Do Not Oppress An Immigrant
Autumn
God,
Isn’t it funny
How every Autumn–
I get so exhausted
With all of the Injustice in the World
I hit a wall of Stuckness
And it compounds Everything!
And then I remember
that I have SAD
and so some of my weariness
is as natural as the seasons–
And I’m grateful to remember
That I’ll have the energy
to fight for justice and righteousness
again
Amazing what Sabbath
and Seasons
Can do for a woman
Isn’t it God?
End of Summer Prayer
(My kids start school a little bit later than the rest of the area, this compounded by the lack of summer camps and childcare makes things tough–that being said, we are blessed by the flexibility of my job. I feel the need to explain my particular context, as I write one more summer prayer)
God I want these kids in school
Instead they are everywhere
Asking for electronics
Eating all my food Squabbling
Is this what discipleship felt like Jesu?
When you were trying to teach?
And Peter said Rabbi, Rabbi, but who got to go first?
And the lawyer said,
Wait a minute, wait a minute, first define neighbor?
And the rich people said,
Tell me another story about
Being rich, bc
I’m not reaaaally
Really certain if that last one applies to me
Sometimes I think,
God,
That the most accurate
Portrayal of you
Is that of a mother hen
Trying to keep her
Chicks in order,
Fed, snugggled, and safe
And the ignorant chicks,
Just peep at you
Noisily
And run in circles
God I’m longing
For my kids to go to school
Where I will miss them
And worry about them
And not be able to protect them
As I wish—
and so I listen
To the chaos
And pray
The last summer prayer
Above the clatter.
Amen.
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School Prayer
Prayers
for the teachers
the students who are scared or nervous or excited
for the parents who are ready…
or not
Prayers for the lunch workers, the custodians, the secretaries, the support staff and the crossing guards and the bus drivers
Prayers for
more supplies
more food
more support
more everything
May our schools be supported
and safe
and places of hope–
and when they are not,
let’s work to fix it
because this is our community..
and these are our children
and this is our work
Prayers for our community.
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Magnifcat
We could Magnifcat
Some more
Fill the hungry
with good things
Send those
Rich
A
Way
Empty
Bring
the
Mighty
Down
Scatter
the Proud
in
Thought
and Heart
We will watch
the mercy
I am
ready
to
watch
a
world
full
of mercy
Feel free to adapt/share/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
If you want to support my work, follow my blog or please give to my Go Fund Me for Creative Writing (year 2) Doctorate or become a supporter with perks on Ko-Fi
Forgive us Our Debts, A Prayer
Jesus Christ, Mary and Joseph
That’s what my mother-in-law says
and that’s where I am at,
when I hear the reactions to the the forgiveness of debts.
Because, I know exactly who your God is
when I hear how you feel
about forgiveness
What kind of God, do you believe in
When a sliver of grace, is too much for you?
What does it mean, when you think every single person
Should earn their place?
What does that mean when all three of my kids have disabilities
No I do not want to hear “I didn’t mean you”
What does that mean for my friends who have debt
but no degree
The people who I know who are $100,000 in debt
born and raised in NYC, for whom this will not make a dent
for public service workers, for whom this will ease all the burdens?
And the hope that the new rules will actually, ACTUALLY help
God, you know the verse in Ezra where the sounds of joy could not be discerned from the cries of mourning when the temple is rebuilt? (I googled it it’s Ezra 3:13)
God, we need more,
Thank you God for the sliver of grace it is.
God thank you for what is being rebuilt;
God help us to tear down and rebuild even more
for teachers, students and those who need even more help today
God, forgive us our debts;
God we are are all Ezra today.
Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
If you want to support my work, follow my blog or please give to my Go Fund Me for Creative Writing (year 2) Doctorate or become a supporter with perks on Ko-Fi
#Debt, #Ruth
Ruth is about how terrible it is to be worth less than nothing—
And how hard it is to have to beg and dig through leftovers and makeshift family to eat
And how important teaming up together among the powerless to pursue rights to land and food and shelter in spite of being indebted women without children who were culturally worth “less than nothing”
And if you think it’s about “finding Boaz” you’ve missed it.
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Grinding Teeth, A Prayer
Sometimes I wonder
If Jesus ground his teeth
Did you wake up in the middle of the night
Feeling like you were about to fall?
From some inexplicable nightmare?
When you got through a harrowing encounter
with the officially officials—you know the ones that had been in the building
Did you come home with a headache?
Did you practice breathing techniques, and peaceable responses, and politeness and smiles
like most of the women, disabled people and marginalized around you…
All of us knowing—this is how we make it
Did you preach the Good News as a survival technique
Not as a toxic positivity to push on people
But the Bare Bones to give those hungry for scraps of answers of
“Why am I Here? And “Does this even Matter?” And “How Do I face tomorrow?”
And did you sit and look at the stars—Christ—and evaluate your day, and try to comfort yourself:
With the little things that went right; and the good things you saw, and the big picture you were working towards.
Did you ache with the work of it all Jesus? And roll your jaw, and take a deep breath to relax your shoulders, before you faced another fully human day?
Thank you for being human with us Jesus.
Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
If you want to support my work, follow my blog or please give to my Go Fund Me for Creative Writing (year 3) Doctorate or become a supporter with perks on Ko-Fi
Justice, A Prayer.
God,
I long for justice
I ache for it so much
that when I go to bed at night
I am convinced that it whispers to me
In a language too complicated for human ears.
And when I wake up and hear
of courts
and punishments
and other things
My soul sits confused
unable to responds to these paltry efforts.
I want justice that feeds the hungry,
frees the prisoner
and yes breaks the teeth of my enemy–but
in such a way that I am too busy partying to notice.
Jesus, did every meal with you taste like justice
or hope
comfort and freedom?
Or was it enough to just sit with you?
Holy Spirit, I find that this longing for justice is really something.
It is not the gift I asked for, and yet it was given to me–unasked
and so here I am
Not waiting for justice, Because we all know, justice does not allow one to wait.
But still,
Walking,
Running,
Resting
towards justice, because I do not know any other way to be.
And that’s why I talk, yell and cry to you God.
It’s this justice hole in my soul.
You poke it and prod it with me, like the great physician you are.
And say, where does it hurt?
And confirm.
Yes.
Yes, We should work on that.
Here we go again God.
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
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!
Narrative Lectionary Fall 2022 Rainbow God, Queer Edition
Rainbow God
If you want a document version of this entire series for easy viewing and formatting just email me at Katyandtheword at gmail and title it Narrative Lectionary and I will be happy to send it to you.
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!
Rainbow God
Sept 11
Flood and Promise
Genesis 6:5-22, 8:6-12, 9:8-17 Flood, Promise Rainbow
Matt 8:24-27 Jesus Calms Storm
Psalm 23 Lord is My Shepherd
Call to Worship:
God you are the God of Rainbows
Before we knew, You knew
You painted peace, in diversity
Before we knew, You knew
Come let us praise the God of Peace and Love
Come, Let us Praise our Rainbow God!
Call to Confession: Come let us confess our Hope in God
Confession: God, we confess that sometimes it is hard to hope for rainbows. We do not believe that every storm will run out of rain, we have trouble remembering that you are not a violent God when people who call themselves Christians scream hate. Stop their hate, Protect us, and help us to see the rainbow we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Nothing Can Separate you from the Love of Christ: Not height nor depth nor floods nor hate. Know the truth and affirm it to one another: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God, let us be proud of you as the rainbow God, and stand proud that before we knew, you knew the full meaning of the rainbow. Thank you. Amen.
Sept 18
Genesis 12:1-9 Call of Abraham, Blessing of nations
Matthew 28:19-20 Disciples of All Nations
Psalm 33
Be assured you are all children of God
We are Stardust
You sparkle with the promise of God
We are Stardust
You are the promise of Abraham
We are Stardust, Praise be to God, the Creator of Stars!
Call to Confession: Come, let us confess and sparkle to God
Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that we sparkle and glitter, but sometimes it does not feel like we are wonderfully and fiercely made. Help us when we forget. Show us the stars. Remind us that we are beautiful and everything we do counts, just like every star in the sky counts. Amen
Assurance of Pardon: You loved us into being, just as when you created the magnificent heavens, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God, remind us that like stars, our sparkles count. Help us to glitter we pray. Amen.
Sept 25
Joseph in Prison
Genesis 39:1-23 Joseph in Prison, God with Him
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed when People Revile you
Psalm 146
Call to Worship
God you anoint the outside
The outcast from their family: the queer, gay, nonbinary, lesbian, ace—you will go with them on their journey to find a home.
God, you promise to be with them, no matter what
God be with us
Imprisoned, Abused, Lied about, False witness, You promise, You will still be our God
God be with us
There are no empty footsteps in the Sand for Joseph, You will still be in our dreams, you promise
God, be with us today.
Call to Confession: God, let us confess and be our full selves with ourselves today.
Confession: God, we confess that it is hard to be our full selves. We are ignored, mocked, sold into slavery, imprisoned and abused. We confess that even though you know what we go through, we feel ashamed, less, alone. Help us when we are broken. Remind us that we do not need to be forgiven for who we are—that Joseph wore women’s clothes and ran away from sex with a woman way before Jesus was even born, and was beloved, by his father, his brother, the King and you. May safe spaces be formed for all people we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Jesus longs for this to be a safe space of forgiveness for all, though we may not have achieved that yet, know that one thing is always true: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: Let us go into the world our full selves, proud, loud and beloved children of God. Amen.
Oct 2nd
Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29 God parts sea and delivers
(Suggested read Exodus 14:5-29 all)
Matt 2:13-15 Mary, Joseph, Jesus flee to Egypt
Psalm 77
Call to Worship
God will part the Ocean for you
God longs for your safety
God knows it is hard work to get to be safe
God longs for your safety
God wants to rescue you
Come let us find places of sanctuary with God
Call to Confession: Come let us rest with God today
Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that it is hard to believe that you would part the ocean for me. Don’t I complain too much? Is it not too much work? Are you sure that I am worth it? Yet I look at the complaints of the Hebrews, and am reassured that you want not only to rescue me, but to listen to my worries and complaints. Help me when I am troubled an in trouble I pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God longs whisper the good news to you, so let us whisper it to one another and be reassured of its truth: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God extend your protection into the world with us as we go we pray. Amen.
The Bible Queer: National Coming Out Day Prayer https://katyandtheword.com/2022/10/11/coming-out-day-a-prayer/
Oct 9
Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17 God bring Israel on Eagle’s Wings; Decalogue
Matt 5:17 Jesus not to abolish law but fulfill it
Psalm 91
Call to Worship
God you are not made of rules
God you are full of grace
God you make wonderful and fierce
God you are full of grace
God let us hear your commands as promises of hope, not hammers or laws
Come, let us feel God’s grace
Call to Confession: Let us confess ourselves to the Graciousness of God
Prayer of Confession: God, you know I don’t like rules—they are weapons of hurt instead of tools of justice. We humans cannot be trusted with them. Grace is but a trickle in my life, and I am still looking for that cup overflowing you promised. I confess, the moment you lift me up on Eagle’s Wings will not be too soon. Please help us to lift each other up, and to treat each other with the grace we long for. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God is full of grace, your forgiveness has already been made complete as soon as you confessed yourself. Now we get the opportunity to practice that grace together and say: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God, give us grace as we go. Send it on the wings of your Holy Spirit, touch it to our brows we pray. Amen.
Oct 16th
Joshua 24:15 [16-26] God delivers, me and my house serve the lord
Matt 4:8-10 Satan offers kingdom; worship only God
Psalm 27
Joshua Renews the Covenant
Call to Worship
Who does not need Renewal?
Renew our full self here today!
God who knows us and loves us
Give us a renewal today.
God, you are fully God, today, tomorrow and everyday
Come, let us renew our relationship with God.
Call to Confession: It is good to be with God, come let us be present with God today
Confession: God, we confess that sometimes its a lot to be our full selves. It takes time and work to integrate who we are, with the mystery of who you are. Does anyone ever have a full handle on that? Please help us to do this as a community, so that we might have a fuller and richer perspective of your Godhood we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God is our God, no matter what, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God please help us to renew our relationship with you and with ourselves as often as we need to so that we might fully know who we are and who you are as we go about the world. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ who was somehow fully God and fully human. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God longs to wrap you under her wing and assure you that you are safe and forgiven, so know the good news: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
If you want a document version of this entire series for easy viewing and formatting just email me at Katyandtheword at gmail and title it Narrative Lectionary and I will be happy to send it to you.
If you would like to support my work, please give to my GoFundMe for my D. Min in Creative Writing or you can support me via Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail, Cash App $bookkats
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