Contemplative Service of Word and Prayer
February 1, 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 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 Wisdom, source of life, you transform all things, foolishness into wisdom, weakness into strength, sorrows into joy. Embolden us to proclaim to this generation the joy we have in Jesus as our ancestors before us. Help us rely not on our own understanding, but on your wisdom and strength through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord | Amen.
CONTEMPLATIVE VOICE: BARBARA HOLMES
(b. 1943) Dr. Barbara Holmes is a scholar of African American spirituality and mysticism and presently a faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation.
I think the wisdom that matters during times like these is ancestral wisdom, community wisdom, and discernment of Spirit….
So, visionaries, prophets, Jesus, have all warned us that this journey that we are on will be beset by troubles. In this life you will have trouble. How we handle that trouble is our witness to future generations. So, the coronavirus pandemic is our current trouble, but it won't be our last. An old
order is passing away. A new order is on its way, and we do not have the power to stop or slow the transitions that we encounter, but we can live through it and help one another. We can host joy, joy that is unspeakable and unbreakable, joy that bubbles to the surface from the inner recesses of our soul. Even during the worst possible personal and collective events, our joy is seated in faith, not circumstances. This joy may be baptized with our tears as we lose loved ones, but it never ceases. It is evidenced by the songs that we sing, the kindness that we share, and our willingness, to resist the powers of destruction, with communal resolve and a joyful heart. i
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, silence, reflection, and song.
THE READING 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
HOMILY
SILENCE
Silence begins and concludes with a bowl chime
PRAYER
Pastor Jenny McLellanThe Holy Spirit prays with us and through us.
INVITATION TO PRAYER
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
Brief silence
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.
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
Silence begins and concludes with a bowl chime
