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2/29/2020 0 Comments Prayers of the People, L2AYour people are famished, O God.
We are hungry for kindness and compassion. We are starving for thoughtful dialogue. We long for caring interaction. In this wilderness journey called Lent, we are facing the demons inside us, and fearful that we will not be able to stand firm ... Every other month, the Prayers of the People are written for RevGalBlogPals and posted on that site on Saturday evening. You can find the Sunday Prayer: Woes in the Wilderness posted in its entirety here: https://revgalblogpals.org/2020/02/29/sunday-prayer-woes-in-the-wilderness/
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2/26/2020 0 Comments Prayer of Confession, L1A Call to Confession
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16). Prayer of Confession, L1A Everpresent God, Forgive us. Daily we are confronted with temptation, and daily, we struggle and cave to it. In the age of Instagram, we want instant answers, instant solutions, instant gratification. Grant us the strength to wait patiently, trusting in you to guide and direct us, and listening for your Word to show us the way. In an age of divisiveness, we use your Word as a weapon against others, insisting our own interpretations are the only interpretations, but we so often do not interpret your Word through the law of love. Our motives are selfish, and we are tempted to prove our rightness over and over again by jumping from steep statements, expecting you to bear us up before the world. Teach us humility. Open our ears to listen to other voices, while keeping us attuned to your self-revelation in Christ, who was obedient all the way to the cross. We are inclined to put confidence in positions of power and authority, and to not only exercise that power and authority, but to do so abusively. Remind us that Jesus came as servant leader to show us how to share power with the marginalized and voiceless. Transform us through the wilderness of this Lenten season into people who live from the strength of Christ, in whose name we humbly pray. Assurance of God's Grace God has promised that when we confess our sin, God is gracious and merciful and will forgive our sin, removing it as far as the east is from the west, and remembering it no more. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you. Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day. 2/25/2020 0 Comments Call to Worship, L1A Traveling through the wilderness,
God is with us. Hungry for answers, God is with us. Tempted to try to control outcomes, God is with us. Wondering if we are important enough to God for God to protect us, God is with us. Wrestling with our own sense of power, God is with us. Standing up to the demons inside us, God is with us. Let us worship God. *Liturgy based on Matthew 4:1-11. *(C) Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace, February 2020 *A Place of Grace encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however you are welcome to use the material in printed publications with proper attribution. 2/19/2020 0 Comments Prayer of Confession, E7A Call to Confession
We were called to freedom, but we use our freedom as an opportunity to serve ourselves, neglecting to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Galatians 5:13-14 pp) Let us confess our sin before God and seek God's mercy. Prayer of Confession, E7A God of mercy and compassion, hear our prayers. We have neglected to do good and to share what we have. We see our siblings in Christ poorly clothed and hungry, and we wish them well with thoughtful words of blessing, but we do not DO anything to help them. We sow sparingly, looking out for our own households out of fear that there will never be enough. We curse our enemy rather than bless them, and "enemy" is broadly defined as anyone who disagrees with us, who looks different from us, whose beliefs do not match ours. Lord, in your mercy, do not hold our sin against us, but forgive our self-centered ways, and transform us into purposeful people, whose goal is to love as you call us to love, to share with abandon in a spirit of generous abundance that rains down blessing and hope that all poverty might be eradicated and life restored in all of your creation. Assurance of God's Grace The Lord is good to all, and God's mercy is over all God has made. (Psalm 145:9) In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you. Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day. 2/12/2020 0 Comments Prayer of Confession, A6E Call to Confession
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (1 John 2:9) Our actions speak louder than our words. Let us confess our sin before God and seek God's mercy. Prayer of Confession, E6A Creator God, forgive us. In 1 John 3:15a, we read "Everyone who hates their brother is a murderer." By that definition, Lord, we are murders. We allow bitterness and anger to simmer inside us until it boils over in words that pierce like weapons and kill the spirits of those we target. We incite quarreling and refuse to listen to another point of view. We behave as though we are entitled, judging our neighbor by standards we could not pass ourselves, failing to remember that every human ... every human ... carries the image of the Creator within them. Forgive our foolish pride. Forgive our self-centeredness. Renew in us a spirit of love and compassion. Help us to see the goodness of the Lord in every human, to humbly confess our failures in person, to acknowledge our contributions to the brokenness of the world, and to reconcile with one another in the name of Love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Assurance of God's Grace God has promised that when we confess our sin, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sin and remove it as far as the east is from the west, remembering it no more. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Let us live out that forgiveness by forgiving one another in Jesus' name. Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you. Please extend the peace of Christ to everyone you encounter this day. *Liturgy based on Matthew 5:21-37. 2/11/2020 0 Comments Call to Worship, E6A Welcome to this place of grace.
Welcome to community. Welcome to the presence of God. Be reconciled to your neighbor and to your Creator. Forgiveness is freedom. Be free. *Liturgy based on Matthew 5:21-26. 2/7/2020 0 Comments Pastoral Prayer, E5A Unchanging God,
when we look ... really look ... we can see the God-flavors in your people all around us. We see people standing up for the things that are important to you even when it is difficult, even when it risks reputation and community, in quiet ways and in very public ways, and we are thankful for those who have the strength to do what you have called them to do. Give us strength, we pray, to do the same ... to put the needs of others ahead of our own agendas, to protect what is sacred, and to name injustice when we see it. Help us to bring out the God-colors of people everywhere whose lights have been hidden under bushel baskets because of their race or gender or age or religious beliefs or sexual orientation. Open our eyes to the gifts of every created being that all may be appreciated as they reflect your love and light in the world. So many simply need an opening, God, through which to shine. Remind us to take a step backwards today and make room for those among us whose lives do not mirror our own but have the propensity to enrich it. Law-giving God, you sent your Son to fulfil the law and to interpret it. In our humanity, we so often interpret your law as judgement, but Jesus taught us the law of love. Open our hearts to what it means to truly LOVE as you love ... to truly DESIRE LOVE for all people ... to truly SERVE and PROTECT your creation and all creatures ... as Jesus taught us, with malice toward none. Light of the World, shine your healing light into and around and through us that the world you created may once again reflect your goodness for all. *(C) Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace, February 2020 *Liturgy based on Matthew 5:13-20. A Place of Grace encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however you are welcome to use material in printed publications with proper attribution. *Join the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/juliegvillo.aplaceofgrace/photos/a.1109649079092669/3005832156141009/?type=3&av=935598163164429&eav=AfbQ2KEOmU_O5Ah_EYzEDHltt2o4GNYX8DF4Wz2gBm5OtB3A_MO4PB7yFO3YM7LDdY0&theater 2/5/2020 0 Comments Prayer of Confession, E5A Call to Confession
God's word is firmly fixed in the heavens forever. God's faithfulness endures to all generations; God has established the earth, and it stands fast. (Psalm 119:89-90 pp) Let us confess our sin before God and seek God's unending mercy. Prayer of Confession, E5A Jesus called us "the salt of the earth," God, but we do not behave like it. Our speech is often angry or hate-filled rather than gracious or kind. We choose to walk in darkness instead of reflecting the light of Christ to the most vulnerable, the marginalized, the oppressed, and the voiceless. We fail to devote ourselves to good works, but focus our attention on ourselves alone and those we love ... those like us ... and we judge everyone else without walking even a mile in their shoes. Forgive our selfish behavior, we pray, and restore our saltiness, that we may indeed be seasoning and light in a world that is decidedly bitter and dark. Assurance of God's Grace But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth (God's) Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as (children). (Galatians 4:4-5) In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift! Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you. Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day. (C) February 2020, Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace *Liturgy based on Matthew 5:13-20. A Place of Grace encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however you are welcome to use material in printed publications with proper attribution. *Join the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/juliegvillo.aplaceofgrace/photos/a.1109649079092669/3001545633236328/?type=3&theater 2/4/2020 0 Comments Call to Worship, E5A Children of God:
You are the salt of the earth; You are the light of the world. But if salt loses it's saltiness ... if the lamp is hidden under a bushel basket ... what good is it? God is waiting to restore you ... to relight your lamp ... to name your righteousness in the presence of your enemies. Therefore, worship God with gladness, and give glory to God's name! *(c) February, 2020, Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace *Liturgy based on Matthew 5:13-20. A Place of Grace encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however, you are welcome to use material in printed publications with proper attribution. *Join the conversation this week at https://www.facebook.com/juliegvillo.aplaceofgrace/photos/a.1109649079092669/2998592946864930/?type=3&theater |
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Julie participated in the 25th Seminar for Certified Zentangle(R) Teacher Training in June, 2019, trained by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. In addition to creating art as a personal spiritual practice, Julie also incorporates the Zentangle(R) method in Prayer Art Retreats in a variety of contexts, including church groups, friend gatherings, and at a local art gallery. Check out the Upcoming Events page for a calendar of events, or use the Contact Us page to inquire about scheduling an event with your group!
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