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Men: Our hearts sag with sorrow when the history of such misery is unveiled.

Women: Such truthfulness comes at a cost. But worthy is the truth.

M: What good can come from such vile remembrance? Can we not safely and silently dispose of such memory?

W: No, not safely. Heaven still hears. The roots are deep. The seeds are dormant. The brutal harvest continues.

M: How then can we live with such terrible knowledge?

W: We can live because the truth unknots the cords of enmity. But first, a NO has to be spoken with clarity, a renunciation has to be made, before a YES can be asserted, before an affirmation can be announced.

M: Then let us proceed. Will you walk with us?

W: Yes, we will walk with you.

M: With the encouragement of you, our sisters, we renounce the habits of tyranny and intimidation. And we shall instruct our sons to also renounce.

W: With the encouragement of you, our brothers, we renounce any silence and complicity. And we shall instruct our daughters to undertake such risky speech.

All: Breath of Providence, Breast of Provision, be near us in the midst of terror which assaults the bond between male and female, jointly created in the image of Holy Intent.

Strengthen and sustain the work of Helpmate*. Fortify their voice. Steel their courage in the face of resistance. Enlarge their merciful embrace of all whose lives are battered and bruised and broken.

Beloved, bear witness to these promises. Confirm our repentance. Grant bold resolve from hearts humbled by Your caress. As we are endeared to You, so make us endearing to each other. Limb by limb may the healing begin, in us according to your mercy.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. For use in a special worship service dealing with domestic violence. Inspired by Judges 19, the story of the torture and murder of the unnamed concubine—among the most brutal stories in Scripture. *Helpmate is the name of the local shelter for women and their children.

It is good and proper to give thanks to God.
And to petition these gifts of the Spirit:
Generosity, the secret of wealth.
Reverence, the secret of risk.
Trust, the secret of fearlessness.
Pardon, the secret of power.
Obedience, the secret of freedom.
Laughter, the secret of longevity.
Rest, the secret of resolve.
Humility, the secret of wisdom.
Comfort, the secret of boldness.
Lament, the secret of hope.

Transfigure our lives, O Christ.
Beckon us to that day when
all shall linger ’neath their vine
and fig tree, and none shall be afraid.
Safe, secure from all alarms.
Leaning on the everlasting arms.*

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Micah 4:3. Last two lines from the chorus of “What a Fellowship,” Elisha A. Hoffman.

If we fill our lives with things, and again with things

If we consider ourselves so important that we must fill every moment of our lives with movement and plans and calculations

When will we have the time to greet Messengers under oak trees, as did Abram? Or overhear improbable news, like Sarah?

When will we have time to take the long, slow journey across the burning desert as did the magi in search of the heaven’s own Embodied Rule?

Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds; or brood over the coming of the Child as did Mary?

For each of us there is improbable news to hear; for each, births to brood; for each, deserts to travel and stars to pursue in dark silence.

Extravagance characterizes all caught up in the Promise of the coming New Heaven and New Earth. When you work, do it as if you don’t need the money; love like you’ve never been hurt; dance like no one’s watching.

Yet don’t forget, as well, to give yourself to extravagant slowness: the best food, the best fun and the best faith are never fast-paced affairs. Let the slow times roll!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Adapting an anonymous prayer with added lines by professional baseball player and philosopher Satchel Page.

When power reaps death from countless
killing fields, and every war sows the seeds
     of the next, those in the Great Shepherd’s
           flock resist the bloodletting lure.

Let the mournful rejoice in the Lamb who
     rules, for the Tendering Day draws near!

Both lion and lamb are inheritors of the
     coming peaceful kingdom, but
           the latter’s sleep is the sweeter.

Let the lost rejoice in the Lamb who rules,
     for the Tendering Day draws near!

When the grumbling accountants of shame
           and chagrin trap the erring,
                 consigned to regret,

When the safeguarding coins are scattered, astray,
     and tattered hearts freeze with fear and dismay,

Let the ruined rejoice in the Lamb who rules,
     for the Tendering Day draws near!

How sure the delight of Mercy’s pure light
           conqu’ring darkness and danger with cheer.

You who languish, forlorn,
           shall in pardon be borne by the
                 ransom of Jubilee’s year!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Luke 15:1–10.

Let mutual love continue.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them.

Remember those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.

Let the covenant bonds of marriage be held in honor.

In the same way, take control of your lust for money.

For the One who launched us on this journey does not abandon us.

Fearlessness is born with this confidence, and we realize that no one, no thing, can steal from us what is essential.

Therefore, let us continue to praise God, to heed the Spirit’s call to playful embrace of Creation’s goodness.

For by so doing, the impulse to hoarding and holding will be exhausted, and our capacity for hoping and healing will ever be renewed.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Hebrews 13: 1-6, 15-16.

     Call to worship
The season of Lent is upon us. Listen for your instructions!

Now is the time to flee Pharaoh’s national security state for the insecurity of the wilderness.

Now is the time to listen for the Word whose hearing bypasses the ears of princes and high priests but is heard only in the wilderness.

Now is the time to head into the wilderness to confront the Deceiver, led by the Spirit and sustained only by angels.

Fear not, for God will sustain you. Your clothes will not wear out, your feet will not swell. God will feed you with manna and will bring water from the rock.

We look to the wilderness! For there the Glory of God shall appear!

     Call to the table
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness, and we tremble, demanding to know:

Why have you led us from the prosperous land of shopping and shiny plastic things and homeland security to this discomforting and inconvenient place?

To here where our wanton craving is exposed?

To here where the misery of the world is no longer distant or hidden?

To here where water is scarce, food insecure, shelter foreclosed and the future uninsured?

To here where banks fail, investments shrink and terror threatens?

Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

These are the questions we bring to your table, O Christ. Faith and fear alike wrestle over our hearts. We believe; help us in our unbelief.

     Benediction
A voice cries out, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

“I am about to do a new thing!” says the Beloved. “Do you not perceive it?”

God will comfort all your wasted places. You will find joy and gladness, thanksgiving and songs of delight.

Come, oh people of mercy. Come into the desert to find the One your heart most desires. Worship in the wilderness. You will find what is needed: sustenance for your soul and nourishment for your body. Though your feet be tired, your heart will find rest.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Isaiah 40:23, 43:19; Matthew 3:3.

Oh people of Promise, let your eyes arise to the
hills above the hollows, where a cleft is prepared
and your sustenance is proffered.

God will not let your foot be moved. Heaven’s
Sheltering Wing neither sleeps nor slumbers.

The MercyFull One is your keeper. The tree
of righteousness towers above you.

Under its shading presence the sun shall not
harass you by day, nor the moon haunt you by night.

The Blessed One will keep you from all evil
and will sustain your life.

Therefore lean toward the land whose warrant
wills that all lament shall yield to laughter.

Let your hearts be upheld by the Presence
who lingers in love above your going out
and your coming in,

between your harbor safe and the sea’s contention,
from this day on, from now and henceforth.

Forever and ever and ever, Amen!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Ps 121.

Kyrie eleison.

Lord have mercy.

Jesus said: “The one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”*

Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy.

Jesus said, “Which do you prefer I say: ‘Rise, take your bed, and walk’? — or ‘Your sins are forgiven’?”**

Kyie eleison, Lord have mercy.

Worm your way into our hearts, O Christ.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness. Drive the dark of doubt away.***

So mercy may explode in gladness, and gladness heal the earth.

Alleluia, joy to every heart!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. *Luke 7:47b. **Matthew 9:5. ***Lines from “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”

By wind’s pillar of cloud, by flame’s column of fire, do we live and move toward journey’s unseen home.

We are coming from slavery, yet with bones grown accustomed to imperial protection.

Whose memory shall we privilege; whose purpose confirm?

Whose story will be recited; whose providence trusted?

Can the bones of Joseph shield from Pharaoh’s seductive reach?

Will the allure of indentured ease o’erpower the risk of freedom’s risk?

Wind’s pillar by day, flame’s column by night, guide hearts in this fray, scatter languishing fright.

Who will feed in the desert? Who will quench thirst’s regret?

Can trembling bones be comforted? Shall crushed marrow rejoice?

Roar, you Pentecostal Wind! Alight, you tongues of fire!

Breach the bulwark of captive bondage;

Kindle slavery’s funeral pyre!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Exodus 13:17-22 & the story of Pentecost in Acts 2.

In that region there were shepherds, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Keeping watch. In darkest night.

Then an angel stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around, and they were terrified.

As are we, in the face of tortured headlines and bloodletting news. As are we, when our own lives detour into tangled wilderness.

But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I am bringing good news of great joy for all people.

Oh Messenger of Mercy, draw near to our secret fear with rapturous tidings of release from crushing grief and sorrow’s sovereignty.

Recite anew in our hearing assurance of the Era to come, when each bent bow will relax, every drawn sword will find its rest.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation!

Shepherd our hearts to Heaven’s manger-laid love.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Luke 2:8-15 & Lamentations 21:8-9, 14-15.