katyandtheword

Election Day Prayer

Do not put your trust in Princes
God says
-Vote

Care for the widows and the Least of these-
Lord Hear our Prayer
as I walk towards the booth, wary of those who are in line with me

Care for the Stranger and Immigrant, for you may care for Angels Unawares
echoes in my brain, as I trace the bubbles with smudgy pen

Woman, I hear you, I picture Jesus saying
as I see the name of the candidates who disregard
the healthcare of pregnant people and victims of abuse

Put not your trust in any human power–but my hope is in the Lord
who gives justice to those that suffer wrong
and bread to all those who hungers

God keeps promises better than any human
or politician.

This is why good administration is ministry
This is why voting and crying is ministry
This is why we do our best to care.

This is what I carry to the ballot box
That God will open the eyes that need to be opened
and lift up those who are bowed down
and free those who are bound–

Turn the wicked UpsideDown God.
I’ll help where I can.
And watch you work miracles.
Amen.

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

Surgery, A Prayer

God,
is there any prayer like going into surgery?
Closing your eyes to the world–
Holding your beloveds close to you.

Somehow you try to remind yourself to breathe

Is that how it felt Christ,
when you healed?

Did you hold their beloveds close to them?
And remind them to breathe?

Bless those undergoing surgery
their beloved
the doctors, nurses, and all the technicians, custodians, secretaries and support staff who we work too hard along the way

May we all be granted
Belovedness
and Breath.

Amen.

Operation Game with a lot of blue gloved hands around it

Image

Feel free to use/adapt/Share with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

If you appreciate my work: Support my Doctorate in Creative Writing! (1/3rd funded by my church, 1/3d funded by me and 1/3rd funded by You!)

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
Thursday Dec 1st 12pm-2pm (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. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.

Limited to 10 spots

Nov 20th Christ the King/Light Sunday

Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent

November 20th Christ the King Sunday
Swords into Plowshares (Thanksgiving?): Light
Isaiah 36 1:3, 13-20, 37:1-7, 2:1-4 Swords into Plowshares
Matt 5:14 Light of the World City on the Hill
Psalm 131

Call to Worship
Come let us go to the mountain of the Lord
That God may teach us God’s ways
For out of Zion shall come instruction and light, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem
Come, the Lord’s House will be established, and peoples will stream to it
They shall beat their swords into poughshares, and know peace
Come let us find peace, and learn war no more in the God’s place

Call to Confession: Come let us draw ourselves closer to God with our confession

Prayer of Confession: God, we long to be a part of your City on the Hill. We confess that this longing is so deep that sometimes we try to manufacture it here on earth. We also confess that we do not have the patience to plant and grow peace. We do not want to wait for people to stream to God, we do not want to see God’s city come. We do not have the patience for God to open our eyes. It all seems really hard. Encourage us, Enlighten us, Imbue us with peace we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God’s peace is from everlasting to everlasting. Know then the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Let us go forward knowing that God is the City on the Hill, not us. God is helping us to plant the peace that is needed. Let us go forward ready to build the tools of peace. Amen

Hymns: I’ve Got Peace Like a River, Crown Him with Many Crowns, Jesus Priceless Treasure, Lord Make us Servants of Your Peace, O Day of Peace, Song of Hope, Near to the Heart of God, As Deer Long for The Streams, For the Fruit of All Creation, Let All Things Now Living, We Plow the Fields and Scatter

With Children: Talk about how peace is hard work, and how war is built on hate/fear, and what the tools of peace might be “Harold’s Fairy Tale”

Harold and the Purple Crayon Book Featuring Harold drawing a Crayon

Image: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/harolds-fairy-tale-further-adventures-with-the-purple-crayon_crockett-johnson/403566/item/70790/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwqoibBhDUARIsAH2OpWg5QyBw_HnoXPv16N2_WQ-o2VHHTQ19pBZe7JFOEeAftSrrGWim_GoaAtFcEALw_wcB#idiq=70790&edition=2339925

Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologianthrough donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.

Full Extended Advent Resource

Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent

Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.

If you need a doc version of these resources-please email and I will get it to you as much as I have completed* (I have medical leave so things may slow a bit)

Advent Readings Calendar: If you have Canva

Advent Readings Calendar: Pdf Link

Expanded Advent Daily Suggested Reading Calendar by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl (expanded for full story) with Hymn Suggestions Goettl https://bjhlog.wordpress.com/2022/11/27/daily-readings-for-advent-and-songs-through-january-7/?fbclid=IwAR2xFTVltIRayRlsOSy1QI0Z7E6QG5j9ZzH3r1oA4e8hiwuslBZJUGIlWJY

Unfreezing Christmas: A Narnia Christmas Pageant (Easy)

Unfreezing Christmas: No Rehearsal/Pickup Version Narnia

Advent Candles Liturgy

God of Peace: To Silent Night

God the Weaver to Away in the Manger

Magnify the Lord, To O Come All Ye Faithful

Blue Christmas Worship Including Suggested Comfort Candle (also see: Advent Prayer)

Christmas Ingredients Poem

Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent

Advent Unleashed: https://katyandtheword.com/2022/11/28/advent-unleashed/

Advent Prayer

Messy Hope, A Prayer

Nov 13th Micah: Mercy

November 20th Christ the King Sunday/Swords into Plowshares

November 27th Faith

Dec 4th Love and Justice

Dec 11th Justice & Joy: Magnificat Realized

Dec 18th Jesus as Emmanuel

Tender Christmas Prayer

Nov 13th Micah: Mercy

Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent

November 13th (Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a Mercy Candle)
Micah: Mercy
Micah [1:3-5]; 5:2-5a; 6:6-8
God promises a ruler from Bethlehem
Matthew 9:13 God wants mercy not Sacrifice
Lamentations 3:20-27

Call to Worship (based on Micah 1)
Lo, look, God promises, that God will come and tread upon the earth
All this labor is not in vain, the Lord promises
Peace, God promises, there shall be one peace
Come let us be fed on the strength of the Lord

all to Confession: Who is ready to pour oneself out to one who is always merciful and listening, Come let us confess ourselves to God

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that sometimes we want change so badly that we promise ridiculous things. What can i give God? Do I need to sacrifice my firstborn? Do you need all of my riches, the work of my hands? What can I do to negate the sin and evil that I feel upon the earth? I confess God that it all feels to heavy for me. Yet you promise that small steps of mercy, loving acts of justice, humbly walking with God is enough. I confess that it is hard for me to hang onto that some days. Light the candle when my fire goes out, so the I might learn your mercy I pray. Amen.

Hear the good news, God’s mercies renew every morning, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Let us go in the world remember that God has already lit the way for us—and the path is lit with mercy. Come let us walk the path together as we go. Amen.

Hymns: A Balm in Gilead, What Does the Lord Require, O For a Closer Walk With God, Heave Mercy Lord on Me Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us, O For a World

With Children: Talk about respecting innate Humanity not out of pity, but because we are all made in God’s image. “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-day-you-begin_jacqueline-woodson/18597559/item/31060451/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwqoibBhDUARIsAH2OpWja6ZvJDHqhz9Tsy7fTM8bJeAYWT-nFGHgxWq1p25woNK-D_F7FDWoaAjpJEALw_wcB#idiq=31060451&edition=19786298

Full Extended Advent Resource

Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.

A Halloween Prayer

A Prayer for the Weird Ones
the ones who don’t fit
the ones who take comfort in being scared

Here’s a prayer for those fascinated by magic
the mystical
the liminality, those marginal places in-between

Here’s a prayer for the lonely–
those who identify with the goblins, the witches and trolls
the ones who want to be able to go up to strangers and demand hospitality

This is a prayer for all those who can find beauty in what others find ugly
the ones who are fascinated with the inner workings of bodies
or diseases, or want to study psychology
or fear, or loneliness, or liminality

Here’s a prayer for the kind of holiness that comes from being different
The kind of prophecy that comes from telling the truth
the kind of radicalness that comes from opening your doors to the mess on the street

What kind of holiday is All Hallow’s Eve?
Where we say, life is messy and ugly and beautiful and short?
Where we acknowledge all that is scary in the world,
and fill it with the laughter and joy of children?
Here’s a prayer to celebrating that kind of holiday

Here’s a prayer for the children–who always understand it first
Who confront death with a sharp honesty that is refreshing,
And help us to confront our fears with real questions,
and the worrying answers of “I don’t know.”

Here’s a prayer for All Hallow’s Eve, where we celebrate
the complexity of humans, humanity
and human life.

Halloween Blessings to all who need it.

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

Image and Prints of this image can be bought Here: https://www.johnhendrix.com/prints/the-holy-ghost-holidays

Let’s Write Liturgy Workshop

We have still have room in my first liturgy workshop if you want to join

This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.

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”

I plan to hold more in the future–but I am taking the rare opportunity as I come off leave to hold a Sunday Session

Triggered and Grieving: Solomon’s Wisdom Prayer

CW: Sex Work, Infant Loss

God,
Solomon thinks he is wise
to trick a ruling
out of two women

He thinks he is powerful–
to Lord it over
two women
who have to sell their bodies
For money

But all I can see
Is red flags

All I can think is
how I knew this story at five or six

I maybe knew what prostitution was,
I definitely did not know what appropriation was
and how it made fostering and adoption messy..
I had some idea of what feminism meant

but I did understand grief–
and that it can get really complicated really fast

However, I knew then, and I know now that one woman
went home empty-handed

Where was the chaplain
that day God?

Where were the midwives? The healers? The other women?
This so called wisdom falls hard on my ears today God.

I find it, as my kids say, sus.
Is this about wisdom–or something else

Do the women need wisdom?
Or does Solomon need compassion

Holy Comforter, I know why you put a story of prostitution in the Bible
Its not so the King can teach the whores

God forbid

Jesus bless the sex workers
Because we should treat them
Like the human beings
No matter what
and not use any excuse to judge them

And God bless all those who mourn
Help those whose arms feel empty
Please, reach out to all those who are grieving in unhealthy and unhelpful ways.
Walk with them.

Please, remind us that you are not Solomon,
You will never slash our beloved things in half,
or send us home empty-handed

You will instead, reunite us with our sisters and friends
Restore us to our beloved
And whisper in our ears that its ok to be sad

Walk with us in our unhappiness we pray.

Amen.

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