Author: ppadmin

Thus sayeth the Spirit, through the Apostle’s letter
to the church in Rome:

I appeal to you, beloveds, by the tender intention of
     heaven’s Delight,
let your spiritual response put your bodies in gear.

I’ve had enough—thank you very much—of your
     groveling prayers,
your profit-minded flattery, and every pissy-pious
           haggling for divine favor.

Throw off the covers of earth’s darkened slumber! Unplug your ears, you creatures of flesh! From deepest sigh of tear-stained eye, set your sight on Heaven’s resolve.

For the sky’s bright luster, alive with motion, shows the wonder of Blessed intention.

The Word—shorn of words—springs from every nick and cranny. By night and by day the silent sound of Wonder drenches every listening ear.

Women: How can we thank God enough for you, in return for all the joy we feel because of your presence in our lives?

Men: Night and day we pray earnestly that your face will never depart from our memory.

Women: So now may the One Who showers our lives with goodness and mercy be present with you even in our parting.

Reader 1: One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in.

Reader 2: Pay attention!

Congregation: PAY ATTENTION!

“Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or of tears!

“Say firmly: Our brothers shall not beat their plowshares into swords, their harvest blades in bayonets.

“Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.

Let blessings leap from your lips, you People of Mercy!

For the One who saves is the One who serves.

Bring all that you are to this holy abode. Take off your shoes and lean into God’s breath.

To the Blessed One of Heaven does my heart heave its burden.

For release from my shame, I wait all the day long.

Silence accusers; still every sharp tongue.

Peace, like a river. Praise, like a songbird. Joy, like a fountain.

All these things, and more, in my soul.

I’ve got tears, like raindrops. Heartaches, by the handful. And protest—Lordy me, have I got protests.

In the company of these witnesses, round this table of remembrance of baptismal vows,  within hearing of the One who delights in our company and in whose Promise we trust, let us make our professions.

What do we believe?

That we shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

Oh Wondrous One, Who rides the skies and consorts with the earth— haunting the heavens, hounding mere mortals with the expectation of ecstasy—come and rouse hungry hearts with the aroma of your Presence.

Let the song of angels sound again, announcing glory to God and peace for the earth.

Give your people wombs of welcome to the news of reversal: the annulment of enmity and the Advent of promise.