Nativity Reflection

Here’s a Nativity reflection from Madeleine L’Engle. First Coming He did not wait till the world was ready, till men and nations were at peace. He came when the Heavens were unsteady, and prisoners cried out for release. He did not wait for the perfect time. He came when the need was deep and great. He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. He did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. To a world like ours, of anguished shame he came, and his Light would not go out. He came to a world which did not mesh, to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. In the mystery of the Word made Flesh the Maker of the stars was born. We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, for to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice! ~ Madeleine L’Engle, in Cry Like a Bell, 57. Posted on Growing in Grace. http://carolinemccain.wordpress.com/ Even so Lord Jesus, come again, into our world that is not ready, knows no peace, not perfect, does no longer know how to love, and impure hearts. Our need is great, so come Lord Jesus come.

Prayer for Sunday, Christmas 1A

Lord, We just finished with Christmas day and now we come to the Sunday after. But we also are about to step into the New Year. Wow it seems like life is moving so fast. We thank you for the birth of your son, the promise of new life he brought for us all. Maybe we didn’t get all the gifts or exactly the gifts we wanted, but we got the best gift of all; your son, your love, your mercy and your grace. Lord as we enter this New Year we pray we take those gifts with us. We are aware as we read the whole Christmas story that all was not easy for the Holy family, just as we face many hardships so did they. There are still many homeless in this world, just as Jesus did not have a home to be born into. Many have become refugees looking for safety, security and food, just as the Holy family became refugees from Herod and danger so long ago. There are countries where tyrants still rule killing their own people, just as it was during the time the Holy family lived under the rule of the Romans. Many today are also crying for their children and refuse to be consoled, because they are no more. It was not a safe world that Jesus came into long ago, and so we pray that Jesus would come once again for those who live difficult lives in hard times. And now Lord as we step into the New Year we recall your gracious deeds and pray that you continue to be merciful to us. We remember your compassion toward us and ask that you keep showing us your care and consideration. We remember your extravagant love for all and pray that you go on lavishly loving us. We never let go of your claiming us as your children and pray that you never let go of us, your children. Amen

Prayer for Advent 2

God of Peace, On this weekend we lost a man who brought peace and healing to a land torn with anger, hatred and killing. We grieve Mandela’s death. We pray that we keep working for peace and healing in our homes, our cities, our countries and our worlds. We pray for the peace your son, the very Prince of Peace brings. We pray for the people in places like the Mideast, Central Africa Republic, Thailand, Afghanistan, Mexico, Peru, Syria, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Egypt, South Africa and Mexico where violence, civil war and unrest remain. We remember the date that drew our country into a terrible war so long ago and pray that we are not drawn into warring again. We pray for the healing and restoration for those who have been touched by disasters. We pray for healing for those affected by illnesses, tragedy or death. We pray for the day there is no more disease, no more tragedies, no more disasters, and no more death. We pray for the day where Your justice rules. We pray for the day of Your great reversal when The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them. cross posted at revgalblogpals.org

Prayer for Advent 1A

Lord, The world waited anxiously for the Messiah to come so long ago, and he came in the form of a baby, your son Jesus. That baby changed the world and brought salvation to all. Lord, that seems so long ago and now the world awaits anxiously your son’s coming again. Lord, we don’t know when or where or what the signs around us might mean. And we know we are suppose to be ready, but sometimes we grow weary of waiting. We prepare ourselves for the fulfillment of your promise. We wait in hope for your coming. We pray for your peace in this world when You will settle things fairly between nations, and make things right between peoples. We pray for your peace when all will turn their weapons into something useful but not for war. We pray for your peace when no more will nation fight nation and there won’t be war anymore. We pray for the peace you bring within families. We pray for the peace you bring within ourselves. We pray for your peace to come for those who are ill, those who are grieving, Those who are struggling, those who are suffering, and those who have been devastated by disaster. Even so Lord Jesus, Come. Amen cross posted at revgalblogpals

Sunday Prayer

O God, have mercy on us, your children. We pray for our government to end this time of shutdown and stalemate. We pray for the workers who are being affected by this, the persons whose Loss of benefits will put them in jeopardy and the possible outcome of debt default. Lord, keep our eyes focused on you as our hope instead of cynicism. These days make it harder for us to believe, harder for us to put our trust in you. May we be encouragers of others who have become pessimistic and unsure. And Lord may we show gratitude for all you have done for us and will do.

Prayer for World Communion Sunday

God of all peoples everywhere, We celebrate that in you we are one We celebrate that in you we share in the one cup and one bread. We celebrate that in you our differences are beautiful. We celebrate our global community of faith. And yet we are aware that not everyone will have bite of bread to eat. We are aware that there are those who will not have a cup of fresh clean water to drink. We are aware that poverty has brought illnesses, homelessness, orphan hood and other desperate conditions to people’s lives. Wars, killings, and abuse still abound. Sex trafficking, slave trafficking, children trafficking is all around us. We as your body of Christ have the ability to address these issues. We have the resources. We have the heart. And we have the willingness. May we be the church that brings the changes to the world that people may know that you are the God of all peoples. Amen

Prayer for Proper 16C / Ordinary 21C / Pentecost +14

Lord as we come before you today in prayer and worship, We are ever mindful that we have been created by your Lord. You knew us even before we were born. Sometimes we forget that Lord and go about our days thinking of ourselves as just a lump of clay. But according to your word we are much more than a lump of clay. We are your children. We are the ones you have called to speak your word to all people. We are the ones you have called to open the doors for justice in our world. We are the ones you have called to feed the hungry. We are the ones you have called to pour your healing oil on aching and hurting persons. So Lord we pray for your forgiveness of all our sins. We pray for healing of our diseases.. We pray for the redemption of us all. We pray that you crown us with love and mercy. We pray you wrap us in your goodness. We pray you that you renew us. We pray that you make everything right in this world. We pray you put victims back on their feet. We pray for the healing of the brokenhearted. We pray for healing of our broken world. Amen cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Proper 15C / Ordinary 20C / Pentecost +13

God, of all song and dance, You sung your creation into being long ago You sung songs of love to those who would listen. You have kept singing your heart song. Lord today sing your song today to those of us listening to you as we prepare to lead worship and preach your word. Sing your song to those who come to worship, Sing your song to those in their hospital rooms, their homes and nursing homes. Sing your songs to those on the streets looking for work some food and shelter. May your creation hear your song and dance to the tune. May your people hear your song and dance joyously to you. May hearts sing along, May hearts who forgot the song, begin to remember the words and music. May the ones who ears have been deaf to you hear your song and come alive. May your song stir a newness of life in us all. Sing once a gain your song of love …. cross posted at revgalblogpals

prayer for Proper 14C / Ordinary 19C / Pentecost +12

Dear God, This is your little flock, Sometimes we are afraid Sometimes we are afraid, because we still feel like little children in this big world. Sometimes we are afraid because we listen to the media too much about just how bad and wrong things are in this world. We forget to listen to you and put our trust in you. We forget that we have put our heart with you and that our treasure is with you. Remind us, encourage us, empower us. We want to be your little flock in this world that is generous and gives to the poor. We want to stay ready as we await your return. We wait faithfully for you Lord. In the meantime may we hold up in faith those who are in the midst of suffering, crisis, death and dying. May we bring hope to those who feel their circumstances are hopeless. May we show grace and mercy to those who are in need. May we love those who feel unloved. Let it be said of us that we are your church, your little flock, your beloved. Amen

Prayer for P13C / O 18C / P +11

God, Help us as resurrected believers to keep our minds on you. Strengthen us to put away our old ways that keep us focusing on you. Enable us to see with your eyes. Empower us to act as you would act. Dress us in your custom made wardrobe for our lives. Remind us that you love everyone and that all are included in your world including us. (Add your own prayers of the people.) cross posted at revgalblogpals

A Move from God

God sent a move into my life. One I had not planned on. One that has humbled me, uprooted me, and changed me. I was appointed this year to serve in the Cheaha District as Pastor of Eulaton United Methodist Church in Anniston, AL.  I reacted like most people in the bible; I balked, I laughed, I cried, I pleaded, I whined and I complained. And God responded like the God of the bible with loving discipline, patience yet mercy.  I moved. And I decided to follow where God led me, after all I had committed myself to God long time ago and to the Itinerant System of the United Methodist Church. I prayed, prayed some more and I keep on praying.  God is not through with this old gal yet.

I have met some wonderful people here even as I said goodbye to the good people of Trinity in Huntsville.
God has opened some opportunities for ministry just as there were even in Huntsville.
God has provided wonderful fellowship even as there was in Huntsville.
God has provided a good home in a parsonage, although we are selling our house in Huntsville.
What is God up to?
So much more than I can even begin to imagine.

I haven't preached every Sunday in five years.
 I will now be preaching regularly every Sunday.
How do I do that?
I don't do it alone, God is there, the word is there, friends are there and the people are there.

I haven't been the sole Pastor in five years.
I am now.
What was God thinking?
I shared with one of the teams that I had to relearn how to do that and to please be patient with me.
They understood.

I am on and lead every committee.
Haven't done that in five years.
I forgot how to do some of the committees.
Its time to pull out the Discipline again and ask the teams to help me and to lead..

I am trusting God a whole lot to lead me, lead his people, speak to me, speak to his people, inspire me, inspire his people.

Stay tuned to where God is leading.

Prayer for Proper 8C / Ordinary 13C / Pentecost +6

Lord,

We thank you for our freedom that we celebrate today.

We thank you for our forefathers and foremothers
who worked to set us free.
We pray for those who are not yet free
 that they too may one day be at liberty.
We pray for those who have fought to obtain their freedom.

 

But let us not forget that we have an even greater freedom,

 that comes to us through your son Jesus.
Let us not turn to our selfish desires.
But rather let us live in the spirit, walk in the spirit
with lives that show the fruit of the spirit.
May we treat each other with the love, patience, g
goodness, gentleness, and kindness that comes from you.
May we be faithful to you.
May we master self -control.

 

May the spirit lead us in our days.

Lord sometimes our days are like whirlwinds full of activities,
 meetings, and business.
We don’t know whether we are coming or going,
And we need a double portion of Elijah’s and Elisha’s spirit to make it.
Slow us down, focus us, make us to rest in you.
May we find our peace and joy in you.
Thank you again for our freedom. Amen.

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Proper 7C / Ordinary 12C / Pentecost +5

Oh God our Rock and Strong Deliverer,


We often wonder where you are when we go through troubling times.

It often feels like you are not here that you are more far away from us.

We can’t see you, we can’t feel you and we can’t hear you.

Sometimes we think you will speak to us in a loud voice, and sometimes you do.

Sometimes we think you have to make your appearance in some form of huge supernatural event,

And sometimes you do.

Sometimes we think you have to hit us over the head with a two by four since we can be so stubborn,

And you do find a way to get our attention.

And sometimes we forget that you speak to us through the silence and so just for a moment we sit silently waiting for you to speak…..

And as our hearts calm down and our breath becomes deeper and slower

We focus on you and can hear you…..

And as the tension in our body begins to relax as we give it over to you we are calmer

And can hear you in the midst of the silence…..



And we feel closer to you, filled with your love and grace as we breathe in your goodness into our lives

And as we listen to you…..

We feel we are wrapped in your arms and yet free to move about

And we hear you in a new way……

You enable us to then love the unloved, take away the negative labels from people, see them as you see them, love them as you love them……

We are empowered to reach out to those who are the unseen, the wounded, the lonely, the outcasts, just as your son reached out so long ago to those considered unclean….

And we are given a voice to tell others of what you have done for us and what you will do for them.



And Lord we now pray for those in our lives who are sick, homebound, in nursing homes, and rehabs…

We pray for those who are grieving…….

We pray for those who deal with mental illnesses, addictions, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, chronic illnesses…..

We pray for all these and more your son taught us to pray…….

prayer for Proper 6C / Ordinary 11C / Pentecost +4

God of our fathers and of our mothers,

We pray to you today for our fathers; fathers who were present, fathers who were absent, fathers who showed us love, fathers who did not show us love, fathers who taught us well, fathers who didn’t teach at all, fathers who held us in their arms, fathers who abused us, fathers who tried hard to be good fathers, and fathers who didn't try at all. The list goes on of the different kinds of fathers we have all had and we have been ourselves.  Most of all, we are grateful that you are the father of us all, a father who loves, cares, is always present, who forgives us and holds us in your arms. We all need that kind of father.

We pray today for all of us who are like the woman who crashed the Pharisee’s dinner party and anointed you. We break open our alabaster jar of sweet oil as we cry tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears of years of pain, and tears of sin poured out on your feet. Accept our offering of love and gratitude for your forgiving us, welcoming us and loving us.

We pray today for all of us who are like Simon the Pharisee, who are caught by religion, eyes of judgment, hearts of stone, and voices of criticism of ourselves and others. We pray father that you would set us free by your forgiveness, love and mercy.

We pray today for all of us who are like the women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. We thank you that we get to be there with you, follow you and give out of our resources especially out of who we are.  We thank you that you have healed, cured us, set us free, forgiven us, welcome us and love us.

Sunday Prayer for Proper 5C / Ordinary 10C / Pentecost +3

Gracious God,

Here we are your children coming before your throne of mercy.

We pray for healing and restoration for those devastated by the tornadoes, wildfires and flooding.

We pray for those that are sick and need your healing touch.

We pray for those who have experienced loss this week, may thy be comforted in their grieving.

We pray for our churches and our communities.

We pray for our leaders that you would endow them wisdom

We pray for countries where war continues may your peace and good will come.

May your kingdom come into our lives and into world.

Sunday prayer for Proper 4C / Ordinary 9C / Pentecost +2

On this holy day we do worship and adore you.

We bring our praises of love to you.

We bring our hopes our dreams our visions of a better world and of a new tomorrow created by.

We bring our faith in you when it seems hard to have faith.

We seek you in the midst of our sorrows, our illnesses, our broken bodies.

We seek you in the midst of mighty winds of destruction, winds of war, winds of gossip and rumors,;

We bring ourselves today as your servants to bring your good news to others.

May your love reign in our hearts.

Easter 5 C Sunday prayer

Oh God who created all things including humans, we praise your name for you faithfulness.

We praise you just as all of the creatures of the earth sing your praise.

We look forward to that day when we live with you in our eternal home.

In the meantime come make your home in us.

Come into our neighborhoods, our work places, our schools.

Come live in us Lord.

We await the day when every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more grieving.

In the meantime Lord, wipe our tears when we do mourn our losses, like those in West Texas after the explosion.

We look for the day when there will be no more sickness, in the meantime when we are ailing bring your healing touch to our lives.

We look for the day when all things will be new,

 in the meantime renew our tired land, our old falling down housing, our broken systems, our empty spaces of worship and our aging bodies.

We await that day Lord, when your justice, your love, your mercy rules and thy kingdom has come.

Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Easter 4C

Lord,

You are our Shepherd,

Jesus said he was the Good Shepherd.

But God if you are the good Shepherd, why?

Why must we be so violent? Is it because we don’t trust you as our good shepherd?

Where are you if you are the good shepherd?

Its not just in Boston or New York that people are killed by bombs

Its everywhere God.

It doesn't much feel like green pastures or still waters.

But we need you to make us lie down in green pastures and to lead us beside the still waters.

We all need green pastures and still waters to sooth our souls.

Lord we walk through some dark valleys now with the violence in the world.

We walk through our own dark valleys of death, illnesses, crisis, hardships, and tough times.

We want to believe and to not fear evil, but God sometimes we do fear.

How can this world feel safe if you can even run in a race or

walk in a run/walk event anymore without worrying if there is a bomb planted at the finish line.

We aren't always sure you are there right beside us.

But Lord we all need you right there beside us, guiding us, protecting us and comforting us.

God, our Shepherd we need you to prepare a feast for all of us,

Especially all who are hungry.

We need you to anoint our heads with your oil.

We need goodness and mercy to follow us all our days instead of the hatred, badness, mistreatment,

Bullying, and harming one another.

We all need to live in the house of the LORD our whole life long for there we find peace, your peace that overcomes that which is mean, violent and hard in this world.

Wait a minute Lord,

 it’s us you need to bring the goodness and mercy,

 peace and reconciliation into this world.

It’s us that you need to work toward justice and nonviolence so that we can have shalom in this world.

It’s us that need to prepare the feast for all and homes for the homeless.

But God, we want to remain safe and secure.

We don’t want to go to help change the world.

We are afraid.

We don’t want to be the ones you called to go into all the world and make disciples.

Lord forgive us, encourage us, equip us, and yes, send us Lord to change our world.

And Lord go with us as the Good Shepherd of the world. Amen

Based on Psalm 23 

Cross posted at revgalblogpals

Interfaith Solidarity Service for Boston

Last night, we attended the Interfaith Solidarity Prayer service in Big Spring Park to show support for the victims of the Boston Marathon.  It was done very well. Here are some pictures of my children at the service.  I have had a hard time wrapping my mind around this.  I was moved by Suzanne Taylor's story, who had crossed the finish line five minutes before the bomb exploded at the marathon. My friend Rabbi Beth Bahar closed the event with a very moving prayer. She reminded those who gathered that taking a sense of peace, hope and courage into the community becomes one way that each person can push against the forces of violence and hatred.

Kara is in the individual photo.

Kate and Kara fed the ducks while we waited for things to begin.

Prayer for Easter 3c

God, our God,

You stay by us day and night and.

You deliver us from life’s messes.

We thank you God.

We thank you that you hear us when we cry out for help.

You love us, you heal our wounds, and you deliver us from our downheartedness.

 

We pray for those who are grieving that the time of their weeping

may not last forever but be turned into days of joy.

We pray for those who are in the midst of a crisis

that you guide them through the crisis and that they find their strength in you.

We pray for those who are sick and ailing that they may find

 peace, rest and restoration in you.

Lord you make yourself known to us in so many ways,

help us to not miss those moments.

And just as you told Peter to feed your sheep you call us to feed your sheep today.

Lord may we be faithful to loving you and feeding your sheep.

 

cross posted at revgalblog pals