Contemplative Service of Word and Prayer January 11, 2023
Welcome to worship this evening with Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. During this liturgical season of “Time after Epiphany” or “Ordinary Time,” we gather in worship mid-week during our ordinary daily life to contemplate our divine God who became human, appearing in flesh among us.
This service of spoken word follows the liturgy from All Creation Sings God’s word, voices of contemporary contemplatives, personal silent reflection, and prayer is the heart of this contemplative service. Throughout the service, we will observe time of silence together. Silence makes room to breathe deeply, time to still the heart and quiet restless thoughts, and, a place to listen and rest in the presence of God, “like a child upon its mother’s breast” (Psalm 131:2). Some times of silence will last no longer than a deep breath; some will be more spacious. A handbell or singing bowl may be rung to mark them.
We begin worship together in silence and in the unhurried pace of prayer.
GATHERING
The Holy Spirit gathers us into a community of prayer.
Gather in silence
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray.
O God of steadfast love, you are near to those who call, to all who cry out to you for help. Hear our cries and save us, grant to us your grace and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.
CONTEMPLATIVE VOICE: RICHARD ROHR
Richard Rohr OFM (born 1943) is a Franciscan friar, ecumenical teacher, and founder of Center for Action and Contemplation. He bears witness to the deep wisdom of Christian mysticism and traditions of action and contemplation.
One great idea of the biblical revelation is that God is manifest in the ordinary, in the actual, in the daily, in the now, in the concrete incarnations of life. Our experiences of ordinary life will transform us if we are willing to experience them fully. This is quite different than much of religion’s emphasis on being pure, perfect, or correct to find God….
God’s revelations are through the concrete and specific. Spirituality is not a Platonic world of ideas and theories about which you can be right or wrong. Revelation is not something you measure, but something—or Someone—you meet! This pattern of incarnation reaches its fullness in one small place on the planet, in one short period of history, in one very ordinary man named Jesus…
We have created an artificial divide or dualism between the spiritual and the so-called nonspiritual. This dualism is precisely what Jesus came to reveal as a lie. The Incarnation proclaims that matter and spirit have never been separate. Jesus came to tell us that these two seemingly different worlds are and always have been—one. We couldn’t even imagine it until God put all of this together in one body (see Ephesians 2:11-22), one life (1 John 1:1-2), and one shocking epiphany. I think this would be the fourth level of midrash—the “hidden” but full meaning. i
SILENCE
Silence concludes with a bowl chime
Psalm 29
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, silence, reflection, and song.
(Read Responsively)
1Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due God’s name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is upon the mighty waters.
4The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; the voice of the LORD is a | voice of splendor.
5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6the LORD makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7The voice of the LORD bursts forth in lightning flashes.
8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare. And in the temple of the LORD all are crying, “Glory!”
10The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forevermore.
11O LORD, give strength to your people; give them, O LORD, the blessings of peace.
THE READING Acts
10:34-43
34Peter began to speak to [Cornelius and his household]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living
and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
HOMILY Pr. Jonathan TrappPRAYER
The Holy Spirit prays with us and through us.
INVITATION TO PRAYER
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
Silence ended with a bowl chime
For all people in their daily life and work; For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble; For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God; For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For Elizabeth Eaton, our Presiding Bishop, and Kevin Strickland, our Bishop; and for all bishops and other ministers; For all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of this congregation.
The People may add their own petitions
Hear us, Lord; For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life. The People may add their own thanksgivings
We will exalt you, O God our King; And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
The People may add their own petitions
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them; Who put their trust in you.
Silence ended with a bowl chime
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. | Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
SILENCE
BLESSING FOR EVERYDAY LIFE REV. META HERRICK CARLSON
“For Unplugging at Night”
I could check alerts and pings a dozen more times before drifting off to sleep, but for what?
The day requires reactions That pull me in every direction Until I have fooled myself into thinking I’m in charge and everything matters.
But I’m not. And it doesn’t. The chats and feeds will wait While I rest and remember my humanity.
PEACE
Let us leave this evening from this sacred time embraced by the love of God, filled by the Holy Spirit, and blessed by the peace of Jesus Christ. May his peace that surpasses all understanding be with you now and always. And also with you.
From sundaysandseasons.com.
Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Blessing from Ordinary Blessings: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Everyday Life (The Ordinary Blessings Series, 1) by Rev. Meta Herrick Carlson.
i i Excerpts from “God in the Ordinary”, Daily Devotions from Center of Contemplative Action. https://cac.org/dailymeditations/god-is-in-the-ordinary-2017-01-13/ 204 204