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In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the season of Lent is described as a “bright sadness.”

In the sadness that surrounds our lives, our community, our world, we give thanks, nevertheless. More is at work than we can see.

Lent is a time for clearing and cleansing. Dustballs happen.

In the midst of life’s crippling failures, we still give thanks. In the midst of Fox News’ deceptions, we still give thanks. Nevertheless, nevertheless.

Lent is a time for checking appetites. Longings and desires, created for pleasure in God’s bountiful creation, have come unleashed.

Nevertheless, the bright sound of earth’s promise brings joy to our lips. Tether us anew to your Provision.

During Lent we follow Jesus into the desert, grappling with the distorted longings and lusts that corrupt the world and even our own hearts.

Even so, more is at work than we can see. The Spirit is not quenched. How can I keep from singing!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by the hymn “How Can I Keep From Singing.”

O Breath of Heaven and Earth’s Delight, to your shelter we flee from enmity’s fright.

Incline your ear to each whimpering voice collapsed by the weight of earth-splitting fear.

O Rock of Ages, refuge of sages, deflect every threat of sin-soaked rages.

From murderous scheme and unraveling seam deliver from slavery to freedom’s bright dream.

Let not the work of Creation’s good pleasure be subject to plundering, pillaging measure.

Speak pardon to injury; mercy to adversity; entreat us and greet us with grace-filled audacity.

’Twas your hand that caught us, squalling glee with our lung when, from mother’s full womb, we emerged: Praise be sung!

Unbind us, remind us, entwined as we are with joy, adoration, dark night’s guiding star.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 71.

Jump for joy, oh people! For amid the screaming commercials and blithering campaign ads, the Redeemer has heard our aching voice.

God hears! God knows! This is our assurance against all blistering deceit.

When misery and madness encompassed me, when anguish threatened to undo me, when heartache split my soul, I uttered my cry to any who would hear.

God hears! God knows! This is our assurance against the rule of regret.

The One who extends Presence into the most desolate region—even to the place of utter abandonment—is mighty in mercy, strong in tenderness, powerful in pardoning.

God hears! God knows! This is our assurance against every heart-battering threat.

Relax, oh my soul, in the arms of the One who dries tears, Who swaddles our fretful limbs, Whose light in the night scatters dragons, and Whose promise is bounty and abundance.

God hears! God knows! This is our assurance against the ravages of fear. Therefore we will praise that Unspeakable Name forever.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Adapted from Psalm 116:1-9.

In every age frenzied and fretful people align themselves against the Sovereign’s provision, flailing in fear, terror-tempted, hoarding-handed, proclaiming my life is my own and none have a claim, on earth or in heaven.

Grant, O God, in such an age, that your servants will not cower in the face of such threats, but announce Heaven’s hospitable terms for earth’s healing and wholeness.

O Holy Spirit, bold and unbounded, marking Messiah and every messenger of redemption, work again your signs and wonders amid this circle of mercy.

Shake us, remake us as salvaging agents, mending and tending earth’s wreckage and ruin.

Signs and wonders, unleashed in our midst!

Healing earth, hailing heaven, rejoicing evermore!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Acts 4:24-31.    

Happy are you who do not heed the advice of evil ones, or take the path of deceivers, or sit in the chambers of the haughty.

But our delight is in the Way of Life; we labor along its path by day and we are wrapped in its protection by night.

Because of this, you are like trees planted by fresh streams of water, yielding your fruit in season, holding your leaves without fail. Your future is assured.

The self-centered are absorbed in empty boasts. They are driven by foul winds. They shall be scattered to distant wastelands, withering in wanton decay.

The Just-and-Merciful One is a vigilant companion of all on the Way of justice and mercy. The corrupt and vengeful trudge the path of destruction.

We are bound to this freedom road, prisoners of this hope, destined for the land where moaning and weeping are banished, destined for the land of joyous song, of laughter and dancing. And mercy, sweet mercy. May it be so. May it be so.

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

Thus sayeth the Spirit, through the Apostle’s letter
to the church in Rome:

I appeal to you, beloveds, by the tender intention of
     heaven’s Delight,
let your spiritual response put your bodies in gear.

I’ve had enough—thank you very much—of your
     groveling prayers,
your profit-minded flattery, and every pissy-pious
           haggling for divine favor.

I want flesh-and-blood in the bargain, not your
     sentimental fawning.

Put some skin in the game. Put your assets on the line.

Put your corpus in motion to the rhythm of Redemption.

The Spirit of This Age is happy for you to give your heart
to Jesus—or be at One with the Divine Presence—just as
long as He-She-It doesn’t mess with your bank account.

But you are to live by the beat of the Age to Come—
     (which—Wake up!—even now is meddling
                       with the-way-things-are.)

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Romans 12:1-2.

Throw off the covers of earth’s darkened slumber! Unplug your ears, you creatures of flesh! From deepest sigh of tear-stained eye, set your sight on Heaven’s resolve.

For the sky’s bright luster, alive with motion, shows the wonder of Blessed intention.

The Word—shorn of words—springs from every nick and cranny. By night and by day the silent sound of Wonder drenches every listening ear.

The tent of heaven, filled with sun’s splendor, springs from its gloomy eclipse.

Like the joy-faced groom, the eager-armed bride, our Lover’s embrace lingers near.

The Sovereign’s sure guidance parts seas of confusion. Instruction in reverence prompts joyous acclaim.

Every mouth, every tongue: Exclaim your profession. And proclaim earth’s restoration: every head, every hand.

Now let the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Rock of Redemption and Ransom’s release.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 19.

Women: How can we thank God enough for you, in return for all the joy we feel because of your presence in our lives?

Men: Night and day we pray earnestly that your face will never depart from our memory.

Women: So now may the One Who showers our lives with goodness and mercy be present with you even in our parting.

Men: And may the Gracious One strengthen your hearts in holiness, protecting you against every threat of terror.

Singing: *God be with you till we meet again!
Heav’nly counsel guide, uphold you,
Safely and securely fold you
God be with you till we meet again!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, tune by W.G. Tomer, lyrics adapted from J.E. Rankin.

Reader 1: One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in.

Reader 2: Pay attention!

Congregation: PAY ATTENTION!

R1: His friends would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple.

R2: Pay attention!

Congregation: PAY ATTENTION!

R1: When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms.

R2: Look at us!

Congregation: LOOK AT US!

R1: Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said to the man, “Look at us.” And the man fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

R2: Gold and silver!

Congregation: GOLD AND SILVER!

R1: But Peter said to the man, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give to you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

R2: Stand up and walk!

Congregation: STAND UP AND WALK!

R1: And Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

R2: Stand up and walk!

Congregation: STAND UP AND WALK!

R1: Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple praising God.

R2: Wonder and amazement!

Congregation: WONDER AND AMAZEMENT!

R1: And the people recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

R2: Wonder and amazement!

Congregation: WONDER AND AMAZEMENT!

R1: And all the people said,

Congregation: AMEN!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Adaptation of Acts 3:1-10.

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

“Say firmly: Our brothers shall not beat their plowshares into swords, their harvest blades in bayonets.

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

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

“We women of one country will be too tender those of another country to allow our kin to be trained to injure theirs.

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

“Blood does not wipe out dishonor,” nor violence secure redemption. The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.

Now death’s dominion has met its match in love’s resurrecting grace.

So rejoice, every wounded heart; rise up, every barren field.

The world with all its harried hands soon yields to Mercy’s appeal.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Using excerpts 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.”