Arrows of Light, come, pierce my soul...
Breath of the Bright Wind, make us one...
Peace, Shalom, Salaam aleikum, dear friends, as light dawns a new day, a day that is both sacred and strange, a day that is both gift and opportunity. This morning, our time together will include silence for meditation, intercessions for neighbors near and far, and a blessing for your day. You can find texts of these prayers on my blog: Valley Rise Up. May our Morning Prayers together bring you courage and connect you to the beloved community of spirit that knows you and calls you friend.
Psalm 19 (as translated by Bruce Sanguin in If Darwin Prayed)
May your word, O God, be a lamp unto our feet,
And a strong cord of courage for your many peoples.
May your word, O God, be a lamp unto our feet,
And a strong cord of courage for your many peoples.
Gracious God,
how can creation sing your praises,
except with the red wings of blackbirds
flashing across blue sky,
and the croak and splash of frogs
playing hide and seek in the ponds?
How can the firmament proclaim your handiwork,
except in the wagging tail of a puppy,
and the focused attention of a toddler
soaking in the wonder of it all?
How can the heavens proclaim your glory,
except through a morning sun rising upon gold-green grass,
lighting up the face of lovers as Earth spins them
once more into a new day?
Your beauty and goodness, O Immanent One,
require Earth's diversity
and our own wildness,
breaking down -- and out of --
the monotony of prescribed patterns,
choosing rather to take our place
in the dancing procession
of differentness,
the variegated life of Christ finding expression
in this body of the church
and the bodies of our kin-creatures.
Make a harvest, O Holy One,
of our quirkiness,
that we might be your radiant presence.
Amen.
May your word, O God, be a lamp unto our feet,
how can creation sing your praises,
except with the red wings of blackbirds
flashing across blue sky,
and the croak and splash of frogs
playing hide and seek in the ponds?
How can the firmament proclaim your handiwork,
except in the wagging tail of a puppy,
and the focused attention of a toddler
soaking in the wonder of it all?
How can the heavens proclaim your glory,
except through a morning sun rising upon gold-green grass,
lighting up the face of lovers as Earth spins them
once more into a new day?
Your beauty and goodness, O Immanent One,
require Earth's diversity
and our own wildness,
breaking down -- and out of --
the monotony of prescribed patterns,
choosing rather to take our place
in the dancing procession
of differentness,
the variegated life of Christ finding expression
in this body of the church
and the bodies of our kin-creatures.
Make a harvest, O Holy One,
of our quirkiness,
that we might be your radiant presence.
Amen.
May your word, O God, be a lamp unto our feet,
And a strong cord of courage for your many peoples.
Jesus' Prayer
Earth-maker, life-giver, pain-bearer,
Source of all that is and all that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God in whom is heaven:
May the hallowing of your name
May the hallowing of your name
echo through the universe!
May your heavenly will be done
by all creatures great and small!
And may your commonwealth
of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth!
With the bread we need this day, feed us.
For the hurt we inflict on one another, forgive us.
By your grace and mercy,
strengthen us through seasons of temptation,
and spare us from trials too great to endure.
Free us from bigotry and evil, for service and truth.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is Love. Amen.
People's Response
“Jesu Tawapano” (Jesus, we are here for you.)
Five Minutes of Silence & Meditation
You’re invited to experience the active, generous presence of God—in your body, in your soul, in our ruah. Remember that the Bible uses this one Hebrew word (ruah) for “spirit” and for “wind” and for “breath.” As we sit quietly and breath mindfully, we are aware of the Spirit’s tender and resilient movement in our lives.
If your mind wanders, do not be harsh or judgmental. Simply notice the wandering mind, and then return to your breath. Return to the Spirit who is your companion in prayer.
Prayers of the People
With gratitude for the bonds of friendship, in faithfulness to our calling as the beloved community, we pray now, for one another, for all our neighbors, and for sisters, brothers and friends near and far.
Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.
For those who are sick and ailing, for those who are anxious and frightened, that they may know the generous spirit of grace and have access to the best of care and counsel:
God, have mercy.
For health professionals around the world and for public health servants who are working to provide clear guidance, effective testing and compassionate care:
Christ, have mercy.
For all who seek racial justice, and for those committed to systemic and consequential change on the path to nonviolent and just national renewal:
God, have mercy.
For immigrants, refugees and prisoners of conscience, that their hearts may be strengthened by faith and that their journeys to freedom be hastened by grace:
Christ, have mercy.
For others we name here and now, that they may know the calming touch of your peace and find comfort and companionship among friends:
For all who seek racial justice, and for those committed to systemic and consequential change on the path to nonviolent and just national renewal:
God, have mercy.
For immigrants, refugees and prisoners of conscience, that their hearts may be strengthened by faith and that their journeys to freedom be hastened by grace:
Christ, have mercy.
For others we name here and now, that they may know the calming touch of your peace and find comfort and companionship among friends:
Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.
Prayer for Serenity (as originally composed by Reinhold Niebuhr)
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed;
Give us courage to change the things
which should be changed;
and give us the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
I will live one day at a time,
I will enjoy one moment at a time,
And I will accept hardship as a pathway to peace:
Taking, as Jesus did,
This broken world as it is,
And not as I would have it;
Trusting that You will make all things whole and right,
If I surrender to Your will,
And that I can be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You, in the life which knows no end.
Amen and amen.
Response
Lo, I am with you to the end of the world.
Lo, I am with you in the struggle for peace.
Lo, I am with you in the struggle for peace.
Blessing
May God's grace fill your heart and shake your soul today.
May Christ's face shine in every neighbor and every friend today.
AND
May the Communion of Friends and Church be a constant
presence in your heart, a source of courage today,
and a reminder of the joy and promise of everlasting life.
You are a blessing to the world, my friend, and beloved and cherished by God. Live in the light and walk by faith. The God of our ancestors, the God of all the prophets and saints, goes with you! Go in peace and live well on planet earth.
My sense is this: that disciplined, daily practice transforms Easter speculation into Easter faith; that this kind of prayer (alongside our witness for justice, alongside our commitment to mercy) nurtures our prophetic imagination and partnership with Christ. Thanks for joining me, and for encouraging me, on that journey!
