Tag: Psalm 41

Psalm 41:1-3

God
We are calling down
Your protection

Because
I see the face
of terrified
College students
of Brown People with
Tattoos

Echoing
Those of
Separated
Families
at the border

I am still haunted
by a picture of
their jewelry
and crosses
piled like
Jewish
loot
during
the Holocaust

And the Fragile
Gaza
peace
has been broken

and so I pray
Protection
For the families

And for the Soldiers
in Yemen
And around the world

As OPSEC is said
but not Enacted

Though truly
My heart
Longs for Peace
I pray for a language
beyond bombs
and threats
and bullying

and even tariffs

Staunch Pacifist that I am

As the budget for food
and Veterans are cuts
but the Military remains
bloats
Military Industrial Complex
Indeed Lord, I cry

And God,
I cry out for all of those
with Cancer
longing for Treatment
whose funding was cut
The researchers
who have been sustained
I know that God
You work to sustain
All those with infirmities
I pray that you will work
To heal all infirmities

Open the ears and hearts
of those who need to
understand
Melt those with
hearts and brains of stone

Melt them
Reverse their Decisions
Transform things so Completely
That we do not even Recognize things

For God you know
When we pray for Health
We are praying for a healthy
World–
Not for just ourselves
But for me, my neighbor, my enemy
to all be transformed into
(almost unrecognizable) signs of mercy
Signs of the Kin(g)dom
And so I pray
For a Forgiveness of Debts
That I cannot comprehend

For Food for all people
In a Dailyness of Bread

For the coming of your Glory
Which of course will be in Mercy

And for
Your Kin(g)dom Come
Your Will Be done
Amen,
Amen.

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

Psalm 41:1-3

1 Happy are those who consider the poor;* (marginal/oppressed)
   the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.
2 The Lord protects(guards them/covenants with them) them and keeps them alive;(like a. shepherd guards a sheep, like a sacred duty, like a hedge of protection)
   they are called happy in the land. (It will be a gifting, a granting)
   You do not give them up to the will of their enemies.
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; (a sustain, supporting, comforting, stability and continuity))
   in their illness you heal all their infirmities.* (Healed and transformed, reversed, turn over a new leaf) The grace and mercy of God will be through compassion.

Narrative Lectionary, Year 3 Luke Week 4

March 30
Lent 4
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
Psalm 41:1-3*
Verse 3: Lord sustains them in their sickbeds could be translated as God sustains them mutually in sickness or health

Lost Life? God reminds you what really matters
There is a theme of mutuality and community
As well as an interesting theme about weeping here: weeping wounds, weeping from sadness, etc.

Call to Worship
Blessed are those who consider the Poor
God protects
For God delivers them trouble
God sustains
God provide mutuality, in sickness or in health
God restores
Blessed be the Divine
From Everlasting to Everlasting, Blessed be God

Call to Worship
God we look to you in mourning
You love us
God of resurrection, You are rich beyond compare
You are the God of Love
You remind us to live in Love
May we greet one another in Love today

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we are a country that hoards things: goods, power, influence. We are not good at sharing. And you are honest with us, resurrection and life and the Good News are sometimes not enough for us to hear. We confess that we are afraid of losing things. Teach us to live into love, relationships and community and to embrace joy and good whenever we can, so that we do not miss the riches we have we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Jesus we confess that we worry, we worry sometimes that we are the Rich Man, other times we worry that we are Lazarus with weeping wounds unable to help others. Help us when we are uncertain or scared of the outcomes, to remember that Christ is with us, doing the work of resurrection. 

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News Jesus came for us, loved us, taught us, died for us and is resurrected for us, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God your Good News calls us towards a Resurrection that is beyond riches. Teach us to hear and believe your Good News we pray. Amen. 

Children: https://a.co/d/evgvo9h The Golden Goose Laughter and Joy over Money) Or the Selfish Giant The Kingdom of Heaven is sharing not Hoarding https://a.co/d/dJq9XqJ There are a million editions of both of these stories–and they could be told with figures too or cutouts as well

The Golden Goose

Transfiguration, Feb 19

February 19
Transfiguration:
Matthew 16:24-17:8
Psalm 41:7-10
Suggested Micah 6:8 (again)
Psalm 46:10
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like God Shading Godself, for humans to perceive

Call to Worship
God calls us, the deep from the deep
God your magnificence is too great for us
God you are changed from glory, into glory
So you come to us, human, and walk with us
Teach us again, today
Come let us walk with God

Call to Confession: What is confession, but walking with God? Why don’t we let ourselves walk with God here. 

Confession: God we confess that we are overwhelmed by being human. How is it then can we take in your glory of divinity? We feel like we should respond. We feel like we need to do things or say things. And yet, sometimes, stillness is grace. Sometimes we need to just sit with our own humanity. Sometimes its ok to just try to get to know ourselves better, and to remind ourselves that getting to know ourselves is to get to know you. Let us allow ourselves to do that we pray. Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon: Be still, and know God is with your, today, tomorrow, everyday, and feel the good news: In Jesus Christ you are forgiven. 

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: May we walk into the world shaded by God, so that we might better be able to hear and understand the Good News God has for us today. Amen. 

light human figure shining down with glares and a dark cloud slightly obscuring it, giving the eyes some relief

Lent 4 Topical Prayers

Topical Prayer: God, we admit that today’s message is a hard one to take in. We do not want to know that there are times we have forgotten or ignored the poor, or refused to treat one another as human beings. You remind us, pointedly, that this ignorance is our own. However, you also give us, even in this passage, the hope of the resurrection. Help us to find something to hang onto in the resurrections, so that we can reshape who we are into followers of Christ, we pray. Amen. 

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 4 Prayers

Journeying with ghosts: The Christmas Carol

March 14

Lent 4

Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

Psalm 41: 1-3

Call to Worship:

Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel

God is from everlasting to everlasting

The Lord our God is gracious and healing

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

Come Let us worship God

Invitation: God will hear all of our prayers, give us the courage to confess our failings today. 

Confession: Lord God, we confess that we are often like the rich man, leaving the poor out of what we have. Truly you command us over and over again to take care of the poor but it feels too hard. Help us God, to see, hear and comfort those who have less than us. Help us we pray.

Assurance of Pardon: God will never abandon you. For we have seen and known the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Know the truth every single time we confess our sins, we are forgiven. Let us tell one another the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, deliver those who are in pain or ill. Sustain those who are dealing with longterm effects of coronavirus or cancer or dementia or mental illness. Help those too who are poor, those who deal with longterm illness often deal with poverty and vice versa, but we know they are not the same thing. Walk with them, Jesus, Sustain those who are suffering in any way we pray. Amen. 

Communion Prayer: God you commanded Peter and your disciples not once, not twice, but three times to “Feed My Sheep” and then you showed us how by sharing the bread and cup even on the very night that you were betrayed, to every single person present, even your betrayer. Help us to be as generous with your meal, we pray. Send your Holy Spirit upon this food and cup that we might spill out your grace to all people, and nourish us in your grace and love, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Hymns: When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land, O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee, I Want Jesus to Walk with Me, Make Me a Captive Lord, When I Had Not Yet Learned of Jesus, Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed,  

Taize: De Noche Iremos: By night we hasten in darkness to search for living water, only our thirst leads us onwards

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy