Proper 8B | Ordinary 13B | Pentecost 6 But For the Reach of a Hand To Touch Only The Fringe FOR A BEAD AND A PRAYER CLICK HERE
	Centering In Preparation To Worship God of the good presence all around us, God of good presence within us, God of good presence in our gathering and community: help us to find and to celebrate the goodness that is given to us in this new day.    —(adapted from) Francis Macnab (and, or) Let us be gentle with ourselves just now.  For a few moments,  let us release ourselves from a world that is 'too much with us', too noisy, too frantic, too demanding, too judging. Let us be gentle with ourselves just now. For a few moments, let us release ourselves into the calm, still world that waits to receive us, where the quiet is broken only by sounds of our own making, by those of our children near-at-hand, by passers-by in the street outside, and nature's song of life. Within this welcoming quiet, let us befriend ourselves. Where we would unfairly and endlessly berate ourselves for our imperfections, let the tongue of harsh judgment be silent. We will do better tomorrow. We will rise to the occasion. We will surprise the world with our goodness and achievements. For now, let us simply rest in the gentleness of this moment, letting the healing hand of self-understanding and forgiveness touch us with peace. Let us be still and know that all will be well, that in all manner of things it will be well, that in all manner of things it will be well. —Barbara Cheatham (altered—the last 3 lines are from St. Julian of Norwich) Prayer For Contemplation When despair has obliterated ordinary prayer;  when the psalms fail and all words are stupid and meaningless,  the mantle of loneliness surrounding me  becomes a mantle of dark and wordless love.  This darkness reveals the paradox of prayer:  in the absence of God, all there is, is God. —Suzanne Guthrie † (and, or) Ever-present God, you walk with us through good times and bad, on mountaintop and valley floor; your footsteps our guide, your hands our support. Ever-present God, you are with us when life is smooth or rough, in wholeness and brokenness; your healing our hope, your touch our desire. We shall fear nothing if you are with us, our ever-present God. —Birch, John. The Act of Prayer: Praying through the Lectionary. Bible Reading Fellowship. Prayer For Worship O God of peace, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: by the might of thy Spirit life us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God. Prayer For The Day Eternal One, we hear the cries of our neighbors near and far, and our hearts reach out to them.  We are thankful for your promise of hope, and we are thankful for Jesus’ love for you, which he demonstrated on the cross.  Through this love we get not only a glimpse of you, but we also receive the good news.  Strengthen our faith; help us to see each other through your eyes, so that we will be able to experience you in more ways than one.  As we worship you this day, may we be open and sensitive to each other’s needs and presence, recognizing that we are all your children. This is our prayer. Amen. —United Church of Canada Confessional Prayer God, it is hard for me to open to others who are not like me.  I do not do well with change, and “those people” might change me.  I want to do what’s right, being a follower in Jesus' way, and all, but the truth is, O God, I am scared; scared of the unknown, scared that others may look at me funny; scared, too, that I might enjoy reaching out.  I know I should trust you more, but let’s face it, this loving all and turning the other cheek stuff is hard.  So I go in my little corner and do nothing except look out for number one—me. Forgive me, God. Remind me of the sacrifice Jesus made to show his love for you, and help me in my weakness to muster some faith, even as small as a mustard seed. Quell my fear, O God, so I will be bold for you; that, like the Samaritan woman, I will not be afraid to break barriers of injustice.  Help me to be a channel of your peace and a good citizen of your Kin-Dom. Amen. —United Church of Canada Prayer For Illumination Loving God, your Word has the power to restore our lives. Open our hearts to the presence of your Spirit, for you are mighty to save. Amen. —Long, Kim. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Mark 5. 21-24, 35-43 When Jesus had crossed again to the other shore (back to Jewish land, for they had been in the land of the Samaritans) in the boat, a large crowd gathered, and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials—Jairus by name—came up and, seeing Jesus, fell down and pleaded earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is desperately sick. Come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.” Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed, pressing from all sides. While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, “Your daughter is dead.  Why put the Teacher to any further trouble?” But Jesus overheard the remark and said to the official: “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” Jesus allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and James’ brother John. They came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. Jesus went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.” At this, they began to ridicule him, and he told everyone to leave. Jesus took the child’s mother and father and his own companions and entered the room where the child lay. Taking her hand, he said to her, “Talitha, koum!” which means, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately the girl, who was twelve years old, got up and began to walk about.  At this they were overcome with astonishment. Jesus gave the family strict orders not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give the little girl something to eat. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Psalm Prayer Healing God, we come to you seeking wholeness for body and mind, yet we so often fail to understand what we are asking for. There is more to healing than lack of pain, more to wholeness than lack of fear. Help us bring to you not just our hurting but the pain we cause, not just our brokenness but the stones we throw, not just our disease but our dis-ease. Healing God, take our brokenness, all that causes you pain, and make us whole. —Birch, John. The Act of Prayer: Praying through the Lectionary. Bible Reading Fellowship. Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O God Most High!  Dear God, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice, my cries for mercy! If you kept track of our acts contrary to your will, O Holy One, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, who could stand before you? But with you is forgiveness, and for this we worship you in praise and thanksgiving. So I wait for you, O God Most High—my soul waits, and in your word I place my trust. My soul longs for you, O God, more than the watchers long for the dawn. More than those who wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in God Most High, for with God is abundant love and the fullness of deliverance; God will deliver Israel from all its failings. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (altered) Psalm Prayer ("A Lament") This cavern runs deep and I crawl, crawl toward the morning: hear me cry... these ashes bury me deep, and I gasp, gasp for your Breath: hear me cry... this pacing wears deep treads and I watch, I watch for you: hear me cry... your lovingkindness reaches deep and I weep, I weep, in your embrace: hear me cry. —Rev. Dr. Sarah Agnew † 2 Corinthians 8. 7-15 Just as you are rich in every respect, in faith and discourse, in knowledge, in total concern, and in the love we inspired in you, you may also abound in this work of grace. It is not an order I am giving you, but the opportunity to evaluate your generous love against the earnestness which others show. You are well acquainted with the favor shown by our Savior Jesus Christ, who, though rich, became poor for your sake, so that you might become rich by Christ’s poverty. As I say, this is only a suggestion—it is my counsel about what is best for you in this matter. A year ago, you were not only the first to act, but you did so willingly. Finish that work, so that your eagerness to begin can be matched only by your eagerness to finish, according to your means. For so long as the heart is willing, it is what you have that is acceptable, not what you do not have. This does not mean that by giving relief to others, you ought to make things difficult for yourselves! It is just a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need; one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need. That is how we strike a balance, as scripture says: “The one who gathered much had no excess, and the one who gathered little did not go short.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Psalm 30 I praise you, O God, because you raised me up and kept my enemies from gloating over me. I cried to you for help, O Holy One, my God, and you healed me. You brought me back from the realm of the dead, O God Most High; you spared me from going down into the underworld. Sing to God Most High, you who love God! Praise God’s holy Name! The Holy, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal Ones anger is fleeting, but God’s love endures forever.  There may be tears during the night, but joy comes in the morning. When I presumed I was secure, I boasted, “I will never be defeated!” When I stood in your favor, O God, I stood as firm as a mountain.  But then you hid yourself from me, and I was filled with terror. So I called to you, O God Most High, and I pleaded for your help: “What goodwill come from my destruction, from my going to the grave? Does dust praise you, O God? Can the dead proclaim your unfailing goodness? Hear me, O God Most Highline, and be merciful! Help me, O God!” Then you You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you. That is why my heart sings to you, that is why I cannot keep silent—O Holy, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, you are my God, and I will thank you forever! —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (altered) Psalm Prayer ("A Song Of Joy And Thanksgiving") I dance, I sing, I praise you, Holy One; Holy One of joy and kindness. Holy One saw me in my spirit’s peril; Holy One restored my soul to life! I was in mourning, all hope departed; Dismayed: I cried, I wailed. Holy One heard my voice, listened and answered my prayer: Holy One is my help! I thought your face was hidden from me: how could I doubt your faithfulness? Healing has come through the Holy One, try to keep me silent—you shall not! Dancing, I sing, I praise you Holy God: Holy One, my healing and hope! —Rev. Dr. Sarah Agnew † Mark 5. 25-34 Now there was a woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years; after long and painful treatment from various doctors, she had spent all she had without getting better—in fact, she was getting worse. She had heard about Jesus, and she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. “If I can touch even the hem,” she had told herself, “I will be well again.” Immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately aware that healing power had gone out from him, Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” The disciples said, “You see how the crowd is pressing you and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus continued to look around to see who had done it. Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at Jesus’ feet and told him the whole truth. “Daughter,” Jesus said, “your faith has saved you; go in peace and be free of your affliction.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Prayer Of Affirmation Steadfast God, you sent Jesus as witness that no one is outside your healing reach. Help us to trust in the abundance of your love as we share your compassion and generosity wherever we may go. Amen.  Prayer Of Intercession Knowing that God hears our prayers, and trusting in the Spirit who intercedes with sighs too deep for words,  let us pray together, saying:  God of all mercy, hear our prayers. Death is all around us, O God; the world groans with the weight of it. For those who are sufferings and those who are mourning: God of all mercy, hear our prayers. The world we live in is filled with chaos and violence, O God. Nations are set against nations. The common good of all continues to succumb to the politics and systems of oligarchy, totalitarianism, and decay of democracy. The desire and fight for power and greed adversely affect the lives of those without privilege. For your warring world: God of all mercy, hear our prayers. The word of our leaders are too often laden with lies and misdirection. And with it, oppression and injustice prevail. The rulers of the nations need your wisdom. Hear our prayers for the leaders of the world: God of all mercy, hear our prayers. Your church is divided, O God. In the chasm of differing theologies and contrasting understanding of who you call to us be, we fight and splinter. Even within a denomination there is discord and actions that speak more to hate than to love. Hear our prayers for the peace and unity of the church: God of all mercy, hear our prayers. Your children suffer, O God. So many live in poverty and without the food and housing and clothing and medicinal resources they need to live. Health care has become that of the privileged, inaccessible to the poor and to people of color. Hear our prayers for those who are poor or have no homes: God of all mercy, hear our prayers. We ourselves are sick, O God. The pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways and in places is still raging on. Vaccines are not available to everyone and then there are those who refuse to be vaccinated. Disease spreads and some of us are dying. Hear our prayers for healing and peace: God of all mercy, hear our prayers. Our hearts are troubled, O God. How can we live in this time and place without fear and anxiety? How can we muster the faith and hope that will see us through? Be our guide until we at last find our rest in you. Hear our prayers for our own welfare and wellness: God of all mercy, hear our prayers. We give you thanks, O God, for you are faithful and your love never ends. Gather our prayers and conform them to your will, for blessed are You and blessed is your Kin-Dom now and forevermore. —Long, Kim. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. The 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. —The New Zealand Prayer Book   Prayer For The Seeking Isolated and alone Woman of blood pours herself towards the fabric of life. Dewdrop of hope slips down the thread to the woman with outstretched hands —Ann Fontaine Prayer Of Dedication In you alone can we have confidence; in you alone can we place our trust, for in you alone is forgiveness and redemption from all that we have done and not done. In you alone is anointing, empowerment for all that we have become. In you alone can we have confidence, for we have journeyed far with you, O God, and shall continue, until in fullness of time we see you face to face. We give you thanks for your unfailing love and faithfulness. —Birch, John. The Act of Prayer: Praying through the Lectionary. Bible Reading Fellowship. Going Forth ("Reaching and Touching") Give your weakness to one who helps. Crying aloud and weeping are great resources. A nursing mother, all she does is wait to hear her child. Just a little beginning-whimper, and she is there. God created the child, that is, your wanting, so that it might cry out, so that milk might come. Cry out!  Do not be stolid and silent with your pain.  Lament!  And let the milk of loving flow into you. —Rumi  1207-1273 (translated by Colman Barks from The Essential Rumi, excerpt from Cry Out in Your Weakness) Your Own Hands Touching Christ has no body now but yours No hands, no feet on earth but yours Yours are the eyes through which He looks Compassion on this world Christ has no body now on earth but yours —attributed to Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. —Mother Teresa  1910-1997 Blessed by God, we go forth to be a blessing for others. Thanks be to God. _______________________ † Sarah was ordained a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in December 2010. Her first placement was with Belair Uniting Church in Adelaide, and she is currently one half of a two-minister team at Wesley Uniting Church, Canberra.   Sarah’s liturgy has featured in Seasons of the Spirit (Woodlake), Fig Trees and Furnaces, Winter, and The Wild Goose Big Book of Liturgies volume 2 (Wild Goose), and as e-liturgies for Wild Goose Publications. Learn more on the Books page.   Before and during her formation studies, Sarah led alternative church experiments, Black Wood Jazz and The Esther Project. Between Belair and Canberra, Sarah was something of a freelance minister, visiting Church of Scotland, Methodist, and United Reformed churches in and beyond Edinburgh to preach and lead worship. † The Rev. Suzanne Guthrie, is a noted author and spiritual guide. She is the visiting professor at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Guthrie has served as a parish priest, a Christian education consultant and in chaplaincies at Vassar College and Cornell University. She and her husband, Bill Consiglio, are the parents of four grown children. Guthrie traces her interest in mystical theology to the “Autobiography of Teresa of Avila,” which she read at age 22.
	A BEAD AND A PRAYER CROSS O God of peace, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: by the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God. INVITATORY God of the good presence all around us, God of good presence within us, God of good presence in our gathering and community: help us to find and to celebrate the goodness that is given to us in this new day.  —(adapted from) Francis Macnab CRUCIFORM Eternal One, we hear the cries of our neighbors near and far, and our hearts reach out to them. We are thankful for your promise of hope, and we are thankful for Jesus’ love for you, which he demonstrated on the cross. Through this love we get not only a glimpse of you, but we also receive the good news. Strengthen our faith; help us to see each other through your eyes, so that we will be able to experience you in more ways than one. As we worship you this day, may we be open and sensitive to each other’s needs and presence, recognizing that we are all your children. This is our prayer. Amen.  —United Church of Canada WEEK 1 Wisdom 1. 13-16, 2. 23-3. 3 ╬ God did not make death, and God does not delight in the death of the living. ╬ For God created all things so that they might exist; the generative forces of the world are wholesome, and there is no destructive poison in them, and the dominion of Hades is not on earth. ╬ For justice and peace are immortal. ╬ Ungodly people have brought death on themselves by the things they have said and done. ╬ They yearn for death as if it were a lover. They have gone into partnership with death, and it is just what they deserve. ╬ But the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment of death will touch them. ╬ In the eyes of the foolish, they seemed to die, and their departure was considered an affliction, and their going away from us, a banishment. Yet they are in peace. CRUCIFORM Psalm 128 Happiness comes to those who revere YHWH, and walk in God’s ways! You will eat what your hands have worked for; you will be blessed and prosperous. You will be a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children will grow up around your table, spring up like olive trees. This is how you will be blessed if you revere God Most High. May God bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you live to see your children’s children! Peace be on Israel!  —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. WEEK 2 2 Corinthians 8. 7-15 ╬ Just as you are rich in every respect, in faith and discourse, in knowledge, in total concern, and in the love we inspired in you, you may also abound in this work of grace. ╬ It is not an order I am giving you, but the opportunity to evaluate your generous love against the earnestness which others show. You are well acquainted with the favor shown by our Savior Jesus Christ, who, though rich, became poor for your sake, so that you might become rich by Christ’s poverty. ╬ As I say, this is only a suggestion—it is my counsel about what is best for you in this matter. A year ago, you were not only the first to act, but you did so willingly. ╬ Finish that work, so that your eagerness to begin can be matched only by your eagerness to finish, according to your means. ╬ For so long as the heart is willing, it is what you have that is acceptable, not what you do not have. This does not mean that by giving relief to others, you ought to make things difficult for yourselves! ╬ It is just a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need; one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need. ╬ That is how we strike a balance, as scripture says: “The one who gathered much had no excess, and the one who gathered little did not go short.”  —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. CRUCIFORM Psalm 129 “They have oppressed me continually ever since I was a child”—let Israel now say— they’ve oppressed me continually ever since I was a child, but they have never been victorious over me! My back looks like a plowed field—the furrows are long and deep. But the God of Justice has severed the cords of the tyrant!” Let all who hate Zion be put to shame, be turned away. Let them be like the grass on our flat clay housetops—it withers in the heat before you can pluck it, so sparse that there’s not a handful for the reaper, nothing for the gatherer to carry away. Let no one who walks past them ever say, “The blessing of God be upon you! We bless you in the Name of God Most High!”  —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. WEEK 3 Mark 5. 21-24, 35-43 ╬ When Jesus had crossed again to the other shore (back to Jewish land, for they had been in the land of the Samaritans) in the boat, a large crowd gathered, and he stayed by the lakeside. ╬ Then one of the synagogue officials—Jairus by name—came up and, seeing Jesus, fell down and pleaded earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is desperately sick. Come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.” ╬ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed, pressing from all sides. While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, “Your daughter is dead. ╬ Why put the Teacher to any further trouble?” But Jesus overheard the remark and said to the official: “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” Jesus allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and James’ brother John. ╬ They came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. Jesus went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.” ╬ At this, they began to ridicule him, and he told everyone to leave. Jesus took the child’s mother and father and his own companions and entered the room where the child lay. ╬ Taking her hand, he said to her, “Talitha, koum!” which means, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately the girl, who was twelve years old, got up and began to walk about. At this they were overcome with astonishment. Jesus gave the family strict orders not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give the little girl something to eat.  —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. CRUCIFORM Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O God Most High! Dear God, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice, my cries for mercy! If you kept track of our acts contrary to your will, O Holy One, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, who could stand before you? But with you is forgiveness, and for this we worship you in praise and thanksgiving. So I wait for you, O God Most High—my soul waits, and in your word I place my trust. My soul longs for you, O God, more than the watchers long for the dawn. More than those who wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in God Most High, for with God is abundant love and the fullness of deliverance; God will deliver Israel from all its failings.  —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (altered) WEEK 4 Mark 5. 25-34 ╬ Now there was a woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years; after long and painful treatment from various doctors, she had spent all she had without getting better—in fact, she was getting worse. ╬ She had heard about Jesus, and she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. “If I can touch even the hem,” she had told herself, “I will be well again.” ╬ Immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately aware that healing power had gone out from him. ╬ Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” ╬ The disciples said, “You see how the crowd is pressing you and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus continued to look around to see who had done it. ╬ Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at Jesus’ feet and told him the whole truth. ╬ “Daughter,” Jesus said, “your faith has saved you; go in peace and be free of your affliction.” CRUCIFORM Psalm 30 I praise you, O God, because you raised me up and kept my enemies from gloating over me. I cried to you for help, O Holy One, my God, and you healed me. You brought me back from the realm of the dead, O God Most High; you spared me from going down into the underworld. Sing to God Most High, you who love God! Praise God’s holy Name! The Holy, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal Ones anger is fleeting, but God’s love endures forever. There may be tears during the night, but joy comes in the morning. When I presumed I was secure, I boasted, “I will never be defeated!” When I stood in your favor, O God, I stood as firm as a mountain. But then you hid yourself from me, and I was filled with terror. So I called to you, O God Most High, and I pleaded for your help: “What goodwill come from my destruction, from my going to the grave? Does dust praise you, O God? Can the dead proclaim your unfailing goodness? Hear me, O God Most Highline, and be merciful! Help me, O God!” Then you You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you . That is why my heart sings to you, that is why I cannot keep silent—O Holy, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, you are my God, and I will thank you forever! —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (altered) INVITATORY The 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.  —The New Zealand Prayer Book  CROSS Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.  —Mother Teresa 1910-1997