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The Spirit draws near to the people of Promise, a people grown weary by the delay of Heaven’s remission and earth’s Redemption.

{Singing} Come ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish.

Lean into Mercy, you prisoners of hope, with all your damp, dismayed strength.

{Singing} Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.

Pray not just with your words but with your fretful hands and your tissue-torn knees.

{Singing} Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish.

Has your tongue gone dumb? Then let your feet wail your anguish. Have your eyes grown dim? Then let your lungs inhale the aroma of God! Let the pores of your skin draw in the assurance of Presence amid every abandoning dungeon.

{Singing} Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot heal.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Romans 8:38-39 and lyrics to Come Ye Disconsolate.

Hear this, oh people of the Covenant: The claim of Heaven’s Reign and the clamor over earth’s rule are woven together. The seed sown in one is harvested in the other. All questions of piety are questions of power. But the nature of power is contested.

No one can serve two masters.

There is this version of the Golden Rule: Those with the gold get to rule.

Say aloud: No one can serve two masters.

Then there is the original: Do unto others as you would to yourself.

Say it proud: No one can serve two masters.

Hoard your money or hallow your God: The one precludes the Other.

All gathered avow: No one can serve two masters.

You will hate the one or love the other; be devoted to one, despising the other.

Your checkbook declares your choice. Prayers and praise then align with that voice.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Luke 16:13.

As shadows advance with light’s retreat, prompt wings of the heart to fold in repose.

No fright scars the night, encircled in mercy.

As western sky fades, with compline’s approach, prompt vigilant hands to fold in repose.

No fright scars the night, encircled in mercy.

As silence descends, distraction restrained, prompt anxious eyes to fold in repose.

No fright scars the night, encircled in mercy.

For Your lap entreats, Your arms enfold, remind us again of the Promise foretold.

Behold! Behold! The mercy untold! Our refuge, our strength, secured in Your hold.    

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 131.

Nicodemus, stalwart among the Sincere-Upright Party of God, came to Jesus, confused.

“Rabbi-teacher,” says he, “your walk conforms to your word; your call, to your claim; your feats, to your faith. Why do you distance yourself from our Party?”

“Dear Brother Nicodemus,” Jesus replied, “none could be so right and so wrong. To walk in the Way requires birth from Above on the wings of a dove.”

“Can any re-enter a mother’s womb, to squeeze again through birth canal?” asked the stalwart.

“For God so loved,” said Jesus.

God so loved.

For God so loved the world—not just the soul, but the whole.

Every mountain, every mole.

The world’s ablaze with the Only Begotten, if we only had eyes to behold.

Like the wind upon the waters, the voice upon the deep,

Let the Spirit soak and save you, whole and lasting life to keep.

{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.”