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Prayer of the People, 15 December 2019

December 17, 2019 0 Comments

Prayer of the People  — 15 December 2019

Heavenly Father,

From the beginning it has been your intention for us to enjoy your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank you for this grace!

You have fulfilled your Word to us. Every “yes” has become a “yes” through Jesus Christ your Son. You know what is in us — yet you have come to us. You have fulfilled your Word to us.


You have sought us.
You have raised our curiosity.
You have enthralled our minds.
You have awakened our souls.
You have made us alive in you.
You have saved us.
You have made us glad.

Only you can satisfy our souls and lead us in the everlasting Way. May we delight in your Word and see your Word revealed in us as your Church. May we become more like Jesus.

Forgive us Lord for our word is not always true. 
Yet, it does reveal our hearts — that our affections are not set on you.
Forgive us and reset the desires of our hearts according to Jesus, The Truth. Thank you for this grace!

Lord we lift up to you fellows students pressing in to complete the term and its exams. Help them study with you and to delight in your wisdom.

We lift up S Chan and his family to you as they are grieving the death of his grandfather. Comfort them and extend your care to them during this season.

We lift up to you our brothers and sisters at uVillage Church and ask you to cause them to flourish as your Church. Provide for their needs and fill them with Your Spirit to bring your healing to the nations.

We lift up Langara College and the neighbourhood there. Raise up your servants who will speak of Jesus boldly. May you raise a holy curiosity in the lives of students — may they seek you with all their hearts.

We lift up the students of Hong Kong, India, Iran, and Iraq to you. Oh Father, how you love them. Reveal yourself to them that may lay down despair for the joy of your Son’s Kingdom.

Today with your Church all around this globe we pray as Jesus teaches us:

(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, 
forever. 
Amen.

Prayer

Just As They Had Been Told

December 16, 2019 0 Comments

Oh this babe wrapped in swaddling cloths
his last breath as vulnerable as his first!
He took up heaven’s cross to be 
wrapped 
in linen cloths. So, 
we might lay down filthy rags 
and be gracefully fitted for 
the robes of those made 
righteous. Praise him. 
Praise him. Praise him!

Jesus, Poetry

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Audience

December 14, 2019 0 Comments

When Anna’s
Hummingbird
holds court 
on the line in
December or
in August do
not hesitate 
to call in on
God directly
as you will.

Poetry, Prayer

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Invitation

December 11, 2019 0 Comments

Oh the delight awaiting children
on the edge of glades filled with light.
That dappled ground stirs no fear for 
those readied by stories told at night.

Every step a soft whisper on deep humus. 
Every large stone a call for sacrifice.
Every tree a witness to the movements.  
Every breeze shaping a truthful heart.

Even now when the wind blows gently 
I feel the persistent press for knowing 
someone ageless pulsing through it all
and tapping out the rhythms for my life.

Creation, Poetry

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Can’t Speak Truth to Power

December 10, 2019 0 Comments

I’m trading my hill songs for street songs.
I’m trading my sweet amens for Lord have mercies.
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

I’m trading my shiny tables for rugged beams.
I’m trading my nationalisms for kingdom crosses.
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

And we say yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord.
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord.

Let’s trade our like-ability for the neighbour’s love. 
Let’s trade our smooth talk for the prophet’s truth.
Let’s lay them down for the joy of the Lord.

And we say come Lord, come Lord, come come Lord.
Come Lord, come Lord, come come Lord.

We hardly know His words from the ground up.
Our quick takes ooze with white house platitudes.
We can’t speak truth to power so our nice words are used.

We are pressed but not crushed
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
We are blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy’s gonna be our strength

And we say help Lord, help Lord, help help Lord.
Help Lord, help Lord, help help Lord.

We’re trading our hill songs for street songs.
We’re trading our sweet amens for Lord have mercies.
We’re laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

Note about the picture: an inset from Edward Hicks’ work, The Falls of Niagara

Note about a previous song quoted and alluded to in this poem: Darrell Evans wrote the song Trading My Sorrows, otherwise known as Yes Lord.

Poetry

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