Living puzzles and the Kingdom of God

November 30, 2023December 2, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

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All praise to you, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

who Spirits your church into being,

making us members one of another.

It is a great mystery that we are your body.

But we praise you for it,

for otherwise we would be alone –

condemned to live alone, to die alone.

But you have given us one another in all shapes and sizes.

We do not fit together all that well,

but we pray that the puzzles of our lives

may please you and entertain you,

so that in the end we add up to be your kingdom.

Help us to live with the confidence of that kingdom,

in light of your Son’s resurrection,

so that when all is said and done, this may be said:

“They were a strange lot, but look how they loved one another.”

Amen

Stanley Hauerwas, 1940- , American ethicist and theologian

Prayers Plainly Spoken

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Ephesians 2:20-22

Together, we are his house,

built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets.

And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

We are carefully joined together in him,

becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling

where God lives by his Spirit.

Continue reading →

to see what joins us together

September 15, 2023September 14, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

Lord Christ, help us to see what it is

that joins us together,

not what separates us.

For when we see only what it is that makes us different,

we too often become aware

of what is wrong with others.

We see only their faults and weaknesses,

interpreting their actions as flowing from

malice or hatred

rather than fear.

Even when confronted with evil, Lord,

you forgave and sacrificed yourself

rather than sought revenge.

Teach us to do the same

by the power of your Spirit.

William Breault, SJ, 1926-2015

Hearts on Fire Praying with Jesuits

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Philippians 2:1-4

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion,

then make my joy complete by being like-minded,

having the same love,

being one in spirit and of one mind.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

not looking to your own interests

but each of you to the interests of the others.

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how the Spirit enlivens the faith within us

June 9, 2023June 8, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

O Father of all mercy, you have begun your work in us.

Continue to fill us with all the dimensions of wisdom and knowledge.

May we be fully certain in our hearts and fully aware how the Spirit,

who has raised up our Lord,

also enlivens the faith within us with the same power and strength.

Through him we have also risen from the dead by his mighty power,

which works in us through your holy Word.

Help us to grow in the knowledge of your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

and to remain firm in confessing his blessed Word.

Martin Luther, 1483 – 1546, German Reformer

Luther‘s Prayers

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Collossians 3:16-17

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,

teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Continue reading →

Spirit of the Lord, we need you

June 1, 2023May 31, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

image via pxhere CCO

Spirit, we know that we have done wrong by You.

Please forgive us for grieving, resisting, and quenching You.

We have resisted You through sin, through our rebellion, and through our hardness of heart.

At times, we have been spiritually blind.

At other times, we knew what You wanted us to do,

but we chose to ignore Your promptings.

Yet this is not how we want to live now

We need You to change us.

Only through You can we truly worship.

Spirit of the Lord, You are the one who brings us to a place where we can worship.

You are the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of life.

Thank You for the truth, the holiness and the life You give us.

We need Your wisdom and understanding as we seek to live this life.

Keep us from disbelief, from fear.

We need Your strength to help us do what you are asking us to do

and to live how You are asking us to live.

Speak loudly and drown out the other voices calling us

to conform to the patterns of this world.

You are the Spirit of self-control and love.

Give us the self-control needed to deny our flesh and follow You.

Give us a love strong enough to motivate courageous action.

Manifest Yourself through us that we may serve and love Your bride the church, as You do.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

We don’t know exactly what that means and looks like for each of us yet,

in the particular places You’ve called us to inhabit.

But, nonetheless, whatever it means, we ask for Your presence.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Francis Chan, 1967- , American pastor and author

from Forgotten God, pg 165-166

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1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Continue reading →

O comforting fire of Spirit

May 30, 2023May 29, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

Pentecost: Descent of the Holy Spirit, French Mid-12th Century, CC BY-SA 2.0

O comforting fire of Spirit,
Life, within the very Life of all Creation.
Holy you are in giving life to All.

Holy you are in anointing
those who are not whole;
Holy you are in cleansing
a festering wound.

O sacred breath,
O fire of love,
O sweetest taste in my breast
which fills my heart
with a fine aroma of virtues.

O most pure fountain
through whom it is known
that God has united strangers
and inquired after the lost.

O breastplate of life
and hope of uniting
all members as One,
O sword-belt of honor,
enfold those who offer blessing.

Care for those
who are imprisoned by the enemy
and dissolve the bonds of those
whom Divinity wishes to save.

O mightiest path which penetrates All,
from the height to every Earthly abyss,
you compose All, you unite All.

Through you clouds stream, ether flies,
stones gain moisture,
waters become streams,
and the earth exudes Life.

You always draw out knowledge,
bringing joy through Wisdom’s inspiration.

Therefore, praise be to you
who are the sound of praise
and the greatest prize of Life,
who are hope and richest honor
bequeathing the reward of Light.

St. Hildegard of Bingen, 1098 – 1179, German, composer, Benedictine abbess

source

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Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,

not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

so that, having been justified by his grace,

we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Continue reading →

St. Patrick’s Creed

March 17, 2023March 16, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

St Patrick catechising, Lawrence OP, Flickr

There is no other God,
and there never was another,
nor will there be any after him
except God the Father, without beginning.
From him is all beginning.
He upholds all things.
And his Son Jesus Christ
whom together with the Father
we testify to have always existed.
Before the beginning of the world
he was spiritually present with the Father.
Begotten in an indescribable manner before all beginning.
By him all things visible and invisible were made.
He was made man,
and having overcome death
was received into heaven to the Father:
And the Father has bestowed on him
the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord and God.
In him we believe,
and we await his coming
who before long shall judge the quick and dead.
He will render to everyone according to his deeds,
and has poured out abundantly on us
the gift of the Holy Spirit,
even the pledge of immortality,
who makes those that believe and obey
to be the sons of God the Father
and joint-heirs with Christ.
Him we confess and adore —
one God in the Trinity of the sacred name.

St. Patrick, c.389-461, missionary and bishop in Ireland

Prayers from the Ancient Celtic Church

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1 Corinthians 8:6

But for us,
There is one God, the Father,
by whom all things were created,
and for whom we live.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom all things were created,
and through whom we live.

Continue reading →

When You open Your hand

November 24, 2022November 24, 2022 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

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Loving God,
You are our Creator and Sustainer.
When You open Your hand,
You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
And so we look to You whenever we are in need,
trusting in Your love and Your abundant goodness.

As You once fed the hungry crowds with five loaves and two small fish,
we ask that You would again fill those who are empty this day.
Pour out Your Spirit on all who hunger and thirst.

We pray for those who are physically hungry—whose stomachs are empty.
We think especially of the people in Somalia and Eastern Africa
who are facing critical food shortages;
who are suffering the effects of malnutrition and starvation;
and watching helplessly as loved ones die.

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.
Pour out Your Spirit, so that they may be filled.

We pray for those who are empty emotionally—
who are lonely and long for companionship and love,
who are caught in the grip of depression,
or overwhelmed with grief.

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.
Pour out Your Spirit, so that they may be filled.

We pray for those who are spiritually empty—
who are troubled, but don’t know where to turn;
who long for purpose and meaning, but don’t know where to look;
who need You, but do not yet know You.

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.
Pour out Your Spirit, so that they may be filled.

God, we praise You for Your abundant gifts in our lives.
Pour out Your Spirit on us as well.
Fill us with Your compassion and love,
so that we would willingly share some of our abundance
with those who have need.

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.
Pour out Your Spirit, so that we may be filled.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ,
who came so that all of humanity might come to know
the abundant life that comes from You.

Amen.

Christine Longhurst, Worship Professor, Canadian Mennonite University

re-worship.blogspot.com

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Psalm 145:14-19

The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them. Continue reading →

May Your Spirit …

October 19, 2022October 18, 2022 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

May your Spirit guide my mind,

Which is so often dull and empty.

Let my thoughts always be on you,

And let me see you in all things.

May your Spirit quicken my soul,

Which is so often listless and lethargic.

Let my soul be awake to your presence,

And let me know you in all things.

May your Spirit melt my heart,

Which is so often cold and indifferent.

Let my heart be warmed by your love,

And let me feel you in all things.

Johann Freylinghausen, 1670-1739, German pietist and hymnist

The Complete Book of Christian Prayer

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Hebrews 9:14

how much more will the blood of Christ,

who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God,

purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Continue reading →

how do I worship in spirit?

August 18, 2022August 17, 2022 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

O God, what is Spirit?

How do I worship in spirit and in truth?

I am such a solid, earthly creature,

my feet planted firmly on the ground,

my life based upon material things.

I like to touch and feel and see before I believe.

I am accustomed to dealing with houses, land, and money,

with bread, meat and potatoes,

with objects handled, weighed, and valued

by my own standards.

I am uncomfortable with what cannot be analyzed

or dissected or given a market value.

What is Spirit?

Yet, O Lord, the very things I handle and see

lose meaning when they become ends in themselves.

They are all given meaning by the things of the spirit,

by love and hope and faith.

I know when I come down to it,

if I have all kinds of earthly goods

and have not love,

I have nothing.

I need the mystery beyond the tangible.

I need the things of the spirit

to give meaning to the material things I prize.

I cannot divide life up,

you have made it whole.

If I avoid love, diminish hope, deny faith,

my appreciation of my house and land,

my meat and potatoes, shrinks,

And I become a little man

with little aims and little power.

Kenneth Phifer

A Book of Uncommon Prayer

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John 4:23-24

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—

when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Continue reading →