Green Season
Welcome to
the Green Season, the longest season in the church calendar.
This time has other names as well: Pentecost Season, because
it begins on Pentecost Sunday, and Ordinary Time, for being
“ordinal,” or numbered. The weeks between Pentecost Sunday and
the first Sunday of Advent are referred to by number -- the
first Sunday after Pentecost, the second Sunday after Pentecost,
and so on. It's called the Green Season for its green liturgical
color and themes of new life and growth.
Meditation for the Green Season
I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE
But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to
them,
‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me,
‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
God said to Moses, “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.” (*)
-- Exodus 3:13-14
Lichen and moss growing willy-nilly from a rotting fence post,
topped by a purple mushroom — the very image of abundant life
and the spirit of surprise in God’s unfolding creation.
The fence sits on the edge of our land. The rough-hewn posts,
planted by our neighbor many years before we moved here, take on
greater life season by season. Summer before last, a mushroom
sprung up and stuck around for weeks. I admired it during a
number of early morning walks before taking its picture. The 4x6
snapshot turned out pretty good, so I ordered an enlargement for
framing.
 By
the time the print came back from the photo shop, the mushroom
was long gone from our neighbor’s fence post. I was happy to see
it again up close in the photograph.
 Then
I noticed that in the enlargement, a little white dot on the
mushroom’s crown — I’d never even been aware of it on the living
mushroom — had taken hazy shape. I peered at the photo, blinked,
looked closer.
Could a second mushroom be growing out of the first?
When I showed the picture to my spiritual director and pointed
out the tiny umbrella shape, she exclaimed with delight,
“Wonderful! A virgin birth!”
(*) God’s answer to Moses is an early form of the Hebrew verb
“to be” that is sometimes translated “I AM WHO I AM.”
High Wind and Fire
A poem for Pentecost by William Maxwell
On that first Pentecost
the wind and the fire were only hints
of what was about to happen:
Frightened folk gulped a couple of times
and spoke about Jesus.
They said, “This Jesus whom you crucified God has named
Lord and Messiah by raising him from the dead."
They said, “The old barriers between Jew and Gentile,
between men and women, between slave and free,
don’t matter now.”
They said, “Let’s hit the road.”
The Spirit, who had patted chaos into shape
and whispered in the ears of prophets and poets,
began to pat sinners into shape
and to speak clearly about forgiveness and love
and community and freedom and joy.
Not everyone got it, of course, but enough got it
so that the world was never the same.
© William Maxwell, 2009.
Prayers of the People for God's Spirit
These
Prayers of the People are based on prayers first used at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church in Port Townsend on May 11, 2008, the
Day of Pentecost. They were written by Roberta Hiday, a
spiritual director who lives in Sequim, Washington, and whose
blog
Spiritually Directed offers daily inspirational quotes and
musings.
More about
responsive prayer.
Our
God—we, your people, stand ready and open
(Leader's words in plain text.)
to
receive the flame of your Spirit.
Give
us the ability to speak your truth so that others may hear.
Come, Spirit of Truth, fill our hearts. (People's responses in bold italic.)
May that which was of stone be now transformed into life.
Come, Spirit of Life, change our hearts.
May we who receive your light dwell together in Your love.
Come, Spirit of Love, soften our hearts.
Bestow your compassion on those who suffer in mind, spirit, and
body.
Come, Spirit of Hope, heal our hearts.
Make us bold to bring light to the dark places, warmth to the
cold places, and love to the empty places.
Come, Spirit of Faith, strengthen our hearts.
Spirit of the Living God, fill our hearts, minds, and souls to
overflowing.
Come, Spirit of God, move in our hearts.
Our God—we, your people, celebrate the mystery of your
never-ending love.
Amen.
Prayers of the People for Trinity Sunday
These Prayers of the People
were first used on Trinity Sunday, May 30, 2010, at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church in Port Townsend, Washington. They were written
by Christine Hemp.
I especially like the passionate voice that infuses these
prayers, and the closing collect with its “Eternal Triptych –
Creator, Child, and Spirit.”
More about
responsive prayer.
Leader's words are in plain
text. People's responses are in bold
italic.
We pray fervently this morning, Lord, for your Church—that it
may delight in its mission and tip its ear to the needs inside
and outside its doors. We ask that you guide all those who
minister, who cultivate your garden.
Beside the gates in front of the town and at the entrances of
all the portals, Lord,
Brace us with the spirit of your wisdom.
Let us remember that with you there is always a blanket of
peace, even when anger and turmoil lash out across the globe.
Nudge us to turn toward one another in amazement, to see
ourselves in the face of the “other.” Help all nations seek that
place where all severed parts get sewn together.
Acknowledging the splendor of your open temple,
Hear our cry, Lord, to all who live.
We pray for our country, our president, and all the leaders of
the world. Show us that the human family begins at home: waiting
in the doctor’s office, standing in the grocery line, or setting
up chairs in the labyrinth. May each small encounter remind us
that our own community is but a reflection of the larger world.
In the astonishing inclusiveness of your holy name,
May we love our neighbors as ourselves.
When you assigned to the sea its limit and made a circle on the
fountains of the deep, you held wisdom’s hand. You rejoiced with
her in your inhabited world. Please help us, Lord, to stanch the
bleeding of our earth. Move us from helplessness into a sense of
purpose so that we can heal her wounds. May we honor the work of
your fingers, knowing that everything we touch is sacred.
In your unending forgiveness,
We call out with tender hearts.
Thank you, Lord, for the blazing beauty of our existence: From
the black holes of space to the birth of distant stars; from the
first bits of soil you created to the wild beasts of the field.
Bless and protect all the creatures of our earthly home – those
with hooves and scales, wings and paws, fur and shells, fins and
feathers. We marvel at the pulse of life around us: in the
needles of the Douglas fir, the ooze of a jellyfish, the
mosquito’s buzz. Make us mindful that all your creation is our
family.
In exaltation of the highest order,
We clap our hands like the rivers and sing out like the
mountains.
Knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces
character and character produces hope, give us the strength to
live this knowledge–even when it is the hardest thing to do.
Assure us yet again that all will be okay, no matter what. We
pray for those in fear and pain, trusting that you are laying
your hands upon them, even as we speak. In silence or aloud, we
pray for those who struggle.
In the white flame of your strength,
Lord, give us mercy and hope always.
We pray for those who have left this earth for your vault of
heaven. We, too, wish to follow them with a willing heart. Our
Lord promised that all the Father has is his--and ours as well.
Therefore, we look forward to that reunion when the multiple
tendrils of our love—past, present, and future—will be woven
together. In silence or aloud, we pray for those who have gone
before us.
With all the things the Spirit has yet to tell us,
We await our merging with you, three-part God.
Finally, Lord, we shower you with thanks. For out of the mouths
of infants and children your majesty is praised above the
heavens. We sing with gratitude for our laughter, our bounty,
our healing, our love, and all the joys that dapple our daily
path. Both silently and aloud, we praise you for the blessings
of this life.
Glory be to you, Lord,
We praise you and exalt you until space and time no longer
mark our days.
Lord, the Eternal Triptych – Creator, Child, and Spirit— keep us
steadfast in your holy mystery; give us strength to breathe in
the truth and to embrace what we can barely comprehend: That you
love us, that you are with us, and because of Jesus your grace
is draped upon us all.
Amen.
Prayers of the People for the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost
These prayers were first used
on June 13, 2010 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port Townsend,
Washington.
I wrote these prayers using language and inspiration from the
scripture readings for the day, which you can find on
The Lectionary Page.
More about
responsive prayer.
Leader's words are in plain
text. People's responses are in bold
italic.
Let us join our voices together in prayer to the One God –
Creator, Lover, and Friend:
Beloved, embrace us in your mercy.
We put our trust in you.
It seems as though our world is always in some kind of trouble,
from natural disasters to disasters that we bring on ourselves.
Dear God, surround and preserve our earthly home.
Beloved, embrace us in your mercy.
We put our trust in you.
Our nation is a leader in the world. From your teachings, we
know that means that we are called to be the world’s humble
servant. Guide our leaders with your eyes, that with true
humility they may see the path to peace, justice, and truth.
Beloved, embrace us in your mercy.
We put our trust in you.
Out here on the corner of the Olympic peninsula, we have our ups
and downs as well. We want to love you more than anything else
and to love our neighbors as ourselves, but it’s not always
clear how best to go about it. That’s why we’re here in your
house today, hoping to learn the way that we should go.
Beloved, embrace us in your mercy.
We put our trust in you.
We pray for all those in pain, sickness, or any kind of trouble.
Let your heart be their hiding place, a surrounding of
deliverance and peace. We remember especially those on our
parish prayer list and those named now, aloud or in our hearts.
[Pause for names to be said aloud.]
Beloved, embrace us in your mercy.
We put our trust in you.
We pray for all who have died and for all who mourn, remembering
especially those named now, aloud or in our hearts.
[Pause for names to be said aloud.]
Beloved, embrace us in your mercy.
We put our trust in you.
We pray for the Body of Christ here on earth—for all faithful
people, and for all who are true of heart. Keep us in their
number, open and willing to meet the Savior in all we do.
Beloved, embrace us in your mercy.
We put our trust in you.
We come to you aware of our weakness, and still with faith that
when we have the heart to speak, you will listen. Hear us as we
make our prayers to you, the One God – Creator, Lover, and
Friend.
Amen.
Note
The call-and-response refrain of these prayers was inspired by
Psalm 32:11b, “…mercy embraces those who trust in the
Lord.” Though I like the refrain, it doesn’t give the
congregation much to say. So when we used the prayers for the
first time, I decided to get the congregation more into the act
by sharing the leader's role. Just before the service, I passed
through the aisles and asked various individuals if they would
take the role of leader for one petition. At the appropriate
moment in the service, I started the prayers by reading the
first line and call for response. After that, each petition and
call was read by a different person in the congregation. As the
various voices spoke up from around the room, our prayers truly
did feel like “Prayers of the People.”
Prayers of the People for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost
These prayers were first used
on September 13, 2009 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port
Townsend, Washington, at an outdoor courtyard service called
“Launching Sunday,” in honor of a new year of worship and
programs at our parish.
I wrote these prayers using language and inspiration from the
scripture readings for the day, which you can find on
The Lectionary Page.
More about
responsive prayer.
In this courtyard of all souls, let us stand together
(Leader's words in plain text.)
and pray to the One who brings us,
every day, out of death and into life.
We stand in the presence of our God.
We walk in the land of the living. (People's responses in bold italic.)
Raising our voices for all people to hear, we give thanks for
all God’s works.
(You
are invited to remember and say your own thanksgivings.)
Because thanksgiving and hope sit at the same table, we speak of
hope for life renewed.
(You
are invited to offer your hopes for the future.)
One day tells its tale to another, and one night imparts
knowledge to another.
Morning by morning, the heavens declare the glory of God.
(Silence.)
We pray for the sick and suffering. We pray for anyone who feels
alone or afraid.
(You
are invited to name those you would remember in prayer.)
Watch over them, O God.
We all come to grief and sorrow. O God, full of
compassion, watch over us all.
(Silence.)
We pray for the nations of the earth, for all the people from
the busiest public street to the most remote outpost. We pray
for those with power, and for those without power.
Waken the ears of all the peoples, O God. Waken our ears
to the voice of Wisdom.
(Silence.)
We pray for those who have died.
(You
are invited to offer names for prayer.)
In faith and love,
They rest in you.
(Silence.)
We pray for all faithful people, and for all who make a friend
of God.
Strengthen your ministers to carry the good news out into
all lands, even to the ends of the world.
To the One who brings us out of death and into life—
To our Creator, Teacher, and Friend—
In this courtyard of all souls, we lift our prayers to you.
Amen.
Prayers for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost
These Prayers of the People were first used
on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port
Townsend, Washington. They take language and inspiration from
the day's Bible readings, which you will find on
The Lectionary Page.
More about
responsive prayer.
O Holy One, source of mercy, might, and love,
(Leader's words in plain text.)
Make us your people, so that in life and death we belong
to you alone. (People's responses in bold italic.)
O Holy One, our strength and our salvation,
Guide this nation. Crown its leaders and citizens in mercy
and loving-kindness.
O Holy One, doing wonders through all the world,
Light up the night, stretch out your hand, and open the
way to justice and peace.
O Holy One, who satisfies with good things,
Bless this community. Grant us grace to welcome every
stranger as you have welcomed us.
O Holy One, slow to anger and full of great kindness,
Teach us how to forgive each other from our hearts.
O Holy One, who turns hard rock into pools of water,
Heal our infirmities, comfort the suffering, and watch
over those in any kind of trouble.
O Holy One, who redeems our lives from the grave,
Hold those who have died in your love.
We pray for the special needs and concerns of this community.
[Now is a time you can name your own concerns and those of
your community, aloud or in your heart.]
Holy, Holy, Holy, source of mercy, might, and love,
We are your people, and you are our God.
Amen.
Bible References
Exodus 14:19-31 …so the cloud was there with the
darkness, and it lit up the night … Then the LORD said to Moses,
"Stretch out your hand over the sea …
Psalm 114 …Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water
…
Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 ... The LORD is my strength and my
might,
and he has become my salvation … Who is like you, O LORD, among
the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor,
doing wonders?
Psalm 103 He forgives all your sins and heals all your
infirmities … He redeems your life from the grave and crowns you
with mercy and loving-kindness; He satisfies you with good
things … The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger
and of great kindness.
Romans 14:1-12 Those who eat must not despise those who
abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those
who eat; for God has welcomed them … whether we live or whether
we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived
again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Matthew 18:21-35 …forgive your brother or sister from
your heart.
Meditation for All Saints Day
“Do not let your hearts be troubled... In my Father’s house there
are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I
have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again and will take you to myself, so that where I
am, there you may be also. And you know the way to
the place where I am going.” — John
14:1-4
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The Reverend
Kenneth J. Scott, fisherman |
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When I was a kid visiting my mother’s parents in West Virginia,
my grandfather used to take my brother and sister and me fishing with him. First, we’d go to
the backyard compost pile that fed my grandmother’s flower
garden. Grandfather Scott would turn over the pile with a
pitchfork, revealing a mass of red wrigglers in the dark humus.
We pulled out the worms we needed and dropped them in a used
coffee can. Then we all piled in his old station wagon and drove
to a pond belonging to a farmer friend. We baited our hooks, set
little red bobbers, and threw in our lines.
I can still remember the first time my fishing pole – a dead
thing a moment before – suddenly sprang to life in my hands. We
pulled out blue gills and sunnies until we had enough, then
drove home. Back beside the compost pile again, we watched my
grandfather sharpen his thin filleting knife, then gut and clean
the fish, sending the guts back to the worms in the compost
pile. That evening, he’d fry us up a fish dinner.
I don’t know much about the afterlife. The idea of heaven as a
place where I go after I die, a place where I exist as myself in
some essential way, is for me more a puzzle than a hope. I can’t
say it won’t be that way, of course, but I can’t say that it
will, either.
And yet, I do know that the human spirit lives on after death.
My grandfather’s spirit is alive in me today. When I watch the
still surface of a lake explode with life and feel an answering
explosion of joy inside me, my grandfather’s spirit is alive.
When I feed my compost pile with kitchen scraps, then feed my
raspberry canes from my compost pile, then feed a nephew some
raspberry pie, my grandfather’s spirit is alive.
My spirit will live on after I die: there’s no way to avoid it.
It will live in my nephews, their children, and their children’s
children. It will live in my neighbors, the people I’ve worked
with, even the people I’ve encountered on the street or in a
community meeting. That kind of afterlife may or may not be what
Jesus was talking about when he said that he would go and
prepare a place for me in his Father’s house, but I know that
it’s true and will be true as long as people exist.
So I pray:
Oh God, help me find a way to live in your
house today, so that my spirit may bring life to
your house tomorrow. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for All Creation
This litany of thanksgiving was first used on 25 October, 2009, at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church in Port Townsend, Washington, when we celebrated Stewardship
Ingathering and Creation Care Sunday.
Written by Bill Dengler, these prayers are also appropriate for
Thanksgiving Day, and for Earth Day celebrations in the spring.
We offer thanks, O God, for all the wonders of your creation,
• the planets, stars, and all that moves through the infinite expanse of space
• the minerals, rocks, sand, soil, and all the material of earth
• for water – both salted and fresh – that supports life
• for plants of all kinds
• for creeping beings and those of 4-, 6-, 8-, and multiple-legs that live on
and within the earth
• for winged beings that soar through the air
• for the variety of strange beings that live in the depths of the sea
• for species known and unknown to us, but all known to you
• for human beings blessed to be created in your image.
Thanks be to you, Holy God.
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