Betrayal, a prayer for the brokenhearted

Cw: Abuse, victimization, implied sexualization

God,

One of my kids former teachers

betrayed the school,

(himself, his family, his students, and most of all his fellow teachers)

and got arrested today–

and my eldest,

with tears streaming down his face

said he couldn’t believe it.

And I had to say, I wouldn’t lie to you about this

and sometimes people make bad choices

and sometimes those people are especially nice to hide their faultiness.

And I thought about, how, almost every place I lived,

there was an adult lurking, who wasn’t safe.

Was this how it felt Jesus?

When Judas betrayed you?

Even though you knew it was coming,

surely at some point he was a true disciple,

Surely you really wanted him to be your real friend Jesus.

And so I wrapped my child in my arms, and I told him:

The bad doesn’t take away the bad one does, but the bad doesn’t take away the good either.

And that we hoped he would get the help he needed, to truly and actually change.

And I imagine that you do the same.

Wrapping us in your arms,

coaxing us towards love, and grace, and forgiveness.

Because, sometimes we feel that brokenness all too sharply.

Please be with us when we betray or are betrayed we pray.

Because Christians and leaders and mentors are not perfect,

and it’s so important to have people we can trust in our lives.

When we are brokenhearted wrap us in your arms,

and remind us of that we are loved and worthy of love, we pray.

Amen.

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

March 20th Peter’s Denial: Lament & Denial

Peter’s Denial: Lament & Denial

John 18:12-27

Psalm 17:1-7

Call to Worship

I call upon you

You will answer me, O God!

Wondrously show your steadfast love!

Come, let us seek refuge in our God. 

Call to Confession: God we have things to confess like Peter, let us confess ourselves to God

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we have things we cannot face, we have phone calls we cannot make, emotions we cannot process, grief we cannot handle, even problematic behaviors we have not yet identified in ourselves or others. There are even habits we have tried to stop, but somehow haven’t been able to, and so denial lives on, and when someone asks us if something is true we hear our mouths so “no” even when our brains say “yes that is true.” Forgive us, and help us break these patterns and to learn how to forgive ourselves when this happens we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God’s mercies are new every morning, every single time we need them, they come, let us be comforted by the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen. 

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, give us the space to seek refuge in you as we go into the world we pray. Amen.

Children: Peter’s Denial: Discuss why Peter lied, what his feelings must have been, why we lie, how it’s human to lie, how Jesus not only foresaw Peter’s lie but understood what was going to happen. 

Hymns: Great is Thy Faithfulness, Amazing Grace, Guide My Feet, Help Us Accept Each Other, Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me, Love Divine All Love Excelling, Make Me Captive, Lord 

Please support my writing: Katy’s Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Seminary.

For Word versions of the Liturgy email me at Katyandtheword at gmail

From Lament to Hope Full Resources

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…

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