Prayers of the People - January 9, 2011

The response pattern for the Prayers of the people is found printed in the bulletin, let us begin by singing this Response.   …………………………….

 

Here we are as people gathered to ponder, reflect and explore faith’s meaning in our living. We are family, friends, strangers, young and old, healthy and hurting; a motley crew.

 

In this gathering, in our reflection we include this morning those who have special needs; David MacDonald, Anne Stinson, Marg Porteous, Gordon Barrett, Willy Malate and James Holzbauer on the passing of Willy’s mother, Sheila McCarthy and Alex and Mackenzie Donaldson on the death of Peter Donaldson, as well as all those others we hold dear and those who hold a special place in our memories. Today we remember the family and friends of those killed and injured in the shooting in Arizona and the community, society and indeed the whole world as we continue to suffer in this culture of violence.

 

 It is hard to articulate what we feel, what we have in common, what creates our oneness, but we use words and music, and symbols and actions to express our sorrows and disappointments, our joy and thankfulness, our hopes and our yearning.

 

So we are and so we come together singing ………Response…………..

 

A motley crew, perhaps not unlike those first disciples, we gather. Like they, we are curious, we ask questions, we are inspired, sometimes we even act too impulsive, all with good intent, some making commitments and promises that are hard to keep and miles to go before we can see the peace and justice for which we yearn.

 

All the while we hear a voice that calls us to be in the world (don’t just sit there do something) and yet not be consumed by it, to shut out all the clamour around us which cries peace when there is no peace; a culture which draws us into the ways and values more akin to capitalism than to community. We gather to seek support and courage and strength to resist and subvert the forces that so subtly suck us in.

 

Yes in the midst of such turmoil we come and sing…………Response……

 

As we actively await your kindom, we know that we are not alone, we have stories that include those many disciples who have persisted and persevered, who have been willing to claim Jesus as mentor and a beacon continuing to shine, like a star that leads us to see the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick and those in prison. (For as much as we have neglected these, we have neglected the Jesus we claim.)

 

So we are, but we are not alone, we pray with others like the people in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq :

 

Holy One, in the life and ministry of Jesus

you show us how to live together;

give this sense of unity to all people.

in the teaching of Jesus you show how great

your love is for us as well as your readiness to forgive;

you bring new hope to your people

and a desire to work for peace and justice;

renew that hope in your people today

and give us a burning desire to find your peace in this time.

 

Amen