I don’t know how they are doing it.

Be with them,

Help them wrestle

and change the world,

to be what it should be!

Because God, they know when it isn’t!

So please God,

help the 14 year olds–and all the ages in-between.

I pray.

Amen.

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

Toddling, a Prayer

God,

You know,

that we cannot pivot anymore

because we are too dizzy.

In fact,

we are so dizzy that walking has become problematic

So we make our way like toddlers

knowing our best right now

looks nothing like two year ago

Please hold my hand God

as I toddle along,

steady my step

and murmur comforting words

into my ear, as I toddle along,

Please,

I pray.

Amen.

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

Pandemic Prayers & Resources

mage: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgjeVrd7voU52vZ7TS56dYtaRNx5oe4XVucA&usqp=CAU

With Thanks for the inspiration from @lmcheifetz who pointed out we can’t pivot anymore.

If you find my work useful, please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/70a114f9. It is a “working theologian’s” doctorate where I preach, write and share my work with the world all at the same time. If your church uses my work extensively and could use a receipt email me at katyandtheword at gmail and let me know!

Epiphany insurrection Prayer

Matthew 2:1-12 & The Epiphany Insurrection Prayer

Epiphany is stronger 

Than insurrection

That was the point

Herods

So be frightened 

Our path will continue to be 

A different way

Lit by the Star of Peace

Your sneakiness & violent ways

Are no match for our God

Thank Sweet Baby Jesus

Amen

Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

Living Water

Signs of God: Baptism/Holy Spirit

Psalm 147:1-11

John 7:37-52

Call to Worship

Praise to Our God, it is Good to praise our God who Gracious

God heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds

God determines the number of the stars, and gives them their names, our God is abundant in power, and has an understanding beyond measure.

Come let us praise our glorious God!

Call to Confession: God we confess that we are tired and in need of the nourishment you promise. Please give us that nourishment today. Let that living water flow from our hearts as promised we pray.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear and Know God is here with us, sustaining us. Know the good news In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedicaiton: Jesus you promise that the living water, the Holy Spirt, will come from your followers hearts, help that to happen today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Children: Holy Spirit talk about all the meanings of the Holy Spirit: Wind, Water, Fire, Inspiration, Breath. Talk about which image might be their favorite and why. Discuss how Jesus talks about how their is a piece of the Holy Spirit in every single human being to help comfort, sustain and inspire us, and that’s what today’s story is about!

Hymn: I’ve Got Peace Like a River, Breathe On Me Breath of God, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Out of Deep Unordered Water, Stand Up and Bless the Lord

If you find my work useful, please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/70a114f9. It is a “working theologian’s” doctorate where I preach, write and share my work with the world all at the same time. If your church uses my work extensively and could use a receipt email me at katyandtheword at gmail and let me know!

Healing Stories

Psalm 40:1-5

John 4:46-54 [5:1-18]

Call to Worship

God we long to be Healed

We sorrow in the sickness in the world

God we gather together to pray

Come let us pray for one another to God

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we would prefer instant solutions to our problems. We would like for everyone to be instantly healed of their illnesses. Remind us to take responsibility, to do the work, and to hold fast to praying for one another and to not lose hope. Help us when we lose hope or are tired. Encourage us and surround us with support when we are worn out we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News: Jesus loves us and supports us, loving us into wholeness every time: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God please heal us in the ways that we need to be healed, that are perhaps beyond our human understanding, and bind us together so that we can continue to love and support one another in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymns: I love the Lord Who Heard My Cry, There is a Balm in Gilead, Lord I Want to Be a Christian In My Heart, Lift High the Cross, Love Divine All Love Excelling

With Children: Talk about ALL the ways of healing: physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, intellectual, relational, natural (earth), individual, communal. Discuss how the healing Jesus has promised is way more than just one kind of healing and how fixated humans are upon primarily physical and then secondarily mental healing and how we might work towards other kinds of healing.

If you find my work useful, please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/70a114f9. It is a “working theologian’s” doctorate where I preach, write and share my work with the world all at the same time. If your church uses my work extensively and could use a receipt email me at katyandtheword at gmail and let me know!

Wedding At Cana Worship Resources Narrative Lectionary

John 2:1-11

Psalm 104:14- 16

Signs of God: Hospitality as Ministry

Call to Worship

God we gather here to celebrate your miracles

We thirst for your good news

Jesus we are ready for all you have to provide for us

Come let us do as Jesus Christ says! Come let us worship God!

Call to Confession: God we confess that sometimes we are not ready to party people into the kingdom of God. Especially not right now. We are busy, and worried, and scared. Now does not seem the right time. But you are the God of hospitality in all times and places Teach us how to share what we have, especially the good news of God’s love we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good news; God’s love is overflowing, Know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, send us into the world, filled up with the Good News of Jesus Christ, affirmed by God and and ready to do ministry we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Great is Thy Faithfulness, There’s a Widenss to God’s Mercy, Amazing Grace,

Mary’s Affirmation: Wedding at Cana Prayer

If you find my work useful, please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/70a114f9. It is a “working theologian’s” doctorate where I preach, write and share my work with the world all at the same time. If your church uses my work extensively and could use a receipt email me at katyandtheword at gmail and let me know!

A Blessing for (Surviving) Today

Another Blessing for Surviving Today! Keep Going!

katyandtheword's avatarkatyandtheword

Here’s a blessing for you.

Because you are still here,

And it’s been a year, of ::gestures inarticulately:: everything.

And we need all the blessings we can get.

So here’s a bless this mess.

A blessing on your head,

one that grants you good dreams,

and moments of respite,

and times to let go,

and moments to connect with your beloveds,

and reminders that your worth is not defined by your productivity

and that its ok not to be ok

and that this is not the new normal, nor should it be.

So all the blessings–

for being here,

and doing the things

and being you.

Keep at it! Take breaks,

Drink water, take care of yourself,

and be blessed,

For you are a beloved child of God.

No matter what.

God bless you, Child of God.

Today, Tomorrow, and Always.

Amen.

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor…

View original post 37 more words

Go Back to Start….A Yell-y Psalm

God

I’m tired of this Pandemic Game…

And it would be great,

if we could finally learn our lesson,

and stop pulling the Go Back to Start Card

Please, God Please

Also, God, I hate skipping Go and Collecting $200.

At least at the beginning of the game we were gathering some money

and accolades for our essential workers, to cushion the fall.

But now we continue on our merry way

Losing everything but the idea that we have to

pretend

things a

are

normal.

And I can’t even pretend anymore.

When news of omicron swept through.

I just couldn’t even process, that “Go Back to Start” feeling.

Because Sweet Jesus, you know, every time we go back to go–

we lose more people who are too weary from the journey

And I can’t blame them.

We should not blame them.

(even though we humans are so good at that blaming thing)

We are not meant to be in survival mode forever.

So here I am God. Praying we figure something better out.

Some solution to this mess.

Some greater support system, some way to advocate for

essential workers, caretakers, long covid survivors, disabled people on the margins, those impoverished by circumstances

God help us–because we are clearly too weary to figure it out on our own.

And frankly, I’ll take all the help I can get right now.

Holy Spirit, inspire and sustain us, we pray.

And please, God please, help us to get beyond Starting Over!

We pray in your most Compassionate and Understanding Name.

Amen.

Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

Pandemic Prayers & Resources

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta and Please consider supporting my Doctorate of Ministry at https://gofund.me/aaeb4910

Image