Proper 10B | Ordinary 15B | Pentecost 8 —They Danced— FOR A BEAD AND A PRAYER CLICK HERE A Liturgy For Worship and Meditation Use all or any portion as you choose.
	Centering In Preparation Center us now, O God, on your presence in this place among your people, as we lift up our hearts desires, our soul’s deep needs, our hungers, fears and failures. (Silence) In you, O God, we are. We are in you, O God. Be in us. Call To Worship God is here. The Creator of the Universe is with us. So, we will dance. God is here. God is on the move. So, we will dance, so that our children can see what we do when God is on the move. Our backs are against the wall, but God is on our side. So, we will dance with all our might. After all that we’ve been through, we still have joy. So, we will dance with great abandon. We are a dancing people. Dancing in all seasons of life is in our very heart of hearts. So, let’s dance our truth. We will dance in our homes. We will dance in our communities. We will dance in our churches. We will dance together. We will dance! —Ashley Johnson Prayer Of Confession Holy God, we confess that too often we have not been open to the rhythms of life you offer to us. We let ourselves be put off your pace and allow ourselves to wander off into our own songs. Too often the melodies of the world confuse us. We have led ourselves and others to paths that are not according to your loving pace and direction. Help us pay attention with all of our senses. Make our dancing faithful; help us take the risks that are part of letting you lead. Pull us back into your rhythms. Clean our hearts, purify our hands and steady our feet that we might know and share your blessings. (Silence) Assurance Of Pardon The God of Hosts assures us that if we trust God’s Word, we will be led back to the songs that God would have us sing. God is eager to show us the path home. Accept the offer of the new song we have been given, the promise of your Kin-Dom, that is peace with justice. The realm of healing when all will be well. Amen. Prayer For Illumination Spirit of the living God, seal in us your Word of truth, the gospel of salvation, so that we can faithfully follow in the way of Jesus the One who is your Beloved. In Jesus may we hear and be transformed by your love. Amen. II Samuel 6. 1-19 David again called up all the warriors of Israel and picked 30,000 elite fighters. Then David and the whole force set out for Ba’alah* in Judah to return the Ark of God, which bears the name of YHWH who sits enthroned above the cherubim. The Ark of God was placed on a new cart and removed from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio walked before it, while David and all thAmen. e people of Israel celebrated to their hearts’ content before YHWH, with songs, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, one of the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark to steady it. YHWH’s anger so burned against Uzzah because of his violation† that he was struck dead there beside the Ark of the Covenant. David was upset because of YHWH’s wrath against Uzzah, and to this day the place is called Uzzah’s Breach.David was afraid of YHWH that day, and said, “When will the Ark of the Covenant ever come to me?” For he was unwilling to take the Ark of YHWH to the City of David. So he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The Ark of YHWH remained there for three months. During this time, YHWH blessed Obed-edom and his whole household. When David heard that YHWH had blessed Obed-edom’s family and household, David went down and brought the Ark up from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When the bearers of the Ark of YHWH took their first six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fatted calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before YHWH with all his might, while he and his whole house of Israel brought up the Ark of YHWH with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the Ark entered the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down through the window and saw David leaping and dancing before YHWH, and his display disgusted her.‡ The Ark of the Covenant was brought in and set in its place within the tent David had set up for it. Then David made burnt offerings and peace offerings before YHWH. Finishing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, the ruler blessed the people in the name of YHWH. Then he distributed among the people of Israel present—to each woman and man—a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. And all the people returned to their homes. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Prayer Why? Why, O God? The presence of the Ark of the Covenant is a symbol of your presence, a sign to your love. Uzzah meant no wrong. Obed-edom appears neutral in the Ark's temporary home. One dies and the other one is blessed. The Ark brings great joy to David and the people of Jerusalem, except for Michal who did not approve of David's celebration. We wonder why the contradictions that seem to stand out in this story. Could it be that the Ark has need to be more holy than to permit human touch? Could it be that the presence of the Ark then needs a redeeming act of blessing? Could it be that whatever we do in celebration of you there will be those who disagree? We do not expect answers, O God, but to learn to ask better questions. Help us to find the truth of you in your Word. Amen. Psalm 24. 1-10 The earth and everything on it— the world and all who live in it— belong to God Most High. God Most High built it on the deep waters, laying its foundations in the ocean depths. Who has the right to ascend God Most High’s mountain? Who is allowed to enter God Most High’s holy place? Those whose hands are clean and whose hearts are pure, who do not worship idols, or make false promises. YHWH will bless them; God their savior will declare them innocent. Such are the people who seek God Most High, who seek your face, God of our ancestors. Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the Glorious Liberator will come in! Who is this “Glorious Liberator”? God Most High, strong and mighty, God Most High, victorious in battle! Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the Glorious Liberator will come in! Who is this “Glorious Liberator”? God Most High, the God of Hosts, is our Glorious Liberator! —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Prayer Our sovereign God, who has founded the seas and established the rivers, placed the hills and formed the valleys: We lift up our heads this day in praise and thanksgiving. Blessed are you, God, maker of heaven and earth, who long before you ever laid down earth’s foundation, had us on mind, and decided to adopt us into your family through reconciliation in your Beloved and Anointed One, Jesus. Blessed are you O God, maker of heaven and earth, and blessed is your Kin-Dom, forevermore. Amen. Ephesians 1. 3-14 Blessed be God, who has bestowed on us in the Beloved and Only Begotten One every spiritual blessing in the heavens! Before the world began, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless and to be full of love; God likewise predestined us through Christ Jesus to be adopted children—such was God’s pleasure and will—that everyone might praise the glory of God’s grace which was freely bestowed on us in God’s beloved, Jesus Christ. It is in Christ and through the blood of Christ that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor given to us with perfect wisdom and understanding. God has taken pleasure in revealing the mystery of the plan through Christ, to be carried out in the fullness of time; namely, to bring all things—in heaven and on earth—together in Christ. In Christ we were willed an inheritance; for in the decree of God—and everything is administered according to the divine will and counsel—we were predestined to praise the glory of the Most High by being the first to hope in Christ. In Christ you too were chosen. When you heard the Good News of salvation, the word of truth, and believed in it, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance, the deposit paid against the full redemption of a people who are God’s own—to the praise of God’s glory. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Prayer Consider what God has given to us. All that is holy, all that is blessed, all that is beautiful, all that is good is from God—the giver of every good and perfect gift. Remember, how before anything else, God ordained us to be God's people, children in the family of God. Praise God that our lives are within God's plan of creation, redemption, and sustaning grace. Give thanks for the great mystery in which we live snd the Holy Spirit that keeps us, now and forever. Amen. Mark 6. 14-29 Meanwhile Herod, the ruler of Judea, had heard about Jesus, whose reputation had become widespread. Some people were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and that is why such miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” When Herod heard of Jesus, he exclaimed, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!” Now it was Herod who had ordered John arrested, chained and imprisoned on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom Herod had married. For John had told Herod, “It is against the Law for you to have your brother’s wife.” As for Herodias, she was furious with John and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be good and holy, and kept him in custody. When Herod heard John speak he was very much disturbed; yet he was moved by John’s words. Herodias had her chance one day when Herod on his birthday held a dinner for the court circle, military officers and leaders of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, this delighted Herod and the guests so much that he told the young woman, “Ask me anything you like and I will give it to you.” And Herod swore an oath, “I will give you anything you ask, even half of my entire realm!” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Herodias replied, “The head of John the Baptizer.” The woman hurried back to Herod and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” Herod was deeply distressed by this request, but remembering the oath he swore before the guests, he was reluctant to break his oath to her. So Herod immediately sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. The guard beheaded John in prison, then brought the head in on a platter and gave it to the young woman, who gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took the body away and laid it in a tomb. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Prayer God of the alternative way, who in your Beloved and Holy Anointed One, revealed that we need not live in the world of Herod, but can be in the Kin-Dom of peace and justice. We are able to dance in celebration. We are able to dance in praise. We are able to dance in thanksgiving. Help us to always live and move and have our being in the rythym and harmony of your Holy Spirit. Amen. A Poem For Contemplation—"Salome" Once on a charger there was laid, And brought before a royal maid, As price of attitude and grace, A guiltless head, a holy face. It was on Herod's natal day, Who o'er Judea's land held sway. He married his own brother's wife, Wicked Herodias. She the life Of John the Baptist long had sought, Because he openly had taught That she a life unlawful led, Having her husband's brother wed. This was he, that saintly John, Who in the wilderness alone Abiding, did for clothing wear A garment made of camel's hair; Honey and locusts were his food, And he was most severely good. He preached penitence and tears, And waking first the sinner's fears, Prepared a path, made smooth a way, For his diviner master's day. Herod kept in princely state His birth-day. On his throne he sate, After the feast, beholding her Who danced with grace peculiar; Fair Salome, who did excel All in that land for dancing well. The feastful monarch's heart was fired, And whatsoe'er thing she desired, Though half his kingdom it should be, He in his pleasure swore that he Would give the graceful Salome. The damsel was Herodias' daughter: She to the queen hastes, and besought her To teach her what great gift to name. Instructed by Herodias, came The damsel back; to Herod said, “Give me John the Baptist's head; “And in a charger let it be “Hither straitway brought to me.” Herod her suit would fain deny, But for his oath's sake must comply. When painters would by art express Beauty in unloveliness, Thee, Herodias' daughter, thee, They fittest subject take to be. They give thy form and features grace; But ever in they beauteous face They shew a steadfast cruel gaze, An eye unpitying; and amaze In all beholders deep they mark, That thou betrayest not one spark Of feeling for the ruthless deed, That did thy praiseful dance succeed. For on the head they make you look, As if a sullen joy you took, A cruel triumph, wicked pride, That for your sport a saind had died. —Mary Lamb, 1808 or 1809 Credo In the beginning... The dance began to swirl and ponder. In the beginning, all was dark. And the dance cast forth bright light. In the beginning, the earth burst forth with wondrous things, creatures of all sorts, mountains and hills, vast seas and rivers, valleys and desert areas. And the God of the Dance saw that it was good and blessed it all. In our beginning, God blessed us. And the dance went on, through our lives, into all that we have done. Sometimes the dance was slow and plodding; at other times it was sprightly and fast. Yet in the midst of it all, the God of the Dance is with us. This dance, called Life, is everywhere—in the light and in the dark. It is in places of hope and in places of deepest sorrow and tragedy. How shall we dance our dance for God? We shall live lives of hope and peace, bringing the good news of Jesus Christ and all that he taught to us, so that others may join the dance. Praise be to the God of the Dance, the God of Creation, the God of Life! Amen. —https://www.ministrymatters.com (altered) Pastoral Prayer God of the dance that is life, you have breathed into us your creative, joyful Spirit. You have lifted us from the dust into the swirling joy of your presence. We are so grateful for all that you have done for us. Each day reminds us in many ways of your mercy and your love. Yet there are times in our lives when we have felt lost and alone. We have been hurt and frightened and wondered where you were. Remind us again of your loving presence. Place your hands of healing on our lives. Comfort us when we become afraid, lost, lonely, and fearful. Prepare us to serve you faithfully all our days. As we have lifted the name of dear ones to you who are in need of your healing love, cause us to reflect on our needs for your love and our response in dedicated service to you. Be with us now, in this time and place, and in all the places and times of our lives. Blessed are You and blessed is your Kin-Dom, forevermore. Amen. https://www.ministrymatters.com (altered) Prayer Of Jesus (adapted) Life-Giver, Pain-Bearer, Love-Maker. Source of all that is and that shall be. Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by all peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen. —"A Version of the Lord's Prayer" by Jim Cotter. A New Zealand Prayer Book. Prayer of Dedication How can we praise you, O God? With the cymbal and the tambourine. How can we praise you, O God? With dancing and singing. How can we praise you, O God? With the jive and the quickstep. How can we praise you, O God? With full lives and happy feet. May we praise you: Fully! May we praise you: Always! May we praise you: Forever! And may we shout aloud: Amen. Prayer Of Intercession God of love and freedom, of hope and joy, we pray for those who long to be free, For those wrongly imprisoned. For those imprisoned because of a fight for justice, because they spoke out against the tyranny of their government, because they protest the actions for their state, because they have a faith that is censored. We pray for those who seek asylum and refuge from their past; and who now live in detention centres. We pray for those who are detained for their own safety and wellbeing, but long to be free. We pray for all those whose freedom falls victim to the greater power of an unjust majority. We pray for those whose helplessness condemns them to a form of slave labour. For those working unbearably long hours with little or not pay. For those increasing number of people trafficked – human lives bought and sold. We pray for those who long to be free. For those who know daily pain, and who are overwhelmed with the struggle of coping. For those who have a diagnosis that feels like an incarcerating sentence. For those whose health curtails a freedom they used to know. We pray for those who are trapped by the snares self-contempt. For those who disregard their own inherent worth and loveliness, and long to be free for love. For those who are not free to love who, or how, or where their heart leads them. We pray for those who long to be free, for those who are condemned by poverty. For those whose hunger becomes like shackles. For those who feel unemployment to be liberty-deprived. We pray for those who long to be free, for those who wish to be free of the pain of this life. And for those who mourn the passing of one dear to them. For all those who have loved freely and long to again. God: Father, Son and Spirit, You are the God who loves freely: the God whose love is unconditional and infinite. You love each of us eternally: enfold us into Your embrace; grant the freedom of Your people and the fulfilment of our prayers. God, in your mercy...Hear our prayer. Amen. Sending Forth We can’t go anywhere outside the love of God, each day is full of praise and thanksgiving. Go in praise. Go in thanksgiving. Let your feet tap to the rhythm of God in the world. Amen.

A BEAD AND A PRAYER

CROSS O God, open my lips. And my mouth will declare your praise. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O God. INVITATORY Center us now, O God, on your presence in this place among your people, as we lift up our hearts desires, our soul’s deep needs, our hungers, fears and failures. (silence) In you, O God, we are. We are in you, O God. Be in us. CRUCIFORM God is here. The Creator of the Universe is with us. So, we will dance. God is here. God is on the move! So, we will dance, so that our children can see what we do when God is on the move. Our backs are against the wall, but God is on our side. So, we will dance with all our might. After all that we’ve been through, we still have joy. So, we will dance with great abandon. We are a dancing people. Dancing in all seasons of life is in our very DNA. So, let’s dance our truth. We will dance in our homes. We will dance in our communities. We will dance in our churches. We will dance together. We will dance! —Ashley Johnson WEEK 1 ♦ In the beginning...... The dance began to swirl and ponder. ♦ In the beginning, all was dark. And the dance cast forth bright light. ♦ In the beginning, the earth burst forth with wondrous things, creatures of all sorts, mountains and hills, vast seas and rivers, valleys and desert areas. And the Lord of the Dance saw that it was good and blessed it all. ♦ In our beginning, God blessed us. And the dance went on, through our lives, into all that we have done. Sometimes the dance was slow and plodding; at other times it was sprightly and fast. ♦ Yet in the midst of it all, the Lord of the Dance is with us. This dance, called Life, is everywhere—in the light and in the dark. It is in places of hope and in places of deepest sorrow and tragedy. ♦ How shall we dance our dance for God? We shall live lives of hope and peace, bringing the good news of Jesus Christ and all that he taught to us, so that others may join the dance. ♦ Praise be to the Lord of the Dance, the Lord of Creation, the Lord of Life. Amen. —https://www.ministrymatters.com CRUCIFORM II Samuel 6. 1-19 David again called up all the warriors of Israel and picked 30,000 elite fighters. Then David and the whole force set out for Ba’alah* in Judah to return the Ark of God, which bears the name of YHWH who sits enthroned above the cherubim. The Ark of God was placed on a new cart and removed from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio walked before it, while David and all the people of Israel celebrated to their hearts’ content before YHWH, with songs, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, one of the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark to steady it. YHWH’s anger so burned against Uzzah because of his violation† that he was struck dead there beside the Ark of the Covenant. David was upset because of YHWH’s wrath against Uzzah, and to this day the place is called Uzzah’s Breach. David was afraid of YHWH that day, and said, “When will the Ark of the Covenant ever come to me?” For he was unwilling to take the Ark of YHWH to the City of David. So he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The Ark of YHWH remained there for three months. During this time, YHWH blessed Obed-edom and his whole household. When David heard that YHWH had blessed Obed-edom’s family and household, David went down and brought the Ark up from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When the bearers of the Ark of YHWH took their first six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fatted calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before YHWH with all his might, while he and his whole house of Israel brought up the Ark of YHWH with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the Ark entered the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down through the window and saw David leaping and dancing before YHWH, and his display disgusted her.‡ The Ark of the Covenant was brought in and set in its place within the tent David had set up for it. Then David made burnt offerings and peace offerings before YHWH. Finishing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, the ruler blessed the people in the name of YHWH. Then he distributed among the people of Israel present—to each woman and man—a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. And all the people returned to their homes. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. WEEK 2 ♦ Holy, holy, holy One, you are the God of glory, the Almighty and Immortal One. ♦ We confess that we often forget that your holiness is dangerous, that are actions can be harmful. ♦ We take our impurities for granted, make excuses for the sins we commit, and expect you to overlook the harm we cause while still demanding justice from others. ♦ You demand holiness of heart, and mind, and spirit. And, here we pray with unclean lips. ♦ We do not deserve your mercy. Yet, your way is of grace freely given, love including all. ♦ Forgive us, redeemer us, reconcile us, return us to a right relationship with you and each other. ♦ You made us for the purpose of praising you; enliven us with the Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill our calling by following in the way of Jesus. Amen. CRUCIFORM Psalm 24. 1-10 The earth and everything on it— the world and all who live in it— belong to YHWH. YHWH built it on the deep waters, laying its foundations in the ocean depths. Who has the right to ascend YHWH’s mountain? Who is allowed to enter YHWH’s holy place? Those whose hands are clean and whose hearts are pure, who do not worship idols, or make false promises. YHWH will bless them; God their savior will declare them innocent. 6 Such are the people who seek YHWH, who seek your face, God of our ancestors. Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the Glorious Liberator will come in! Who is this “Glorious Liberator”? YHWH, strong and mighty, YHWH, victorious in battle! Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the Glorious Liberator will come in! Who is this “Glorious Liberator”? YHWH Sabaoth is our Glorious Liberator! —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. WEEK 3 ♦ This is God’s world, and it is not aimless. Time has a purpose and God is its steward. Loving God, I believe, scatter my unbelief. ♦ It is not possible that greed and injustice are forever. It is not possible that the meek will stay dispossessed. It is not possible that peacemakers must inevitably fail. It is not possible that nations will always make war. ♦ It is not possible that the merciful will be always be scorned. It is not possible that forgiveness will at last dry up. It is not possible that the weak are doomed to be down trodden. It is not possible that the hungry will always go unsatisfied. ♦ It is not possible that sincere hearts will always be exploited. It is not possible that laughter shall finally be stilled. It is not possible that fear will always outwit love. It is not possible that the cynics will always be right ♦ It is not possible that goodness will have flowered in vain. It is not possible that death will render all things futile. It is not possible that Jesus will ever be forgotten. It is not possible that faith will die out on earth. ♦ Christ holds God’s secret in open, wounded hands, Christ is our future and all will be redeemed. Loving God I believe, scatter my unbelief. ♦ For to you is all praise, all thankgiving, and all glory. Blessed are you and blessed isyour Kin-Dom. Amen. —Bruce Prewer (altered) CRUCIFORM Ephesians 1. 3-14 Praised be the Maker of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens! Before the world began, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless and to be full of love; God likewise predestined us through Christ Jesus to be adopted children—such was God’s pleasure and will—that everyone might praise the glory of God’s grace which was freely bestowed on us in God’s beloved, Jesus Christ. It is in Christ and through the blood of Christ that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor given to us with perfect wisdom and understanding. God has taken pleasure in revealing the mystery of the plan through Christ, to be carried out in the fullness of time; namely, to bring all things—in heaven and on earth—together in Christ. In Christ we were willed an inheritance; for in the decree of God—and everything is administered according to the divine will and counsel—we were predestined to praise the glory of the Most High by being the first to hope in Christ. In Christ you too were chosen. When you heard the Good News of salvation, the word of truth, and believed in it, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance, the deposit paid against the full redemption of a people who are God’s own—to the praise of God’s glory. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. WEEK 4 Prayer Of Jesus ♦ Life-Giver, Pain-Bearer, Love-Maker. Source of all that is and that shall be. ♦ Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! ♦ The way of your justice be followed by all peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! ♦ Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. ♦ With the bread we need for today, feed us. ♦ In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. ♦ From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen. —"A Version of the Lord's Prayer" by Jim Cotter. A New Zealand Prayer Book. CRUCIFORM Mark 6. 14-29 Meanwhile Herod, the ruler of Judea, had heard about Jesus, whose reputation had become widespread. Some people were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and that is why such miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” When Herod heard of Jesus, he exclaimed, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!” Now it was Herod who had ordered John arrested, chained and imprisoned on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom Herod had married. For John had told Herod, “It is against the Law for you to have your brother’s wife.” As for Herodias, she was furious with John and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be good and holy, and kept him in custody. When Herod heard John speak he was very much disturbed; yet he was moved by John’s words. Herodias had her chance one day when Herod on his birthday held a dinner for the court circle, military officers and leaders of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, this delighted Herod and the guests so much that he told the young woman, “Ask me anything you like and I will give it to you.” And Herod swore an oath, “I will give you anything you ask, even half of my entire realm!” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Herodias replied, “The head of John the Baptizer.” The woman hurried back to Herod and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” Herod was deeply distressed by this request, but remembering the oath he swore before the guests, he was reluctant to break his oath to her. So Herod immediately sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. The guard beheaded John in prison, then brought the head in on a platter and gave it to the young woman, who gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took the body away and laid it in a tomb. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. INVITATORY God of love and freedom, of hope and joy, we pray for those who long to be free, For those wrongly imprisoned. For those imprisoned because of a fight for justice, because they spoke out against the tyranny of their government, because they protest the actions for their state, because they have a faith that is censored. We pray for those who seek asylum and refuge from their past; and who now live in detention centres. We pray for those who are detained for their own safety and wellbeing, but long to be free. We pray for all those whose freedom falls victim to the greater power of an unjust majority. We pray for those whose helplessness condemns them to a form of slave labor. For those working unbearably long hours with little or not pay. For those increasing number of people trafficked – human lives bought and sold. We pray for those who long to be free. For those who know daily pain, and who are overwhelmed with the struggle of coping. For those who have a diagnosis that feels like an incarcerating sentence. For those whose health curtails a freedom they used to know. We pray for those who are trapped by the snares self-contempt. For those who disregard their own inherent worth and loveliness, and long to be free for love. For those who are not free to love who, or how, or where their heart leads them. We pray for those who long to be free, for those who are condemned by poverty. For those whose hunger becomes like shackles. For those who feel unemployment to be liberty-deprived. We pray for those who long to be free, for those who wish to be free of the pain of this life. And for those who mourn the passing of one dear to them. For all those who have loved freely and long to again. O God, you are the God who loves freely: the God whose love is unconditional and infinite. You love each of us eternally: enfold us into Your embrace; grant the freedom of Your people and the fulfilment of our prayers. Amen. CROSS There is no where we can go that is outside the love of God, each day is full of praise and thanksgiving. Go in praise. Go in thanksgiving. Let your feet tap to the rhythm of God in the world.