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Beloved, we give thanks:
For those who plow and plant,
those who harvest
and those who harbor
the promise of the day when all shall eat and be satisfied.

We give thanks:
For the day when all go out in joy
and are led back in peace,
the hills bursting in song, the trees in applause.

On that day no backs
shall bend in stress,
no arms ache or hands callous,
nor shirts drench in sweat,
with the bounty bound for the tables
of those whose eyes already swell out in fatness.

May that day mark the end of those
with no ears for the tears of distress,
with no pity on the forlorn,
scorning desolated souls
who cower and genuflect
in hopes of a morsel of bread and a sip of joy.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 73:7 & Isaiah 55:12.

Background: When the Nazi party took power in Germany in 1933, they began an organized campaign to exterminate the Jewish race. By the end of World War II, 6 million Jews lay dead. Never has there been a more systematic, intentional attempt at genocide. In addition, the Nazis executed at least another 5 million others considered “undesirable,” including dissidents, prisoners of war, Romani (Gypsies), the disabled, and homosexuals.

Dear God: We confess that it is beyond our capacity to imagine the magnitude and meaning of the holocaust of the Jews.

Hunted. Hounded. Herded.

Shot. Gassed. Starved. Worked to death.

Incinerated.

At least one million children. Two million women. Three million men.

We acknowledge that many among those who devised and implemented this unspeakable horror were those who breathed your Name in their liturgy of carnage.

Gott mit uns (“God with us”), inscribed on the belt buckle of every German soldier, has been the motto of empires of every age.

Including our own “one nation, under God.”

Free us, we pray, from the tyranny of all such gods. Grant us the gumption to be heretics in the face of every such fraudulent use of your Name.

Bind our hearts and hands in the manner of Immanuel*, as in God-with-us Jesus, who faced with disarmed truth the terror of his own age.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. For a service commemorating Yom Ha’Shoah, commonly known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. *Isaiah 7:14, 8:8; Matthew 1:23.

Blessed be the God of earth’s garden-green home. Great is your mercy; and tender, your might.

You raise up a Ransom to barter our fate from death’s sure dominion and every dark fright.

From slavery’s chains you fashion a scepter to heal and reveal Heaven’s righteous intent.

From landless oppression to harvest aplenty, by a path through deep waters of drowning lament.

For barren Elizabeth: a seed now conceives, for redemption of shame and repentance to preach.

For priestly Zechariah: now muddled, befuddled by angel’s ascent, implausible news now arresting all speech.

To such are conception and vision conveyed. Disgrace now removed and tongue soon released.

The dawn shall soon break on all shadow-bound eyes: guiding, confiding all footsteps to peace.

Then John grew in stature, in measure and spirit.

Wilderness dwelling, all penitent hear it.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah in Luke 1.

It was a time of great turmoil in the land. The Spirit of God bypassed all the famous leaders and came to me with a dream.

And I saw the Ruler of All Creation sitting on a throne, high and lofty, with majesty filling the sky as far as the eye could see.

Angels filled the air, shouting, “Holy, holy, holy! Just and Righteous and Merciful is God’s name!”

“Every bit of the earth is filled with the Blessed One’s caress!” And in my vision, Heaven’s Voice made the mountains shake and the meadows rumble.

And I said, “I am not worthy to see such things! My lips cannot speak such wonder. My hands cannot hold it. I am only a little girl.”

But the One who breathes every breath said to me: “Do not say ‘I am only a little girl.’ For you shall go where I send you, speak what I command you. Fear not, fear not.”

That’s when the Hand of Strength reached out and touched my mouth, saying, “I am putting my words in your mouth.”

It was as if coals of fire reached my lips. Not with pain, but with cleansing speech and clarifying conviction.

And I said: “OK. Here I am. Send me where you want me to go.”

Blessed is the journey in and through the turmoil. And blessed is the One who seeks the abandoned, who sings the harmony of life, who sows the seeds of justice and reaps the harvest of peace.

Send us. Send me.

So let it be.

Amen and Amen.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Isaiah 6:1-8 and Jeremiah 1:7-9; leader’s part read by one of our 9-year-old girls.

We gather in wonder at the times in which we live.

As with the disciples of old, the seasons of crucifixion seem endless.

Yet life beyond what was imagined appears and beckons us forward.

Who can believe such news?

Only those with open eyes, willing hands and supple hearts.

The voice of Jesus speaks anew.

Follow me!

And we shall follow.

We follow not because of worthy claim.

For our lives are marked by tattered hopes and failed dreams.

Shame and disappointment stand in accusation.

But their threats wither in the face of grace.

The voice of Jesus speaks anew:

Follow me!

The humiliating power of the cross has been scattered; the stone of the burial tomb rolled away. Come, my friends. The journey continues. Provision is promised. Mercy is assured to fuel the mission at hand. Be of good cheer.

All with ears to hear, draw near, draw near. Be of good cheer, be of good cheer!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org.

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)

Let the heavens be glad and the earth applaud. Let the sea roar, and the field exult, and all trees of the forest rejoice. (Psalm 96:11-12)

For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. (Psalm 24:1)

Give thanks, sun and moon; praise God, shining stars! Fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command! Mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars! Beasts and cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Let all praise the name of your Maker. (Psalm 148:3, 7-10, 13)

The heavens are telling the glory of God. (Psalm 19:1)

Why then is there no faithfulness or mercy, no knowledge of God? Lo, the envoys of peace weep bitterly and the land mourns. From every house framed in greed, the stone cries out from the wall and the beam from the woodwork responds. (Hosea 4:1, 3; Isaiah 33:7, 9, 10; Habakkuk 2:9-11)

If you defile the land, it will vomit you out. (Leviticus 18:28)

Nevertheless, the days are coming, says the Beloved, when the mountains shall drip sweet wine. On that day I will make a covenant with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and make you lie down in safety. (Amos 9:13; Hosea 2:18)

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song, and all the trees will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)

Ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. In God’s hand is the life of every living thing. (Job 12:7-8, 10)

Give applause and acclaim to the bounteous Name who grants beauty its grandeur and fame!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org.

May the Blessed One grant you the desire of your heart and hoist your hands in praise.

May you be like a tree planted by the water, whose roots know neither thirst nor famine,

Whose leaves blossom fearless against the threat of heat, whose fruit ripen with succulent joy.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Beloved, plans to prosper, not peril;

Plans for radiant light and sheltering night; no scorching heat or terror’s blight.

Your Future calls you by name.

May the Christ who lightens every burden, and heightens every cheer, be ever-near, ever-here, no matter the road’s rutted way, no matter the journey’s bitter dismay.

Taste and see that the Lord is good, Who prepares both banquet and abiding shelter.

Hear the well-wishing of Heaven’s delight, and the Glory framing your countenance.

Listen for that which no libelous tongue can say nor grief-plugged ear can hear:

The One who suckles you and savors you and thrills at the sound of your beating heart—this One knows your need and will bleed in your defense.

Stand on this Rock against every turbulent sea and threatening gale.

Your Safe Harbor awaits your return from every raging storm.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 20:4, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 34:8, Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

It is to You, beloved Shepherd, that I entrust my every need.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.

You invite me to lounge in verdant fields of splendid yield. You bid me rest and from your breast flow gentle streams, refreshing every faint and fretful soul.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

In beauty you lead me according to the bounty of your Name.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

Even through darkest fright of endless night, no threat shall confound or control me.

For thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Unwavering is your presence. Confiding is your guiding staff. Restoring is your wrathless rod.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

Your banquet feast for every least and longing heart brings respite from fearsome foes.

Thou anoinest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

The very hairs of my head arise to your caress, and my cup of provision knows no end.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

Your extravagant welcome and manifold mercy shall track my every step, whether wandering nigh or distant afar, whether lit by sun or dimly-seen star.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

And surely, ever surely—with confidence bestowed—the Most High’s habitation will be my abode.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org.

“I’m really tired of your smells and bells
           and frills and thrills.”
From the hollow of the Most High thunders the
complaint of Heaven against every piety peddler.

“Tired of your sanctimonious pomp and long-winded
     prayers; tired of your self-serving petitions
           for a downtown parking space.”

Good God a’Mighty, when we say our hail marys,
     our thank-you-jesuses and our god-bless-americas—
           why don’t you tip your hat and offer a prize?!

“Your prayer breakfasts don’t cut it, given the way you
     treat school teachers and ICE-hounded immigrants.”

You really want to galvanize Good-God attention?
You really want the Vindicator’s might to dispel every
blight, every menace and every fret, every poacher, every threat?

Here’s a hint: Undo your oppressive laws, and give the
     sinned-against a break.

Share your meal-ticketed fortune with the beggar-bowled;
     unlock the doors of warm houses for the frostbitten.

God just might bless such an America, and light might
     break through from your darkest cell blocks.

Maybe then your decayed cities will be rebuilt;
           your makers and takers find a common future.
                       E pluribus unum, y’all.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Isaaiah 58. ICE – acronymn for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. federal government.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all
     that is within me, bless God’s Holy Name.
Bless your Harbored Hope,
oh harrowed heart, and forget not
     the Anchor of your mooring.

The One who formed you has not forsaken;
     your failures no longer define.
As far as the east lies from the west,
     farther still shall our sins be removed.

The bridge of grace,
     unhinged by rage,
           will be restored.

Now parched with fear, your withered throat
     shall be quenched with a torrent of goodness.
Your fractured limbs and frail bodies
     are destined for healing relief.
Vindication is coming, you victims of torture!
The blaze of Heaven marks the way to mercy.

The One we adore is mercy-full and gracious,
     slow to anger and confounding with love.
God will not always accuse nor foment in anger.
God has no score to settle, no payback to unleash.

Like a father rejoicing in wombish disclosure,
     like a mother’s delight
     in her newborn’s first wail,
So your Maker exults in each heart’s full exposure
     to reverent ovation and wonder’s avail.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 103:1-14.