Litanies & Prayers

by Ken Sehested

Worthy, worthy the One who conceived the earth and gave birth to bears and basil and beatitudes alike.

We extol you, Heaven’s Delight and Earth’s Repose!

by Ken Sehested

In the beginning the Verdant One saw everything that was made, and behold, it was lavish and delightful. (Genesis 1:31)

The earth is satisfied with the fruit of God’s greening hand. (Psalm 104:13)

by Ken Sehested

Discard your reluctance, you saints and you sinners:
Shout vowels of praise, sing consonants of delight.

On you, Dear Beloved, have I cast my care and
entrusted my fare. Let none rejoice over my sorrow;
let none reprise my grief.

by Ken Sehested

Leader: Let all that breathes declare the good news.

Children (arms raised): Christ has risen!

by Ken Sehested

Oh LORD, you are my shepherd, I shall not want.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

by Ken Sehested

Jump for joy, oh people! For amid the screaming commercials and blithering campaign ads, the Redeemer has heard our aching voice.

God hears! God knows! This is our assurance against all blistering deceit.

by Ken Sehested

Turning from darkness (death) to light (life) is a major theme in Scripture. But there is also a minority report, where darkness and shadow are the place of God’s abiding Presence.

“Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” —Psalm17:1, 8

by Ken Sehested

O Breath of Heaven and Earth’s Delight, to your shelter we flee from enmity’s fright.

Incline your ear to each whimpering voice collapsed by the weight of earth-splitting fear.

by Ken Sehested

Is there no song to be sung, no bell to be rung, no laughter from the fields at play with their yield? Would that my mouth be formed and my lips unleashed to speak a word, a true and hearty word, to all grown deaf with grief.

Make our tongues worthy—make them constant and true—to sustain the weary with a word.

by Ken Sehested

The Rock of the Righteous is our God:

Who marks the boundaries between justice and vengeance;