Litanies & Prayers

Give heed, all you of unquestioned comfort and careless ease:

You who know little of the underside of bridges, the short side of markets, the wrong side of the tracks or the inside of jails.

The Holy One of Heaven is neither kindly uncle nor auntie sweet.

by Ken Sehested

Welcome to this Circle of faith. Today we mark both the pain and the passion of the human journey toward the arms of God.

Jesus, riding a humble donkey, entered Jerusalem, cheered by the crowd.

And God said: I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.

They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, trusting in the Lord.

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?

You make me lie down in green pastures; You lead me beside still waters.

Let young and old alike gather here, gather here
Let young and old alike gather here
Let young and old alike, proclaim our God’s delight
O’er human wrath contrite, hostile walls tumbling down
O’er human wrath contrite, tumbling down

When sorrow grips the heart, lift your voice, life your voice
When sorrow grips the heart, lift your voice
When sorrow grips the heart, to Mercy’s shade depart
To Heaven’s rest embark, linger there, linger there
To Heaven’s rest embark, linger there.

When joy surrounds your way, rise and sing, rise and sing
When joy surrounds your way, rise and sing
When joy surrounds your way, let love’s embrace convey
Redemption’s bright display, wondrous love, wondrous love
Redemption’s bright display, wondrous love, wondrous love

The time has come to flee Pharaoh’s national security state for the insecurity of the wilderness.

Led by the Spirit and sustained by angels, we head to the desert for a throw-down with the Devil.

Fear not. God will sustain you. Your clothes will not wear out, your feet will not swell.

Bravo! Bravo to the One who comes from the unknown and unseen place to rattle the landscape and roust the pretenders!

This One, and this One alone, is worthy of devotion.

The Majestic One thunders into the silence of tyranny. At the sound of this Voice, all creation shudders in remembrance of forgotten promises.

Sisters and Brothers in the God Movement: Hear and heed these words of instruction. Don’t hedge on the truth. Trust the ties that bind us one to another. Truth-telling makes them stronger.

Remember this: The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.*

When you become angry with another—and it’s bound to happen—don’t let your anger overwhelm your affection.

With eyes apprised by the urgency of Heaven, with lungs in harmony; with hands contrite—no fear, no fright—we raise our humble plea.

Christ in your mercy, enslave every malice, transform every heartache to glee. Rain mercy upon us; Beloved, conform us, to Heaven’s harmony.

All virtue and valor, bestow on our way. Consign all contempt to the flame. Be thou my vision—freed from its prison—with hope confess, proclaim.

The Radiance of Day is my light and salvation.
No threat can entrap me, no terror encroach.

The Sovereign’s my full-armored haven, safe harbor.
No storm can o’erwhelm me, no gale can prevail.

Though foes clamor ’round, bitter fright falls in torrents,
thy Sheltering Hand’s dense defense doth surround me.