prayer – Page 7 – katyandtheword

Narrative Lectionary, Year 2, Lent 3

March 3rd, Lent 3
Mark 12:1-12 [13-17] Wicked Tenants, Pay Caesar (Sacrifice)
Psalm 86:8-13

Kneeling with Christ
The Promise of a New Kin-dom
Breaking [A World Beyond] Capitalism

Lent 3: Serving God: Rendering to God what is God’s, What do you have to offer?

Breath Prayer Option
Inhale: Great is God’s Steadfast Love
Exhale: God delivers me

Call to Worship
God is great and wondrous
You alone are God
I give thanks to you, of you alone are God
Let us give our whole hearts to God
God’s steadfast love is eternal
Come let us glorify God’s name forever

Call to Confession: God allows us to sit in the Divine presence even when we feel uncertain, come let us confess ourselves to God.

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we do not know what to render to you. It feels like everything belongs to society and Caesar: our bodies, our time, our work. We confess that it angers us in such a way that we might become like the tenants, ready to lash out even at those who come to with messages from God. Help us to move beyond the structures of this world, so that we can serve the Kingdom we pray. (Silent Confession) Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News, the yoke of Jesus Christ is light, and He is ready to forgive, so we know the Good News of Christ’s grace In Jesus Christ we are Forgiven.

Communion Prayer: God you are here to serve us and to feed us. You stooped your divine self into human form–translating divinity into a body and Good News into a format that we can understanding, so that we can taste and see the Good News of your life, one of service and foot washing. Send your Holy Spirit upon these elements so that we can feel your holy presence as a moment of communion with you and understand your teachings as moments of grace and love, we pray in the name of your son Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, we are here to dedicate ourselves to you, because when we do, our lives are more joyful and complete. Help us to recognize the ways you move and are in our lives, so that we might live more fully in service to you we pray. Amen.

Hymn Suggestions: We Give Thee But Thine Own

Taize Option: Ubi Caritas

Children’s Activity: Talk about offering and what it means, and why it is you give offering–and how one can give offering of money, time and talents. Arrange a service project–preparing food or toiletries or birthday kits for the community.

Children’s Book: The Power of One by Trudy Ludwig or Children’s Book: The Power of One by Trudy Ludwig how goodness has ripple effects or Thank You Mr Panda by Steve Antony about how waiting is hard but it can have good effects.

Entire Liturgy

Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for Entire Liturgy $75
(you can decide what is fair for portions)
Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

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Narrative Lectionary, Year 2, Lent 2

February 25, Lent 2
Mark 10:32-52 Son of Man to Serve, Heal Blind Bartimaeus
Psalm 34:11-14

Disciples want to get close to Jesus, Jesus continually points the disciples to look outward
Kneeling with Christ :When Jesus Comes Every Knee will bow,
Because Christ will return as he came, Kneeling to Serve
And we will Kneel to be Beside him
The Promise of a New Kin-dom
A World Beyond Capitalism, Breaking Capitalism

Call to Worship
I will bless the Lord at all times
Praise shall continually be in my mouth
Let my soul make its boast in the Lord
Let the humble hear and be glad
Let us hear the good news, and be warmed by it
Let us taste and see that God is good together
Come, magnify the Lord with me, for God is humble to be with us
Let us exalt the name of God together

Lent 2: Serving God: Whole Person/Confession & Serving God

Breath Prayer Option
God is with us
God Knows us

Call to Confession: Let us confess ourselves to Jesus Christ, the one who is human with us and for us, and so he accepts us as we are.

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we are sometimes ashamed, we are afraid to come with our full selves. Afraid that we are incomplete, or not enough. We are afraid, and so we find it hard to serve. But you reassure us, that fear is part of the process, and that you will always answer and take care of us. Help us when we are afraid we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear this, God answers and delivers us, forgiving us so that we are radiant with the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of The Day/Dedication: God who sees us as complete and calls us by name in the midst of our struggles, lead us towards a faith that helps us to serve in a way that is not about ability* but about faith we pray. Amen.

Hymn Suggestions: What Does the Lord Require of You, Taste and See, Lift High the Cross

Taize Option: Lord Remember Me

Children’s Activity: Self Portraits–talk about how everyone is different and how God knows us and loves us exactly how we are, and how each of us have imperfections like most handmade work

Children’s Book: God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren https://www.amazon.com/God-Gave-You-Lisa-Bergren/dp/0307729915

*Healing stories have a potential to turn ableist really quickly. Though it is amazing that Bartimaeus is healed, it is the fact that Jesus saw him as a full and complete person (notice how he is even named!), and took his faith as a priority that might be the most important aspect of this story.

Entire Liturgy

Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for Entire Liturgy $75
(you decide what is fair for portions)
Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword@gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Lent 2024, Narrative Lectionary, Year 2

Themes:
Disciples want to get close to Jesus, Jesus continually points the disciples to look outward
Kneeling with Christ :When Jesus Comes Every Knee will bow,
Because Christ will return as he came, Kneeling to Serve
And we will Kneel to be Beside him
The Promise of a New Kin-dom
A World Beyond Capitalism, Breaking Capitalism

Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for entire Liturgy $75
(you can decide what is fair for portions)
Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe, if you wish to send a check please contact me for info

February 14th
Ash Weds
Mark 9:30-37 Last, First, like a Child
Psalm 32:1-5

February 18th , Lent 1
Mark 10:17-31 Rich Man sell all
Psalm 19:7-10

March 3rd, Lent 3
Mark 12:1-12 [13-17] Wicked Tenants, Pay Caesar (Sacrifice)
Psalm 86:8-13

March 10th, Lent 4
Mark 12:28-44 Great Commandment, Poor Widow
Psalm 89:1-4

March 17th, Lent 5
Mark 13: 1-8, 24-37 End of age, Watch
Psalm 102:12-17

March 24th, Lent 6
Mark 11:1-11 Triumphal Entry
Mark 14:3-9 woman anoints Jesus
Psalm 118:25-29

Holy Week Book
Jesus, The Word by Mark Fracisco Bozzuti-Jones Image from here

Jesus, The Word book cover, rainbow Jesus with open hand by by Mark Fracisco Bozzuti-Jones

Also What is God Like
YouTube reading

What is God Like Book
Black kid riding a Narwhale Across the Universe

by Rachel Held Evans

March 28 Maundy Thurs
Mark 14:22-42 Words of Institution, Peter’s Denial foretold, Gethsemane Prayer
Psalm 116:12-19

March 29th Good Fri
Mark 15:16-39 Mocking, Forsaken
Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21

March 31st Resurrection
Mark 16:1-8 Empty tomb, Fleeing
Psalm 118:21-27

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe
if you wish to send a check please contact me for info

Narrative Lectionary, Year 2, Lent 1

Mark 10:17-31 Rich Man sell all
Psalm 19:7-10

Kneeling with Christ
The Promise of a New Kin-dom
Breaking [A World Beyond] Capitalism

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword@gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Lent 1: Serving God, Journey & Change

Breath Prayer Option
Breathe in: Jesus I will serve you
Breathe out: Jesus I will follow you

Call to Worship
Jesus we are following you into Lent
Your laws are perfect, so we follow you
Jesus we long to love and serve like you
Here we are, starting the journey into Lent, Journey with us God
Come let us journey with God
Come, let us make space for this holy time together.

Call to Confession
Jesus calls us to follow him, because we are heavy burdened, let us lay down what we are carrying to God, so we might find rest

Prayer of Confession: God we know that what you have to offer is more desirable than God and sweeter than honey, but we confess that we are not ready to give up all of our possessions and follow you. We confess that we find the idea of changing everything, difficult. We confess that we are uncertain, sometimes, what following you even means sometimes. Forgive us when we are afraid, teach us how to serve beside you in ways that are life giving and hopeful we pray. In the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News: Jesus promises that he is preparing a way full of grace and mercy for us, so we can be assured of the good news, In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Let us go forth proclaiming the good news, that faith is not about who is first or who has the most. It is not even about being perfect. For it is God who will teach us to serve, and we will carry that throughout the world. Amen.

Hymn Suggestions: They will Know We are Christians By Our Love, I Wonder as I Wander

Taize Option: Veni Sancte Spiritus

Children’s Activity: Play Simon Says, Stoplight, Duck Duck Goose depending on Ages, talk about how these games who wins “it” the person in control, how you lose, and then play them backwards, where the loser WINS

Children’s Book:The Goblin and the Empty Chair https://www.amazon.com/Goblin-Empty-Chair-Mem-Fox/dp/1416985859 Talk about about how the disciples fought over where to sit as opposed to the empty chair where welcome was made for the Goblin

Entire Liturgy

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword@gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

A circular wooden table with wooden chairs, above is the Holy Spirit dove with a circle of arrows pointing everywhere

Let’s Write Liturgy

If you want an experiential, small group writing experience, here it is

Let’s Write Liturgy Workshop

Now Offered at Two Times, in the Eastern Time Zone

please email with your preferred date

Cost is $50

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.

Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator

Who is ready for the next Liturgy Workshop?

Come and let’s have a writing experience together!

For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy” indicate which date you want

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 all but dissertation for her Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.

Magi, the Magical Wisdom

Magi
because
Venturing out
is Magic

Wisdom
is magic
Taking a leap of Faith
is also magic

Packing up for the Journey
Being willing to be Lost
Asking for help
and directions

Glorifying others
Going to an unknown land
Honoring a child
Listening to a woman
a mother
not having to be informed by an angel

Completing the journey
and going home
to tell to the story

Putting all the pieces together
to have a realization
of how this is going to effect
and change your own
life

having an epiphany
is what being a Magi
experiencing the magic
of Christmas
Is all about

May you follow that
Star of Faith
all year

Picture from the well beloved Wandering Wisemen Picture Ministry which is having its final year this year found https://www.facebook.com/thewanderingwisemen

(Epiphany Star Generator Link: https://perchance.org/starwords2022)

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

My Poem about rejecting my Star Word: https://open.substack.com/pub/katystenta/p/p-e-f-e-c-t?r=1qkzy4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true

Let’s Write Liturgy Workshop: https://open.substack.com/pub/katystenta/p/lets-write-liturgy-workshop?r=1qkzy4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
Cost $50

What is Your Longest Night? (Advent Day 18)

@Kim@tech.lgbt in Norway, ‘up and not crying is a not uncommon response to “how’s it going” type questions, and I fell like that’s a very reasonable standard to hold oneself to especially nowadays

I have experienced so many longest nights…
the scary longest night of childhood–
too scared to cry out for help in the dark
too scared not to
The sheer powerlessness of not knowing what to do

The longest night of giving birth
the pain, the trying to breath, trying to talk
everyone trying to help, feeling like no one is trying to help
I’ve not been Mary, but Good God the pressure
I have experienced that longest night

I have experienced the length of ten millions hours
Of the bedside wait for a beloved one to die
imminent, and yet too long
the wondering if staying is the best thing to do
or not, the talking without response–
the simultaneous hope that they know you are present
but that they don’t, because then they aren’t feeling any pain

I know the powerlessness of longest night moments of parenthood
Of sitting on the couch laughing so you don’t cry
Because you don’t know what to do next,
as your child is anguished and alone–
And you Cry right in front of them “I am here”
As they are crying about how alone they feel

I have felt the chilliness of the Longest Night of being alone–
how cold it feels to have no friends
what it means to be laughed at every time you speak
shunned, and ostracized
The awkwardness of being your neurodivergent self
And realizing there is no other way to be

And then again
during the isolation of Covid
where we all, kept each other safe
briefly

Before all the wars resumed

I have not experienced every longest night,
but I have had to pick what bill not to pay
I have stand in the grocery line with WIC
Praying that all of my credit cards do not bounce
I have had long payment plans with the IRS,
And preached to help the poor
knowing that I am actually being self-referential

When I think of the Darkest night of the Soul
and Jesus, with his guts spilled out on the cross
I feel like I understand a little more
when I had to relearn how to walk
how to eat
how to defecate
after surgery–and feel the worst pain ever to recover
(And it makes me wonder about If Jesus walked to Emmaus
because he had to relearn it, And if he didn’t eat, because he couldn’t yet)

The longer I live
The more I understand the Longest Nights
and I think, we need time
to sit in silence
grief
loneliness
charity

with one another
Because
humans experience Longest nights
And I believe God sits with us
and cradles us
and sings us lullabies
until the dawn
arrives again.

Happy Solstice The Shortest Day of the Longest Fucking Year of Our Lives

Please feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

#Advent Day 15 Christ is Coming Anyway

Dr. Wil Gafney “Christmas is not Canceled. Festive Christmas celebration and public displays are. But the Feast of the Incarnation will continue to be observed. There will be church services for the local residents. Tourism is strongly discouraged.” Layla Darwish: Most average Americans doesn’t even know Christmas is cancelled in Bethlehem.

Christ Incarnates
Christ always comes
that is the promise

That is what I said
when I took my ordination question
I said that I believe that
Christ will come
and every knee shall bow

And someone stood and asked me
How?

Aren’t you worried about Universalism
(Worried that Jesus might save everyone??
HA!)

And I said
I don’t know
It is not my job to understand it

Just to believe it
and to declare the good news

That even in the midst of war
and rubble
and horrific devastation
where humans dehumanize one another
Christ
will keep his promise

I believe that somehow
Christ is still with us
and will be incarnate
for everyone

Because the Bible says
Good News for All People
All people will stream
Every Knee shall bow

I did not see any asterisks
or footnotes

I did not see any guns
or calls for coercion
or force

Last I saw
Jesus said to kneel
to one another
And wash each other’s feet

(I have suspicions about
this is why we will be kneeling
to be besides the Christ
who is already kneeling
to serve us)

But right now
I am just hanging on to
the faith
that Jesus is here
And Coming

Because it’s not my job
to bring Jesus

Or to bring anyone to him
God has already done all of that work

Jesus is coming
Hear the Good News
Alleluia,
Amen.

Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

A Prayer for the Pastors

Here’s a Prayer for the Pastors
All the Pastors
The ones who feel heard
and the ones who don’t

The ones who are ready to quit
and the ones who left years ago…quietly…without any recognition
Or maybe without apologies or healing
God knows your work and calls it good

Here’s a prayer for the pastors who were told suck it up buttercup
and the ones who are faithfully, quietly serving–without any fanfare or anything close to a living wage
May justice flood down like water

Here’s a prayer for the bivocational pastors
The stretched thin sandwich generation or parental parents
the disabled or otherwise doing too much pastors
the am-I-worthy-because-I’m working four things but none-of-them-technially-count-as-a-call pastors
May God bless all the kinds of your work

Here’s a prayer for the pastors–who know every situation is different
who won’t speak their hurt in public, because it crosses too many boundaries
But it’s there

And for the pastors–for whom, its less specific
It is just the quiet knowledge–that the profession is fading
and that if there was a will, things might be sustainable
..but everyone seems to instead wring their hands, and talk about the beloved buildings…and Sunday Schools that can no longer exist and sports on Sunday
May God hold you in the palm of God’s hand

Here’s a prayer for the pastors
who are trying to set boundaries
trying not to be caught up in all the things they could be doing
and trying to figure out what they should and shouldn’t be doing
Here’s a prayer for the juggling pastors
Jesus calls you to do what you can and also give you room to rest

Here’s a prayer for the pastor
Who is not Jesus, but is trying to serve
the faithful pastor who is trying to see both
the church as it is..and as it is forming to be
God bless you pastor
and God bless your people
May you have a good ministry
And may you stop when you need to
Here’s a prayer for all the unique pastors
Whoever you are, wherever you are

May you know that your ministry matters
Traditional, Nontraditional, Parish or Beyond
It all counts, I believe you are called by God,
By Name
And it all counts, and I am praying for you.

Amen.

Feel free to use/share/adapt with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta at Katyandtheword

Un-Prayer for Holy Saturday

~~I’m so sorry for your Loss~~
…………………………(silence)……………………
~~They are in a better place~~
This really sucks
~~God needed another angel~~
…………………………(silence)……………………
~~Call me if you need anything~~
::Sitting and crying together::
~~They were too good to live~~
…………………………(silence)……………………
~~You did everything you could~~
Oh God
~~You can always have another child/You have other children~~
…………………………(silence)……………………
~~They had a good life~~
…………………………(silence)……………………
…………………………(silence)……………………
…………………………(silence)……………………
…………………………(silence)……………………

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

Stone Cave Tomb, Stone in front of it, black background, made on Canva, free to use