Maundy Thursday: Lord Teach Me to Pray/Give Yourself Up to God

Maundy Thursday: Servant Prayer
John 13:1-17
Mark 10:13-15

Ash Weds/Maundy Thurs Prayer

Breath Prayer

Inhale: Lord teach me to serve
Exhale: Amen, Amen

Ritual Washing of Hands/Feet

Celebrate Communion 

Pray the Lord’s Prayer: Have Different People read different versions before you read it together 

Lord’s Prayer, from the original Aramaic Translation by Neil Douglas-
Klotz in Prayers of the Cosmos
O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos
Focus your light within us – make it useful.
Create your reign of unity now
Through our fiery hearts and willing hands
Help us love beyond our ideals
and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.
Animate the earth within us: we then
feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all.
Untangle the knots within
so that we can mend our hearts’ simple ties to each other.
Don’t let surface things delude us,
But free us from what holds us back from our true purpose.
Out of you, the astonishing fire,
Returning light and sound to the cosmos.

The Lord’s Prayer, from Aramaic into Old English
Translation by G.J.R. Ouseley from The Gospel of the Holy Twelve
Our Father-Mother Who art above and within:
Hallowed be Thy Name in twofold Trinity.
In Wisdom, Love and Equity Thy Kingdom come to all.
Thy will be done, As in Heaven so in Earth.
Give us day by day to partake of Thy holy Bread, and the fruit of
the living Vine.
As Thou dost forgive us our trespasses, so may we forgive others
who trespass against us.
Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others we may shew the
same.
In the hour of temptation, deliver us from evil. Amen

Amun.

The ‘Pater Noster’ in Latin:
Pater Noster, qui es in caelis,
Sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum,
Fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in caelo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
Sed libera nos a malo.
Amen.

Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes, who fills all realms of sound,
light and vibration.
May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.
Your Heavenly Domain approaches.
Let Your will come true – in the universe just as on earth.
Give us wisdom for our daily need, detach the
fetters of faults that bind us, like we let go the guilt of others.
Let us not be lost in superficial things, but
let us be freed from that what keeps us from our true purpose.
From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act, the song that
beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.
Sealed in trust, faith and truth, I confirm with my entire being.

The Prayer to Our Father (a version in Aramaic)
Abwûn Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes,
d’bwaschmâja
who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.
Nethkâdasch schmach
May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.
Têtê malkuthach.
Your Heavenly Domain approaches.
Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d’bwaschmâja af b’arha.
Let Your will come true – in the universe (all that vibrates) just as on earth
(that is material and dense).
Hawvlân lachma d’sûnkanân jaomâna.
Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,
Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna daf chnân schwoken
l’chaijabên.
detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma) like we let go the guilt of
others.
Wela tachlân l’nesjuna
Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations),
ela patzân min bischa.
but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.
Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l’ahlâm almîn.
From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act, the song that
beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.
Amên.
Sealed in trust, faith and truth. (I confirm with my entire being)

Matthew 6 : 9-13 The Message (MSG)
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Matthew 6 : 9-13 God’ Word Translation (GW)
Our Father in heaven,
let your name be kept holy.
Let your kingdom come.
Let your will be done on earth
as it is done in heaven.
Give us our daily bread today.
Forgive us as we forgive others.
Don’t allow us to be tempted.
Instead, rescue us from the evil one, Amen.

Hi Dad
by Silvia Purdie, 2013

Hi Dad, God we love you
Hi Dad, you’re so great!
We need you – give us food today
We need you – help us to forgive
We need you – keep us safe from harm We need you – you’re an awesome God!

Taize: Stay with Me, Jesus Remember Me When You Come into Your Kingdom (also an option for Good Friday)

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 at gmail, Cash App $bookkats
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Black, Brown and White hands clasping around a scattering of hearts and glitter

Lent: Ash Weds Lord Teach me to Pray, Give Your Heart to God

Give Your Heart to God: Lord Teach Me to Pray

*For small gatherings (up 20 people tops) I burn the offered prayers as an offering to God and create the ashes out of the burnings at the beginning of service, let it cool, use only olive oil NO WATER, only construction paper—not shiny paper—and use the remains for the Ashes. I put it out using a lid. This is tricky tho and only advised for people who feel up to it and have appropriate burning containers, fire systems (i.e. don’t set off your smoke alarms), etc. Also you have to clear it with your appropriate councils, board, etc. PLEASE proceed with caution.*

(This can be done as a station as well, just ask someone to read the passage and then to read/recite the Lord’s prayer slowly with the indicated breath pauses—using a printed Lord’s Prayer as their guide, before imposing ashes)

Write a Prayer for God on Heart Valentines, Offer it to God as you enter

Read Matthew 6:7-13 or Luke 11:1-11

Celebrate Communion

When you pray the Lord’s Prayer—do it with lots of Breath pauses a follows

Jesus having taught us to pray, let us mediate on the Holy Spirit and our Breath by reading the Lord’s Prayer slowly and meditatively with the breath pauses as indicated on your paper (in your own mode/style)

Read each line of the Lord’s prayer and then breathe in and out slowly after each line to change the rhythm of the prayer, do this together

Our Father who are in Heaven Hallowed Be Thy Name (Breath in, Breathe Out)

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, On Earth as it is in Heaven (Breathe in, Breathe Out)

Give this day our Daily Bread (Breathe in, Breathe Out)

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our Debtors (Breathe In, Breathe Out)

Lead us not into Temptation (Breathe In, Breathe Out)

Deliver us from Evil (Breathe in, Breathe Out)

For Thine is the Kingdom  (Breathe in, Breathe Out) 

And the Power (Breathe in, Breathe Out)

And the Glory Forever (Breathe in, Breathe Out)

Amen.

Impose Ashes

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 at gmail, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Ash Weds/Maundy Thurs Prayer

Good Friday Communion Bulletin Juxtaposing the Lord’s Prayer

Journeying Alone

April 2

Good Friday

Crucifixion

Luke 23:32-47

Psalm 31:5-13

All: Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name

Arrest

Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 26As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus Luke 23:3-4,23,26

All: Give us this day our Daily Bread

Mourning

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Luke 23: 27-29

Communion (Celebrate appropriate to your context)

Confession

All: Forgive Us Our Debts as we Forgive Our Debtors

(Silence for Confession)

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23: 32-34

Option: To Nail Sins to the Cross or Blow out candles now

Assurance of Pardon

All: Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver us from Evil

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:36-43

Optional Taize: Jesus Remember Me, When You Come Into Your Kingdom or Were You There When They Crucified the Lord 

Darkness

All: For Thine is the Kingdom and The Glory and The Power Forever, Amen. 

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” Luke 23:44-47

Amen

Option: To Blow Out all of the rest of the Candles 

Music is optional to add wherever, since everyone is handling it differently, suggestions below

Hymns: Take Up Your Cross the Savior Said, Precious Lord Take My Hand, Why Has God Forsaken Me, Alas And Did My Savior Bleed


Taize: Jesus Remember Me When You Come into your Kingdom, Per Crucem 

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

#rejectedsermontitles Really Your Thoughts and #Prayers? That’s all you got?

Prayers are so much more than a comforting platitude

Context:

At the beginning of the week, and saw that the passage was about prayer. Thank God, because no matter what happens this week, I know that it will apply.

Then the African-American caretaker of an autistic man was shot……

I am the mother of an autistic child. Right now he is small and cute. When he flaps his hands giving “exclamatory hands” to excitement or frustration, its not very threatening, and if he does throw a tantrum he is still small enough that I can pick him up in a worse-case-scenario.

As the mother of an autistic child I can say, I don’t care who this police officer was aiming for, this was a terrible action.

So what am I supposed to do, pray?

What can others do for me and my son, pray for us?

Sermon:

Prayer is often used as a comforting action–but that is not its only purpose.

When you pray for someone, you are placing them in God’s hands. You are enacting love. You are opening yourself to be in relationship with them.

Whenever there is a harsh disagreement in the church congregation, session (board of leaders) or the Presbytery (our higher governing board). I will be the first to raise my hand and call for prayer.

And I’ll tell you what it is difficult to immediately stop and pray, the temptation is to continue arguing, the temptation is to prove that I am right, and that you should be listening to me!

This is exactly when prayer is needed, though, because you are trying to focus on God, to change your own individual perspective. Prayer is an act of Holy Imagination, where the world is viewed as the beginning of what God wants for us. God’s priorities and love are given voice and precedent over our own perspective. True prayer, opens oneself to actively love others, and that love is changing. That action is one in which we practice persistence to build a practice and discipline of prayer.

Time after time the most effective antidote to bigotry and prejudice is not education or knowledge. Its not about who is on the “right side of history.” Its having a relationship with someone who is different than you. Its knowing and loving a queer person or a person of color or one who is trans, female in leadership, or living in poverty.

Love is dangerous, because love changes your perspective.

Praying for someone is looking at them and loving them. Praying for another person an act of loving God, one where you recognize the other person as a child of God.

Just as Jesus looked at Martha, and then loved her, and then spoke to her last week.

So too are we called to love each other. Prayer is a discipline by which you practice seeing the world as God wants it to be, so we are more equipped and enabled to bring that world into being. Praying for one another is loving them through all the joys and hardships and struggling to find community with them, especially when we disagree.

Prayers are so much more than a comforting platitude, prayer is one of many disciplines by which we are able to get things done.

Lord teach us to pray….

 

Prayer Ideas #prayer

I have worked on two different forms of prayer that I keep coming back to.

The first is the”Lord’s Prayer Chorus”.

The way it works is you hand out copies of the Lord’s Prayer to even the most experienced of the group.

Instructions: Each person contributes to the prayer one line at a time, and you don’t move on to the next line until someone is ready to.

I’ve done it both where people chime in wherever and whenever they feel moved to or the more orderly version where we go around in a circle…until everyone who has said AMEN has done so….

the Prayer might looks something like this

Person 1: Our Father who art in heaven

Person 2: Our Father who art in heaven,

Person 3 Our Father who art in heaven

Person 4 Our Father who art in heavn

Person 5 Hallowed be thy name

Person 6 Hallowed be thy name

Person 7 Thy Kingdom Come

Person 8 Thy Will Be Done

etc.
Note: How you divide the lines will effect how the prayer is spoken,

also someone suggested allowing people to backtrack in the prayer, I have yet to allow that freedom, but go for it.

The Other way to prayer is (sort of) a variance on the breath Prayer.

I call it “Simple Prayer”

Its where you take a line of scripture and pray it down to a single word. My favorite is “Be Still and Know that I am God”

Be Still and Know that I am God

Be Still and Know that I am

Be Still and Know that I

Be Still and Know That

Be Still and Know

Be Still and

Be Still
Be