Preparing the Feast

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’ He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Mark 14:12-26

Every family and community has certain meals that are a big deal, and these meals are different depending on their culture, their faith and their location. Many of us have experienced holiday feasts that have gone sideways, arguments have broken out and feelings have been hurt. The more important the feast, the more anxiety is in evidence. Jesus' disciples were fretting over the arrangements for their Passover, yet all was prepared for them. Noone names the throngs of women and other helpers that made it happen. We do know that this feast is followed by great drama and great pain. And before the worst of the drama happened, we were all invited, throughout the ages, to be at table with Jesus and be numbered among his people.

Gracious Creator, you set us in family

surround us with extended communities

teach us by the loving examples given

and make us your people here on earth.

We often quarrel with the ones we love

we fail to see the blessings around us

we gripe and complain with every breath

yet you still chose to die for us all.

Help us to see you love poured out

may we love others in our gratitude

for you have made us yours despite our ways

amd promise to feed us all from your table. Amen.

In Remembrance of Her

It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’ While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’ Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. Mark 14:1-11

Some Gospels name the woman as Mary, and others give her no name. We know that Jesus was at the home of Simon the Leper, but the greatest act of kindness goes without a real name. This is so for the many generations of women, who loving God and their neighbor, have given their all, in service to the Gospel. Jesus tells us that wherever the good news is proclaimed, it is done in remembrance of her. All of us who serve God by loving our neighbors, caring for the needy, ill and imprisoned, do in her memory. She is the godmother of us all. May we remember the unnamed women today who have witnessed God's love in our lives by their kind deeds and their love.

Wondrous Creator, you set examples before us

mothers and sisters, daughters and grandmothers

who live to serve the needs of family and stranger

and in doing so, show us your very loving heart.

We often forget that they taught us love to begin with

we often overlook their stories and their sacrifice

but you remind us that all good loving works done

are done in remembrance of those self-less women.

Help us today to follow their example of great love

by giving up our pride and our arrogance

so that we might be willing to anoint the lowly

and love the troublemakers all for your love's sake. Amen.

From the Four Winds

‘But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; someone on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; someone in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. And if anyone says to you at that time, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” or “Look! There he is!”—do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be alert; I have already told you everything. ‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. Mark 13:14-27

I have spent my ordained career helping support Indigenous ministries across our church and beyond. For many of our tribes the medicine wheel, or medicine circle, represents the four winds and the four directions. Each brings their gifts and when together there is balance and harmony. The circle or hoop is broken when we hold back our gifts and fail to come together. We humans know the ache of broken relations and that incomplete feeling when families and communities are torn asunder. We live in a very fractured world. Our Gospel reminds us that the gathering work is always our Creator and Jesus. May we be agents of healing and mending now.

Gracious Creator, you designed our world

with numerous colors and many seasons

you made people fo many tribes and cultures

and you call us all together from the four winds.

You have made us family yet we divide up

we judge and criticize those who are different

we put up walls and barriers to keep strangers our

despite the fact we are not whole without them.

Help us to mend the broken sacred circles

give us your strength to reach out and to heal

make us your disciples again so we might see

the gathering circle of love made whole and complete. Amen.

Proper 16 - Sunday, August 27th, 2023

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20

The land we inhabit is beautiful, verdant and abundant. We have been so blessed and yet we have carelessly destroyed so much of our land and tried to reform it for our pleasure. We try to grow grass in the desert, we force ourselves into places we don't belong and overpopulate and overprice the shorelines. We know that Jesus called Peter the rock and promised to build his church on his faithfulness. Peter's words were holy and heartfelt, and it was there the church was planted and there the church still thrive. We must see the sacredness and holy around us, care for it and then, the church and all of us will thrive again.

A Sunday Litany

Loving Creator, you planted us in the garden

a wide and vast island of valleys and hills

we are blessed with so much beauty and joy

we forget how fragile all of life can become.

Precious Lord, help us to be like Peter, with rock solid faith.

We are distracted by glitter and cheap promises

we think wealth and land will bring us joy

yet the rocks and the trees sing your praises

even as we ignore them and tear them down.

Precious Lord, help us to be like Peter, with rock solid faith.

When man made disaster strike we cry out 

calling for you to mend the problems we cause

you are with us even when the storms are ours

and promise to hold us through the stormy blast.

Precious Lord, help us to be like Peter, with rock solid faith.

Make us see the great beauty given us

and help us to honor it like our fertile mother.

Precious Lord, help us to be like Peter, with rock solid faith.

Help us to mend the hoops we have broken

give us the faith to restore and renew together.

Precious Lord, help us to be like Peter, with rock solid faith.

You are all our beginnings and our endings

help us to see your love imprinted here.

Precious Lord, help us to be like Peter, with rock solid faith. Amen.

Generosity

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ” David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?’ And the large crowd was listening to him with delight. As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’ Mark 12:35-44

We live in a time when the selfish and greedy get elected to positions of power. They think the best thing to be is a winner and will do everything in their power to destroy anyone that gets in their way. From the beginning of time, some humans have been like this. Yet we can also clearly see the consequences of this behavior and culture. It destroys communities. Jesus came to invite us all to live so that communities and people thrive. He invites us to live generously, sacrificially.  The happiest people I know live like this. God's love is stimulated, and made visible as we live and care for others.

Abundant Creator, source of all goodness

you formed us out of dust and the stars

placed us in community so we can shine

and gave us hearts for generosity and love.

Often our hearts have been hardened

we think the hurts of the world permit us

to destroy others and walk on them

fending for ourselves and our young.

Yet you call us to a different way

the path of deep love and service

the road that lead to heaven on earth

where your love glimmers in us all. Amen.

Love God, Love Your Neighbor

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question. Mark 12:28-34

As my mother moved into her late eighties, she often referred to her closest neighbors as "next door.'' I am sure she was having trouble remembering names and used that phrase to cover her tracks. She was very proud and got frustrated when she felt her memory going. Yet, she also was so very loving, that even if she didn't remember a name, her neighbors lit up when they saw her. She was always welcoming and ready to laugh. She also loved God so very much and people often called her so that she could pray with them. When I think of this Gospel story, I often think of my mother when Jesus says, " you are not far from the kingdom of God." May we all be so regarded, as those who love God and love our neighbors so well.

Loving Creator, you plant us in community

so that we might share your love with others

and you bind us together in all of our seasons

making yourself known to us as we love others.

We can be frustrated and distressed by the world

too many take advantage of the weakest neighbors

too often those who have much hoard even more

and your love is hidden from those who need you.

May we be those who are close to the kingdom of God

as we tend to the needs of all of our neighbors

as we see your love radiating in the stranger made friend

and as we rededicate our lives to living your love daily. Amen.

This Vineyard

Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ Then he began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watch-tower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”?’ When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away. Mark 11:27-12:12

The world is full on those who take more than their due. There are folks who believe more money and more land will make them happy and solve all their problems. There are also people in the church who yearn for positions of power so much that they are willing to walk all over people. We have all seen it. And yet, Jesus tells us a story, as he is always telling stories, to teach us the right way to live. We are called to a life of service, plain and simple. All of us, in every walk of life. Jesus set an example by his life and his stories. May that be said of us as well.

Gracious Creator, this earth is a gem of beauty

you tell us the ancient stories to teach us love

you show us humility and compassion by example

and accompany us on our daily walk to follow you.

We too often get sidetracked by shiny glass

we put too much value in the things that decay

we worship the famous and the beautiful

forgetting that only your love is eternal.

Create in us new hearts and minds, O Lord

shape us into your loving, faithful followers

make us those who rise up to serve others

carrying your love to an anxious, hurting world. Amen.

Curses and Prayer

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard it. Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, ‘Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? But you have made it a den of robbers.’ And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Then Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea”, and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ‘Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’ Mark 11:12-26

I really love this passage from Mark as it captures Jesus at his most cranky. There is nothing more human than being cranky. We might, as Jesus was, be hungry, when we act out in our crankiness. Or we might be horrified and angry by the holy being treated as commerce. We might just be cranky because we are feeling lonely and ignored. Jesus lived in a human body and was just like us. He reminds us today that there is power in our prayers and in our curses. We are never alone in our humanity. The Creator is with us, having lived as we do, and has compassion for our needs and responds to our prayers.

Loving Creator, you know us intimately

you live with us in our smallest moments

you inhabit our dreams and our deepest hopes

and you promise to listen to our heartfelt prayers.

We often find ourselves angered and cranky

we flail around in our hurt and confusion

you understand the feelings and need we have

and you hear us in our prayers and our cursng.

Help us t trust that there is more than our sorrow

that you are listening and loving mountains

you will turn the tables of greed and selfishness

and help us bring blessings to a hurting world. Amen.

Proper 15 - Sunday, August 20, 2023

Even the Dogs

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:21-28

Sometimes, we think that faith is a quiet, subtle act, something we do in the privacy of our homes. Yet, we find a woman, a mother, who raises her voice to Jesus, over and over again. He knew he was sent for Israel. She knew that God had no borders, no one tribe but loved all people. And as a parent, she knew such great love for her child that she would not back down. I want us all to see and know God as the source of all love, love in every form, love that transforms people and give them strong faith. The enemy, a Canaanite woman. a fierce mother, has taught us all about the love of God. Love that knows no borders, no genders, is not exclusive, and is always welcoming.

A Litany for Sunday, August 20th

Creator God, you are the source of love

we cannot know love without your love

you are Alpha and Omega, we begin and end with you

and you stretch us in faith and love every single day.

Lord, help us to have faith in your endless love.

We often give us trying and quit being faithful

the edges keep expanding and the borders break down

we find comfort in our small groups and ache to hide

yet you call us to be more than frightened children.

Lord, help us to have faith in your endless love.

Give us the strength of the Canaanite mother

whose fierce love has taught us all a lesson.

Lord, help us to have faith in your endless love.

Make us bold in our faith and in our loving

may we speak up for those who have been silenced.

Lord, help us to have faith in your endless love.

Strengthen our faith so we may follow you

make us your people in this time and place. 

Lord, help us to have faith in your endless love. Amen.

Take Heart

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:46-52

We know him by name. The blind beggar, Bartimaeus, was unwilling to be silenced. He was unwilling to keep quiet, despite the urging of friends, neighbors and even the disciples. Despite everyone's annoyance with him, it was Bartimaeus who was called to Jesus and received his healing. Sometimes our faith cannot be silent. For Bartimaeus, his faith made him whole, by his willingness to continue to speak up when the world wanted him shut up. We often picture faith as quiet, passive and silent. And yet Bartimaeus' faith was loud. We need to be loud sometimes to be faithful and we need to speak up for justice and healing.

Gracious Creator, your touch is healing

you provide our needs and mend us

repairing the circle, remaking the broken

and bind us all together with your love.

We silence those who speak for justice

we ignore those who cry out for healing

we pretend we are at peace with one another

all the while planning revenge and destruction.

Help us, Lord, to seek your healing today

let us cry out for the needs of the world

make us those who pray constantly

and act daily for the healing of the world. Amen.

Servant of All

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ Mark 10:32-45

If we were truly honest, few of us would take the job as servant. Historically, the poor and the uneducated as well as immigrants have been most often those who became servants. We have a terrible history of slavery in this country, a legacy of unpaid lifetime servitude. So, when talking about serving, it is important to realize we are talking about a choice. God made a choice to send Jesus and Jesus made a choice to be servant of all. We who choose to follow Jesus, model ourselves after the teacher. Noone is forced to serve. We are invited by our Creator to offer ourselves to the service of others and to model a humility that lifts up everyone. The church, in our selfishness, for too long captured folks and forced them into servitude. We are all called to the service of justice and to helping others to thrive. 

Creator God, who made your son servant

so that we might know your true freedom

our choice to follow in your loving ways

so that all might be raised up and healed.

We have for too long crushed those who serve

and have made inequality society's norm

we have walked on the downtrodden and the poor

and have shut our eyes to the needs around us.

Help us to move from charity to compassion

let us live as servants of the living, loving Creator

who took on our mortal flesh and our brokenness

so all the world could be free to live in peace. Amen.

Last Will Be First

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’ Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’ Mark 10:17-31

It is discouraging to small children and adults alike when they are placed in the back of the line. The voice and concerns of the people in the back are rarely heard in our world. The wealthy, the influential,

the powerful, despite their behavior, get all the attention and time. The folks we never see or hear from are overlooked and ignored. Yet, particularly when we feel overlooked and ignored, we can remember who God is paying attention to - the folks in the back, the unseen and unknown. The Creator's true glory is showered on those who have been abused and displaced. The world's love and fame are but smoke and mirrors, magic tricks that quickly fade away. So today, if you find yourself in dark places, remember, God is there with you, at the back of the line.

Wondrous Creator, you spin the world round

and paint the colors of the rainbow across the sky

you delight us with the shooting stars at night

and surround us with birdsong in the morning.

People are often violent, greedy and demanding 

rarely quieting to seek your voice in our day

we would rather be dazzled by technology

than spend time beside your healing streams.

Renew our hearts, dear Lord, for service

help us to rejoice in the simple gifts given

help us know you are among the last of us

and daily shower your love on our dark places. Amen.

Feast of St. Mary the Virgin

And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’ Luke 1:46-55

One of the amazing things about the Creator, is that the ones chosen to reveal the Holy to us, are most often the small, the weak and those without power. The writers of the Gospels and those who have edited the scriptures throughout the centuries, could not, despite themselves, leave out these important stories. The stories of women carrying and revealing God's love to the world. Today we celebrate the vulnerability and power of Mary, who despite her youth, her gender and the fact that she was not of royal birth, was chosen to carry the Savior.  She said yes, in the face of tremendous abuse, discrimination, isolation and having to become a refugee.

Loving Creator, you chose young Mary

to carry your love and healing to the world

she said yes, and in her yes we find our own

our belonging and participation in your love.

We are reluctant to say yes when challenged

we shrink back when we are told to keep still

we forget the power you give the least of us

calling forth a girl child to show the way.

Help us see not our limitations but your invitation

let us be those who carry your mercy and love

let us find you in the overlooked and ignored ones

because you give them the capacity to carry your love. Amen.

Stumbling

‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. ‘For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’ Mark 9:42-50

I know way too much about stumbling and falling. I was never terribly coordinated, and this past year, in a medical boot, as well as weakened muscles from being restricted to a wheelchair, has brought about many opportunities to stumble. It will be a long while before I am able walk comfortably again. Even then, I will need to be careful when I am walking. I have a long road in front of me. We all do. We are invited today to be those who help others when the days are challenging, rather than those who make life and faith more difficult.

Loving Creator, we are your children

you teach us and lead us day by day

you surround us with loving community

and call us to be your love to the stumbling.

We rush to judgement and we criticize

laughing at those who stumble and fall

we act as if we are superior to them

while you have called us to keep them safe.

Help us to be your servants in our time

let us be at peace with all those around us

give us your strength and your love again

so we might be the bearers of your peace today. Amen.

Sunday, August 13, 2023 Proper 14

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

"Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid!" It is so easy to tell someone not to be frightened, it is a whole other thing to cease being scared. We are so easily frightened and lose heart quite easily. When I was about to be married, I was working in a day care for two-year-olds. They loved being read to and had favorite books. One had the refrain, "don't be scared!" which they regularly shouted out when we came to the line. They made me a card, when I was leaving for the wedding, which said, "don't be scared!" All of their handprints were on it. All of life provides challenging and scary moments. Yet Jesus reminds us that in our storms he is with us, in our fears and terror, he is there, and will be there in every frightful and dangerous moment we face.

Wondrous Creator, you filled the wide oceans

with creatures of all sorts and fish to feed us

the seas are beautiful and often dangerous

and we find ourselves caught in the storms.

Lord Jesus, help us to take heart and put our trust in you.

The world is full of violence and destruction

our human folly has put our planet at risk

we fail to change and we fail to trust you

yet you will always walk out to our sinking ships.

Lord Jesus, help us to take heart and put our trust in you.

Give us the trust and love of small children

help us to wrap our arms around you in the storms

shelter us from the thunder and lightening of life

and bring us safely to your safe harbor home.

Lord Jesus, help us to take heart and put our trust in you.

You have made us in your image, frail as we are

and you have made us your family here on earth.

Lord Jesus, help us to take heart and put our trust in you.

You are the source of all goodness we know here

and promise us an eternity of safety and love.

Lord Jesus, help us to take heart and put our trust in you.

Make us strong in our faith and rich in your love

so we might reach out to the lost and the sinking.

Lord Jesus, help us to take heart and put our trust in you. Amen.

I Believe

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ Someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.’ He answered them, ‘You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!’ After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.’ Mark 9:14-29

A parent never wants to have a sick child, particularly one who is chronically ill.  As a parent and a grandparent, we want all the best for our children and never want them to suffer. As a child, I remember to this day, my father sitting in the window of my hospital room, crying and praying. I was so moved by his care. And as my children were growing up there were many times I found myself on my knees praying and weeping. In this times of great grief and sorrow, we are invited to believe, believing beyond the physical evidence and, and despite the worries of the hour. 

Wondrous Creator, we are made in your image

beloved and wanted as part of your family,

you hold us, you heal us and redirect us

holding us through the hours of weeping and fear.

Like the disciples we are often discouraged

we think you do not hear our prayers anymore

we forget to stoke up our faith and trust in you

and we walk away as if you have abandoned us.

Lord, help our unbelief and our weary despair

restore our vision of your loving community

help us to never give up on praying without ceasing

so the world might know your love here again. Amen.

My Beloved

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. Then they asked him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ He said to them, ‘Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.’ Mark 9:2-13

They saw only Jesus after the most remarkable event in their time with him. They had witnessed the barrier between the temporal and the eternal be broken for a time. This mountaintop event quickly became the rough road to Jerusalem, and the final passion. We ache to see Jesus in our time, yet we also don't want to go on the road to Jerusalem. When hard times hit me, it feels as if I have been abandoned and left on my own. I guess it's a normal human feeling. And yet rough roads and hard times are always with Jesus, the beloved, and we are beloved and cherished as well. 

Gracious Creator, you dwell on mountaintops

and along the warm sands by the roiling ocean

as well as with us on the stony paths we walk

you called us beloved and hold us very close.

We give in to anger and fury on the tough days

we believe that God has forgotten about us

or is punishing us for our wicked behavior

and we fail to grasp the love that is eternal.

Help us see Jesus today in our travails

strengthen our faith to walk with confidence

knowing we are held always in loving arms

and the Holy Eternal is always by our side. Amen.

Take Up Your Cross

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’ Mark 8:34-9:1

My cross has changed over the years, or at least my perception of my cross. Being a follower of Jesus requires all of us getting on our feet and moving forward despite our frailties and burdens. I know my own limitations all too well.  My cross has been my gender, the fact that I am an Indigenous woman in a church that does not see us, and my own stubborn attitudes and impatience are plied on that cross. And yet, I also know, in following I am never alone, and that my Savioe always reminds me, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Creator God, you call us all to follow you

and you make the path and burden light

when we struggle you lean in and share

carrying our load when we have fallen down.

We are often smug, impatient and foolish

thinking we know more than our teacher

believing we know the answers for others

while we have failed to carry our crosses.

Help us put our feet back on the sacred road

help us follow the way you have often trod

make us joyful as we journey together

sharing the load, singing as we travel on. Amen.

Seeing Clearly

They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’ And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’ Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ Mark 8:22-33

Seeing clearly is often a very difficult thing. Even with perfect eyesight, we can misinterpret what we see, and misunderstand what is said. Jesus heals a man born blind in the midst of a revelation about his true nature. The man honestly described how he was not seeing clearly. Yet the disciples, particularly Peter, got it right one minute and so wrong the next. We rarely want to see the hard truths. We rarely are willing to admit to our own need and failings. Yet in the midst of very humanity, Jesus is among us as the one who suffers with us and brings us healing in the midst of our human messes.

Wondrous Creator, you know us completely

you see our frailties and stubbornness

and look on us with great and eternal love

even when we reuse to see or hear clearly.

We refuse to face our own limitations

while judging others severely for theirs

we all want healing and restoration

and refuse to see the work we must do.

Give us your sight and your heart, Lord

help us to see you in the midst of suffering

make us those who reach out the hurting

sharing your love and healing with the world. Amen.

Enough

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’ Mark 8:11-21

We all have times when we forget something important and feel bad about it so much that we are not present, but distracted and sorrowful. Jesus had performed miracle after miracle and yet his disciples were worried about bread. The Pharisees and political leaders wanted signs, as if miracles were not enough. And we are often drawn back into thinking we do not have enough, and we are inadequate for the situation. Yet Jesus warns us to avoid "failure" thinking and behavior. God has more than enough to go around, and we are empowered, day after day, by Christ's love for us.

Loving Creator, source of all strength

you have promise to give us daily bread

to refill our empty wells and our minds

and to renew and strengthen us in each season.

The world is anxious and fearful always

and we are drawn in by the strength of fear

our feelings of inadequacy overwhelm us

and we draw away from the care of others.

Help us Lord, to trust in you completely

you are more than enough for our needs

let us be present for the people around us

so your love might be shared through us. Amen.

Sunday, August 6th, 2023 Feast of the Transfiguration

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. Luke 9:28-36

We often ache for mountain top experiences, the wow factor, something to crow about. And yet when we are faced with real mountain top experiences, it tends to bring us to silence and to our knees. We are overwhelmed, and no longer know how to live, we are so changed. We find the disciples in that ultimate moment, when they recognize the true divinity of Jesus. They are spoken to, just to bring the point home. For a moment, the barrier between temporal and eternal was broken and they were given a vision of the reality of God's love for us all. They were stunned, as we are, when love overpowers us and shows us that we are more valuable the fine gold. We may not have mountaintop experiences, but we can, be ever so grateful when the heart of God speaks to us with love. When a simple meal is shared, a sorrow listened to, a hand held in the dark.

Loving Creator, you give us a vision

of your love for us in the blue sky

in the countenances of the infants

and in the bird songs at the break of day.

Precious Lord, help us see your love in every face today.

We ache for the spectacular and exciting

yet you visions are often in the dark

a whisper and a song upon the wind

that reminds us that we are truly loved.

Precious Lord, help us see your love in every face today.

Help us when we feel isolated and alone

to know your presence among us today

let our wish be to seek you in the silence

and call for you in the darkest of nights.

Precious Lord, help us see your love in every face today.

We are confused and often unable to see

but you restore our sight and give us voice.

Precious Lord, help us see your love in every face today.

We stumble and are rarely humble

yet you call us back and embrace us all.

Precious Lord, help us see your love in every face today.

Help us to know you as we share our lives

with the strangers and neighbors all around.

Precious Lord, help us see your love in every face today. Amen.

Even the Dogs

From there he 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 Syrophoenician 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 

We live in an era where our pets are treated as adored children, and many of our children are showered with toys and attention. Not that long ago, dogs, cats and children all had a working role in the life of a family. Folks had children to help support the family farm or business and put them to work at very early ages. Dogs helped with hunting and trapping as well as herding and protection. Cats were used to keep homes and barns free of mice, rats and other vermin. The exchange between Jesus and this mother has been profound in my life. She was determined to convince him of the value of her daughter.  Why Jesus initially pushes back I might never understand, but I do know what it is like to fight for a child. I have taken doctors, teachers, principals and others to task on behalf of my children. And love always wins out and Jesus affirms that. A heart of love always brings healing.

Loving Creator, source of all our blessings

you listen to our cries like a loving parent

you stand in for us when we cannot speak

and you ache for us to be completely whole.

We get accustomed to our brokenness

we defend our unwillingness to be healed

mental and emotional behaviors amuse

and yet you come among us to bring healing.

Help us to see the places needing healing

let us examine our hearts and our minds

help us to change our attitudes and behaviors

so love may again pour into our hearts from you. Amen.

Walking On Water

When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he 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 lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the lake, 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 market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. Mark 6:47-56

Storms come up frequently and quickly along the ocean. Here, in Cape May Point, you can see the thunderheads build across the Delaware bay, During the day, that is. At night, it's a whole different story. A boat can get tossed and all sense of direction is lost. Even in this day and age, a small boat might not be rescued in time. So, here were the disciples, caught in a sudden storm, fearing for their lives. These were folks who were comfortable on the sea, it was their life, and even they were terrified. To all the storms of our lives, Jesus promises to come to us, to walk on water and calm the stormy blast.

Loving Creator, the sea and the is yours

we cannot control them but we love them

they are a part of us and bring us changes

you provide new winds when storms rage.

We often move to cursing and screaming

when we are afraid, we give up all hope

yet you are in the storm walking to us

you are with us in all the rocking boats.

Help us to cry out to you in our storms

may our terrors ignite our faith and hope

you still have miracles and healing to bring

and you are with us on every stormy sea. Amen

Five Loaves and Two Fish

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

We often see the limitations of our capacity before we see the possibilities of God. We can get so worried about the bottom line and budgets, that we forget to ask for miracles and to pray. Everything in our world is based on money, and folks are separated by the haves and have not. Jesus was always among those in need. And he always fulfilled their need. The disciples assessed the situation rightly, yet Jesus invited them to a larger, more compassionate way of living. This week we passed by the church where my mother fed 40-60 children weekly. There was always enough to send children home with leftovers for the rest of the family. God 's love is abundant and there is always extra leftover for those who were left behind.

Creator of Abundance, holy provider

we are blessed by each new day with love

you find us in our humility and our poverty

and provide great bounty for those on the margins.

We fear our lack and we worry about the future

you hold our lives tenderly in your hands

we worry that you will not have enough for us

yet you made sure there was always leftovers.

Help us to be grateful for the blessings here

help us to trust that you will somehow provide

turn our hearts to the needs of those around us

and help us to share the abundance of your love. Amen.