I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. Paid subscribers have access to liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary.
For those who celebrate Easter, I hope your weekend was filled with meaningful interactions and many signs of hope, because the little baby Jesus knows we need to feel some hope.
This past week, the world has been experiencing authoritarian whiplash as the US and Iranian administrations have been trading apocalyptic blustering. On the eve of a possible escalation, without any sign of regret, President Trump threatened that a whole civilization will die tonight. It's exhausting and sad. And while he has a track record of making threats and then backing down, I can't help but feel a sense of dread that President Trump is going to decide to use nuclear weapons.
I know that most of us will do as much as we can in every way, but these are also the days when it feels like all we can do is pray.
In Times of Dread #LetUsPray
God, why does your creation do what we do? Why do we let the pursuit of wealth drive us? Why do we choose violence in response to conflict? Why are our egos so fragile? Why can't we forgive? Why do we hate? Answer us, O God.
God, our spirits are filled with discouragement and dread we kill so easily, even as we plan to kill again we ignore the suffering that we cause others we let hatred and power eat away at our souls we begin to believe there is nothing we can do and we do this at the feet of Empire
God, Empire thrives on our anguish but we know that Empire clutches to power when that power is threatened. we know that Empire lashes out when its life is coming to an end and we know that Empire will not last because the ways of Empire are not Yours
God, when we are feeling disheartened sit with us in our discouragement and dread let us embrace new life when we are able let us see those around us who scream to be seen let us show love and share power and call us into holy collaboration with You
For these things we pray.
— AMEN
Peace,
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In writing liturgy, I attempt to be economical with words while addressing the events of the day in ways that help people find grounding in their faith. For readings, I refer to the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary(RCL) and The Narrative Lectionary from The Working Preacher(NL). Paid Subscribers should please feel free to use any of the liturgical resources with or without attribution.
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