conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

singing a sermon

You know, I have never sung within a sermon. That may change soon.

Here is a little more Fosdick and Newell.

If I ascend to heaven you are there O God
And if I make my bed in hell,
still you are with me. Ps. 139.8

Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving

In the begining O God
You shaped my soul and set its weave
You formed my body
and gave it breath.
Renew me this day
in the image of your love.
O great God, grant me your light
O great God, grant me your grace
O great God, grant me your joy this day
And let me be made pure
in the well of your health.

Matt 18:21-24, 27-30

Then Peter came and said to him, �Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?� Jesus said to him, �Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
�For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, �Pay what you owe.� Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, �Have patience with me, and I will pay you.� But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt.

(This is from Fosdick, p. 18)

Jesus says that an unforgiving, grudge-bearing spirit is not simply a fault, but an unutterable mean. Think over all that people have had to endure in you; remember the patience and forgiveness of your parents, the way your friends have overlooked your blunders and ill-nature; consider how your hope of any chance to retrieve past mistakes in your moral life rests on God's mercy and willingness to pardon. Then think on how mean it is to cherish grudges against those who wrong you. Face squarely all your nourished spite against anyone and see how contemptible it is.

Intercessions
O Christ of the road
of the wounded
O Christ of theh tears of teh broken
In me and with me
tthe needs of the world
Grant me my prayers
of loving and hoping
Grant me my prayers
of yearning and healing.

pray for the coming day and for healing within and among people
For Ella, Willie and Scott...For Ben and Annie, their family in this time of loss...

Closing Prayer

God before me, God behind me,
God above me, God beneath me.
I on your path O God
You, O God, on my way.
In the twistings of the road
In the currents of teh river
Be with me by day
Be with me by night
Be with me by day and by night.

Posted by tripp at January 13, 2004 09:45 AM