Archive for the ‘politics’ Category

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Politics and Wisdom

February 16, 2020

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

As we move through our elections, O Lord, guide us to wisdom, guard us from folly. (Pr. 3:13-18; 8:1-36)

Turn us from the harsh judgments and words that divide; refocus us instead on the ties that bind — both us to one another and to you.

Help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19-20; 3:13:18). Let us reject the appeals of arrogance and easy answers.

Help us to see the needs and frailties of the real world before us and commit to the actions that might bring us healing, and forgiveness, and peace.

Guide us O Lord.

Amen

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Faith In Politics

February 9, 2020

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Ps. 133:1

Lord, how do we put our faith in action?

How do we speak up in the face of factions, fear, falsehoods, aggression, coercion, corruption, arrogance, or resentment?

How do we practice self-control, engage the generosity of your Spirit, listen, and forgive?

Show us Lord, the better way.

Amen

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Politics of Faith

February 2, 2020

[On politics] “Most people just want somebody who can articulate their hatreds . . .” (David Brooks, 2011)

It is easy to fear the other –

  • the alien,
  • the stranger,
  • the one who thinks differently,
  • the poor,
  • the sick,
  • the ones in need who look for more.

And yet you call on us

  • to embrace the alien (Ex. 22:21),
  • to welcome the stranger (Mt. 25:35),
  • to reject factions (Gal. 5:20),
  • to serve the poor (Lev. 19:9-10),
  • to care for the sick (Mt. 25:36), and
  • to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mt. 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-34).

Help us O Lord, to heed your call as we live our lives together.

Amen.

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Building Peace

January 25, 2020

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Lord, please cure our warring madness, bend our lives to your control.*

Help us to witness to the dignity of others and to your faith and justice and mercy.

Give us the compassion and knowledge to share our blessings and alleviate the sufferings of others.

Help us to avoid the lies that you hate, and pursue the truth and love that lead to peace. (Zechariah 8:16-17)

Give us the courage to see our world as it is and to challenge its systems and shortcomings.

Show us your ways, teach us your paths. (Ps. 25:4-5)

For you are a God of love and not disorder, of peace and not of chaos. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

We need your help O Lord.

Amen

*Chalice Hymnal, Chalice Press, 1998, # 464 God of Grace and God of Glory, v.3, Harry Emerson Fosdick.

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Practicing Peace

January 19, 2020

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:19-21

Guide us O Lord into the paths of your peace. (Lk 1:79; Eph. 6:15)

Help us to pursue peace in our thoughts and in all of our interactions with others. (Ps. 34:14)

Help us to resist the dangerous sport of dismissing, denying, deflecting, or deriding those with whose views we disagree.

Help us to be quick to listen and slow to become angry. (James 1:19-20)

Fill us O Lord with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that unite and heal. (Galatians 5: 22-26)

Help us O Lord, to love and care for one another that we might live in peace.

Amen

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Pursuing Peace

January 12, 2020

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

“Whoever would love life, . . . he must seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:10-11

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you. . . ” Romans 15:7

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. . . ” Colossians 3:15

Help us O Lord to value your peace and to pursue it, in our hearts and in our world. Guide us O Lord.

Amen

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Seeking Peace

January 4, 2020

They will neither harm or destroy on all my holy mountain for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord . . . Isaiah 11:9

Keep before us a vision of your peace O Lord.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion;

from fear, intolerance, and terror;

from factions, tribalism, and hyper-partisanship;

from lies, deceit, and mendacity;

from pride and arrogance and every evil way.

Help us pursue your peace O Lord.

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Seeing

December 15, 2019

O Lord, help us to see those around us,

their struggles,

their hopes,

their joys,

their depth,

their humanity.

And as we see, fill us with love of your creation in all its beauty and complexity.

Help us O Lord to see what we might be:

One country, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Guide us there O Lord.

Amen

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Listening

December 8, 2019

Help us to listen O Lord

to the voices of wisdom,

the voices of mercy,

the voices of justice,

the voices of hope,

the voices of love,

the voices of peace.

Do not let the voices of this world, full of hate and fear, drown out the small still voice within,

the place where we meet your Spirit.

Help us to hear you speaking.

Amen

 

 

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Giving Thanks

November 30, 2019

Luke 12: 15-21; Ruth 2: 2-9.

As we thank you Lord for the harvest and the work that produced it,

for food on our tables and families and friends,

let us remember the hungry,

and your admonitions to share the fruits of our labor throughout our communities.

Let us not count our blessings in ways that diminish our souls.

Help us be a kinder more compassionate nation O Lord.

Amen

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