the open office

Easter Reflection

Be gone cobwebs,
Dust, don’t gather.
Air, don’t still
And stones don’t settle.

All that creeps and steals,
Skulks, sneaks and slithers,
Retreat!

There is life here, reignited,
Burning, heat and light.

No word can be said,
But the stone still cries out,
And retreats in holy fear.

Air rushes in terror to escape,
But is inhaled again,
In, out, in, out.
A leaden chest rises, and falls;
Black blood melts red and circulates.
An eye is opened, a muscle twitches;

A word is about to be said.
Creation, three days in revolution,
Waits in cold dread for its hearing…

But receives only forgiveness as
The sun rises.

Technorati: Resurrection | Easter

CopyLeft Licensed

Prayer for Blindfolded Service

For Ash Wednesday, we conducted a service blindfolded to represent our sin, and upon the application of the Ash, we took the blindfolds off.  This was the prayer we spoke.

Heavenly Father, we are sinners.  From Adam’s choice in the garden to some of the very choices we made today, we have chosen sin.  Our sin has hidden You from us, and we walk in darkness completely.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Father, help us to see our sin; help us to escape this darkness and walk in the light that is your Son, Jesus.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, even though we are forgiven, we wear these blindfolds to remind us of our sins and the sins of our world.  People surround us who remain spiritually blind and unaware.  We ask that your Spirit would continue to help us preach your good news to those who walk in darkness.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that even as people who follow the teachings of Jesus we still fall short of your glory.  We confess that our spirits are strong, but our flesh is weak and like St. Paul, we do what we do not want to do and do not do what we should.  Father, help us to continue to seek after you, leaving behind the old flesh, and putting on the new.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for the dark world that surrounds us.  The famine, the war, the disease, the pain, the sorrow, the evil; Father we pray against all these things that are a result of our sin.  Help us Father, to continue to bring your kingdom to the peoples of the earth, to walk in forgiveness, and to be living sacrifices of your freedom. 

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

And Father, we pray that you would help us to see as you see.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Liturgy for the Celebration of a Birthday

The People are furnished with full glasses.

Infinite God, ageless and timeless,

God who was born and counted time with us,
God who knows each hair on N’s head (an alternate liturgy shall be said for the bald)
Thank you for N’s years that have passed.

The first toast is drunk, remembering joys and sorrows.

Infinite God, ageless and timeless,

God who rose eternal and sees far ahead
God who traces out each step N might tread
Thank you for N’s years still to come.

The second toast is drunk, a prayer of  hope for the future.

A cake may be presented, and a traditional song sung.
A third toast is drunk, a celebration of the present.

CopyLeft Licensed.

Technorati Tags: Birthday Liturgy

Liturgy for the Dedication of a Child

We used this for the dedication of our son, Elias.

CopyLeft Licensed.

Technorati Tags: Dedication of a Child