Death by #Suicide, Waiting for Morning

I cry  to you O Lord hear my voice.-Psalm 130:1

In the midst of two very public death by suicide, one female Kate Spade, and one male Anthony Bourdain, both of whom leave beyond tween daughter. I think of all those people who cry out, unheard. I think of the fact that I didn’t know that Kate or Anthony struggled with depression. I think how suicide rates are up 30%, I think of how much we need hope these days.

Let your ears be attentive, to the voice of my pleas

I think about that I sometimes go by Kate and my husband’s name is Anthony. I think of the times both my husband and I struggled with depression, and had to struggle just to get through the day, and how, though not suicidal, and not at the same time, we have both experienced this reality. And even though we were doing everything, seeing therapists and the like, it was so hard to get the help we needed.

And I think of the hard times, I think of when my child with autism has to stay up all night, all night, dealing with days of constipation, and how when that constipation stops, we are up and down to deal with diarrhea. Up in the middle of the night, drinking water, going to the bathroom, changing clothing, cleaning the toilet, up and down, up and down and I can barely think I am so tired. And together my son and I wait for the morning

Starry Night.jpg


6 my soul waits for the Lord
   more than those who watch for the morning,
   more than those who watch for the morning.–Psalm 130:6

I think of those long bleary hours, and I think of Anthony and Kate, who were waiting for the morning, who were stuck  in the night, and couldn’t see the morning.

And I believe, somehow, that God Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, were longing for God, I’m so sad that they died before morning came.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
   For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
   and with him is great power to redeem.
8 It is he who will redeem Israel
   from all its injustices.–Psalm 130 7-8

If you struggle from depression, please stay with us til the morning. We will miss you if your gone. When the night feels too long or overwhelming, please reach out!

US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or the Crisis Test Line by texting HOME to 741741

 

Psalm 130

Narrative Lectionary: Prayers, Liturgy, Collects

Acts 2:1-21

Phil: 4:4-7

Call to Worship
The Lord is near
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice
And here we are, all gathered in the name of Jesus, to hear the Word of Jesus Christ
Let us speak to God, each in our own way and tongue, so that God might hear our praise.

Prayer of Confession: (unison) Holy Spirit, we confess that new things share us. We confess that although we want to be welcoming, sometimes w have trouble putting it into practice. We confess that sometimes we feel awkward. Forgive us for the times we forget to listen closely to one another. Aide us, when we forget to accept help from each other. For we know that relationship is holy, so we pray that you teach us to truly work through the Holy Spirit to come together as church, today and everyday so we might truly be a Pentecost People. Amen

Assurance of Pardon: (Phil 4:6-7) Know this, when we worry, we can take everything to God in prayer, and supplication, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will be with you. Let us proclaim the truth to one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Hymn Suggestions:

They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love

Thy Word

Sweet, Sweet Spirit

 

Narrative Lectionary: Phil 2

Phil 2:1-13

Luke 6:43-45

Psalm 62

 

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 62)
For God alone my soul waits in silence
God loves each of as a mother hen protects her young
God alone is my rock and my salvation, and I shall never be shaken
God is our refuge, let us worship God today.

Prayer of Confession: (unison) Loving Jesus, if there is any encouragement from you, then help us not to do things from selfish ambition or conceit,, but let us instead do all things with humility. Help us to act not from our own interests, which are limited, but instead for the interests of others, loving each other as sibling in Christ, we pray. (Silent Confession). Amen

Assurance of Pardon: (Phil 2) Trust God at all times, knowing that God is our caring parent giving us consolation and sympathy, and assuring us in love the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Prayer of Dedication: Let us go into the world encouraged by the power of the Holy Spirit, and proclaiming the joy of Jesus Christ to one another. Amen.

Prayers for Narrative Lectionary

Philippians 1:1-18a and Luke 9:46-48 or Psalm 133

 

Call to Worship

Grace and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
How good and pleasant it is when we live together in unity
Let us thank God, every time we think of one another.
For God’s blessings overflow. Come let us worship God together today.

Prayer of Confession: (unison) God, we confess that sometimes we forget to share God’s love. We keep God to ourselves, or we talk about God our of envy or rivalry, using religion as a tool for judgment. Teach us to share God out of love, we pray, fill us with rejoicing so we might be able to truly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Silent Confession). Amen

Assurance of Pardon: (1Philippians 1:6) We are each, and every one of us are assured that the good work that God began in each of us, will be brought into completion, because of this we know the truth that we can tell one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Prayer of Dedication: Let us go into the world remembering to pray and rejoice in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Communion Prayer:
Heavenly God, you call us together, into communion, into church. You created us to live in unity with one another so that we might anoint one another, sealing your love with our very baptism. You teach us, over and over again, what this meal is. It is the foretaste of the kingdom banquet, the beginning of the meal we shall have where no one will be forgotten, where love will abound, where the kingdom of justice will become incarnate. Send your Holy Spirit onto these elements, we pray, transforming the bread and the liquid into your body and blood. Nourish us with this communion with you and one another, we pray, help us to taste and see the kingdom of God, so that when we leave the table, we might carry your kingdom out into the world we pray. Amen.