The Way of Advent - Station Two

Second Station – God’s call to prepare the way (Is. 40:1-11)

Our King and Savior now draws near:

Come among us and save us, we pray.

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

V. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed

R.  And all people shall see it together.

Let us pray. (Silence)

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, 124)

Savior of the nations, come!

Virgin’s Son, make here your home.

Marvel now, both heaven and earth,

that the Lord chose such a birth.

               - Martin Luther (after Ambrose of Milan)

                  The Hymnal 1982, #54  st. 1

The Way of Advent

This Advent season, for my parish, I've created "The Way of Advent", a booklet of devotions based on The Way (or Stations) of the Cross. Each day (or nearly so!) I'll be posting one of the twelve stations. Today, the opening and First Station:

The Way of Advent

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Our Father, who art in heaven....             Our Father in heaven....

(Lord's Prayer version of your choice)

V. We will rejoice in the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ.

R.  In whom is our salvation, our life, and resurrection.

Let us pray.   (Silence)

Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of the advent of your blessed Son, who came among us as one of us and will return with redemption for all creation. Amen.

First Station – God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 17:4-7)

Our King and Savior now draws near:

Come among us and save us, we pray.

God said to Abram, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

V. I will make of you a great nation;

R.  In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Let us pray. (Silence)

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, 100)

Savior of the nations, come!

Virgin’s Son, make here your home.

Marvel now, both heaven and earth,

that the Lord chose such a birth.

               

                                                       - Martin Luther (after Ambrose of Milan)

                                                       The Hymnal 1982, #54  st. 1

Thoughts on Reconciliation and the Bottom Line

In this coming Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 18:15-20, Proper 18A) the final step in Jesus’ system of reconciling differences in the church allows for the non-repentant offender to be treated as someone who is lost to the community – lost in the manner of a Gentile, or a tax collector. I think there’s significance in those particular words, as opposed to “casting into outer darkness” or something permanently damning. After all, who did Jesus accept and spend time with, even eat with and forgive, much to the consternation of the religious elite of his day, the scribes and Pharisees? The answer is: Gentiles and tax collectors. There’s even a bit of irony here, because this particular gospel was written in the name of one who was a tax collector! So like that lost sheep that the shepherd goes and finds, there is always hope of restoration and reconciliation, even if one has to go back and start over. Perhaps this was Jesus’ way of warning the church not abuse its authority to “bind and loose” – that is, decide whom to forgive and accept back into fellowship, and who would be excommunicated and thus lose hope of salvation. And, he promised to be in the midst of even the smallest gathering of believers, to guide their decision making.

The world of first century Christianity was much smaller, and its worldview so vastly different from ours that we can barely begin to compare them. Our lives are not isolated, and for many of us, no matter how faithful, the church may no longer be our primary form of community; we move in many diverse circles, some of which barely overlap one another. Though Jesus’ words are clearly intended for the church, is there a message here for us about forgiving and reconciling with those outside it? The larger message in this gospel tells us that our behavior, no matter where we may be, should always be modeled after the life and teachings of Jesus: courageous honesty, true humility, and above all, love. We bring those virtues to any of our damaged relationships, and we have the tools of reconciliation.

 

 

Tikkun Olam - A Litany for the Healing of the World

The Hebrew phrase “tikkun olam” means to repair or to heal the world. I wrote this litany for used in my parish this Sunday (World Mission Sunday in TEC) as a response to the violence, need, and sorrow that is currently present in the world God so loves.

God of love, whose Son Jesus Christ is named the Prince of Peace, we pray for all nations and regions experiencing violence: where governments attack their people, or foreign forces strike;

where protestors clash with police and the military; where bombs, missiles, gunfire, and brute strength assault, maim, and kill the innocent.

Hear our prayer, O Lord,

And let our cry come before you.

God of justice, who rules heaven and earth with a merciful hand, we pray for those places where governments are failing: where coups and hostile forces wreak havoc, and leaders abdicate responsibility; where economic, legal, and civil disintegration jeopardize happy and peaceful living;

where unstable governance threatens the safety of the people.

Hear our prayer, O Lord,

And let our cry come before you.

God of abundance, whose Son Jesus Christ is the Way, the Bread of Life, the True Vine, and who gives Living Water, we pray for those experiencing poverty, hunger, and the collapse of their communities: where political posturing and lack of funds threaten infrastructure and public safety; where drought, flooding, climate change, greed, and disregard for the environment inhibit food production and distribution; where lack of education, medical care, sanitation, and clean water allow ignorance and

disease to flourish.

Hear our prayer, O Lord,

And let our cry come before you.

God of our ancestors in faith, who promised that through Abraham and Sarah all the peoples of the world would be blessed, we pray for those regions: where attacks and counter-attacks are mounted in the name of religion; where violence has replaced peaceful coexistence; where cooperation and understanding have been replaced by fear and zenophobia.

Hear our prayer, O Lord,

And let our cry come before you. 

God of love, whose Son Jesus Christ welcomed the outcast and marginalized, we pray for ethnic, sexual, religious, and racial minorities: whose governments fail to protect or seek to punish them;

whose families and friends ostracize them; whose lives are constrained by threats of persecution and physical harm.

Hear our prayer, O Lord,

And let our cry come before you.

God of all, we pray for Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, neighborhoods in Chicago and other American cities, Egypt, Jerusalem, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, South Sudan, Syria,  Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela

Hear our prayer, O Lord,

And let our cry come before you.

(The Presider may add a concluding collect)

Mag & Nunc

The Magnificat (“Song of Mary”) and the Nunc dimittis (“Song of Simeon”), both of which are found in Luke’s gospel, are the two great Gospel canticles of the church. They are among several choices of canticles in Morning Prayer/Matins and the only ones appointed for Evening Prayer/Evensong.* The first is sung by a young pregnant woman whose greeting by an older female relative has affirmed the miraculous message given her by an angel. The second is offered by a man, usually assumed to be an old man, who has beheld the young woman’s child forty days after his birth and recognized, in this tiny baby, the embodiment of God’s salvific plan for the world.

In the Eucharistic lectionary, Mary’s song is included in the gospel reading for Advent IV in year C, as well as the Feast of the Visitation on May 31; Simeon’s occurs in the gospel appointed for the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple on February 2. Neither the Visitation nor the Presentation may be transferred to a Sunday, so that many who are familiar with the context of the Magnificat from its place in Advent (not to mention the popularity of Mary) are not at all aware of the context of the Nunc dimittis (Simeon seldom makes anyone’s list of Top Ten Saints). The somewhat rare occasion of the Presentation falling on Sunday this year gives more people the opportunity to experience Simeon’s song in its scriptural setting.

We’re used to singing and praying these canticles (often referred to as “Mag” and “Nunc”) in tandem, but their connection goes much deeper than simply being paired up in the Daily Office. In Luke’s gospel they serve as bookends for the lovely but brief narrative of Jesus’ infancy. The Fourth Sunday of Advent is the first and only Sunday of that season actually to speak of the upcoming birth of Jesus; the Presentation is the final event recorded by Luke of his infancy. Mary’s young life is only beginning to unfold, though much of what lies ahead of her will be tragic (Simeon tells her that a sword will pierce her soul). Though we don’t really know Simeon’s age, he is usually depicted as elderly, and having been promised by God that he would not die before seeing the Savior, he can behold the holy infant and know that God’s assurances have been fulfilled - he can "depart in peace". The words of Mary’s song belie the oft-held view that she was “meek and mild” – her words are a manifesto of kingdom justice and mercy, the future God has promised, a paean to the Good News. Simeon’s speak of freedom, peace, the reward of faith. Ages ago God had promised Abraham that in him all the peoples of the world would be blessed. The young woman carries in her womb the long-awaited hope of her people from the time of Abraham; the old man holds in his arms that promise realized, not only for Abraham’s descendants, but for all.

In the Greek Orthodox church, Mary is known as the theotokos ("God bearer"); Simeon is called theodoches ("God receiver").

 *Morning and Evening Prayer are two of the spoken daily prayer services (“Offices”) of the church; Matins and Evensong are their sung counterparts.

The texts of the two canticles, from The Book of Common Prayer, are below:

 The Song of Mary   Magnificat  (Luke 1:46-55)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
    for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
    the Almighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
    in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
    he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
    and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
    for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
    to Abraham and his children for ever.

The Song of Simeon    Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29-32)  Lord, you now have set your servant free *
    to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
    whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
    and the glory of your people Israel.

Prayers of the People

Deacon:

[Following the form in your bulletin, and responding as indicated,] let us offer our prayers to God for the church and for the world.

Let us pray for the creation.

Intercessor:

Grant that we may exercise prudent stewardship of this good earth, that those with whom we share it now, and those who come after us, may enjoy its bounty and blessings. Drive far from us our inclinations to consume too much and to hoard what is not ours. – PAUSE -

Deacon:

Show us your mercy, O Lord.

People: And grant us your salvation.

Deacon:

Let us pray for the church.

Intercessor:

For Justin, Archbishop-elect of Canterbury…(the usual list, including Anglican, Diocesan, and parish cycles of prayer….) – PAUSE -

Deacon:

Clothe your ministers with righteousness;

People: Let your people sing with joy.

Deacon:

Let us pray for the nations of the world.

Intercessor:

For all who suffer the burdens of poverty, injustice, war and other violence – especially in…. – PAUSE -

Deacon:

Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;

People: For only in you can we live in safety.

Deacon:

Let us pray for local, regional, and national leaders.

Intercessor:

For Barack, our President; [N], our Governor; for the Congress of the United States, the Supreme Court, and the [state name] legislature; and for leaders of our several communities. – PAUSE -

Deacon:

Lord, keep this nation under your care.

People: And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

Deacon:

Let us give thanks for our blessings.

Intercessor:

For (baptisms, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) – PAUSE -

Deacon:

Day by day we bless you;

People: We praise your Name for ever.

Deacon:

Let us pray for those in any kind of need, in our parish and elsewhere.

Intercessor:

For (regional cycle); for (N.N.); and for all who are ill, isolated, grieving, and who go without basic human needs. – PAUSE -

Deacon:

Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten:

People: Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Deacon:

Let us pray for those who have died.

Intercessor:

For (N.N.) and those who have died as a result of human action, human neglect, or natural disasters…. – PAUSE -

Deacon:

Grant them eternal rest, O God;

People: And let light perpetual shine upon them.

Deacon:

Let us pray that in all things we who worship the God of mercy, love and reconciliation may be strengthened and renewed for ministry in the world. – PAUSE -

Create in us clean hearts, O God.

People: And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

 

 

New Hymn Text, for the Holy Trinity

Loving Creator, our source and our end,
Ruling eternity, close as a friend,
Author, Inventor, your image we bear:
Nearer we’re drawn to you with each act of prayer.

Jesus our Savior, you took human form,

Born in humility, risking our harm:
Be our example in all that we do.
Lead us to imitate your way good and true.

Life-giving Spirit, protector and guide,

Gift to God’s people, be e’er at our side,
Leading, inspiring the Church on our way,
God’s presence with us as we live day by day.

Trinity blessed, the great Three in One:

Father most holy, with your risen Son,
Joined with the Spirit, in union we see
Proof of your love for us, adored One in Three.

Tune: Slane

                                                           ©Cynthia J. Hallas