Author: cmkenlin

We Thank You (Exodus 2)

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For all the ways in which God moves through us… We thank you, God!

We are here today because we want to believe in You,
we want to follow your teachings.
Some of us believe the scriptures are black and white.
Others see the gray.
For all the ways in which God moves through us… We thank you, God!

We are here today,
because we know that we are the children of God.
We may feel adrift as if we are in a papyrus basket, bobbing along in the waves
but we know that you have a plan for us, Father.
For all the ways in which God moves through us… We thank you, God!

We are here today and we know that we make up the body of Christ.
It is up to us to make this world your world.
It is up to us to reach out to those among us,
to those who are marginalized and powerless,
to those who are hungry and in need,
to those who need a helping hand and
to those who are in pain.
For all the ways in which God moves through us… We thank you, God!

We are here today and we know that you are also here today.
You are with us and you were with our ancestors,
giving us and them the strength to fulfill your teachings.
We know that you will be with our children and with their children.
We ask that you be with ___ now as they could use your support and strength.
For all the ways in which God moves through us… We thank you, God!

We are here today and we lift our hearts and minds to you.
Give us the courage to speak up for those among us who have no voice,
the strength to carry the burdens of those who are feeling weak
and the compassion to feel the pain of those who are hurting and alone.
For all the ways in which God moves through us… We thank you, God!

We are here today and we will be here tomorrow as we were yesterday.
As your children, we look to you for strength and for forgiveness.
As your children, we know the power of prayer, and we use the words your Son taught us:
“Our Father…”

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Teach Us (Genesis 45:1-15)

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Lord, there is so much conflict in our world.

Conflict between countries, between neighbors,
and within families.
We want to be right,
sometimes more than we want to forgive
or to ask for forgiveness.

Teach us, Father, to be more like Joseph.
Teach us to forgive those who have wronged us.
Teach us to ask for forgiveness when we have behaved badly.

Lord, we know that you accept us as we are,
that you cherish us as we are.
We are your children.
As you love us, we need to love ourselves
and love those around us.
It is in loving our neighbors, near and far,
that we fulfill your plans and your commandment.

Teach us, Father, to be more like Joseph.
Teach us to forgive those who have wronged us.
Teach us to ask for forgiveness when we have behaved badly.

Lord, it is love that saves us, your love.
We are made in your image.
We are your children.
You show us mercy and give us your grace.
We ask that you be with ___

Teach us, Father, to be more like Joseph.
Teach us to forgive those who have wronged us.
Teach us to ask for forgiveness when we have behaved badly.

In your love, you sent us your Son. And in love, he gave us these words,
“Our Father…”

Gather in this Sacred Space (Exodus 3:1-15)

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We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
We are standing on your holy ground.

As our ancestors gathered in awe and worship,
we still gather in worship.
Our awe and wonder today may not be a burning bush,
but we find wonder in the birth of the daughters we celebrate and welcome today.
We find wonder in those God moments we encounter in our daily lives.

We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
We stand today in your holy space.
Remind us that wherever we are, when we are sharing your word,
that space is holy as well.
Remind us to find wonder in the ordinary.
Remind us to see your face in the faces of those we encounter throughout our day.
Remind us to hear your story when we listen to the stories of those around us.

We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
We stand today in your holy space,
reminded by the baptism of our newest members,
that we are your children, Lord.
As we cherish our children, you cherish us.
You find wonder in us, even as you know us completely.
Remind us to open our hearts to you to fully receive the love of our parent.

We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
As we celebrate new life in this holy space,
we look forward to our future, to their futures.
There is excitement and anticipation, a wonder for the future.
Use us, Creator, to make this future yours.
Use our bodies, our minds and our hopes and dreams.

We gather in this sacred space, knowing that you are with us week after week.
Be with those among us who need your grace and healing touch.
Celebrate the additions to our family, Allison, Ella, Kimberly, Mic and Laura.
As we stand in this holy space, we use the words that your Son taught us,
“Our Father…”

Love Each Other (Romans 12:9-21)

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Creator of Love and Light,

Your lesson to us has always been love.
Love each other as we love ourselves.
Three easy words, Love each other.

Giver of all things,
Your lesson to us is to hate evil and cling to love.
Remind us to lift up in prayer, even those we do not care for.
Love each other as we love ourselves.
Three easy words, Love each other.

We are the children of God.
As children, we may not comprehend the meaning of all your teachings.
Three easy words, Love each other.
Your teachings come down to these three words.
As we are cherished and loved as your children,
we, too, also need to love each other.

Compassionate One,
As we are loved, we know that we are to support one another.
We lift up __ in our prayers and know that while You are also with them,
we need to show them our love and our concern, in our words and in our prayers.
As the body of Christ, we cherish each other as you cherish us.

Lord of Peace,
Remind us that by loving one another, we create peace in our world.
Love each other as we love ourselves.
In love, you sent to us your Son.
In love, He taught us these words,
“Our Father….”

Transform Us (Luke 9:28-36)

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We come to this place every week
for many different reasons.
Some of us were born into a church family
and we know no other way of life.
We cannot imagine a life without you, Jesus.
Others came to this church later in life.
We had a life before that may not have included God,
or maybe a life with a God that was minimized
and only called upon in times of crisis.

But we are here now, Lord, here in this sacred place with you.
We ourselves have been transformed by your love,
by your grace, and most especially by your teachings.
Jesus, you have been our role model and
showed us how we should live our lives.
You showed us how important it is to pray,
to allow that quiet time between ourselves and God.
You showed us how to include everyone,
and to treat everyone with respect and fairness.
You showed us how to live in a way that fulfills God’s plan on earth,
even when we may not feel we have the courage to do so.
You showed us how our lives will change when we live not for ourselves,
but for others.
You showed us how to live in peace with each other,
and how to support each other.
You showed us how to enjoy life and to celebrate God’s joy in this world.
You did this in actions, not only in words.

Transform us today, Lord, here in this sacred place,
and in every place we may find ourselves.
Transform us. Make us more receptive to prayer and
to hearing the call of the Holy Spirit.
Transform us. Make us more willing to accept and to seek out diversity.
Transform us. Make us peacemakers who work for equality and fairness for all.
Transform us. Make us more generous with our talents and our treasures.
Transform us. Make us a community who builds each other up
and supports those who may need help.
We ask that you also be with ___ who are in need of your healing touch and strength.
Transform us into a stronger body of Christ,
a community who celebrates the joy of your love
and enjoys and nurtures the gifts of the earth that you have given us.

We come to this place every week.
And, we leave this place changed by your presence.
We follow your teachings as best we can.
We ask that you walk with us on our journey and transform us along the way.
And, we use the words that you taught us to use,
“Our Father…”

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Bread and Wine, Body and Blood

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John 6: 51-58
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Take a piece of bread from the Table. Hold it in your hands and consider its texture – the hardness of the outside compared to the soft inside; smell it and remember the welcoming smell of baking bread and the feelings that evokes; taste it and as you eat the bread, consider the life-giving force contained within the bread. As you chew and swallow the bread, it becomes one with your body providing nutrients, energy and sustenance to you.

Meditation phrase:
“…abide in me, and I in them.”

Consider these words and what it means to abide in Jesus and to have Him abide in you.

Prayer of Confession:

Lord, those words imply a spirit of oneness, complete intimacy.
I long for that closeness, but I confess I don’t always strive for that closeness.

I let myself get distracted by the shiny things in life not recognizing that
what appears attractive and inviting to me may not be part of your plan or will.

I let myself get distracted by my fears and worries
not recognizing that I should be focusing on living within your spirit of love.

I let myself get distracted by the day to day demands of my life
not recognizing those in need that you place in front of me.

Help me remember always that the gift our Father gave us in You is an eternal gift.
The one who eats this bread, who abides in You, is one with You eternally. Remove
my distractions and help me recognize that spirit of oneness and to openly
share in the complete intimacy You offer to me.

I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry

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The hymn “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”, written by John C. Ylvisaker, describes a God who has been with us throughout our lives, from birth to death, and all the stages in between. Depending on how our journey has evolved, we have come to know God at different stages in our lives. Some of us have grown up from birth knowing God. Others come to know God later in life and some of us are still trying to know God.

The events of our lives can be challenging, joyful, tragic, peaceful, triumphant, overwhelming, rewarding and scary. How has God and the people He has brought into your life helped you travel through your life’s journey so far?

Read through the verses of this song and spend a few moments on the questions that have been interspersed into the verses. There is space allotted after the questions if you would like to jot down some notes.

I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell.

Spend a few minutes thinking about the circumstances of your birth and your childhood. Who were the important people to you in your childhood? How would you describe your relationship with God as a child?

When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk ’till rising sun.

Spend a few minutes thinking about your life as a young adult. Who were (are) the important people to you in this phase of your life? What were (are/will be) some of the more significant events in this phase of your life? How would you describe your relationship with God as a young adult?

In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I’ve begun.
When the evening gently closes in,
and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been
with just one more surprise.

Spend a few minutes thinking about your life as an older adult. Who are (will be) the important people to you in this phase of your life? What were (are/will be) some of the more significant events in this phase of your life? How would you describe your relationship with God as an older adult? What work or goals are not yet completed?

I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.

Sit quietly and feel God sitting beside you, walking in step with you through every phase of your life, watching over you as a parent would watch a child, with pride and love at the person you have become or the person you are becoming. Know that God is with you at each stage of your life and know that God loves you.

A Prayer of Reflection and the Daily Examen

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The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and to discern his direction for us. It was developed more than 400 years ago by St. Ignatius Loyola.

As you enter the Sanctuary and the door shuts behind you, the noise of the outside world is silenced. But the noise and distraction of your worries and concerns may not yet be silenced. As you find a seat in the Sanctuary, take several calming breaths to center yourself and invite the One who is the Light of the world to walk with you as you rehearse the past twenty-four hours, gently sifting through the events of the previous day.

Light a candle or two in front of you to help you be aware of Christ’s presence. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.

Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.
Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?

God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Make note of these sins and faults. But look deeply for other implications. Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you to consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out to her or him in some way.

Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

St. Ignatius encouraged people to talk to Jesus like a friend. End the Daily Examen with a conversation with Jesus. Ask forgiveness for your sins. Ask for his protection and help. Ask for his wisdom about the questions you have and the problems you face. Do all this in the spirit of gratitude. Your life is a gift, and it is adorned with gifts from God. End the Daily Examen with the Our Father. Maybe it would be better to say, “prayer of our Savior” or “prayer Jesus taught us to say:”

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into and temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

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We Proclaim (Acts 17:22-28)

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Creator of Love and Light

We gather here today in your name.
In You, we live and move and have our being.

We proclaim that there is one God, one Son and one Holy Spirit.
The mystery of the Trinity,
but we no longer have the mystery of the unknown God.
We know that you are with us always, we know that we are your children.

Creator of Love and Light
you made all nations.
Remind us that regardless of our race, we are the same.
Remind us that regardless of our fears, we are the same.
Remind us that regardless of our station in life, we are the same.
We are your children, Lord, each of us cherished,
each of us made in your image.

We proclaim that there is one God, one Son and one Holy Spirit.
We proclaim ourselves members of the body of Christ.
As members of your body,
we realize we are the hands that carry the burdens of those among us,
we are the ears that hear the cry of injustice in your world,
we are the eyes that see your plans unfold before us,
and we are the voice to share your teachings with others among us.

Creator of Love and Light,
we know that you are with us always.
Be with those among us who need your healing strength.
We name ___.

We proclaim that there is one God, one Son and one Holy Spirit.
Your Son said, Follow Me, and we have followed.
Your Son taught us the words we still use today,
“Our Father…”

Help Us To See Each Other Clearly (Luke 4:14-30)

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You have made us in your image,
but we wear many masks to those around us.
We are the child, the parent, the friend, the boss, the stranger.
We change depending on our circumstances.

We are your children, Lord.
You have anointed us with your spirit
and have sent us to do your work.
You have made us in your image,
but we see each other through the lens of our lives,
through our experiences.

Help us to see each other clearly.
Help us to see the face of God in the faces of those around us.
Help us to recognize when you are among us, to see those God moments.

You have made us in your image.
You have sent your Son to teach us.
As we look at those among us in this sacred place,
we see our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In this sacred place, we see the hands that do your work.
In this sacred place, we hear the stories of our ancestors and the teachings that you have shared.
From this sacred place, we move out into the world
to use our backs to carry the load of those who are the weakest among us.

Help us to see each other clearly.
Help us to see the face of God in the faces of those around us.
Help us to recognize when you are among us, to see those God moments.

We are your children, Lord, and we know that you are with us always.
Be with those among us who need your strength and healing grace the most.
We name___
You have made us in your image and sent your Son to teach us these words,
“Our Father…”