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For Meditation and Contemplation
Sunday, January 30, 2022
Opening Words
O God—
whose love
is vast and measureless,
wider than the universe,
unlimited and infinite:
In wonder and awe we worship you.
O God—
whose love
will never run dry,
will never fall short,
will never fail:
In wonder and awe we worship you.
O God—
whose love
knows nothing of our distinctions,
our notions of ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’,
and which encompasses everyone:
In wonder and awe we worship you.
O God—
we praise you that your love reaches us,
in our struggles and our joys,
in our hidden place of fear and shame,
in our sorrow and disappointment:
In wonder and awe we worship you.
O God—
we praise you that in your love
you meet us as we are, where we are,
sweeping aside any sense of inadequacy,
overturning misplaced dependencies,
and opening a window of light and hope,
until we see in you our one true home:
In wonder and awe we worship you.
O God—
we praise you that your love comes gently,
a warm scented breeze in the winter hurricane,
a creeping tide smoothing rough sand,
a depth of stillness to a heart in turmoil:
In wonder and awe we worship you.
O God—
your love is beyond all we can tell,
yet we know that you are here with us,
and that you care for every detail of our lives.
We offer you hearts filled with gratitude:
In wonder and awe we worship you.
—by Louise Gough. Posted on Worship Words. http://worshipwords.co.uk/
Prayer Before Reading From the Scriptures
Word of Holy Wisdom,
Word of Sacred Truth,
Word of Hallowed Life:
Speak to us the message you would have us hear today.
First Reading
Jeremiah 1
4 Now the word of God came to me and said:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I chose you.
Before you were born, I dedicated you.
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 I said, “But Sovereign God!
I don’t know how to speak! I’m too young!”
7 But God said,
“Do not say, ‘I am too young.’
Now, go wherever I send you.
And say whatever I command you.
8 Do not fear anyone,
for I am with you to protect you.
It is God who speaks.”
9 Then God touched my mouth and said to me,
10 “Look, I am putting my words in your mouth.
This day I appoint you
over nations and territories,
to uproot and to tear down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
Prayer After the First Reading
Holy God, you knew us before we took our first breath.
You uttered your living Word and brought forth light, love, and life.
You gathered us from the dust of the earth and called us your people.
You sent us into the world to proclaim your mighty and wondrous deeds.
You are with us even now as we continue our call.
O God, in your righteousness, deliver us and set us free.
Mighty God, you have done great things; who is like you?
You alone are our rock of refuge.
You alone are our strong fortress.
You alone are our hope and in you alone is our trust.
O God, in your righteousness, deliver us and set us free.
Merciful God, your love never ends.
We confess to you that we do not always share your love as we should.
Where you have called us to live as one body, we exist as divided members.
Where you have called us to give our Spirit-given gifts, we ignore your call.
Where you have called us to forgive, we have forgotten your mercy.
O God, in your righteousness, deliver us and set us free.
Gracious God, do not be far from us!
Strengthen us that we might be givers of your grace and
may your steadfast love be known to all of your children.
Send your Holy Spirit to empower our hands to
clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and love all as you have first loved us.
O God, in your righteousness, deliver us and set us free.
Loving God, hear today the prayers that we lift up to you.
Be with those of us who are [name of community].
Give us hearts of courage and songs of your grace
to tell others of your righteous acts and deeds of salvation.
O God, in your righteousness, deliver us and set us free.
Abundant God, be with those of us that yearn for your restoration and healing.
Today, we ask your blessing upon [list names of those in need of healing].
We who are [name of community] also lift up to you those who we bring before you
with our lips or within our hearts…
O God, in your righteousness, deliver us and set us free.
Faithful God, your power and your righteousness reach the heavens.
Hear us, your servants, as we follow you to the day when
faith, hope, and love will be upon the lips of all of us, your children.
O God, in your righteousness, deliver us and set us free.
Psalmody
Psalm 71
1 In you, God, I take shelter—
let me never be disappointed.
2 In your justice, rescue me, deliver me,
turn your ear to me and save me!
3 Be mine, O mountain of strength!
Send your decree—deliver me,
for you are my rock, my fortress!
4 O God, rescue me from the hands of the violent,
from the clutches of the thief and outlaw!
5 For you alone are my hope, God my sovereign—
I have trusted you since my youth.
6 I have relied on you from the womb;
you sustained me from my mother’s breast;
to you I give constant praise.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
Prayer After the Psalm Reading
To you, O God, we call out for help,
for you are our rock and our fortress.
Listen to the prayers we raise before you today.
Rescue those who are under the power of injustice and cruelty,
and cleanse our hearts of the desires that do violence against your people.
O God our protector: Be our rock of refuge.
Protect and nurture the young,
who are just learning the promise of your constant presence;
keep them safe and cover them with your gracious love.
O God our protector: Be our rock of refuge.
Let your mercy surround those who are old,
especially those whose health or mind or family fail them;
let your strength lift them up, and let your praises be on their lips.
O God our protector: Be our rock of refuge.
Stand with all who seek to serve you faithfully.
Give them steadfast hope by the power of your Holy Spirit,
and let them celebrate the righteous acts you do through them day after day.
O God our protector: Be our rock of refuge.
Reveal yourself in family and community gatherings this week,
that as loved ones gather together for Thanksgiving,
each generation may tell another about the wonders of your love.
Bless and watch over all who travel.
O God our protector: Be our rock of refuge.
Revive and comfort those who face trouble and calamity among us,
and let your healing presence be with all who are ill
Bring your people up from the depths, to your honor.
O God our protector: Be our rock of refuge.
Show your faithfulness to those who face death or walk in the shadow of grief
Strengthen your people to sing your praises even in the darkness,
and watch over the souls of all who rest in you.
O God our protector: Be our rock of refuge.
God our rock, we call to you now and always.
Amen.
Gospel Reading
Luke 4
20 Rolling up the scroll, Jesus gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 Then he said to them, “Today, in your hearing, this scripture passage is fulfilled.”
22 All who were present spoke favorably of him; they marveled at the eloquence of the words on Jesus’ lips. They said, “Surely this isn’t Mary and Joseph’s son!”
23 Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly you’ll quote me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your own country the things we heard you did in Capernaum.’
24 But the truth is, prophets never gain acceptance in their hometowns.
25 “The truth is, there were many women who were widowed in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens remained closed for three and a half years and a great famine spread over the land.
26 It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but to a woman who had been widowed in Zarephath, near Sidon.
27 Recall, too, that many had leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one was cured except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 At these words, the whole audience in the synagogue was filled with indignation.
29 They rose up and dragged Jesus out of town, leading him to the brow of the hill on which the city was built, with the intention of hurling him over the edge.
30 But he moved straight through the crowd and walked away.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
Prayer After the Gospel Reading
Holy God,
you knew us before we knew ourselves.
You consecrate us even now to be your servants.
Create in us hearts worthy to be your prophets
that we might go where you send us,
and speak the Word that you give us.
Through the power of your Holy Spirit,
place your words upon our lips
and your grace upon our hearts
so that we might pluck up and pull down,
destroy and overthrow,
build and plant,
as you, alone, have commanded. Amen.
Invitation To Healing and Wholeness
Let us in humble spirit and truth of being
confess our brokenness
before God and one another.
Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Loving-Spirit, we confess that we have put our trust in worldly idols of wealth and power.
We confess that we have sought worldly measures of success in fortune and notoriety.
We confess that the systems of power in this world have made us complacent with the status quo.
We confess that systemic sin is often invisible to us; we do not often recognize the power and privilege we have.
Forgive us for not expanding our vision to see what You see:
the structures that amplify the voices of the majority and silence the marginalized;
the brokenness of the people around us from the structures of disenfranchisement;
the pain and suffering of so many in our community.
Call us to accountability.
Bring us to the path of justice, reconciliation, and healing.
Open our hearts, O Loving-Spirit, to repentance,
to Your correction,
and to Your healing and peace. Amen.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Merciful God, we praise you that you give strength for every weakness,
forgiveness for our failures,
and new beginnings in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for the guidance of your spirit through this day . . .
signs of new life and hope . . .
people who have helped us . . .
those who struggle for justice . . .
expressions of love unexpected or undeserved . . .
Almighty God, you know all needs before we speak our prayers,
yet you welcome our concerns for others in Jesus Christ.
Especially we pray for
those who keep watch over the sick and dying . . .
those who weep with the grieving . . .
those who are without faith and cannot accept your love . . .
the aged who are lonely, distressed or weak . . .
your Church and people in every time and place . . .
Blessed are You and blessed is your Kin-Dom, now and forever. Amen.
—Book Of Common Worship, PC (USA), Daily Prayer, Friday Evening Prayer
Intercession
For your Church: that we may grow in faith, hope, and love, and help others to discover the joy of these virtues . . .
For all who are called to be prophets: that God will give them a clear insight into the truth, the strength to endure rejection and suffering, and convincing words to touch hearts about injustice and lack of love . . .
For one another: that we may hear God’s call to us, courageously respond to it, and share God’s message in our words and deeds . . .
For the grace to be supportive and loving: that we may rejoice in the success of others, let go of past injuries and disappointments, and encourage one another toward fuller lives . . .
For renewal and deepening of love: that the Spirit of God will help us to love one another as God has loved us . . .
For married and engaged couples: that God will help them to have generous love toward each other and be signs of God’s love in society . . .
For growth in loving service: that God will help us to lay down our lives in service of family, community, and our suffering sisters and brothers . . .
For all who have experienced rejection and persecution for being Christian: that they may persevere in their faith and be witnesses to Christ in every situation . . .
For all who are ill: that God’s Spirit will strengthen and restore them, protect the human family from additional waves of the pandemic, inspire all who are researching cures, and strengthen all who are caring for the sick . . .
For members of religious communities: that their witness and dedication to the Gospel may be an inspiration and source of continuing renewal within the Church . . .
For a greater awareness of our responsibility to be stewards of God’s creation: that God will help us understand the interconnectedness of life and work to preserve the health of the air, water, and land that God has created . . .
For all who are recovering from disasters: that God will help the people of Tonga, speed the assistance that they need, and give them strength and courage . . .
For all who will be participating in the Olympic games: that God will guide them safely to their destinations, preserve them from illness, and help them to perform well . . .
For public and private schools: that the students may grow in their knowledge and love of God and that the schools will give witness to the Gospel and be a light in our society . . .
For peace: that the Spirit will inspire world leaders to resolve differences through dialogue and reduce tensions in Eastern Europe to avoid violence . . .
—Joe Milner, the Liturgy Planning Team for St. Francis Xavier College Church on Saint Louis University
(Silence)
We lift these prayers to you, O God of all compassion and mercy.
knowing that you provide for our needs even before we ask,
and that our prayers change not you, but transform us
to be ever more like the people you have created and redeemed us to be.
Blessed are you, and blessed is your Kin-Dom, world without end.
Amen.
Going Forth
I Corinthians 12.31-13.13 (selected verses)
31 Now I will show you the way which surpasses all the others.
1 Even if I can speak in all the tongues of earth—and those of the angels too—but do not have love,
I am just a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy such that I can comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge,
or if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away everything I own to feed those poorer than I,
then hand over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient; love is kind.
Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, and it is not snobbish;
5 it is never rude or self-seeking;
it is not prone to anger, nor does it brood over injuries.
6 Love doesn’t rejoice in what is wrong,
but rejoices in the truth.
7 There is no limit to love’s forbearance,
to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.
8 Love never fails.
Prophecies will cease;
tongues will be silent;
knowledge will pass away.
9 Our knowledge is imperfect and our prophesying is imperfect.
10 When the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.
My knowledge is imperfect now; then I will know even as I am known.
13 There are, in the end, three things that last:
faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
Provoking God,
calling us through the face of the Other:
free our fickle hearts
from our need to divide and exclude
the foreign and the misfit;
lead us through the storms of rage
to a clear and new beginning;
through your love, of which hatred cannot touch. Amen.
—Prayers for An Inclusive Church. Steven Shakespeare © 2008 Canterbury Press.
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