Sunday, August 1st, 2021 Proper 13

The Collect 

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Old Testament 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a 

When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” 

Psalm 51:1-13 

1 Have mercy on me, O God, 

according to your loving-kindness; *

 in your great compassion 

blot out my offenses. 

2 Wash me through and through 

from my wickedness *

and cleanse me from my sin. 

3 For I know my transgressions, *

and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you only have I sinned * 

and done what is evil in your sight. 

5 And so you are justified when you speak * 

and upright in your judgment. 

6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, * 

a sinner from my mother's womb. 

7 For behold, you look 

for truth deep within me, * 

and will make me understand wisdom secretly. 

8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; * 

wash me, and I shall be clean indeed. 

9 Make me hear of joy and gladness, * 

that the body you have broken may rejoice. 

10 Hide your face from my sins * 

and blot out all my iniquities. 

11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, *

 and renew a right spirit within me. 

12 Cast me not away from your presence * 

and take not your holy Spirit from me. 

13 Give me the joy of your saving help again * 

and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. 

The Epistle Ephesians 4:1-16 

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people." (When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love. 

The Gospel John 6:24-35 

The next day, when the people who remained after the feeding of the five thousand saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Wondrous Creator who fashioned our food

feeding us when we have been struggling

teaching us the ways to grow our food

and filling us abundantly with all good things.

Lord, help us to seek you and live for others.

We often worry and labor without joy

yet you have promised to care for us

we thing we are alone and isolated

yet you have compassion on the hungry.

Lord, help us to seek you and live for others.

We have let the isolation and fear sour us

we have enough but compassion is scarce

we have hoarded and kept your gifts hidden

while the world around us aches for a morsel.

Lord, help us to seek you and live for others.

When the thousands came and sat with you

there was food for all with much remaining.

Lord, help us to seek you and live for others.

When storms have overshadowed our lives

you have been our strong defender and shield.

Lord, help us to seek you and live for others.

Draw us to you so that we might feed others

teach us your ways again so we might follow you.

Lord, help us to seek you and live for others.

Healing

From there Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syro-phoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 

 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Mark 7:24-37

Great Creator your breath brought life

your hands molded the sacred mountains

your spirit washed us all with you love

yet we find ourselves broken and in need.

The seasons and times have been harsh

and we are isolated and often afraid

we feel like strangers in our homelands

vulnerable and overwhelmed each day.

You brought healing in every region

and honored a mother crying for her child

you opened eyes, gave voice to the voiceless

and gave freedom to those bound in chains.

Help us to reach out to you in faith

let us be restored so that we can restore

make us your loving hands in these times

so we might bear your love to the world. Amen.

What Defiles

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God)—then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.” Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” Mark 7:1-18

Great Creator you made us a home

beautiful and bounteous all around

wild oceans and heavy laden tress

with you love abundant all around.

We have defiled this round planet

with our selfish use and abuse

greedy with the natural resources

and thoughtless to our mother earth.

You taught us to love our neighbors

and were ridiculed by religious leaders

they wanted to control the poor and weak

while you want us to make them a home.

Help us Lord, to stop abusing this gift

this wondrous and interdependent world

let what comes from us be always love

and make us repairers of the breach today. Amen.

Adverse Wind

When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. Mark 6:47-56

Creator of the wind and waves

water is our source and bounty

you planted us on small islands

and we count on you for everything.

Some days the seas are gentle

other days we fight adverse winds

we strain hard against the oars

and find ourselves going nowhere.

You witnessed your friends struggling

and came to their aid bringing calm

they did not understand your power

but were grateful for their very survival.

We are battling rough adverse winds

we need your power here today

come, deair savior and be with us

strengthen us for the storms ahead. Amen.

Compassion

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii* worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. Mark 6:30-46

Wondrous Creator who is all compassion

in you small gifts become abundant feasts

you are the author of all human compassion

and you call us to offer and serve today.

Too many are hungry and without a home

too many are lost and wandering alone

there has been so much illness and death

show us how to be compassionate and kind.

You taught the people and you fed them all

you share the little offering and made it enough

and you invite us to offer what we have now

promising to bless and multiply our gifts.

Help us today to give generously and freely

make us ready to share at all times

let your compassion move us to action

so your love might be witnessed in us today. Amen.

Called Away

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. Mark 1:14-20

Loving Creator, source of all our food

you taught us how to feed the people

with food for body and food for the soul

and call us to follow you in this time.

We want to stay where we are comfortable

remaining with what we know and love

yet you are always calling us beyond

to different seas among different people.

You walked along the sea of Galilee

watching them toil with their nets

you called them away from the familiar

and they followed you with great joy.

Let us be like those disciples who left

the comfort of routine and homeland

responding to your sacred call

to bring your love into this world. Amen.

Sunday, July 25th, 2021 Proper 12

Sunday July 2th, 2021 Proper 12

The Collect 

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Old Testament 2 Samuel 11:1-15 

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.” So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people fared, and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “You have just come from a journey. Why did you not go down to your house?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the next day, David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die.” 

Psalm 14  

1 The fool has said in his heart, 

"There is no God." * 

All are corrupt and commit abominable acts;

 there is none who does any good. 

2 The LORD looks down 

from heaven upon us all, * 

to see if there is any who is wise, 

if there is one who seeks after God. 

3 Every one has proved faithless; 

all alike have turned bad; * 

there is none who does good; 

no, not one. 

4 Have they no knowledge,

all those evildoers * 

who eat up my people like bread

 and do not call upon the LORD? 

5 See how they tremble with fear, *

 because God is in the company

 of the righteous. 

6 Their aim is to confound 

the plans of the afflicted, * 

but the LORD is their refuge. 

7 Oh, that Israel's deliverance 

would come out of Zion! * 

when the LORD restores 

the fortunes of his people, 

Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad. 

 The Epistle Ephesians 3:14-21 

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

The Gospel John 6:1-21 

Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

A Litany for Sunday, July 25th

Loving Creator, source of food for us all

you created this garden of great abundance

teaching us your ways to plant and harvest

yet we find ourselves empty and alone.

Help us Lord, to gather up the fragments, so nothing may be lost.

You care for the lost, the lonely and broken

and call us to help with this holy work

yet we too often withdraw to our own needs

and ignore your daily calls to service and love.

Help us Lord, to gather up the fragments, so that nothing is lost.

We are distracted by our cares and worries

you have promised to provide for everyone

you fed the huge crowd with five loaves and two fish

and walked on water to the frightened disciples.

Help us Lord, to gather up the fragments, so that nothing is lost.

Our hands are your hands in this weary world

strengthen us in faith so that we might serve you.

Help us Lord, to gather up the fragments, so that nothing is lost.

When the dark clouds gather and storms threaten

let us trust in you grace to be sufficient for the day.

Help us Lord, to gather up the fragments, so that nothing is lost.

You are the Savior of the world and a friend to all

help us to follow you by providing food and safe harbor.

Help us Lord, to gather up the fragments, so that nothing is lost.

Let your love surround us and strengthen us daily

so that we might bring you love wherever we go.

Help us Lord, to gather up the fragments, so that nothing is lost. Amen.

Daughters

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. 

 

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?'” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 

 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:21-43

Great Creator of our mother earth

our first teachers were our mothers

before our birth we heard them sing

and their voices ring out loud still.

You healed the woman who reached out

you went with a desperate father

healing the child they said was dead

bringing life anew to all who are lost.

You have declared that all are sacred

yet some are diminished and neglected

we shun those who are differently abled

you healed the ones others would abandon.

Help us to have faith as these daughters

who took steps in faith despite their exclusion

let us not be bound by selfish human barriers

let us be freed daily by your eternal love. Amen.

Feast of Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid. When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 15:47—16:7

Loving God, Creator who knows our hearts

you bring the least to witness miracles

hold close the children and the outcasts

and led Mary Magdalene out to the tomb.

It is not the perfect or the angelic you call

but the battered and the misunderstood

It is the shamed, neglected and shunned

you make your messengers of your love.

We rush to criticism and rash judgment

while you look on each with love's eyes

you offer you healing and restoration

to all who will turn to you for help.

Let us be like Mary who went in grief

finding resurrection she was the herald

let us announce that God's love is here

and let us share that love with everyone. Amen.

Peace

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41

Wondrous Creator of sea and sky

you hear your people in their storms

you calm the waters and save us

yet we still do not trust your love.

We are often braced for a fight

or we are crying out in failure

we fail to know your love daily

as we rely on ourselves too much.

Yet you spoke to the wind and the sea

you calmed the raging angry waters

you brought peace in the storm's midst

and will still bring us peace even now.

Help us to be yours in calm and storms

let us be fully dependent on your love

make us live like siblings in one boat

so the world might know your peace. Amen.

Measure for Measure

Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” 

 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. Mark 4:21-34

Loving Creator, who always gives more

you bring forth yields we don't deserve

watering our gardens at night with rain

and blessing us over and over again.

We are often stingy and cutting corners

yet you give us full measure of love 

we often live for ourselves alone

yet your ways are always of abundance.

You taught your disciples with stories

since they could not see things so clearly

you painted pictures with words for them

and you teach us still through the living world.

Help us to live generously and lovingly

following your way and living abundantly

for you are our source of strength and life

help us measure up to your endless love. Amen.

Good Soil

Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” 

 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that ‘they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.'” 

 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” Mark 4:1-20 

Gracious Creator you made us thrive

planting us in sacred places on the earth

teaching us to nurture all living beings

and helping us grow in you sacred ways.

We ache to be good productive soil

yet we get lost in grief and pain

we try to solve our own problems alone

without turning to you for your help.

You have promised to be with us

in every season of planting and harvest

in the long dark winters of story telling

and the bright summer days of cultivation.

Help us to receive you love anew today

strengthen us to tend our gardens well

baptize us with your spirit of truth

and let us bear fruit in due season. Amen

Sunday, July 18th Proper 11

Proper 11, July 18th, 2021

The Collect 

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

Old Testament Jeremiah 23:1-6 

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD. The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” 

 

Psalm 23

 1 The LORD is my shepherd; *

 I shall not be in want. 

2 He makes me lie down 

in green pastures * 

and leads me beside still waters. 

3 He revives my soul *

 and guides me along right

pathways for his Name's sake. 

4 Though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death, 

I shall fear no evil; * 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, 

they comfort me. 

5 You spread a table before me

 in the presence of those

 who trouble me; * 

you have anointed 

my head with oil, 

and my cup is running over. 

6 Surely your goodness and mercy 

shall follow me 

all the days of my life, * 

and I will dwell in the house

of the LORD for ever. 

The Epistle Ephesians 2:11-22 

Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision” —a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. 

The Gospel Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

A Litany for Sunday, July 18th

Great Creator, we are your human flock

often wandering afraid and alone

and you are the great shepherd of sheep

seeking everyone and bringing us home.

Gentle Shepherd, gather us together as one.

Your heart was moved by the great crowds

each and every one in need of healing

all leaning in to learn and understand

that you are the creator and source of all.

Gentle Shepherd, gather us together as one.

You bring us home and fill us with good food

yet we are ungrateful, spiteful and greedy

time and again to teach us to work together

too often we act as if we are better than others.

Gentle Shepherd, gather us together as one.

Draw us together and help us care for each other

For you gave your life for the life of the world.

Gentle Shepherd, gather us together as one.

The storms and heat rage around the world

help us to serve neighbors and strangers as family.

Gentle Shepherd, gather us together as one.

You sought out and returned the defiant wanderers

you have always loved the outcasts and healed everyone.

Gentle Shepherd, gather is together as one. Amen.

To The Sea

Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, 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. Mark 3:7-19a

Wondrous Creator who made the seas

with the always changing tides

the terrific storms and thundering waves

the source of all life and renewal.

You called your disciples by the sea

on a mountain overlooking the crowds

the people in such great pain and need

they would leave home to seek you out.

Gentle and tempestuous are the oceans

reminding us of our lives and work

ever changing, churning and moving

you call us to this life of service too.

Let us be ready for the roar and the calm

help us be strong in the storms ahead

give us your strength to answer the need

let us bear your love to this world now. Amen.

Stretch Out Your Hand

One sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Mark 2:23—3:6

Loving Creator your hands made us

and everything on this sacred place

you breathe life into every being

and offer healing in every season.

We humans like to codify rules 

quick to judging and to shunning

even when we are seeing miracles

even as creation is being restored.

You understood hunger and pain

filling needs without judgement

love your first act and your last

grieving for the hardness of our hearts.

Help us to reach out daily to you

and let us be those who bring love

may our every act be for healing

so that your love might shine in us. Amen.

Tax Collectors and Sinners

Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. “No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.” Mark 2:13-22 

Wondrous Creator of great diversity

you fashioned this round globe

full of vibrant colors and cultures

and you have called it all good.

We judge and are afraid of difference

yet you love every strand and type

we would shun and isolate some

and you would gather us all together

You shared meals with the rejected

you made room at the table for everyone

yet the religious leaders condemned you

and told you to change your ways.

Help us to be yours by welcoming

let us set the table for outcasts

make us your people as we invite

the whole vibrant world in your name. Amen.

Loving Friends

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’ Mark 2:1-12

Loving Creator, you formed us in your image

with hearts and hands for helping others

with creativity and imagination abounding

and in all our days you supply more than enough.

There are times when we are too spent

and times when we must ask for help ourselves

yet in all these times you give us abundance

and shower us with healing and loving friends.

Some saw a broken roof as destruction

yet all witnessed your love and miracles

you honor those who are willing to try

blessing and healing everyone who cries out.

Help us to be loving friends in your name

followers who will walk with the least

let us be those who use are strength and minds

so that all might reach your loving hands. Amen.

She Served Them

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 

 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. Mark 1:29-45

Great Creator who heals this world

you made plants for food and salve

so that we might live a strong life

and we might serve and help others.

The sacred circle is often broken

by the greedy and the selfish

the careless and the negligent

and those who look to do us harm.

Yet you are with the sick and torn

you draw near to the diseased

you embrace those who mourn

and bind up all of our wounds.

Give us the strength to rise up

sharing what we can with neighbors

feeding all who come for help

offering you love in our actions. Amen.

Sunday, July 11th, 2021 Proper 10

Sunday, July 11th, 2021 Proper 10

The Collect

 O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

 

Old Testament 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. 

Psalm 24 

1 The earth is the Lord's 

and all that is in it, * 

the world and all who dwell therein. 

 2 For it is he who founded it 

upon the seas * 

and made it firm upon 

the rivers of the deep. 

 3 "Who can ascend 

the hill of the Lord? " * 

and who can stand 

in his holy place?" 

 4 "Those who have clean hands

 and a pure heart, * 

who have not pledged 

themselves to falsehood, 

nor sworn by what is a fraud. 

 5 They shall receive a 

blessing from the Lord * 

and a just reward from 

the God of their salvation." 

 6 Such is the generation 

of those who seek him, * 

of those who seek your face, 

O God of Jacob. 

 7 Lift up your heads, O gates; 

lift them high, O everlasting doors; * 

and the King of glory shall come in. 

 8 "Who is this King of glory?" * 

"The Lord, strong and mighty, 

the Lord, mighty in battle." 

 9 Lift up your heads, O gates; 

lift them high, O everlasting doors; * 

and the King of glory shall come in. 

 10 "Who is he, this King of glory?" * 

"The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory." 

 Ephesians 1:3-14 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. 

The Gospel Mark 6:14-29 

King Herod heard of Jesus and his disciples, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

A Litany for Sunday, July 11th

Loving Creator, you taught us to dance

with joy in sacred mystery with honor

we step and twirl on this mother earth

in thanksgiving for all you have given us.

Baptize us again with your sacred spirit.

Some use this gifts for their own gain

some manipulate, tease and tempt

yet you gave us dance so that we know

your compassion within our bodies.

Baptize us again with your sacred spirit.

Each animal, bird and plant sing to you

they dance with the wind and honor you

we humans often forget these many blessings

help us, Lord, to make every step be worship.

Baptize us again with your sacred spirit.

We are yanked, pulled and tempted daily

yet you knew our torment in your body.

Baptize us again with your scared spirit.

People cry out for justice and understanding

make us strong to include every stranger.

Baptize us again with your sacred spirit.

Let the world see you working in us

may we dance with your joy once again.

Baptize us again with your sacred spirit. Amen

Beloved

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Mark 1:1-13

Gracious Creator of water and wilderness

you are found in the middle of the storm

you stay with us in our darkest days

and understand all of our temptations.

The winds are high and seas are angry

our world is in great pain and turmoil

our losses have piled upon losses

there are so many broken hearts.

You went down into the deep water

rising up to face your responsibilities

going deep into the  harsh wilderness

willing to be tempted and abused.

Give us the strength to face the storms

so that we might know you in suffering

mends our hearts so that we follow you

facing the challenges ahead with love. Amen.

Carried Up

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:36-53

Wondrous Creator, author of all peace

you are present in every loss and pain

with those who are weeping in grief

blessing us in our darkest moments.

Our world is coming out of pandemic

with hope and anxiety in great abundance

everything in our lives has changed

and hearts are heavy and fearful now.

You brought peace to your friends

in their grief and loss you showed love

their lives would be filled with pain

yet you gave them the joy to carry on.

Give us your joy as we carry on

creating a new church and society

help us to cling to your many blessings

make us strong as we face new challenges. Amen.