THE SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME ——————————— Sexagesima Sunday—8 Weeks / 60 Days Before Easter From the Gelasian Sacramentary (7th Century) |
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 Together In Love, Compassion, and Mercy CENTERING Beathe. Breathe intentionally. Breath in. Breathe out. Breath in slowly. Breathe out slowly. Breathe in slowly with the words: "God is here." Breathe out slowly with the words: "In God we are." Continue until you feel relaxed and a sense of sacred peace and calm is found. Let us pray: We wait upon you, O God, in meekness, in trust, in delighted anticipation. We would commit our ways unto you, O God, knowing you will act. We wait. We patiently wait. As we wait, O God, inspire us with your goodness to seek, to desire, and to do what is right. —Slemmons, Timothy Matthew. The Joyful Feast: Liturgical Elements for Reformed Worship. SONG OF PRAISE—Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise 1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. 2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; thy justice like mountains high soaring above thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love. 3. To all life thou givest, to both great and small; in all life thou livest, the true life of all; we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, and wither and perish but naught changeth thee. 4. Great Father of glory, pure Mother of light, thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; all praise we would render, O help us to see 'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee. COLLECT FOR WORSHIP Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name. Amen. —adapted from the Book of Common Prayer THE GLORIA—Contemporqary and Inclusive Language Honor and glory to the holy and undivided Trinity, God who creates, redeems, and inspires: One in Three and Three in One, for ever and ever. Amen. —Supplemental Liturgical Texts, Prayer Book Studies 30, Church Hymnal Corporation, New York, 1989 PRAYER FOR THE DAY Perfect Light of revelation, Wisdom beyond brilliance, Truth surpassing radiance: as you shone in the life of Jesus, whose epiphany we celebrate, so shine in us and through us, that we may become beacons of mercy and compassion, enlightening all creation with deeds of kindness, gentleness, and humbleness. Amen.  PSALMODY [The responses are added.] Psalm 37. 1-11, 39-40 1 Don’t be vexed by evildoers, and don’t be envious of the corrupt! 2 They’ll soon fade like the grass, and wither away like unwatered plants. 3 Trust in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and do good, and you’ll dwell in the land and enjoy security. 4 Delight in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and you’ll be given the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and trust in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts; God will take action, 6 making your vindication as sure as the dawn and your integrity as bright as noonday. Response: O God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, who createa, redeems, and makes all things perfect, you are our keeper and our strength. 7 Be still before God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and wait patiently; don’t fret about those who amass great fortunes and carry out their schemes unchallenged. 8 Let go of your anger, and leave resentment behind. And stop worrying! It produces nothing but evil, 9 and evildoers will be cut off. But those who put their hope in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts— they will inherit the land. Response: O God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, who createa, redeems, and makes all things perfect, you are our keeper and our strength. 10 A little while longer, and the violent will be no more; no matter how hard you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the gentle will inherit the land, and will enjoy abundant peace . . . 39 The safety of the just is from God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, their refuge when trouble comes. 40 God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, helps them and rescues them— rescues them from the violent and saves them, because they take refuge in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts. Response: O God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, who createa, redeems, and makes all things perfect, you are our keeper and our strength. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. PSALM PRAYER O God, you are the blessing of the righteous. You do not forsake your people or abandon them in time of trouble. Defend us with your right hand and quickly stretch it out for those who need your help. —from the Sarum Rite (13th Century) GOSPEL READING Luke 6. 27-38 27 “To you who hear me, I say: love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29 When they slap you on one cheek, turn and give them the other; when they take your coat, let them have your shirt as well. 30 Give to all who beg from you. When someone takes what is yours, don’t demand it back. 31 “Do to others what you would have them do to you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 If you do good only to those who do good to you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ do as much. 34 If you lend to those you expect to repay you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to other ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 Love your enemies and do good to them. Lend without expecting repayment, and your reward will be great. You’ll rightly be called children of the Most High, since God is good even to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 “Be compassionate, as your loving God is compassionate. 37 Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Pardon, and you’ll be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: a full measure—packed down, shaken together and running over—will be poured into your lap. For the amount you measure out is the amount you’ll be given back.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.  A BRIEF MEDITATION The world we live in can be filled with good and beautiful things. There are so many blessings to be thankful for. Yet, the same world can be a challenge, especially in times like these. So many things seem to be different, and not in a good way. With the major issues that we face today — climate change with global warming, the threat of war, and the ongoing pandemic with multiple strains of covid-19 — our daily life has been within an array of new and increasing problems. There is anger. There is exhaustion. There are short tempers. We are tired beyond tiredness. There are so many ways to bump into situations and others that are piqued with intensity. Gun violence is running rampant. Political extremists are at a fevered pitch. Road rage is in the daily news. Suicides are on the increase. Hospitals have overflowed with very ill people. Retail outlets are without employees. There are all kind of shortages. People are being affected economically. Race relations are more fragile in heightened ways. Acceptance of people different than we ourselves is more difficult when there are so many changes happening. The teaching of Jesus seems to come at a time when we really need to hear those words. In the context which in we live, being a people of patience, forbearance, gentleness, mercy, compassion, and love sounds like an even bigger challenge. It is, however, the very things that needed. Loving others as we wish to be loved. Loving others as God has loved us. Doing good even to those who are not good to us. Doing good with not looking to get something for ourselves out of it. Being compassionate because compassion is of God. Judging not as to not be judged. Forgiving, ourselves and one another. All these things are critical in times as these. If there is ever a time to love kindness, to do justice, and to walk humbly with God, the time is now. So, let us follow in the way of Jesus. Let us be a people who seek and find ways to transform these days into a time where life is blessed in the way we come together and work as a community. Let us be a people who seek and find new ways to be gentle and uplifting toward one another. Loving God, give us the heart of your Spirit which was in Jesus. Help us to find the ways that make life better for everyone we meet. May our bumping into another be thing of grace that results in justice and peace. Amen.  O God of all mercy compassion: you are our divine teacher, and you have taught us the divine way of love and forgiveness. Pour out your love on us and empower us to overcome selfishness and anger, and to love others as you have loved us; for you live and reign as the Blessed and Holy Trinity, now and forevermore. Amen.  CONFESSION OF BROKENNESS Holy One, we encounter you in our lives and try to follow faithfully, but so often we get lost or turn away. We try to love our neighbors and ourselves, and even, by your grace, to love our enemies, but we fail. We take the wrong path and stray from the way of your love. Forgive us, O God, and guide us back to you. As we turn to you, God of Love, help us to trust your grace. Enable us to accept your pardon. And grant to us the gift of a new path that follows in the way of Jesus. Amen. INTERCESSION For the many who stand in the lines of soup kitchens and food banks, feeling demeaned like beggars, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For those on the long waiting list for surgery, or other therapy, in public hospitals, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For children who go to school hungry because parents gamble their family benefits, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For refugees who are locked in detention camps, waiting for their cases to be processed, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For the job seekers who long for interviews, as they compete for too few vacancies, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For the mentally ill who, denied adequate medical care, have become homeless, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For those who against their will, or willingly as a means of survival, are shamefully abused in the sex trade, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For frail folk who live alone, without neighbors who care whether that are alive or dead, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For bruised souls once hurt by religion, and who now do not know where to turn for succour, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For the host of ordinary citizens, who give their best without ever being noticed or thanked, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. God hope, God of justice, God of mercy, disturb the peace of those comfortable people whose labor is small and whose burden is light. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. May each of us do whatever we can to bring others in from the edges of life, that all may find healing for body, mind and spirit. Amen. —adapted from Bruce Prewer (http://www.bruceprewer.com/) THE PRAYER OF JESUS—Contemporary and inclusive language Eternal Spirit, Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver Source of all that is and all that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by people of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hopes and come on earth. With 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. May it be so. Amen. —adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book GOING FORTH Loving God, in whom we live and move and have our being: as you have given us life, so surround our days with strong visions, worthy work, reconciliations, and the strength to persevere, in your Blessed and Most Sacred Name, O Father and Mother of us all. Amen.
SONG OF DEDICATION—Love Divine, All Loves Excelling 1. Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav’n, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art. Visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart. 2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into ev’ry troubled breast. Let us all in thee inherit, let us find the promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be. End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty. 3. Come, Almighty, to deliver, let us all thy life receive. Suddenly return, and never, nevermore they temples leave . Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love. 4. Finish, then, thy new creation; true and spotless let us be. Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee. Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise. |
