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Prayer For Centering In Preparation
Center us, O God, to worship you this day. O God,
to worship you this day.
Remove our needless armor.
Free us from all pretense.
Move us ever more closely to you.
Be our stronghold.
Grant us calm.
Give us joyful hearts and ready minds,
that we may be open to your grace. Amen.—The Abingdon Worship Annual edited by Mary J. Scifres and B.J. Beu, Copyright © Abingdon Press (altered)Call To Worship
We worship together in this place of peace:
why are we afraid?
As storms pummel
why are we afraid?
As nations rage
why are we afraid?
As relationships crumble
why are we afraid?
As illness exhausts us
why are we afraid?
As finances fail
why are we afraid?
As violence threatens
why are we afraid?
Have we no faith?
We do have faith.
We do believe.
O God, help our unbelief.
As Jesus says, “Peace! Be Still!”
may peace fill our hearts and minds
empowering us to be a people of justice.
Blessed are You, O God Most High, and blessed is your peaceable Kin-Dom. Amen.—Drescher, John. Invocations and Benedictions for the Revised Common Lectionary. Abingdon Press. (altered)Prayer For the Day
We like our agendas, O God, just like they are.
We like to set priorities and plan outcomes;
and we want the world to follow.
But, too often our agendas are not yours;
and that can’t be good for us or for our world.
So we pray, that your agenda would prevail
in our hearts,
in our words,
in our priorities,
in our relationships,
in our actions.
May our world be captured by the beauty and grace
that flow from your Kingdom purposes;
wherever there is violence,
wherever there is division,
wherever there is disease,
wherever there is need,
wherever there is grief,
wherever there is despair,
may human experience be shaped
by your awesome, creative reign.
Amen. —https://sacredise.com/
Job 38.1–11
Then God Most High answered Job from the heart of the storm: who is this obscuring my plan with such ignorant words?
Hitch up your belt like the fighter you are; now I will ask the questions and you will answer me!
Where were you when I created the earth?
If you know the answer, tell me!
Who decided its size? Do you know?
Who stretched the measuring line across it?
Into what foundation were its pillars sunk?
Who laid the cornerstone while all the choruses of morning stars sang and the heavenly court shouted for joy?
And who held back the sea behind partitions when it burst forth from my womb, when I created clouds as the earth’s raiment and thick darkness as its swaddling clothes—when I drew limits around the waters and locked the partitions in place and said, “This far and no more; this is where your mighty waves stay"?—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (altered)Psalm 9.9–20
I will praise you, O God, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works!
I will be glad and rejoice in you, I will sing praise to your Name, Most High!
When my enemies are turned back, they stumble and are lost in your presence.
For you have maintained my right and my cause; you occupy the judgment seat, a righteous judge.
You have rebuked the nations, and destroyed the violent.
You blotted out their name forever and ever.
The enemy has been cut down; their ruins are endless.
You have overthrown their cities, and even the memory of them has vanished.
But you, O God, reign forever and have established your throne of judgment.
You will judge the world in justice and govern the peoples with equity.
For you, O God, are a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your Name trust in you, for you have never forsaken those who seek you, O God.
Sing praise to God Most High enthroned in Zion; declare God’s work among the nations!
For the One who avenges blood remembers them, and doesn’t ignore the cry of the afflicted.
Have mercy on me, O God!
See what I suffer from those who hate me!
Lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises—that in the gates of the Daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your deliverance!
The nations have fallen into the pit they dug, the net they set caught their own feet.
In passing sentence, you are manifest; you are known, O God, for your just judgments: the violent are trapped by the work of their own hands.
The place without light will become the home of the godless—all those who forget God Most High.
But the needy will not always be forgotten, the hope of the poor will not be lost forever.
Arise, O God! Don’t let them be victorious!
Let the nations be judged in your presence!
Strike them with terror, O God, and let the nations know that they are only human.—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (altered)2 Corinthians 6.1–13
As Christ’s coworkers we beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For God says through Isaiah, “At the acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.”
Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!
We take pains to avoid giving offense to anyone, for we don’t want our ministry to be blamed.
Instead, in all that we do we try to present ourselves as ministers of God, acting with patient endurance amid trials, difficulties, distresses, beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger.
We conduct ourselves with innocence, knowledge, patience and kindness in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, with the message of truth and the power of God, wielding the weapons of justice with both right hand and left—regardless of whether we are honored or dishonored, spoken of favorably or unfavorably.
We are called impostors, yet we are truthful; we are called unknowns, yet we are famous; we are said to be dying, yet we are alive; punished, but not put to death; sorrowful, though we are always rejoicing; poor, yet we enrich many.
We seem to have nothing, yet we possess everything!
We have spoken frankly to you, Corinthians; we’ve opened our hearts wide to you.
We’re not holding anything back; you, on the other hand, are holding back your affection from us. It would be a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—if you’d open your hearts as widely to us as we do to you.—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.Psalm 107.1–3, 23–32
“Give thanks for God’s goodness; God’s love endures forever!”
Let these be the words of YHWH’s redeemed, those redeemed from the oppressor’s clutches, those brought home from foreign lands, from east and west, from northern lands and southern seas.
Some went down to the sea in ships, plying their trade across the ocean; they too saw the works of God Most High, the wonders that God worked on the Deep!
God spoke and raised a storm wind, lashing up towering waves.
Flung to the sky, then plunged to the depths, in the ordeal their courage melted away.
They staggered and reeled like drunkards with all their skill adrift.
Then they called to God in their trouble, and God rescued them from their sufferings, reducing the storm to a whisper until the waves of the sea were hushed; overjoyed with the calm, they were brought safe to the port they were bound for.
Let them thank God for this great love, for the marvels done for all people.
Let them praise God in the Great Assembly and give praise in the Council of Elders.—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (altered)Mark 4.35–41
With the coming of evening that same day, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other shore.”
Leaving the crowd behind, they took Jesus in the boat in which he was sitting. There were other boats with them.
Then a fierce gale arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so much that it was almost swamped.
But Jesus was in the stern through it all, sound asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said, “Teacher, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re going to drown?”
Jesus awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be calm!”
And the wind dropped and everything was perfectly calm.
Jesus then said to the disciples, “Why were you so frightened?
Have you no faith?”
But they became filled with fear and said to one another, “Who is this, whom even the wind and sea obey?”—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.Song For the Day
When the Storms of Life Are Raging (Stand By Me) The Reverend Charles Albert Tindley† —by Allan Hall
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me; (stand by me)
when the storms of life are raging,
stand by me. (stand by me)
When the world is tossing me
like a ship upon the sea,
thou who rulest wind and water,
stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of tribulation,
stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of tribulation,
stand by me. (stand by me)
When the hosts of hell assail,
and my strength begins to fail,
thou who never lost a battle,
stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of faults and failures,
stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of faults and failures,
stand by me. (stand by me)
When I’ve done the best I can,
and my friends misunderstand,
thou who knowest all about me,
stand by me. (stand by me)
When I’m growing old and feeble,
stand by me; (stand by me)
when I’m growing old and feeble,
stand by me. (stand by me)
When my life becomes a burden,
and I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou Lily of the Valley,
stand by me. (stand by me)Prayer Of Confessing Our Brokenness
Eternal God, we are almost embarrassed to present our prayers to you some days.
We realize that when things go well we often do not think to pray.
Yet, we think of you in times of trouble.
In our prayers we so often come to you when the storms of life rage and we feel threatened and vulnerable. Many times we carry in our hearts the protest and lament of the Psalmist, wondering how long the storm will persist.
We try to have faith but fear and worry frequently overcome us.
In such times when the waves of life crest high and powerful, speak to us again your gentle word of peace.
Bring us your peace when we are upset and in turmoil because of the senseless chaos which continually rages in our world.
Bring us your peace when we feel vulnerable, when our health is threatened, and when we become frightened and worry about how many tomorrows remain for us.
Bring us your peace when the darker shadow of our inner selves seems too strong and we are overwhelmed and too frightened to acknowledge it and integrate it into our beings.
Bring us your peace when we are worried about tomorrow and when we worry about whether our money will last as long as we live or how we will make financial ends meet.
Bring us your peace, O God, and quiet our inner storms and help us to trust. Amen.Prayer Of Forgiveness and Healing
Let go of your fears and doubts. God pours God’s love on you, in you and through you to others. Be at peace. Amen.Prayer For Meditation
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
in the Realm of your peace and justice. Amen.Credo
When our hearts are grieving, crying out in distress
God hears our cries.
When our spirits are wandering, lost and afraid
God seeks and finds us.
When our days seem filled with anger and hopelessness
God brings comfort and peace to us.
When we don’t think we have anything to offer to God.
God produces miracles in our lives that can serve others.
When we need to know that God is with us.
God is present in all the earth.
For all the ways in which God blesses our lives,
we give thanks and praise!
For the people who have taught and guided us, who have shown us the right paths of God,
we give thanks and praise!
For the wonderful things which we have seen and the things yet to come,
we give thanks and praise to God! Amen.—https://sacredise.com/(or,)We choose not to give in to fear:
Even when we are threatened by violence and abuse,
we choose to believe in the power of love.
We choose not to be led by despair:
Even when dreams fail and the world seems to grow colder and more broken,
we choose to believe in the power of hope.
We choose not to be blinded by cynicism:
Even when joy and celebration feel naïve and frivolous,
we choose to believe in the power of faith.
We choose not to be over-awed by death:
Even when grief shuts out all other voices,
we choose to believe in the power of life.
In every time,
in each place,
with all people
may your resurrection rise up within us,
and lead us to new, creative, healing choices.
Amen. —https://sacredise.com/Prayer For Contemplation The worst storms, Jesus, are the ones caused by our fear,
when we grow afraid of losing our power,
or we grow suspicious of the power of others,
when we refuse to acknowledge your mysterious authority.
Yet, it’s in the storm that we find our capacity to love.
In releasing our weak claim to power
and opening to your reign,
we discover a new way of seeing ourselves –
as called and useful and beloved –
and the other, whoever they may be –
as dignified and precious and beloved.
Here in the storm, Jesus, we need you, and we need each other,
and the love you give us to share,
leads us through sacrifice and self-giving
to peace and calm,
if only we will loose our hold on fear.
Amen.
—https://sacredise.com/
Prayer Of Intercession
Trusting that our God listens when we pray, we offer up this prayer:
➣ We put our trust in you, O God. Answer with your peace.
We call to you, O God: hear our prayers for the Church.
Set us upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness. Open wide our hearts to accept your grace. Invite the congregation to add their thanksgivings...
➣ We put our trust in you, O God. Answer with your peace.
We call to you, O God: hear our prayers for the world. You are known by your acts of justice. Let the hope of the poor be not taken away...
➣ We put our trust in you, O God. Answer with your peace.
We call to you, O God: hear our prayers for all creation.
Even the wind and the sea obey your command. Speak peace and life to all you have made...
➣ We put our trust in you, O God. Answer with your peace.
We call to you, O God: hear our prayers for those who live without a place to call home. You are a refuge for the oppressed, a shelter in time of trouble. Do not forsake those who seek your help...
➣ We put our trust in you, O God. Answer with your peace.
We call to you, O God: hear our prayers for those in any kind of need. You do not forget the needy; they are ever in your thoughts. You hear the cry of the afflicted. Fill down-turned mouths with songs of praise and rejoicing...
➣ We put our trust in you, O God. Answer with your peace.
We call to you, O God: hear our prayers for the dying and the dead. You are the God of life; you lift your people from the gates of death. We commend to your mercy all who have died...
➣ We put our trust in you, O God. Answer with your peace.
—Williamson, Jeremiah D. Praying the Scriptures: Litanies for Sunday Worship. Church Publishing Inc. (altered)
Sending Forth
Go out to be God’s hands and feet, and do not be afraid.
The creator of all that is upholds your life,
God walks by your side, the Spirit gives you breath to speak God’s grace and sing God’s praise.
__________
† The Reverend Charles Albert Tindley was born in Berlin, Maryland, July 7, 1851; son of Charles and Hester Tindley. His father was a slave, and his mother was free. Hester died when he was very young; he was taken in my his mother’s sister Caroline Miller Robbins in order to keep his freedom. It seems that he was expected to work to help the family. In his Book of Sermons (1932), he speaks of being “hired out” as a young boy, “wherever father could place me.” He married Daisy Henry when he was seventeen. Together they had eight children, some of whom would later assist him with the publication of his hymns.
Tindley was largely self-taught throughout his lifetime. He learned to read mostly on his own. After he and Daisy moved to Philadelphia in 1875, he took correspondence courses toward becoming a Methodist minister. He did this while working as a sexton (building caretaker) for the East Bainbridge Street Church. Beginning in 1885, he was appointed by the local bishop to serve two or three-year terms at a series of churches, until coming full circle to become pastor at East Bainbridge in 1902. Under his leadership, the church grew rapidly. They relocated in 1904 to the East Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church, then again in 1924 to the new Tindley Temple, where the membership roll blossomed to about ten thousand.
Tindley was known for being a captivating preacher, and for also taking an active role in the betterment of the people in his community. His songs were an outgrowth of his preaching ministry, often introduced during his sermons. Tindley was able to draw people of multiple races to his church ministry; likewise, his songs have been adopted and proliferated by white and black churches alike.
The songs of Charles Tindley were published cumulatively in two editions of Soul Echoes (1905, 1909) and six editions of New Songs of Paradise (1916-1941).
His wife Daisy died in 1924, before the completion of the Tindley Temple. He remarried in 1927 to Jenny Cotton. Charles A. Tindley died July 26, 1933.
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