@Black Liturgies [Image of Daunte Write in a Red Baseball Cap with the words: “They dress the wounds of my people, as though it were no serious. saying ‘Peace, peace.’ when there is no peace. Jeremiah 6. Watermarked from @BlackLiturgies]
God, I am so mad.
I’m heartbroken by so many things, but I’m mad about the state sanctioned murder of yet another black and brown person.
“Thou shalt not kill” you say. But they say “He had a gun, he looked older, she was suspicious.”
And the streets run with blood, too often the blood of children.
I’m so angry that white terrorists shoot up towns and schools and workplaces and grocery stores and are arrested alive again, and again.
But Black skin is seen as more dangerous than a gun.
I’m so scared of those people who thinking they are keeping us safe: white men and women, cops, and especially white cops.
Lady Jane Illustration [Digital Illustration of a person with flowing green hair, a dark grey jacket, gold hoop earrings and nose ring, trans flag pin, and green shirt. They are clutching their face with their hands. Behind them are pink flowers blooming. The text reads, ‘policing doesn’t keep us safe’]
It makes me think of my friends in college–all 4 of whom were beaten by their father, it makes me think the 3 sisters all who were raped by him throughout their lives, and how they all kept it a secret from each other because of the shame of it. They were hurt by their own father, a cop.
God why is it that we cannot take weapons from abusive individuals? Why is their right to remain armed deemed more important?
Why does their need for violent safety trump my need for peaceful safety?
Why do the police always win?
God I’m angry, and I’m going to stay angry. Because the lack of justice burns my soul. It makes me hunger for a different land, a different way, a different power structure.
God I must confess over and over again Racism is killing us, all of us.
And it’s tricky and can make White People feel safe, when we too are dying. We commit suicide and deal with depression and toxicity all because we are blind and refuse to be healed.
Curse You White Fragility, Male Fragility and American so called Patriotism.
Our communities, economies and peace is dying each and every time one of our Black Siblings die.
Black Lives Matter.
Our families, our relationships, our very understanding of time iteslf suffers whenever a Brown sibling is abused and killed.
Stop Asian Hate, No Human Being is Illegal, Bad Theology Kills.
How can we stop the killing?
Is this how it felt, Lord when your children suffered slavery in Egypt?
Did Jesus weep in Jerusalem because he saw the Jews and the Gentiles and the Samaritans and the Essenes killing each other to win the prize of peace, never understanding that peace can’t be forced or taken or violently enforced.
Is this why you disarmed Your very own Godself? Hanging your Bow in the sky? And did you foresee the rainbow as a sign of acceptance, celebration, inclusion and peace for our queer siblings even as our Trans siblings of color die violently every week in the United States?
Are you angry God? You must be, because I am so angry.
God these are your children, and I am going to stay angry, until things change.
I’ll be here.
Praying
and Working, Protesting, Voting, Calling Representatives, Giving out Food and Water, and Living Out the Anti-Racist Journey and Work.
And I Know I’ll Still
Even After All That
Be Angry.
And it comforts me to know, that you, God, are angry too.
Thank you for this anger Lord.
Amen.
Please feel free to use/share/adapt the prayer with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta. Please credit Lady Jane Illustrations and Black Liturgies for the the apropos and inspirational images.
Lord, help us during this time of anxiety and illness and woe to pursue peace.
Peace is not the quiet, stilled silence of two different sides, but the active and creative power that you put into being when you created the world.
God, you know it’s funny that you’ve made us to be counting beings.
When I am anxious at night, I count sheep, sometimes I count steps or play counting games to distract myself.
We’ve even been counting off scripture at worship: reading “together” at home when I hold up my fingers 1-10.
And sometimes we advise each other to count our blessings when things look their bleakest.
When Abraham was worried about his legacy, God advised him to count the grains of sand, or to count the stars.
When my son, who has autism, is anxious he counts off the schedule on your fingers.
One finger: go to the store, second finger: go to the bank, third finger: go to the blue house (home) and play iPad.
All will be well as long as he ends up home playing iPad.
God, I am aware that we are counting first: vote, second: wait (and wait and wait) for the results, third: accept the results and peacefully pass power, fourth: so we can all end up safe at home.
Funny how we are counting, each and every vote to pursue peace. Funny, and not so funny, because it fits so well.
Help us to count, God.
Help us count every single vote. Help us count as an act of peace.
Help us to count each and every vote. Help us to count each and every person as a child of God. Help us to count the steps of peace.
One
Two
Three
One Lord and Savior, Two Natures, Three Persons
One breath out, Two short breaths out, On Three we sigh together
(Just to be clear) One breath out, Two short breaths out, On Three we sigh together
If you would like a word copy of this document (which is probably easier to format) just email katyandtheword at gmail with the subject line advent and I will be happy to send you a copy
We remember how faithful God was to Abraham and Sarah,
Moses and Miriam, and Hannah and Eli
Come let us know God, through God’s promises
We live into your promises, Loving God
Light the Promise Candle
God, we are thankful that every year
You fulfill your promise and become particularly present
every Sunday, every prayer, every gathering in your name,
You are there. You show your love in baptism and communion,
and you reveal your presence through advent and Christmas.
Help us to live into your promises,
every time we wait for Jesus,
we pray. Amen.
Optional Hymns: Great is Thy Faithfulness, Be Thou My Vision, God of the Sparrow, God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Nov 29, 2020 Thanksgiving Candle:
Lord we give thanks for your protection and gifts
Glory to be to God, who has filled the world with enough for everyone
When we are in trouble, we have God to pray to
God help us to trust in God
Let us proclaim the good news, God is abundant and gracious
We live into thanksgiving, Loving God
Light the Promise Candle
God,
As we look at all the bounties of the earth,
teach us how to give the sacrifice of praise.
For you have created us this way
so that the more we give thanks
the better human beings we are.
Help us to live into Thanksgiving,
every time we wait for Jesus,
we pray. Amen.
Optional Hymns: For the Fruit of All Creation, Let All Things Now Living, We Gather Together, Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Dec 6, 2020 Hope Candle: (based on Joel 2)
Lord, even now you are calling to us
You promise the trumpet will sound, all wrongs will be right!
We will call the assembly in hope, one way or another we will connect and gather together
We are the congregation: the aged, the children, the infants. We are the people of God
God says, fear not, for I will fill you with my spirit. Live into Hope.
We live into hope, loving God.
Light the Hope Candle
Prayer: Lord,
in the midst of suffering
and death, remind us
that love is worth
the cost of hope.
Teach us to
enact the world
we hope for we pray.
Help us to live into Hope
every time we wait for Jesus,
we pray. Amen.
Optional Hymns: Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel v. 1, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence v. 1, Live Into Hope,
Peace Candle: Peace: (based on Isaiah 61:1-4)
Lord, here is the hope! You have sent us to proclaim the good news to the oppressed,
We are all called to to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives
Let us proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
You comfort all who mourn, and give us the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
You promise to repair the ruins! Live into peace.
We live into Peace, Loving God!
Light the Peace Candle
Prayer: Jesus
as we see fighting
and lies and hatred.
Show us peace,
not as a passive thing
but as the power to
acknowledge each and
every creature’s mutual worth
Help us to live into Peace
every time we wait for Jesus,
we pray. Amen
Optional Hymns: Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel v. 3, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence v. 3 Comfort, Comfort You My People or A Place at the Table, Blest Be the Tie That Binds
Dec 13, 2020 Joy Candle: (based on Luke 1:46-56 which is opt for next week)
Lord God this is the time to magnify the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant
We are called to see how God has brought down the powerful from their thrones
We need to look and acknowledge and proclaim with joy that it is God who lifts up the lowly
God’s promises are forever! This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! We live into Joy, Loving God.
Prayer: Holy Spirit,
as we feel the stirrings of Joy
that Jesus Christ is a part of our lives.
Remind us that Jesus
came to help all people
from generation to generation.
Help us to share the Joy it is
to fill every sing person who hungers
with good things.
Help us to live into Joy
every time we wait for Jesus,
we pray. Amen.
Optional Hymns: O Come, O Come Emmanuel v. 2, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence v. 2, Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
Dec 20, 2020 Love Candle:
God, we sing glory to God in the highest, for you embody love
You take on human flesh, out of love for us
Truly, who embodies love like Jesus?
He has come to teach and to pray, to heal and to disciple, to live and to breathe with us.
Born in a manger, full of hope, peace and joy, that is our Savior, Jesus Christ.
We Live into Love, Loving God
God of Bounty,
We know that you are synonymous with love
To speak of God is to speak of love,
and to speak of love is to speak of God.
Teach us what love really is:
Embodying hope and peace and joy all at once.
Help us to live into Love
every time we wait for Jesus,
we pray Amen.
Optional Hymns: O Come, O Come Emmanuel v. 1 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent v. 3 and/or 4, They will Know we are Christians by Our Love
Dec 24/25, 2020 Christ Candle:
Let our Soul magnify the Lord
We rejoice in God our savior
God is with us, from generation to generation
Look at what the Mighty One has done for us
God fills the hungry with good things, brings up the lowly, and brings done the powerful
We live into the discipleship of Jesus Christ, Loving God
Light the Christ Candle
Prayer:
Lord God, we know that Jesus is born
Born of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love,
Christ is coming,
Touch us with your presence we pray.
Help us to live into discipleship
and to see Jesus,
we pray Amen.
Optional Hymns: What Child is This?, The First Nowell, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Call to Worship:
Happy are those who take refuge in God
Serve the Lord with fear and trembling and kiss his feet
The nations conspire in vain, for our Lord is God, and God will break ancient schemes
Come let us worship the Lord our God.
Hear the Good News; The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
The smallest of seeds, but it has grown into the greatest of shrubs.
See all the air come and make nests in its branches
Come, let us come home and nest with God.
Call to Worship:
I shall never be afraid
God is my rock, God is my salvation
Whom shall I fear?
No One
Why should I run, no one can harm me, I shall overcome: come let us proclaim the truth
God is my rock.
Invitation to Confess: Like a loving parent, God awaits us with open arms to hear our troubles and soothe our sorrows. Come let us confess to the Lord
Prayer of Confession: Lord, sometimes I feel like I have nowhere to run to. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, and that I have no one to turn to. Sometimes I just want to run away. So I ignore things, or I snap at life, or I feel hopelessness overwhelm me. Remind me that you are always present, that I can turn to you with anything. Strengthen me with your love I pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession: I confess that I don’t feel like a child of God today. I see all of my cracks and mistakes, and have trouble focusing on the good. How can I go home broken? But then you remind me, if I’m broken, how can I not go home? Help me to come to you so I might bathe in your good food, soft beds and loving hospitality and be restored, I pray.
Assurance of Pardon. God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting. God does not hold grudges, but instead loves us when time are good and when times are bad. Reassure one another with the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Assurance of Pardon: When the walls are tumbling down, God remains our rock and salvation, and so we can hang onto the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Eucharist Prayer: God, bless this food with thanksgiving and hope. Remind us that the one who sent his only son to teach us and bless us and feed us, will not turn us away from the table. When asked how it is we are to care for one another, Jesus answered feed me sheep, feed my sheep, feed my sheep. Let this be the celebration meal to fill our hearts and soothe our souls. Send your Holy Spirit down on these elements so that we might take on the new day with energy, intelligence, imagination and hope, we pray in your loving son Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
Hymns:
Here I am Lord
Somebody’s Knocking At Your Door
Spirit
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart
God Folded the Mountains Out of Rock
Rock of the Ages
With Children: Runaway Bunny, Play Hide and Seek and talk about how God finds you, Play Eye Spy: Talk about how God keeps track of you and how you keep an eye out for God, Plant seeds (especially mustard seeds), Make a Gratitude paper chain of all the things you are grateful for (can continue for many weeks), Wise Man builds his house on the rock Song, Build a tower and discuss the importance of salvation/God as your rock. Pairs well with Prodigal Son, Father Abraham had man sons Song
Our God is the God of Peace, let us worship his holy name
How do we know this is God’ time?
There is a time for everything
Even in such a time as this?
Whatever God does endures forever, Come let us watch for God together
Prayer of Confession: Dear God, we confess that we get so busy that we forget. We forget to look for God and we forget to take time to practice peace. Forgive God, we pray. Amean
God of Peace, we have to admit are not a people of peace. We are more into plucking up than planting. We see more times to tear than times to sew. We pray that you teach us more about the time for peace.
Lord God, some days we have nothing but bad timing. Whatever we do is wrong and whatever we say is wrong, and we can’t find the right timing. Help us, we pray. Help us when we are fumbling for the right time. Help us when we feel so full of wrong that peace seems impossible. Gift us with your presence and fill us with your love and peace we pray.
Assurance of Pardon: Our God will give us peace beyond understanding, thus in that promise we can know the truth. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of Dedication/Closing Prayer: Send us into your world as a people of Peace we pray. Amen
God, grant us enough hope that we can continue to pursue peace, we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession: Lamb of God, we confess that we do not always do peace well. We confess that we are not always the instruments of the kingdom. Reshape us, Lord. Mold us from swords into plowshares, makes us the tools of your peace through the planting of seedlings of hope, joy and love where ever we go, heal our hearts so we might in turn bring healing to others we pray… (Silent Prayer)…Amen
Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said that “Peace is not the absence of war but the presence of justice.” Our world changes when justice prevails. When we love one another — no matter who they are — justice and peace become part of our reality. When we work for justice and equality we are fully living into the love we are commanded to show one to the other by Jesus.”
“This is a general service Announcements reminding everybody that the best treatment for dementors is CHOCOLATE…in light of the sad events in Boston, in my professional and pastoral opinion I recommend CHOCOLATE for everybody” (Should you be someone who is unable to do chocolate, Cookies may be substituted). Chocolate may not fix our sadness, but it reminds us of the good that does exist in the world and encourages to act out of love not fear.
PS Check out today’s Lectionary Reading from the Bible–remember the opposite of love is not hate but fear, hate grows out of fear
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
1st John
“As healing was integral to Christ’s ministry, the church is called to continue this concern for wholeness. (W-3.5401) Wholeness not as a result of holiness, earnestness or skill of prayers, or the faith of the ones seeking healing, but as the gift of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. (W-3.5405) Prayer is vital because Prayer essentially a a time of waiting in faith upon God, (W-3.5403).”