Proper 25B/Ordinary 30B/Pentecost 23

		Proper 25B/Ordinary 30B/Pentecost 23 October 17, 2021 FOR POETRY PEW CLICK HERE FOR A BEAD AND A PRAYER CLICK HERE A LITURGY FOR WORSHIP Use As Much Or As Little As You Choose Jesus Heals Bartimaeous
		Centering In Preparation In you alone, O God, we live and move have our being; You breathe life into us moment by moment and day by day; therefore, we await your loving-kindness. O God, open our hearts to your presence, be with us now, and hold us in your strengthening care. Help us to put away all the distractions of our daily lives, to quiet our hearts and our minds, to seek and to know your presence with us now. Then, teach us O God, to wait peacefully in your presence and to cast all our cares on you because you care for us. Fill us with the gift of life renewed and spirit restored. Amen. Invitation To Worship God is here with us. In this we trust. From the pits of despair we call out . . . God be with me! From places of hurting and places of joy – we call out . . . God be with me! When feeling challenged, for one reason or another. On days when we feel there is just too much to handle, too much to do. And not enough time or resources to get it all done . . . God be with me! In the moments when we feel shackled to our current life situation and do not see a way that it could change for the better . . . God be with me! Friends, God is with each and every one of us – even through the internet. God is with each and every one of us – where ever we are. God is with each and every one of us — from the beginning and in the end. God is with each and every one — here and now. God is with each and every one — thanks be to God. Opening Prayer Creating One, Redeemer of all that you have made, Perfector of all you have redeemed: we give you praise and consecrate ourselves to follow you. As we worship you and celebrate all that you are and all that you have done. In this time of worship, open our eyes to see you in each person; open the eyes of our mind to learning and understanding; open the eyes of our heart to loving-kindness. open the eyes of our soul to see the connectedness we all share together. All to your honor and glory. Amen. Canticle Glory to God in the highest. Peace and goodwill to all. As it was in the beginning, is now will be forever. World without end. Amen. Trisagion Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: have mercy on us. Prayer For Illumination Merciful One, some read your word from a page because they are able to see it. Others listen to satisifed your word, spoken aloud, because they are able to hear it. Still others receive your word as a series of bumps and dots on a page, because they are able to touch it. What we ask of you today, Holy One, is that your word touch us– however we are to receive it. Inscribe it on our hearts and change us through your word. In the name of Jesus, our Word made flesh. Amen. —From the Rev. Dr. Leah Fowler, at (https://revgalblogpals.org) Reading From the Hebrew Scriptures Job 42:1-6, 10-17 Then Job answered God: I know that you can do all things: you have only to think something, and it is done. “Who is this obscuring my plans with such ignorant words?” you asked. That was me. I’ve been spouting off about things I can’t understand, about wonders beyond my experience and my knowledge. “Listen now, and I will speak; I will ask the questions and you will answer me!" you said. Formerly I knew you only by word of mouth, but now I see you with my own eyes: Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." And so I now take back all that I said. After Job had prayed for his friends, God restored Job’s prosperity, blessing him with twice as much as he had before. Then all his sisters and brothers and everyone who had known him before visited Job and sat down and dined with him. They sympathized with him and comforted Job for all the evil YGod had heaped upon him. Each of them gave Job a piece of silver and a gold ring. God blessed Job’s latter days even more than his former life: he came to own 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys. He also went on to have three daughters and seven sons. He named the daughters Jemimah, Keziah and Kerenhappuch. In all the land there were no women as esteemed as the daughters of Job. And Job gave his daughters and sons equal shares of his inheritance. After this Job lived on to the age of 140 years, and he saw his children and his children’s up to the fourth generation. And when Job died, he was old and full of days. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible Psalmody From the Book of Psalms Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22) I will bless God always; praise will continually be on my lips! My soul will boast about God— let the oppressed hear it and be glad! Glorify God with me, and let us exalt God’s Name together! I sought God, who answered me and freed me from all my fears. Those who look to God are radiant, and their faces are never covered with shame. The poor called out; God heard and saved them from all their troubles. The angel of God encamps around those who revere God, and rescues them. Taste and see how good God is! Happiness comes to those who take refuge in God. God is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Many are the afflictions of the just; but God delivers them from all their troubles. God protects their very bones, and not one of them will be broken. Calamity will strike down these wicked one and the haters of justice will be condemned. God ransoms the lives of the faithful, and none who take refuge in God will see punishment. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible Reading From the Epistles Hebrews 7:23-28 There’s another difference: there were so many priests in the old Covenant because death prevented them from continuing their work. But Christ lives on forever, and Christ’s work as priest doesn’t pass on to someone else. And so Christ is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through Christ, because Christ lives forever to plead to God for them. God ordained that we should have such a high priest—one who is holy, who has no fault or sin, who has been set apart from sinners and raised above the heavens. Jesus is not like other high priests and doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, first for personal sins and then for the sins of the people. Christ’s self-sacrifice was offered once and for all. For the Law appoints as high priests people who are weak; but God’s sworn promise, which came later than the Law, appoints the Only Begotten, who has been made perfect forever. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible Reading From the Gospels Mark 10:46-52 As Jesus left Jericho with the disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and to say, "Descendant of David, Jesus, have pity on me." And many of them scolded him and told him to be quiet, but Bartimaeus only shouted all the louder, "Descendant of David, have pity on me!" "Be courage," they said, "get up; Jesus is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke,"What do you want me to do for you" "Rabbuni," the blind man said, "Let me see again." Jesus said,"Go; your faith has saved you." And immediately his sight returned and Bartimaeus followed him along the road. Brief Meditation On the Gospel Reading There is little we know about Bartimaeus. All that we do know is found in his name. The first part of his name (Bar-) is an ancient means of indicating that he is the "son" of a man whose name is Timaeous. The blind son of Timaeous sought Jesus' help on that dayin Jericho. That he is named at all is somewhat unusual. Most of the people that Jesus encountered ashe traveled from place to place, except for the inner core of disiciples, remain nameless. Why place this "once removed" name on the man with blindness? We cannot be sure. Is it for symbolic reference? Is it to point to a time and place in history? Is it just something we, two millenia into the future, just cannot explain? Biblical scholars argue all three of those possibilities. But in the end, we have a less than full identification of who was healed from a life with blindness. We are once again reminded that Jesus reaches out and cares for the unknown, the broken, those on the fringe of society, and the least of those according to cultural bias. Bartimaeous was not only livinng with blindness, but he was also reduced to a beggar, such reduction being not his reality but the reality of a world that dismisses and ignores those with disabilities. Thus, we are challenged to think of two different peoples that are suffering blindness. Yes, Bartimaeous is the one partially named. The others are all those around him who because of their cultural and personal bias could not see him as a real, complete, and living person. To them he is the blind beggar whom they tolerate until he becomes vocally disruptive. But, the blindness of those people there had another dimension. They not only dismissed Bartimaeous as less than human, but was blind to the possibilities that came into the city that day. Jesus represents the presence of a God who not only loves, but whose love is found in caring for those in need. The people try to hush Bartimeous, not simply because they were tired of his raised voice . . . or even that his voice uttered the words "son of David." The former was a clear reminder of how vulnerable and in need we as people are and can be. The later was placing a name upon the one who came that day, the naming by a "son of Timaeous" who names Jesus as the "bar-David." Hmmm . . . names and naming . . . names of relationship and connectedness . . . the sons of others. Of course, naming Jesus as "son of David" was seeing beyond blindness who Jesus was. From the Davidic linage here was Jesus, Bartimaeous seeing the bigger picture of who this healer was. It was only those gathered there that speak the name of Jesus. Bartimaeous never does. For, you see, the ones who tried to silence a cry for help are they who now say, "Get up . . . Jesus is calling you." Get up? Other translations expand the words into a indicative that is somewhat negative. Perhaps it was heard in their voice . . . the way ableists say "get yourself together" . . . "get up and out of that place you choose for yourself" . . . "grab those bootstraps and yank" . . . "come on, already, you've been a challenge to deal with, get up and get fixed, already." Nonetheless, while this less that dignified statement reaches the ears of Jesus, Bartimaeous is speaking to the one who asks, "What can I do for you?" "Give me sight . . . grant me vision . . . provide me insight . . . let me see." There's no mention of a healing concoction as in other stories of Jesus healing the blind. There is not even an indication that the interaction was anything more than words exchanged. Yet, within that exchange, there is healing . . . there is seeing the worth and dignity of a person with a disability . . . there is a humanization of one only known before as the "son of Timaeous, the blind beggar nuiccance . . . the guy who must have sinned or is evil in some way because God inflicted him with blindness." That is how it still plays out in our world. If someone is poor . . . or with a disability . . . or of the pecking order deemed less than human . . . it is certainly God's way of punishing their wrong doings. Just as the other side of the coin plays itself out . . . God blessed the wealthy with prosperity because they are good, God-fearing people whom we can be like if we just knew the truth that God rewards the good and curses the bad. The lesson in today's Gospel reading should make us feel really uncomfortable. It should make us ponder how we see ourselves and others . . . what we think about ourselves and others. It is a word undoing the social order and the cultural bias that the status quo is built upon. It is a call to wake up and see things for what they are. It is a promise that vision and insight can overcome the ills of the world. It is a word of hope. It is a word of justice. It is a word of loving-kindness. It is a humbling word. And, as the story concludes . . . Batimaeous follows Jesus in the Way. May we be in the Way of Jesus, as well. Prayer Of Response Oh, that others might know your name and declare it in their lives, that they might find the rock from which our faith is hewn. Oh, that others might know your love and the freedom that it brings, might journey to the cross and find their hope in you. Oh, that others might know the touch of your Spirit on their lives, and find the source from which this living water flows. Oh, that others might know you as we do in our hearts and lives, and find wholeness, healing an peace. —Birch, John. The Act of Prayer: Praying through the Lectionary. Acknowledging Our Brokenness We need not look further than in our heart and hearts to know the pining that our spirit cries. I am broken. I need healing. I was created and am being redeemed to be whole in the wellness of your shalom. I place my hurting self into your hands, O God. As in the beginning as your Spirit lovingly moved over all creation, so move to recreazte us this day. Prayer For Healing and Wholeness Holy God, you know us better than we know ourselves. You see our need when we are blind to it. You have made us to be yours. In your compassion, pardon us for our lack of faith and the harm we do to others and to your earth. Forgive us for turning away from your will, for ignoring the cries of our neighbors, for failing to listen to what is most nourishing even for ourselves. Let our faults fall from your eyes as you open ours. Hear this and answer, in your most hallowed name. Amen. —Long, Kim. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion (altered) Words For Courage and Comfort Sisters and brothers, our God heals, in merciful compassionate and love. We are being reconciled to one another. Let us, therefore do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. Affirming The Mystery/Credo Out of the ordinariness of the bare earth, you brought the extra ordinariness of human life Your spirit lives within us, O God. In the ordinariness of the bare earth we plant grain from last year's harvest Your spirit lives within us, O God. Out of the ordinariness of water comes the life of the seed Your spirit lives within the water, O God. In human life and in the life of the seed lies the life of this community Your spirit lives within this community, O God. From the life of God comes creation and recreation Your spirit lives within creation, O God. Out of the heart of God comes peace and hope Your spirit lives within us, O God. —Pam Wyley (d. 2012) Prayer Of Intercession We pray . . . For the Church: that we may passionately and continuously call out to God for our needs and courageously follow Jesus on the way of life . . . For the grace to risk: that we may sincerely seek the deepest desires that God has placed in our hearts and pursue their fulfillment even when the path is unclear . . . For those searching for God: that their eyes and hearts may be opened to the many manifestations of God's love for them . . . For spiritual insight: that God will help us recognize God’s presence in our lives, the significance of our relationships, and God’s invitations to love and service . . . For all whose attention is fixed on the allurements of wealth, power, and prestige: that God will reveal to them their call to discipleship and the opportunities that God presents to use their gifts . . . For a listening and sensitive heart: that we may never ignore nor try to silence those who cry out in pain or seek our assistance . . . For all who are blinded by prejudice: that God will enlighten their hearts and help them recognize the value and dignity of each person . . . For all who help others grow in faith, particularly parents, mentors, and spiritual directors: that God will bless their efforts as they strive to nurture the seeds of faith that God has planted . . . For all who are ill, particularly those with diseases of the eyes: that God will bring healing and renewal to them in body, mind, and spirit . . . For greater reverence for human life, particularly for those advanced in years or dealing with long-term infirmities: that we may affirm their dignity and support them with love and encouragement . . . For all who have been bullied or tormented by others: that God will comfort and strengthen them and renew their sense of dignity . . . For greater respect for God’s work of creation: that we may be mindful that all the earth is God’s gift to us and that it is entrusted to our stewardship . . . For world leaders: that their gathering on climate change will outline new paths for protecting the earth for future generations . . . For freedom from fear: that God will free us from the fears that hold us from loving, forgiving, and serving so that we may be dynamic disciples . . . For the guidance of the Holy Spirit: that God’s people may listen closely to God in these times of conflict and change . . . These things we would ask . . . Amen. Hear our prayers, God of power, through the ministry of your Only Begotten and Belived One, and in the presence of your Sacred Spirit: free us from the grip of our mortality and limitednes, that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your loving deeds to all the world. Amen. —Joe Milner Prayer Of Thanksgiving Gracious God, in you we find healing for our brokenness, should we but ask. In you we find the healing that we seek, should we but ask. In you we find the reasons to believe, should we but ask. In you we find the one who sets us free, should we but ask. Gracious God, you stand at the door to our heart, and knock, and wait to be invited in. Thank you that you answer if we will simply ask. —Birch, John. The Act of Prayer: Praying through the Lectionary (altered) Prayer Of Dedication Almighty God, just as you restore sight to the blind and benevolence to the afflicted, use us and the giftedness you placed within us, to provide refuge for the lost and mercy for those who suffer. May our living be in finding those who cry out in their need and who seek you with their whole hearts. We ask this in your blessed name. Blessed are you and blessed is your Kin-Dom, now and forevermore. Amen. —Scifres, Mary; Beu, B. J.. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021 (altered) Sending Forth As you go from here, walk in the way of the Lord: with thanksgiving, with gladness, with insight. Turn to the great high priest with all your needs, and pray for those who have no words today. —Long, Kim. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion Dismissal with Blessing May the God who hears our needs and answers the cries of our hearts be with you today and always, a sure and certain strength, throughout all the ages. —Long, Kim. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion
POETRY PEW Blind Bartimeus —George MacDonald As Jesus went into Jericho town, Twas darkness all, from toe to crown, About blind Bartimeus. He said, “My eyes are more than dim, They are no use for seeing him: No matter-he can see us!” “Cry out, cry out, blind brother-cry; Let not salvation dear go by. Have mercy, Son of David.” Though they were blind, they both could hear- They heard, and cried, and he drew near; And so the blind were saved. O Jesus Christ, I am very blind; Nothing comes through into my mind; ‘Tis well I am not dumb: Although I see thee not, nor hear, I cry because thou may’st be near: O son of Mary, come! I hear it through the all things blind: Is it thy voice, so gentle and kind- “Poor eyes, no more be dim”? A hand is laid upon mine eyes; I hear, and hearken, see, and rise;- ‘Tis He! I follow him! Spit and Dirt, Said the Blind Man† —by Angela Alaimo O'Donnell June 4, 2015 when he left Christ’s side himself no more a blind man since Christ gave him sight. Men who looked like trees the first sight he saw. Only a former blind man could see us as we are recognize how rare b specify how far apart our being and our seeming are. What could he do but stare, blink away the spit and dirt, watch Christ wipe his hands on his blinding white shirt? † this poem is based on a parallel text of Jesus healing a blind man in Mark 8. 22-25 Angela Alaimo O’Donnell is a writer, poet, and professor at Fordham University in New York City where she teaches English, Creative Writing, and American Catholic Studies. She also serves as Associate Director of the Curran Center for American Catholic Studies. O’Donnell is a graduate of Penn State University and holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in English Language & Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
		A BEAD AND A PRAYER CROSS Look to the God and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed. I sought God, and God answered me, and delivered me from all my fears! Walk to God and be of good courage, and your eyes will see all things new. I had heard of God with my ears, but now my eyes have seen God. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God rescues them from them all. O magnify God with me, and let us exalt God’s name together. —Slemmons, Timothy Matthew. When Heaven Stands Open: Liturgical Elements for Reformed Worship, Year B INVITATORY God our healer, source of everlasting mercy, give us the courage to cry out in our need when the crowd seeks to silence us, as did blind Bartimaeus outside Jericho; give us the wisdom to admit our limitations and accept our limited understanding, as did Job before us; give us the confidence to sing your praises in the midst of fear and doubt, as the psalmist did in David’s court. Grant us your healing balm, O God, that we may be truly made well and whole and follow you all the days of our lives. Amen. —Scifres, Mary; Beu, B. J.. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021 CRUCIFORM God of mystery and blessing, we long to be counted among the wise, and not among the foolish who speak without knowledge; we yearn to be found among the righteous, and not among those who boast without cause; we desire to be sincere agents of your grace, and not be as those who speak empty words without true compassion. Give us eyes to truly see when we only see what others have, and not what they have lost. Give us hearts of flesh when we are absorbed in our own desires, and ignore the needs of others. As blind Bartimaeus before us, grant us the courage to cry out our need, for you are ever drawing near. Amen. —Scifres, Mary; Beu, B. J.. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021 WEEK I Job 42:1-6, 10-17 ■ Then Job answered God: I know that you can do all things: you have only to think something, and it is done. “Who is this obscuring my plans with such ignorant words?” you asked. ■ That was me. I’ve been spouting off about things I can’t understand, about wonders beyond my experience and my knowledge. “Listen now, and I will speak; I will ask the questions and you will answer me!" you said. ■ Formerly I knew you only by word of mouth, but now I see you with my own eyes: Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." And so I now take back all that I said. ■ After Job had prayed for his friends, YHWH restored Job’s prosperity, blessing him with twice as much as he had before. Then all his sisters and brothers and everyone who had known him before visited Job and sat down and dined with him. They sympathized with him and comforted Job for all the evil YHWH had heaped upon him. ■ Each of them gave Job a piece of silver and a gold ring. YHWH blessed Job’s latter days even more than his former life: he came to own 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys. He also went on to have three daughters and seven sons. He named the daughters Jemimah, Keziah and Kerenhappuch. ■ In all the land there were no women as esteemed as the daughters of Job. And Job gave his daughters and sons equal shares of his inheritance. ■ After this Job lived on to the age of 140 years, and he saw his children and his children’s up to the fourth generation. And when Job died, he was old and full of days. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible CRUCIFORM Holy God, like Job, when we ask for your presence and intervention, we will end up on knees, astounded at your greatness, and humbled by our own unworthiness. Holy God, when we tearfully share our hopes and dreams with you, you promise a harvest of joy. Fill us with expectations of your goodness. Holy God, whose Beloved One is the high priest and intercessor for our needs, help us live as your children, trusting that we are also children of yours. Holy God, source of healing for Bartimaeus' blindness, help us see you in this world active in love, and help us see you by our side, so we may walk your way without stumbling. Loving God, you hear our prayers: You live among us. The love of God has won. The new life has begun. Amen. WEEK II Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22) ■ I will bless God always; praise will continually be on my lips! My soul will boast about YHWH— let the oppressed hear it and be glad! ■ Glorify God with me, and let us exalt God’s Name together! I sought God, who answered me and freed me from all my fears. ■ Those who look to God are radiant, and their faces are never covered with shame. The poor called out; God heard and saved them from all their troubles. The angel of God encamps around those who revere God, and rescues them. ■ Taste and see how good YHWH is! Happiness comes to those who take refuge in God. ■ God is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those whose spirits are crushed. ■ Many are the afflictions of the just; but God delivers them from all their troubles. YHWH protects their very bones, and not one of them will be broken. ■ Calamity will strike down the wicked ones, and the haters of justice will be condemned. YHWH ransoms the lives of the faithful, and none who take refuge in God will see punishment. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible CRUCIFORM O God, may your praise be continually in our mouths, your love forever in our hearts, your word forever on our minds, your spirit forever urging us into acts of giving. Use us, O God, as your servants of your Kin-Dom. Find a holy purpose for each of us in the growth and glory of your realm. Blessed are you and blessed is your Kin-Dom. now and forevermore. Amen. WEEK III Hebrews 7:23-28 ■ There’s another difference: there were so many priests in the old Covenant because death prevented them from continuing their work. ■ But Christ lives on forever, and Christ’s work as priest doesn’t pass on to someone else. ■ And so Christ is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through Christ, because Christ lives forever to plead to God for them. ■ God ordained that we should have such a high priest—one who is holy, who has no fault or sin, who has been set apart from sinners and raised above the heavens. ■ Jesus is not like other high priests and doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, first for personal sins and then for the sins of the people. ■ Christ’s self-sacrifice was offered once and for all. ■ For the Law appoints as high priests people who are weak; but God’s sworn promise, which came later than the Law, appoints the Only Begotten, who has been made perfect forever. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible CRUCIFORM Loving God, your only Begotten and Anointed One came to serve and to give your life as a ransom for many. Because you have served us, give us hearts willing to serve others, that your will may be done by us for our neighbors good and for your glory; now and forever. —Stratman, Paul. Now and Forever: New Collects for Modern Lectionaries WEEK IV Mark 10:46-52 ■ As Jesus left Jericho with the disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. ■ When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and to say, "Descendant of David, Jesus, have pity on me." ■ And many of them scolded him and told him to be quiet, but Bartimaeus only shouted all the louder, "Descendant of David, have pity on me!" ■ "Be of courage," they said, "get up; Jesus is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and went to Jesus. ■ Then Jesus spoke,"What do you want me to do for you" "Rabbuni," the blind man said, "Let me see again." ■ Jesus said,"Go; your faith has saved you." ■ And immediately his sight returned and Bartimaeus followed him along the road. CRUCIFORM Holy God, we confess that we have spoken of things we do not understand, things too wonderful for us, which we do not know. We have presumed too much and trusted you too little. Forgive us, O God. Restore our sight, rekindle our awe, and reform our speaking, so that the vision with which you bless us, and the shout that we send up, might be a celebration of your saving grace, even in the midst of a world that is lost and searching. —Slemmons, Timothy Matthew. When Heaven Stands Open: Liturgical Elements for Reformed Worship, Year B INVITATORY May your eyes be opened to the glory of God around you; may your ears be open to the call of Christ; may you be responsive to the Spirit of Truth within you, that the world might be healed by the trust you place in God. —Slemmons, Timothy Matthew. When Heaven Stands Open: Liturgical Elements for Reformed Worship, Year B CROSS We once were broken, but now are whole. We go with peace in our hearts. We once were blind, but now we see. We go with hope for our lives. We once were lost, but now are found. We go with joy and thanksgiving. We once were alone, but now are family. We go with God. —Scifres, Mary; Beu, B. J.. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021