Offertory Prayer August 24, 2014

Romans 12:1-8 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. ³For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, ⁵so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. ⁶We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ⁷ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; ⁸the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness

 

Dear God, Speaker of Life,
Today's offering is yours
Before it is given
Because all is your creation.
Teach us how to not think too highly of ourselves
But to use so sober judgment to know our souls.
Let us understand that being able to give monetarily,
No matter the amount,
Is a gift of your grace.
With all our offerings we pay homage to you,
Creator, Word and Love.

For yours is the infinite
Time unending.

Amen.

Prayer for Compassion

 

Jesus, who taught us to care for the least,

Praise your compassion.

We must love our neighbors

As the Samaritan loved
The one fallen by the wayside.

Help us bring solace to the suffering.

Forgive us
When we do not respond to those in need

As we forgive
Those that turn away from us when we suffer.

If, by your will, we accumulate wealth,

Deliver us from selfishness.

For you are the love that engulfs us

Now and through eternity.

Amen.

 

Pentecost 2011

Photo by Lawrence CP

On this day,
Peter speaks
To those who have seen
The Holy Spirit descend.
He quotes Joel:
"God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people."
"Even on my servants,
Both men and women,
I will pour out My Spirit..."
The day is Pentecost.
Fifty days from Easter.
Ten days from Jesus' ascent into Heaven.
God as Comforter comes
As Christ promised.
This was the Feast of the First Fruits.
Was this the first harvest for Christ?
Too many churches
Turn from Pentecost
In dread of the Holy Spirit.
What they fear
Does not exist.
The Holy Spirit
Completes the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit
Is the Love
That binds Creator and Word.
The Holy Spirit
Is God's love
Washing over "all people."
Share that love.

Renewal

Photo from norwichnuts

You who experienced death and resurrection,

Who dwells in heaven's love,

Praise to the you, the three in one,

Creator, Word and Love.

Let the flowers of heaven

Fill our hearts with lovingkindness

As the flowers of spring

Remind us that the season of renewal

Has begun.

In the soft breeze of spring

Let us discern your love.

In the thunderstorms

Let us sense you power.

In the still nights of renewal

Let us know your will.

With this Earth and Sun

You nurture us.

Forgive our failure to sow your lovingkindness

As we forgive those who sow despair.

Keep us out of the mud of selfishness.

Deliver us from the quagmires of the soul.

For yours is the springtime,

And the glory of life everlasting.