Up the Mountain

Jesus departed with his disciples to the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home; Mark 3:7-19

Wondrous Creator who hung the stars

you have given us mountains to climb

and rough seas to swim and navigate

renew our strength for the journey ahead.

The threats of great violence surround us

sickness and death are at our doors

the leaders have betrayed the people

help us to carry your good news today.

The winter storms have overwhelmed us

the isolation and anxiety is profound

we are like sheep without a shepherd

lead us to your precious light, O God.

Strengthen us for service this day

make us ready to go to the dark places

help us to bind up the abandoned and afraid

let us be your heart and hands today, good Lord.