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{Leader}  In this watchful season, we gather ’round the table of bounty to embrace newcomers to our Circle and to renew our covenant vows. To these new ones, we ask: Do you know where you are, what are you promising, and what is being promised to you?

{New Members}  What place is this? Remind us of what we need to know.

This is a sanctuary of refuge amid the empire of enmity. Here hungry ones find food, and proud ones are scattered. Here mountains are brought low and valleys are lifted up. Here mercy trumps vengeance, and the whole earth learns to magnify God. Do you wish to be here?

Yes, we do. We have heard of such a place, where cries can be made and are tenderly heard. Where good tidings are told. Where voices find strength and the Gentle Shepherd embraces all who approach.

Be clear before you speak. Are you prepared to love God more than breath itself? To follow Jesus as the Spirit gives you vision? Are you prepared to know and be known in this Circle of companions?

Yes, we are ready. And now are you also ready? You have come here before us. Does any special honor come from that?

No honor save one: Of welcoming you into this Circle. It isn’t always easy here. We share in the conflicts common to all creation. Sometimes the vision seems slow, and weariness overtakes us. But joy sustains, and grace is sufficient. Our guiding creed is the Rule of Mercy. To its Author alone do we pledge faithfulness.

Then let us announce our intent together:

{All together, in unison}

The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, because God has anointed us to bring good news to the poor. God has sent us to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of Jubilee! Here we stand, together, servants of the One who turns us into friends. Here we stand, keeping watch, listening for the singing of angels, the approach of Magi, and the Advent of Hope Unbound.

Blessed One, who brings strength in the struggle for a new heaven and a new earth; who brings comfort when life unravels and hope is harsh; make us submissive in the manner of Mary. Give us wombs of welcome, for each other, for strangers in our path, even as for your Presence and Purpose. Let it be with us according to your word. Amen!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Circle of Mercy Congregation has no indefinite membership. All are asked to reenlist annually, with a covenant renewal service on the first Sunday of Advent. This is also the occasion when we ritually welcome new members.

There never was a more holy age than ours, and never a less.

There is no less holiness at this time—as you are reading this—than there was the day the Red Sea parted.

There is no whit less might in heaven or on earth than there was the day Jesus said "Maid, arise" to the centurion's daughter, or the day Peter walked on water.

In any instant the sacred may wipe you with its finger. In any instant the bush may flare.

In any instant you may avail yourself of the power to love your enemies;
to accept failure, slander, or the grief of loss; or to endure torture.

"Each and every day,” says the Talmud, “the Divine Voice issues from Sinai."

And each and every day the People of Mercy confront Heaven’s bidding, yet again, to follow the Cloud of Presence.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Annie Dillard, “For the Time Being,” slightly adapted.

Rejoice in the presence of those who resist the counsel of the arrogant, who sidestep the influence-peddlers, who refuse to participate in political payoffs.

Blessed One, multiply their presence in our midst! And may we have the courage to be among their number!

Welcome such women and men and children. Through their lives all Life is served. Like strong trees planted by the water, their fruits are abundant and their prosperity is shared by all.

Bountiful One, multiply their presence in our midst! And may we have the courage to be among their number!

Oh my people, do not be swayed by the promises of those who pit the strong against the weak; who assure that terror can be vanquished by even more terror. Their days are numbered. Like the chaff, their legacy will be scattered by the wind. Judgment awaits their reckless and ruinous schemes.

Benevolent One, grant persevering power to those who hunger and thirst for justice and mercy. Multiply their presence in our midst! And may we have the courage to be among their number!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 1.

Six days after Jesus’ disciples reveal, yet again, that they are clueless about the nature of messianic life—that the day is coming when all lording will cease—he takes three of them on a hilltop hike for a blinding encounter with history’s aim.

Coming down the mountain, they immediately meet a child suffering epileptic seizure.

With Peter and James and brotherly John we ascend to the mountain encounter.

With Mary, Elizabeth and sisterly Anna we stand dizzied and dazzled, sorely afraid.

Moses, Elijah—instruction and prophecy—appear in the vision so fearsomely felt.

From shadow’s abode comes the blinding reminder of Heaven’s regard for the earth’s frail restraint.

Transform and transfigure—we earnestly pray—our hard-hearted manner, our imperial stray.

From ecstatic descent into epilepsy’s reign, implore us, restore us to redemption’s domain.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Matthew 17:1-21.

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

Men: Speak up, that all may hear!

W: Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies.

M: Say it loud, say it proud!

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

M: Oh, brothers, can you hear?

W: Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

M: Tell it straight, sisters!

W: We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.

M: Don’t hold back now—make it plain!

W: From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own; it says, “Disarm, disarm!”

All together: Disarm, disarm: every heart! every nation!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Excerpted and adapted from Julia Ward Howe’s “Appeal to Womanhood Throughout the World,” September 1870, where she called for a “Mother’s Peace Day: A time for women and children to speak for the things that make for peace.” This occasion is one of three that lay claim to being the original Mother’s Day observance.

The People of Mercy, gathered round their table of bounty, demanding more.

More, more, more. We need more faith.

But the Blessed One, remembered in the grain and the grape, leaped again from the tomb of scarcity to declare:

Enough, enough, enough. You have enough faith.

Faith the size of a seed—even the tiniest mustard—is sufficient. More will come when you use what you have.

Say to every blistering threat and deadly bluff:

I’m all in. No turning back.

Lead on, O Cloud of Presence, the exodus is come.

We are not lost, though wandering. The journey is our home.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Luke 17:5-6 and the hymn “Lead On, O Cloud of Presence.”

Yahweh’s appointed messengers took a deep breath as they stepped from the shadows into Pharaoh’s presence. And then spoke sharply, with fire in their bellies:

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Let my people go!

But Pharaoh was not impressed. “Get back to work you shiftless immigrants. You think you can just waltz into this country and take jobs from tax-paying citizens! You dirty greasers don’t know how good you’ve got it here!”

But the messengers of the Wetback God cried out again: Let my people go!

Which only infuriated Pharaoh more. “You ungrateful, freeloading darkies! Don’t you think you’ve had preferential treatment long enough? You got another thing comin’!

But the messengers of the Slave God were persistent: Let my people go!

By now Pharaoh was hopping-mad. “You ignorant white trash! You think you can live on welfare? You and your redneck kids ought’a be grateful the sheriff don’t run you out’a town!”

But the messengers of the Mobile Home God would not relent: Let my people go!

Pharaoh wouldn’t budge. “In fact, from now on, production is gonna speed up. Keep up or ship out!” Frustrated, the factory-line slaves started fighting each other. No one had taught them to sing together:

All sing: Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Followed by singing of “Aint’ Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”

“I am but a child!” you say.
“What business do you have with people of no claim,
of no clout, of no clue about the road to repentance
and the return from exile?”

Aahh, oh clueless one, of no claim and no clout,
you know not that of which you speak!
Before your mother’s maiden life, I knew you;
before your father’s toddling feet,
I planned your sinews and mapped your countenance.

O child of consecrated lips and covenant voice,
     relinquish your fear!
           You shall not be put to shame.
                 Your Refuge is secure.
It is you, oh child of destined grace,
     who will utter the Word that will shatter all enmity.

So let the nations tremble at the
     joy-filled cymbal-clapping songs
                 of redemption’s approach.

Let every wicked grip and cruelty’s grasp
     be loosed by the grammar of praise.

No scorn, no disgrace, can ever erase
           the full pleasure of Mercy’s requite.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Jeremiah 1:4-10 & Psalm 71.

Listen! Listen for the sound of the Beloved, Who comes leaping upon the mountains and bounding over the hills. Strain your ears for the sound of this Voice.

Listen for the Voice of our Beloved!

Behold the Beloved, standing like a gazelle behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.

Listen for the Voice of our Beloved!

Our Lover speaks to us: “Arise, oh fair ones, oh fearful ones, oh weary ones, both long-faced and cheery ones, and come away with me.”

Listen for the Voice of our Beloved!

For lo, the winter is past, the flowers push through the cold and hardened soil. The time of singing has come. The fig puts forth bloom; the veins of the vine course with life; earth’s fragrance fills the air.

Listen for the Voice of our Beloved!

In unision: O Lovely One, let me see your face, let me hear your voice. As sure as the day breathes and the shadows flee, I shall indeed arise and be joined with You, oh Lover of All Souls.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Background to this litany, a paraphrase of Song of Solomon 2: This text is oddly placed in our seasonal calendar, since it anticipates the coming of spring, saying “the winter is past” and that “flowers appear on the earth.” We speak these praises while calling to mind our connections with people of faith in the southern hemisphere, who now are coming out of winter and anticipating the blossoms of spring.

Incline your ears, Holy Harbor of refuge.

Give shelter for every storm-tossed and wind-whipped mariner.

The great sea of discontent is unleashed against your armada of hope.

We await your approach. Linger no more!

Deep is the muck and bitter the mire. Dim grows my eyes, weary from untended tears and throats too parched to utter my anguish.

We await your visitation. Linger no more!

Shame creeps across my face as crevices of despair yawn before me.

We await your presence. Linger no more!

May the scent of our sacrificial songs of zeal for creation’s Holy Habitation, the House of the Beloved, fill the skies with the fragrance of mercy.

Let the sounds of your steps echo from the ground.

Hasten the news of your uprising favor! Resurrect in us the impulse of praise!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 69.