Litany of Resistance and Confession

 Litany of Resistance and Confession, from Jesus For President, by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haws, with assistance of others

One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world

All: Have mercy on us

One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world

All: Free us from the bondage of sin and death

One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world

All: Hear our prayer. Grant us peace.

One: For the victims of war

All: Have mercy

One: Women, men and children

All: Have mercy

One: The maimed and the crippled

All: Have mercy

One: The abandoned and the homeless

All: Have mercy

One: the imprisoned and the tortured

All: Have mercy

One: The widowed and the orphaned

All: Have mercy

One: The bleeding and the dying

All: Have mercy

One: The weary and the desperate

All: Have mercy

One: The lost and the forsaken

All: Have mercy

One: O God -- Have mercy on us sinners

All: Forgive us for we know not what we do

One: For our scorched and blackened earth

All: Forgive us

One: For the scandal of billions wasted in war

All: Forgive us

One: For our arms makers and arms dealers

All: Forgive us

One: For our Caesars and Herods

All: Forgive us

One: For the violence that is rooted in our hearts

All: Forgive us

One: For the times we turn others into enemies

All: Forgive us

One: Deliver us, O God

All: Guide our feet into the way of peace

One: Hear our prayer.

All: Grant us peace.

One: From the arrogance of power

All: Deliver us

One: From the myth of redemptive violence

All: Deliver us

One: From the tyranny of greed

All: Deliver us

One: From the ugliness of racism

All: Deliver us

One: From the cancer of hatred

All: Deliver us

One: From the seduction of wealth

All: Deliver us

One: From the addiction of control

All: Deliver us

One: From the idolatry of nationalism

All: Deliver us

One: From the paralysis of cynicism

All: Deliver us

One: From the violence of apathy

All: Deliver us

One: From the ghettos of poverty

All: Deliver us

One: From the ghettos of wealth

All: Deliver us

One: From a lack of imagination

All: Deliver us

One: Deliver us, O God

All: Guide our feet into the way of peace

One: We will not conform to the patterns of this world

All: Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds

One: With the help of God’s grace

All: Let us resist evil wherever we find it

One: With the waging of war

All: We will not comply

One: With the legalization of murder

All: We will not comply

One: With the slaughter of innocents

All: We will not comply

One: With laws that betray human life

All: We will not comply

One: With the destruction of community

All: We will not comply

One: With the pointing finger and malicious talk

All: We will not comply

One: With the idea that happiness must be purchased

All: We will not comply

One: With the ravaging of the earth

All: We will not comply

One: With principalities and powers that oppress

All: We will not comply

One: With the destruction of peoples

All: We will not comply

One: With the raping of women

All: We will not comply

One: With governments that kill

All: We will not comply

One: With the theology of empire

All: We will not comply

One: With the business of militarism

All: We will not comply

One: With the hoarding of riches

All: We will not comply

One: With the dissemination of fear

All: We will not comply

One: Today we pledge our ultimate allegiance… to the Kingdom of God

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To a peace that is not like the Empire's

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the Gospel of enemy love

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the Kingdom of the poor and broken

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To a King that loves his enemies so much he died for them

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the least of these, with whom Christ dwells

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the transnational Church that transcends the artificial borders of nations

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the refugee of Nazareth

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the homeless rabbi who had no place to lay his head

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the cross rather than the sword

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the banner of love above any flag

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the one who rules with a towel rather than an iron fist

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the one who rides a donkey rather than a war-horse

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the revolution that sets both oppressed and oppressors free

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the Way that leads to life

All: We pledge allegiance

One: To the Slaughtered Lamb

All: We pledge allegiance

One: And together we proclaim his praises, from the margins of the empire to the centers of wealth and power

All: Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb

One: Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb

All: Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb

 

alt. only by substituting the peace of Empire's for the peace of Rome, to indicate that although the model is based on the ancient Roman Empire, it is indicative of all Empires past and current.

Morning Prayer I at The Welcome Table

Praying The Hours with The Welcome Table missional community

The Hour: Dawn. “Prayer belongs less to time than to eternity.” (Merton)

Opening Verse: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of God has dawned upon you. For behold, darkness covers the land; deep gloom enshrouds the peoples. But over you the light of God will rise, and God’s glory will appear upon you….Your gates will always be open; by day or night they will never be shut….Violence will no more be heard in your land,  ruin or destruction within your borders. You will call your walls, Salvation, and all your portals, Praise. (from the Third Song of Isaiah)

Invocation:
One: Today is the day which God has made:
All: Let us rejoice and be glad therein.
One: What does the Eternal require of us?
All: To live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.                            One: May we treat this day as a gift given unto us, with surprise, delight, care and attention, and may we find ways to share this life’s gifts with others.                    All: Thanks be to God.

Covenant:
One: This is our covenant as we walk together in life in the ways of God known and to be made known, following our mission to make the radically loving and liberating spirit of Jesus visible in the world, wherever we are, together or apart:
All: In the light of truth, and the loving and liberating spirit of Jesus, we gather in freedom, to worship God, and serve all.

O Lord, let me soul rise up to meet you, as the day rises to meet the sun (Common Prayer: A Litany for ordinary radicals)

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm:

O Lord, open our lips
All: and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, •
and all that is within me bless the holy.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, •
and forget not all that has been given;

The forgiveness of all sins •
the healing of all infirmities;

The redemption of all lives •
Filling all with faithful love and compassion;

The bearers of good things, •
renew our strength.

Justice is begun •
for all who are oppressed.

Bless the Lord, all you hosts, •
you who do God’s will.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Psalm Prayer: O God, Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Grant to your people the spirit of unity,
that they may dwell together in your love, and so bear to the world the ointment of your healing and the dew of your blessing this day. In Christ, we pray, Amen.

Reading and Silent Reflection and Prayer

Intercessions: In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us,  To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (from Luke 1)

After each intercession is offered: Hear our prayer, O God.

The Lord’s Prayer: (feel free to use a version closest to your heart and in your own church tradition) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Silence

Closing Prayer: God give us the imagination to dream and catch glimpses of the life you intend for us to live. Show us how our individual lives are entwined with those around us, and help us to live so truly together that we embody your good news in this world. Amen. (Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Claiborne, et al)

Benediction:  Go in Peace. Go meet God, and serve with God today, wherever you may go.

Communion at The Welcome Table

Prayer: O God, in the loving and liberating spirit of Jesus, we gather at this welcoming table open to all, remembering how Jesus gathered people from all the walks of life, stranger and friend and enemies, gave thanks to you, offered all the bread of life and the cup of blessing and proclaimed a covenant of love for all in your name. We remember too the wonder of his life, as we remember the wonder of all of Creation given unto us and how all are One. We remember the agony of his death, and all the terrors and the tyrannies that oppress people today. And we remember the power of resurrection, the mystery of faith in the everlasting Spirit, the triumph over fear. Help us to remember to practice resurrection everyday, as we remember all those who have given Love the ultimate trust and the last word and who have worked to create the beloved community of renewed and abundant life. Help us to remember with this meal especially all those who are hungry, and may we treat all our meals as sacred and to be shared. Take us, bless us, so that even in and with our brokenness we may serve others. Amen. Jesus said I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. And they said, Lord, when did we do this? And he said, You did this for me when you did it for the least of these.

Here is the bread of life, food for the spirit. Let all who hunger come and eat. Here is the fruit of the vine pressed and poured out for us. Let all who thirst now come and drink. We come to make peace. We come to be restored in the love of God. We come to be made new as an instrument of that love. All are worthy. All are welcome. (from Singing the Living Tradition hymnal, Rob Eller-Isaacs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbOyBxQLr8Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrE55uXHdeU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZ3oWo--AM&feature=related

Let us Break Bread Together on our knees, let us break bread together on our knees when I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun o Lord have mercy on me Let us drink wine together on our knees let us drink wine together on our knees when I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun o Lord have mercy on me let us praise God together on our knees let us praise God together on our knees when I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun O Lord have mercy on me.

Passing the Plate and Cup of Communion: The Bread of Life, The Cup of Hope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C__o5T2__YE       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wxljWncd8k&feature=related   

1.We’re gonna sit at the welcome table, we’re gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days halleluia We’re gonna sit at the welcome table, gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days 2.All kinds of people round that table, all kinds of people round that table one of these days halleluia, all kinds of people around that table, gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days 3.No fancy style at the welcome table, no fancy style at the welcome table one of these days halleluia, no fancy style at the welcome table, gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days.

Evening Prayer in Lent

Each Thursday during Lent, we gather at 6 pm for this Vespers Service, at The Welcome Table Community Center, 5920 N. Owasso Ave.
You are welcome to join us, face to face, or if you are encountering this online, by participating and sharing prayers in the comment section and using the liturgy as a daily or weekly evening time of prayer and meditation and study.
The Welcome Table A Progressive Missional New Monastic Community in An Abandoned Place of Empire.
Following the radical Jesus in deeds not creeds. Join us in service to our community throughout the week. Our Welcome Table of Worship is open to all who welcome all, regardless of belief or denomination, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, economic status, or political affiliations. We don’t think Jesus would have it any other way. Free because we are non-creedal. We don’t give theological tests for admission, but encourage you to test us and try us to see if this way is for you. Universalist because we believe God is Love and All who abide in Love abide in God for all time. Christian because the generous compassionate way and story of Jesus, while not exclusively so, is our primary pathway opening up to God. Missional because we are sent to serve others more than ourselves. Community because we are made not to be autonomous individuals but to be a people of God.

Lenten Vespers
Invocation
Today is the day which God has made: Let us rejoice and be glad therein. What does the Eternal require of us? To live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Chalice Lighting Covenant
This is our covenant as we walk together in life together or apart, in ways of God known or to be made known, as a people of God striving to make Jesus visible in the world: In the light of truth, and the loving and liberating spirit of Jesus, we gather in freedom, to worship God, and serve all.

Evening Response
Now as we come to the setting of the sun and our eyes behold the evening light, we sing your praises, O God, for the blessings of the day, and we seek your presence as we face the night, finding your spirit there, waiting.

Song #46, Singing The Living Tradition, first verse, followed by humming the tune: Now The Day Is Over, Night Is Drawing Nigh, Shadows of the Evening, Steal Across the Sky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVR3HoRJfLA&feature=related

Prayer of Confession: Gracious and Loving God, we have erred and strayed from thy ways. We have followed too much the desires and devices of our own hearts. We have left undone those things we ought to have done, and done those things we ought not to have done. But, Thou, O God, have mercy upon us, You Restore Us with a pure heart and a gentle voice, and turn our lives to You, in service to others, especially those in affliction and oppression and those in need. Amen.

Prayers interspersed with Silent Meditation Embrace our darkness, we beg you, O Lord, and by your great mercy be with us in the midst of all perils and dangers. (You are invited to speak names of those for prayer each followed by unison response Hear our prayer. Please share your prayer requests, and blessings, in the comment section below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3sV3e-2a8 I lie down this night with God, gaelic night prayer meditation

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.Amen.

Reading and Conversation: We have been discussing selections from Father John Dear's book The Questions of Jesus. http://www.johndear.org/articles/theQuestionofJesus.htm http://www.johndear.org/books/questionsofjesus2.htm

Responsive Reading #637, A Litany of Atonement For remaining silent when a single voice wold have made a difference We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love. For each time our fears have made us rigid and inaccessible. We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love. For each time that we have struck out in anger without just cause We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love. For each time that our greed has blinded us to the needs of others We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love. For falling short of the admonitions of the spirit We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love. For losing sight of our unity We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love. For those and for so many acts both evident and subtle which have fueled the illusion of separateness We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love. --Robert Eller-Isaacs

Hymn 101 Abide With Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5nbq_VEea0

Responsive Reading 642, Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

http://theory.stanford.edu/~oldham/church/ps23-translations-2006Feb22/ps23-translations-2006Feb22.pdf For a variety of translations of this Psalm

Benediction: May the peace of God go with you, wherever you are sent; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing, at the wonders you have seen; may God bring you home rejoicing, once again into our doors.

Morning Prayer

Invocation
Today is the day which God has made:
Let us rejoice and be glad therein.
What does the Eternal require of us?
To live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Covenant
This is our covenant as we walk together in life in the ways of God known and to be made known, following our mission to make Jesus visible in the world, wherever we are, together or apart:
In the light of truth,  and the loving and liberating spirit of Jesus, we gather in freedom, to worship God, and serve all.

Morning Songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM-MHSKBL4g&feature=related Spirit of Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKvc4k6ORL0&feature=related Dona Nobis Pacem

Morning Prayers  For Your Life and For The People We Will All Serve Today

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. For behold, darkness covers the land; deep gloom enshrouds the peoples. But in the brightness of your dawning, Your gates will always be open; by day or night they will never be shut. They will call you, The City of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Violence will no more be heard in your land, ruin or destruction within your borders. You will call your walls, Salvation, and all your portals, Praise.  (excerpts from the Third Song of Isaiah)

Eternal Spirit, we come with hungry hearts, waiting to be filled: Waiting to be filled with a sense of your presence; Waiting to be filled with the touch of your spirit; Waiting to be filled with new energy for service; We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

Loving Creator, we confess what seems always with us: broken things within us that seem never to mend, empty places within us that seem always to ache, things like buds within us that seem never to flower. God of everlasting hope and forgiveness, help us to be open to your Presence within us, mending and tending to our aching hearts and to our hurt and wounded land. Help us to listen to others, and empower us to be your hands of action and healing, sowing seeds of compassion and justice into our families and communities and to support all those in need in our one world which you made and called good.

Let us pray for those who weep, and for those who cause their weeping. Hear our prayer, O God. For those who are without food, clothes, and a place of shelter this day and everyday. Hear our prayer, O God. For those who live without hope and meaning. Hear our prayer, O God. For those who live in fear or sickness. Hear our prayer, O God. For those who make gods of things and of themselves, Hear our prayer, O God. For those who are working to serve others this day, Hear our prayer, O God. For those travelling today, Hear our prayer, O God. For those in harm’s way, in homes and on battlefields, Hear our prayer, O God. For those who are finding their way again to love and laughter, Hear our prayer, O God. And for the great mission of God to bless the poor, to pardon the imprisoned, to bring sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to provide hospitality to the resident aliens, to clothe all, to visit the sick, and to proclaim the year of the Lord and end all debts, Hear our prayer, O God.

Who would you like for us to pray for today? Leave comments

Let us keep and remember all these reflections of our minds, meditations of our hearts, and prayers of our souls , as we join in saying the prayer Jesus taught to all those who would follow in his radical, inclusive, compassionate and transforming way. Feel free to use the words you were taught in the diverse faith traditions, or the words you have chosen for the spirit of the prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction
Let us go out into the highways and byways.
Let us give the people something of our new vision.
We may possess a small light, but may we uncover it, and let it shine.
May we use it to bring more light and understanding
to the hearts and minds of men and women.
May we give them not hell, but hope and courage.
May we preach the kindness and everlasting love of God.

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