Holden Evening Prayer

Transcription

1 1. Service of Light Procession Evening Hymn Evening Thanksgiving Holden Evening Prayer 2. Psalmody, Readings and Canticles Psalm (ending with as an Offering to you.) (Silence for meditation) Leader: May our prayers come before you, O God, as incense, and may your presence surround and fill us, so that in union with all creation, we might sing your praise and your love in our lives. ALL: AMEN Old Testament Reading: David Smith (Silence for meditation) Epistle Reading: David Smith (Silence for meditation) Gospel Reading: Rev. Lisa Kay C. Smith Homily Luke 9: When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village. 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. 58 And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. 59 To another he said, Follow me. But he said, Lord, first let me go and bury my father. 60 But Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. 61 Another said, I will follow you, Lord; but let me

2 2 first say farewell to those at my home. 62 Jesus said to him, No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. In 2 nd Kings, Elisha is following his teacher, Elijah, and realizes his greatest desire in life is to emulate the sacred relationship which the great prophet has. His is not a greed based last request upon his Master, but an honest awareness of his great desire to be God s instrument. He realizes his mentor is not long for this world... 3 times he is told to separate himself from Elijah, but his devotion keeps him near. He asks for twice the amount of spirit that his mentor has, because he is sure that he would need more of the Spirit in order to be half as amazing as this great soul! This is the tale of Elisha s great desire to continue a ministry that appears to be coming to an end. { 6 Then Elijah said to him, Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to... But he said, As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you. So the two of them went on.} Elijah is taken up into heaven in a grand fashion - tradition has it that he never dies - he is taken up while still alive - so he can return at any time - thus the place set for him at the Passover meal. And Elisha pick up the mantle - the symbol of being chosen - and tests his powers and then continues Elijah s ministry.

3 3 The Spirit that Elisha witnessed, was the one described in Galatians - the Spirit of Freedom.... only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is a freedom in love that is far greater than the power to destroy. The amazing gift of loving yourself can never be emphasized enough. This love means not judging yourself - forgiving yourself - caring for yourself - making your health and joy to be the most important part of life! It is from that inner well of love that we can dip into and pour out the love for others. Only when we have an inner supply of love can we be a spring of grace to humanity. It is not selfish or evil or dangerous to rejoice in your own soul - do not ever forget that you are totally God s. How can you deprive God of the joy he wants to share with you - it is necessary, in order for you to know God, that you accept that you are precious! Elisha recognized this - that is why he desired Elijah s spirit - because when the spirit of God and humanity are brought into union and recognized ALL of life that is around them is transformed! And with that

4 4 power we can best serve each other - be slaves to one another and truly love our neighbors! To be like Christ! Our Gospel for today shows the energy and determination of Christ, which we are called to emulate. Jesus had proven to all that he was Christ, there was no longer any doubt - his being was recognized as ultimately Sacred! But those who did not believe were not to be punished, as the disciples wanted to do to the village of Samaritans; no - those who knew the truth were to just keep plugging on with determination. The energy in this scripture which I read really is amazing., he set his face to go... he sent messengers ahead... his face was set toward Jerusalem... But he turned and rebuked them (as though he was always ahead leading them - looking back to keep them moving)... As they were going... (so many action verbs - go go go!)... the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head... and finally, No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

5 5 Dear parts of this body of Christ as represented in the Hyattstown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we are all being called to keep going - to set our faces toward the Promised Land - to focus on the spirit of love within each of us and to being slaves to one another. We are called to pick up the mantle of faith and trust and hope and to set our beings diligently to go forth into the future generations with Christ. Let us set our hands on the plow and look forward. Imagine for a moment plowing a field - even today with our modern machinery nothing has changed... if you don t keep an eye on where you are going - you can mess up the field something horrible! You can undo ministry (er - I mean crops) that are thriving and can leave areas untilled which need desperate attention! Today following worship we will be looking at our land and our resources, our supplies and our expectations for the Harvest. May we be faithful to the Spirit of God, which is love, and go forth in service - never taking our eyes off the plow! The choir will now continue with our Litany and prayers.

6 6 3. Litany and Prayers CHOIR: (ending with Keep us, hold us, gracious God.) Leader:... Great and merciful God, Source and Ground of all goodness and life, give to your people the peace that passes all understanding, and the will to live your Gospel of mercy and justice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. ALL: AMEN 4. The Eucharist the Giving and Receiving of Gifts Offertory Sentences Elder Receiving of our Tithes & Offerings *The Doxology *Offertory Prayer Elder *Eucharist Hymn: One Bread, One Body #393 We practice an Open Table! All who believe are welcome to share the sacrament! Please note that grape juice is provided in the center of the tray and wine is provided in the cups on the outside of the tray. *Invitation to Communion & Words of Institution *Prayer of Thanksgiving Elder Partaking of the Bread & Cup The Lord s Prayer (We say Trespasses, Trespass ) 5. *Final Blessing: Choir (SILENCE while God s light is brought into the world)