WORSHIPSunday, December 12, 2021
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 | Centering In Preparation O God of Advent, your adventures among us bring us to the joy of your Kin-Dom. Awaken within us the movement of your Spirit that in confidence of faith we would know your presence and dance to the rythym of your love song. Opening Words Come, O God, and cheer us in the dawning of your Kin-Dom. Come, O God, and stir up within us the passion that would have us serve in your way. And, in your Advent here, may the New Dawn and Day Spring, help us to be light in the world. For we long to help others to be woke in your new creation. Prayer O God, we rejoice in your promises. You give us so many reasons to be a gracious and generous people. In you we rejoice, again and again. Amen. Kindling the Flame Of Joy 
Prayer For Illumination Speak anew to us the word of your in-breaking Kin-Dom. May its wake be like an awakening to your justice and peace. Speak, O God, speak! Reading From Hebrew Bible Zephaniah 3:14-20 [14]Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! [15]The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The Sovereign of Israel, God-Most-High, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. [16]On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. [17]The Holy One, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; who will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in love; God-Most-High will exult over you with loud singing [18]as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. [19]I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. [20]At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Holy One, God-Most-High. Psalmody Isaiah 12 [1]You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O God, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. [2]Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for God is my strength and my might; God has become my salvation. [3]With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. [4]And you will say in that day: Give thanks to God, call on the Holy One's name; make known the deeds of God-Most-High among the nations; proclaim that God's name is exalted. [5]Sing praises to God, for God has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. [6]Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Reading From the Epistles Philippians 4:1-13 [1]Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the God in this way, my beloved. [2]I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in our God. [3]Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. [4]Rejoice in God always; again I will say, Rejoice. [5]Let your gentleness be known to everyone. God is near. [6]Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7]And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Gods Anointed One, Christ Jesus. [8]Finally, deloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9]Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. [10]I rejoice in God greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. [11]Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. [12]I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. [13]I can do all things through God who strengthens me. Reading From the Gospels Luke 3:7-18 [7]John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Sarah and Abraham as our ancestors’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Sarah and Abraham. [9]Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” [10]And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” [11]In reply John said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” [12]Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” [13]He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” [14]Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” [15]As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, the Anointed-One of God, [16]John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [17]His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” [18]So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. Call To Confession We need only to remember the ways we have been wronged and have erred against others, to know our brokenness and the need for healing within our world. Prayer Of Confession Almighty One, God of Power and Might, Holy One Immortal: we bring ourselves to you; We bring our wounded and hurting selves to you; We bring our sense of guilt and accountability placing our need for healing and reconciliation in your hands. Bring us the sense of peace that comes from knowing that in your love we are forgiven, and that is your sustenance we shall be made whole. Free us to love as you love us. Enable us to take the needed steps be reconciled to you and our sisters and brothers. Words Of Assurance God borne a Child into this world to be the Bearer of Peace, the Healer of the Nations. In God's Precious, Begotten and Beloved One, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Prayer Of Intercession —Joe Milner [Joe Milner coordinates RCIA and is a member of the Liturgy Planning Team for St. Francis Xavier College Church on Saint Louis University campus in St. Louis, Missouri.] For a deepening of hope: that we may surrender our anxieties to God and trust in God’s providence for all our needs and challenges . . . For a renewal of our hearts: that God will stir up the Spirit who lives within us so that our faith increases, our spirits grow in courage, and our hearts overflow with love . . . For conversion of heart: that the fire of the Spirit will cleanse us of greed, selfishness, narrowness of mind, and hardness of heart so that we may be people of the light . . . For the grace to accompany one another: that God will free us from judging others and help us to see each person as a sister or brother with fears and wounds like ourselves . . . For a flowering of justice: that we may strive to fulfill our duties to others and use our gifts to ease the suffering and promote the wellbeing of all our brothers and sisters . . . For all who feel overwhelmed by life: that God’s message of "have no fear" may renew their hearts and fill their spirits with hope . . . For healing of violence: that God will heal and comfort all who have experienced violence, free their hearts from fear, and help us to comfort and support them . . . For protection and healing: that God will protect the human family from the pandemic virus, heal all who are ill, and give strength to all who care for the sick . . . For all who are suffering: that God will heal the wounds of discrimination, guide all young people who are confused or misdirected, and help all who are struggling with addictions to have a new beginning . . . For students as they finish the semester: that God will give them strength to complete their tasks and help them to express all that they have learned over these months clearly . . . For all pregnant women: that God will keep them healthy, help their babies to grow strong, and give them safe deliveries . . . For all who are experiencing drought: that God will send gentle rains and snow to refresh the earth and to refill reservoirs . . . For the protection of earth's resources: that God will give wisdom and understanding to all who are developing policies that affect earth's air, water, and natural resources . . . For the advent of peace and justice: that God will give insight, vision, and courage to all who are striving to turn swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks . . . Prayer Of Jesus (adapted) Our God who like a mother or a father cares and provides for us, who is both with us and in heaven. Most holy is your Name. You Kin-Dom come; your will be done; on earth—here and now—as it is eternally in the communion of your people. Give us today and daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive those in debt to us. Lead us not into the test for which none can stand, but deliver us from evil. For your's is the Kin-Dom, the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication We thank you, O God, lifting our hearts to you. Rejoicing in your presence and the works of your hands. May our hands find the ways of kindness, gentleness, and humbleness like the hands of Jesus. Amen. Sending Forth Go forth in joy to share the blessings of God and of the Kin-Dom. Go forth as those who are among the Advent of our Sovereign One. Dismissal With Blessing And, may the peace that is God's blessing to all bring joy to those who find no reason to rejoice. To your honor and glory, O God . . . Maranatha! |
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WORSHIP IN INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT
ADVENT 3C, JOY
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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.