Tomorrow's Offering

Tomorrow's sermon is the last in the little series on the First Responders to the Resurrection. It has been enjoyable for me to take another look at the early church and the challenges they faced, and (in many cases) overcame.

The journey from Jerusalem to Antioch to Athens and to Corinth ends for us tomorrow. I kind of wish I had kept it going through Rome. Maybe we'll do the same thing next year, with whistle stops in different towns (like Galatia and Ephesus and the town of Timothia ... oops, that letter was to a person). We can finish next year's trip in Rome.

Tomorrow is also the day we remember the Ascension of our Lord. The candle on the communion table, representing the physical presence of Jesus, will be removed during both services (he makes a cameo appearance again in the second service)to return on Christmas eve. Also, because next Sunday is Pentecost, marking the end of the Easter season, the silence will return to the pastoral prayers. Some of you may have missed the silence; if so, take heart, it's coming soon!

It's been a good week around here, for the most part. Maybe later today I'll post some pictures of things like Tom Swift's chapel service at Emmanuel.

Here's the prayer. As usual, I haven't proofed it for any and all mistakes, but that's the joy of push-button publishing. Peace.

Prayers of the Church for Grandview
4 May 2008

O God, as the delicate dogwood blossoms fall from the tress, becoming the carpet of a fading Spring, we continue to enjoy the blessings of your seasons. Thank you for the beauty of the earth. Thank you for creation; for a place to set our feet and fix our eyes; for fresh fragrances and gentle textures; and for the sacrament of loved ones. Our blessings engulf our complaints. Our joys outweigh our sorrows. Abundant life overwhelms death.

All of these things come to us in season, suffering and rejoicing alike. Just as we had your Son with us on this earth for a season, we now enjoy the time of your kingdom. During this kingdom season, help us to be people of justice and joy, of strong stances in defense of your sacrifice; and of even greater grace. By the power of your Spirit may we be your people, recognizable by our love for you, our love for each other, and our love and sacrifice for those who don’t wish to be part of your family.

We lift our souls to you. May they rise like your Son to meet you! By the grace and sacrifice of your Son, may we be acceptable to you, restored, forgiven, and alive!

Forgive us our immoralities, be they financial, sexual, or relational. Let us not be like the church at Corinth that frustrated Paul less by their immorality and more by their refusal to repent of these things. Forgive us our infidelities to the gospel, for celebrating resurrection while whistling past our crosses, for celebrating community while ignoring the stranger among us, and receiving grace without being willing to suffer the pain that giving grace sometimes causes us.

Help us to participate in the healing you offer to those on our prayer list, in the comfort you offer those who are grieving, in the protection you give to those in harm’s way, in the justice you give to those who suffer under corrupt systems of government, and in the joy you can still give to those who have found life too hard. We also ask that you would give strong and peaceful resources to those whose time to die has come. Cut short their time of testing.

Give great joy in service to those who have left home and family for the sake of the gospel, we remember before you the Coleys, Freelands, Headens, Hillmans, McDades, Nyadors, Veals, and Seth Williams. We also remember the Jacksons and the Colemans as they ready themselves to leave us as they follow your call.

We pray together as your Son has taught us: