PREPARATION

A MORNING RESOLVE

I will try this day to live a simple, sincere and serene life,

repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety,

discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking;

cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity,

and the habit of holy silence;

exercising economy in expenditure,

generosity in giving,

carefulness in conversation,

diligence in appointed service,

fidelity to every trust,

and a childlike faith.

I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work,

study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep

which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.

And as I cannot in my own strength do this,

nor even with a hope of success attempt it,

I look to thee, O Lord my God.

The Forward Movement

THE PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is discord, union;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that we may not so much

seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

SET US FREE.....

God, you have revealed yourself as One

who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people;

In a world that looks away from injustice,

You cast your eyes on the destitute, the poor, and the wronged;

You have called us to follow you,

to preach good news to the poor,

to proclaim release for the captives

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed

and to proclaim the time of your blessing.

Be present with us as we respond to your call.

Open our eyes to the downtrodden.

Fill us with compassion for the plight of the alien,

the refugee, and the immigrant.

Lead us into works that help orphans and widows.

Give us courage to block the paths

of those who exploit the poor.

Set us free from pious exercises that prevent us from true worship:

Sharing bread with the hungry,

Sharing homes with the homeless,

Sharing clothes with the naked,

Sharing hearts with our own kin.

So may your justice roll down like waters,

your righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Lead our footsteps to stand with the poor,

that we might stand with you.

Have mercy, O God:

Scatter the proud,

Put down the mighty,

Lift up the lowly,

Fill up the hungry,

And send the rich away empty-handed.

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?

Have you heard the news:

Get the news writers ready.

Rearrange their headlines

with words of hope and expectation

Get the economists excited.

Give them news of upturns and renewal

in people’s values rather than market value

Get the politicians lobbied.

Inform them it is time to measure

their new index of the nation’s gross national happiness

Get the poor prepared.

Invite them to find their place at table

and help themselves to a banquet shared with the rich

Get justice underway.

Get busy crushing the darkness

and countering the now exposed half-truths of those in power

Get the bread of life baked.

Get the wine of truth poured

and bring on the advent of God 

Prepare the way of the Lord!

~ written by Roddy Hamilton

we watch, we wait, we dream, we pray…

silently and gently

falling and failing

changing and resting

seeking you, Lord…

we watch

we wait

we dream

we pray…

for the earth to renew

for our hearts to soften

for your grace to cover us

for your justice to pour out

for time and space to listen

for courage to act

on the edge of Advent,

we sit with you…

we pause…

we hurt…

we repent…

we rage.

we watch,

we wait,

we dream...

Deborah Vaughn,