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 Portrait of an Angel with the Sun of Righteousness Thirty-Third Sunday In Odinary Time ☩ Proper 28 ☩ Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost Novmber 13, 2022 A Liturgy For Worship and Mediation 
We come as we are for You love and welcome us without exception. We come knowing and trusting that you are at work in us to transform and make new. We come offering our praise and thanksgiving for You are the One in whom our lives are renewed. We come bringing all of who we are and have with the hope of becoming healed unto wellness. We come with that anticipation as You alone are able to do such wonderful things. SONG (Click Here For Music) Author: George Herbert LUCKINGTON—Composer: Basil Harwood "My God and King!" The heav'ns are not too high, God's praise may thither fly; the earth is not too low, God's praises there may grow. Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing, "My God and King!" 2 Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing, "My God and King!" The church with psalms must shout: no door can keep them out. But, more than all, the heart must bear the longest part. Let all the world in ev'ery corner sing, "My God and King!" PRAYER OF BROKENNESS FOR HEALING Almighty God, You are our judge. You are the one who knows who we are, what we are capable of, and what we have done. Forgive us where we have fallen short. Forgive us when we have not lived into Your ways of justice and mercy. Forgive us when we have fallen into the ways of the world that prop up systems of injustice. Forgive us when we unconsciously participate in in systemic sin, that destroys Your creation, harms people who are marginalized, and removes the basic human rights and dignity of others. Call us into repentance and reparation. Call us into accountability for our ways. Lead us into the paths of healing and restoration. Help us to seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphans and others who are on the margins, and to plead for those who are in need. Remind us to participate in our civic government to make changes here and now, for the work we do for others is eternal work, O God. It is the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. Almighty God, lead us in right paths, for Your name’s sake. Amen. BLESSING AND ASSURANCE The prophets always spoke a word of hope to the people, and there is a word of hope for you: God loves you. No matter what you have done, no matter what you haven’t, God loves you. God desires for you an abundant life, and an abundant life is only possible when we love one another, for by loving one another, we love God. Know first that you are loved. Now go, love one another, forgive one another, and live for one another, for by doing so, you live for Christ. Your sins are forgiven. Go and share the Good News. Amen. PRAYER FOR HEARING THE SCRIPTURES Present-Speaking-One, whose Word goes forth and returns not on to you but brings a new creation into being: May we be open in heart and mind and response to be made anew in You. Amen. READING—Isaiah 12. 1-6 1 On that Day, Israel will say: “I praise you, YHWH! Yes, you were angry with me, but your anger has abated and now you are a comfort to me. 2 You are my deliverer, O God! I trust you and am no longer afraid of you—you are my strength and my refuge. You are my deliverer.” 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And on that Day you will say: “Give thanks to YHWH, invoke God’s holy Name! Make known among all the people what YHWH has done. Proclaim that God’s Name is exalted. 5 Sing praises to YHWH, for God has triumphed. Let this be known throughout the world! 6 Cry out, shout aloud, you who dwell in Zion, for the Holy One of Israel dwells among us in majesty!” —adapted from Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. READING—Isaiah 65. 17-25 17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth! The things of the past will not be remembered or come to mind! 18 Be glad and rejoice forever and ever in what I create, because I now create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight! 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress. 20 No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or old people who do not live out their days. They die as mere youths who reach but a hundred years, and those who fall short of a hundred will be thought accursed. 21 At last they will live in the houses they build, and eat the fruit of the vineyard they plant. 22 They will not build for another to inhabit; they will not plant for another to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen ones will enjoy the fruit of their labors. 23 They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to die; for they and their descendants are a people blessed by God. 24 Even before they call upon me, I will answer; and while they speak, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed side by side; the lion will eat straw like an ox. Serpents will be content to crawl on the ground; they will not injure or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says YHWH. —adapted from Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. SONG (Click Here For Music) Author: Brian Wren Tune—Composer: Carlton R. Young (1984) time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that’s gone. 2 For by the life and death of Jesus, love’s mighty Spirit, now as then, can make for us a world of diff’rence, as faith and hope are born again. 3 Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring, step from the past and leave behind our disappointment, guilt, and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find. 4 Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new, our God is making all things new. READING—Malachi 4. 1-2a 1 The Day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all the evildoers will be stubble; the Day that comes will burn them up, says YHWH Omnipotent, and it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who revere my Name, the sun will rise, a sun of justice, with healing in its rays. —adapted from Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. READING—Psalm 98 98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 98:2 The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 98:3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 98:5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. 98:6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD. 98:7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. 98:8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy 98:9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. —adapted from Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. READING—2 Thessalonias 3. 6-15 6 In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, we urge you, sisters and brothers, to keep away from anyone who refuses to work and live according to the teachings we passed on to you. 7 You know how you ought to imitate us. We didn’t live undisciplined lives when we were among you, 8 nor did we depend on anyone for food. Rather, we worked night and day, laboring to the point of exhaustion so as not to impose on any of you— 9 not that we had no claim on you, but that we might present ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 Indeed, when we were with you we used to lay down the rule that anyone who didn’t work didn’t eat. 11 We hear that some of you are undisciplined, doing no work at all, but acting like busy bodies. 12 We command all such people and urge you strongly in our Savior Jesus Christ, to earn the food you eat by working hard and keeping quiet. 13 My sisters and brothers, never tire of doing what is right. 14 Take special note of those who don’t obey our teachings in this letter. Shame them by refusing to associate with them. 15 Even so, regard them not as enemies, but as sisters or brothers. —adapted from Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. READING—Luke 21. 5-19 5 Some disciples were speaking of how the Temple was adorned with precious stones and votive offerings. Jesus said, 6 “You see all these things? The day will come when one stone won’t be left on top of another—everything will be torn down.” 7 They asked, “When will this happen, Rabbi? And what will be the sign that it’s about to happen?” 8 Jesus said, “Take care not to be misled. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the One’ and ‘The time is at hand.’ Don’t follow them. 9 And don’t be perturbed when you hear of wars and insurrections. These things must happen first, but the end doesn’t follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and empire against empire. 11 There will be great earthquakes, plagues and famines in various places—and in the sky there will be frightening omens and great signs. 12 But before any of this, they’ll arrest you and persecute you, bringing you before synagogues and sending you to prison, bringing you to trial before rulers and governors. And it will all be because of my name— 13 this will be your opportunity to give your testimony. 14 So make up your minds not to worry about your defense beforehand, 15 for I’ll give you the words, and a wisdom that none of your adversaries can take exception to or contradict. 16 You’ll be betrayed even by your parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me, 18 yet not a hair of your head will be harmed. 19 By patient endurance, you’ll save your lives. —adapted from Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.  The Sun of Rightesouness shall rise with healing in its wings. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION Crafting-Artist, You are making all things new, a new heaven and a new earth. You are crafting up something right now. You are working something new in our hearts. You are making something new out of our broken lives. You call to us to join You in the creative work. From our brokenness, You are making something new. From the unraveling, You weave a tapestry that brings people together in community. From the fading and falling apart, You enrich bringing forth a spectrum of color that is freedom and inclusion. In Your image, Creating-Artist, you bring us forth, again and again, in Your own image. We have Your creative Spirit working in us. Make our lives anew, loving one another, and creating the beloved Kin-Dom here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. SONG (Click Here For Music) Author: Carl P. Daw (1982) TUNE: Jerusalem—Composer: C. Hubert H. Parry through all our hopes and prayers and dreams, guide us to justice, truth, and love, delivered from our selfish schemes. May swords of hate fall from our hands, our hearts from envy find release, 'til by God’s grace our warring world shall see Christ’s promised reign of peace. 2 Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, nor shall the fierce devour the small. As beasts and cattle calmly graze, a little child shall lead them all. Then enemies shall learn to love, all creatures find their true accord. The hope of peace shall be fulfilled, for all the earth shall know the Lord. (Refrain) Peace, peace, peace of earth and good will to all! This is a time for joy, this is a tim for love. Now let us all siong together of peace, peace, peace on earth. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION Friends in Christ, God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the all the world. For people everywhere, that life will be brimming over in hope and the vision of your wisdom in times of confusion... For the grace of perseverance, that You will strengthen and sustain us in remaining faithful followers of Jesus, even in times of trial and distress... For a spirit of expection, that You will drive disabling fear from our hearts and help us face the future with confidence and trust that your presence will never abandon us... For leaders in all spiritual life, that their loving and caring for others will help communities of faith to continue their deeds of loving service and witness to the good news of your never failing love... For all who are experiencing changes that have uprooted and reoriented life, that those who have become ill, lost employment, have had a broken relationship, or are grieving the death of a loved one may know Your comforting presence this day and be strengthened by Your Spirit... For children who are rejected, abused, or neglected, that Your tender compassion will comfort them and that they may experience love and nurture... For freedom from deceit, that we may hear the voice of the one true shepherd who calls us to life and not be confused by the many voices whose promises are false and whose fruit is destruction... For families that are divided and in opposition to one another, that Your peace may touch their hearts and lead them toward reconciliation and healing... For all who are persecuted, deprived of their rights, and used as pawns by the powers of this world, that the Sun of Justice may rise for them, heal their wounds, and raise the lowly to high places... For inspiration and guidance, that Your Spirit will lead all to freedom all who are addicted and give courage to all who are working to assist them in recovery... For all who have borne witness with their lives by standing for justice and truth, that they may find the fulfillment of all their hopes in Your eternal reign... For peace, that You will bring an end to the violence in Ukraine, sustain the ceasefire in Ethiopia, and on the streets and meeting places of our communities, protecting the human family from weapons of mass destruction... For places of division where people have been involved in or harmed by white nationalism, a Christian America that looks nothing like Jesus, the power of greed, the greed of power, all untruth including false witness in conspiracy theories, and the politics of making enemies rather than bringing people together into a commongood where there is equality for all and equity in each person's access to the resources of our demomcracy... For all who have served their nation making a sacrifice for the good of all, that they may know Your presence in their hearts, be healed of physical and mental injuries, and be blessed with health and well being... For all who have been elected to office, that You will give them a heart of honesty and a life of integrity and a mind of wisdom to address the pressing issues and a spirit of collaboration to achieve the best for their country... For women that equal rights will be theirs and all the misogyny and chauvism of men and their advocates be undone in liberation and truth... For children and students, that their schools and playgrounds be free of violence and that their education would be a faithful remembrance of history and a freedom from censorship... For all who mourn, may Your mercy and compassion bring forth precious memories and the assurance that everyone is within your care of providence, alive and brought to wellness in your eternal Kin-Dom... Holy God, Holy and Almighty, Holy Immortal One, hear our prayers and make all things new. THE PRAYER OF JESUS Loving-Parent, our Mother and Father, who reigns in heaven: most holy in your Name. Your realm come, your will be done, here and now on earth as it is in heaven. Give us what we need for life and may our portion be sufficient to help others in need. Redeem us from our past errors as we free other from the errors made against us. Bring us not to the testing of our faith, but keep us safe from all evil. For yours is the Kin-Dom, the Power, and the Glory, forevermore. Amen. —G Lake Dylan SONG (Click Here For Music) Author: Lloyd Stone (1934) and Georgia Harkness (3rd Stanza) TUNE: FINLANDIA—Composer: Jean Sibelius (1899) Performed and Recorded Live by Voices of Concinnity a song of peace for lands afar and mine. This is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine; but other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine. 2 My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean, and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine; but other lands have sunlight too, and clover, and skies are everywhere as blue as mine: O hear my song, thou God of all the nations, a song of peace for their land and for mine. 3 May truth and freedom come to every nation; may peace abound where strife has raged so long; that each may seek to love and build together, a world united, righting every wrong; a world united in its love for freedom, proclaiming peace together in one song. GOING FORTH WITH BLESSING Go into the world being the person made anew in God's love to share that love with all. And the blessing of God, blessed and holy Trinity, be with you now and forevermore. Amen. |
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WORSHIP IN INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT
WHY A BLOG?
As a clergyperson with a disability now retired, this is my humble attempt to provide a ministry that some will find helpful. I have always focused on be inclusive and have struggled with the church's tradition of referring to God and humankind with masculine names and pronouns. Since the 1970's, thanks to my dear sister-in-law, I have been aware of the discrimination of women and have worked in the parish and community for equal rights with an equity of access to the resources that add blessing to life. I hope this site is of meaning to those who read it and worship with me and others within it. Peace.