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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.

Narrator: Shortly before he turned toward Jerusalem, where he knew a confrontation would erupt, Jesus told his disciples, “If you want to become my followers, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me.”

First voice: Is it OK if I’m just a believer and not a follower?

Second voice: Such negativity! Why didn’t Jesus accentuate the positive?

Congregation (read forcefully): Those who want to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives for Jesus’ sake will discover what living really is.

First voice: Hey, is that a “Zen” thing? The shops down on South Lexington could sell t-shirts with that quote.

Second voice: I wonder how we could reframe that statement? How about a book on “How to get all the love you deserve”? Oprah might go for that.

Congregation (read forcefully): What will it profit you if you gain the whole world but forfeit your life? What will you give in return for your life?

Narrator: After that, Jesus and two disciples went up on the mountain, and he was transfigured.

Congregation (read forcefully): His face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white. And standing with him were Moses, Israel’s founding leader, and the great prophet Elijah.

Narrator: It was pure ecstasy. But the vision went away and Jesus went back down the mountain. As soon as he arrived a crowd brought to him an epileptic boy for healing.

First Voice: And so it goes. The spin-doctors still ply their trade. Tourist stores still sell the memorabilia trinkets. And Dr. Phil still draws a crowd who want to know how to get a life. But the joy of ecstasy is still tied to the agony of epilepsy.

Second Voice: That why it’s easier to be a believer than a follower.

Congregation (read forcefully): Anyone can talk about love; you are to practice it. No one is for evil; you are to actually rise up against it. Hold fast to what is good. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Matthew 16:24-27, selections of Matthew 17 & Romans 12:9-21.

Into this House of Memory we gather with our young to bless them on their way. As with the Israelites, it is a journey of many stages. Hear these instructions, sons and daughters of promise:

The road to Freedom lies outside the border and bond of empire.

The escape begins in the shivering dark of urgent haste, creeping past sentries, no bounty for provision, no destination save that spoken by the wind. And you will have cause to ask:

Is the Lord with us, or not?

It races on, barely ahead of devouring armies, and comes abruptly to the sea of no return.

Is the Lord with us, or not?

The path through drowning waters will open, but not before you wade in, up to your neck. Scant direction is offered, save a cloud of presence by day, a lightning bolt by night.

Is the Lord with us, or not?

Past the sea comes the desert, a parched land and a relentless horizon. In each of these places—and more—you will cry out,

Is the Lord with us, or not!

Is the struggle worth the trouble?

Worthy indeed!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by the Exodus story for ues in Circle of Mercy’s “Bagmitzvah”ritual for younger children’s transition to remaining in worship.

As he came near and saw Jerusalem, Jesus wept.

As do we.

When he comes near Washington, and Ferguson, and Asheville, Jesus weeps.

As do we.

Jesus weeps as he comes near Damascus and Baghdad and Mosul; near Gaza and Tel Aviv; near Freetown and Monrovia;

As do we.

Jesus weeps near Tegucigalpa, Guatemala City and San Salvador; near Kiev and Donetsk and Moscow. “Would that you—yes you!—knew the things that make for peace!” he cries.

As do we—inasmuch as we can see.

We confess, O Christ, that we live among a blinded people in a blinding, binding world—

And we ourselves don’t see so well.

We dwell in a world whose heart has lost its rhythm and is threatened with arrest—

And our own halting, faltering hearts are afaint.

Strap a defibrillator to our chest! Restore optic nerve!

So that eyes pierce the fog of war and hearts pulse, restored, to the rhythm of your affection and the rule of your Word.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Luke 19:41-42 for a 2014 service following race riots in Ferguson, Mo., continuing civil war in Ukraine, Syria and Iraq, the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, and the flood of Central American child immigrants crossing from Mexico into the U.S.