SOUL SURMISE

SCANDALOUS FORGIVENESS PRAYER

I wrote this prayer for the 4 Corners festival BBC Radio Ulster Sunday Service that aired on Sunday February 3rd, 2019...

 

Forgiving God

We worship you for who you are

Holy

And loving

We thank you that you don’t just talk about love

But that you demonstrated your love for us, in this,

That while we were still sinners

Christ died for us

Forgiving God

We thank you for our forgiveness

And for what forgiveness brings us

Freedom from our guilt

Release from the bitterness and ghosts of the past

Rebirth

Restoration.

 

Forgiving God

Forgive us our sins

As we forgive those who sin against us

Except Lord

That that is one of our most scandalous sins

Accepting your forgiveness so quickly

While at the same time being very slow to forgive other

Our neighbours

Our enemies

Our Churches

Our leaders.

God forgive our lack of forgiveness.

 

Forgiving God

Your word tells us 

That you are faithful and just to forgive us of our sins

But then adds

And purify us from all unrighteousness

Lord, as we confess the scandal of our lack of forgiveness

Transform us into forgiving people

That we might become like you

Following your lead

To be forgivers 

Within our families

In our neighbourhoods

In our Churches

Between our Churches

Across our society

And even in depths of our very own souls.

 

Forgiving God

Our country needs forgiveness

A scandalous forgiveness 

That does good to those who hate us, 

Blesses those who curse us, 

Prays for those who mistreat us.

Lord, take us through the cross of forgiveness

The courageous self denial and the suffering

And bring us through to the resurrection of forgiveness

Where the past is left in the tomb

And brand new life burst through

Re-creation

Reconciliation

Redemption

 

May it be so,

In our individual souls

And in our communities

Right across the 4 Corners of our city and land.

 

In the name of Jesus

Who forgave

Even when they didn’t know what they’d done.

 

Amen

WRING OUT... BRING IN... AS A SKEIN OF BELIEVERS

I was thinking of a poem/prayer/reflection for the first Fitzroy service of the New Year. I was thinking of a Rich Mullins line, "When the old world started dying and the new world started coming on." As I pondered the old and new I remembered an old favourite song from my teens. I used to start every new year with George Harrison's Ding Dong, an actual New year song which starts "ring out the old, ring in the new..." Before I knew it the first ring became wring and the second ring became bring and I was away...

Then I got into Karine Polwart's record A Pocket of Wind Resistance and added her idea of the communal skein of geese becoming a community of believers. Here's where it all went... 

"In September, the geese snake in across The Firth of Forth from their summer nests in Iceland and the coastal cliffs of Greenland, clattering and honking in their ever shifting skeins. The outstretched wingtips of each migrating goose create an upwash, a pocket of wind resistance for the bird tucked in behind or below. These necks of ease, these aerodynamic sanctuaries, cut the drag by up to 65%. It’s a wonder, and it’s also a gale bitten struggle to maintain co-operation. Every goose takes a turn

 

Stepping up

Falling back

Labouring

And resting

 

…in the gorgeous symbiotic dance of their migration I’ve wondered: in what ways are we, as humans, like geese and how do we, can we sustain our own sense of being part of a skein?

 

I think this is a matter of survival." (KARINE POLWART)

 

Let us pray...

 

Wring out the old

Bring in the new

 

Wring out the old

 

Wring out the tears

The tears of our self indulgent choices

The tears of the hurt we have caused each other

The tears of the world and it’s fallen circumstances

 

Wring out the old

 

Wring out the fears

The fears of the fear of the other

The fears of thinking outside our box

The fears that increase the gaps

That our brokenness has made between us

Always pushing the other away.

  

Bring in the new

 

Bring in the hope

The hope of history that arcs towards peace 

The hope of that flicker of light extinguishing the night 

The hope of our hidden infections, healed deep down in our souls

 

Bring in the new

 

Bring in the grace

The grace that always makes us the first to forgive

The grace that is unconditional to what has been wrung out

The grace that closes the gaps

That our brokenness has made between us

Always welcoming the other in.

 

Lord, in these New Year bells

Wring out the old

Bring in the new

And begin with us

 

God, shape us into a skein or resistance

Where we step up

Fall back

Labour

And rest

Together

Creating pockets of resistance

Where we can tuck in

Behind 

Or below

Maintaining co operation

In a gorgeous symbiotic dance of sustaining one another

To be wringers out of the old

And bringers in of your new rule

In a world that so needs it.

 

In Jesus name

AMEN

FOR GOD'S SAKE, GIVE US SOME REALITY

photo: Christmas in Yemen by Igor Dobrowolski (from a Billboard series in Berlin)

Jesus was not dropped into an idyllic nativity scene... but into a world of turmoil and violence... Advent reminds is that God is always present not distant from our reality.

 

Seamlessly sown creedal conclusions

Safe and sanitised solutions

Out of context texts for every question

All lamenting Psalms put beyond use

In suits and ties and hats and Sunday smiles

FOR GOD’S SAKE GIVE US SOME REALITY.

 

14 million people desperate for some food in Yemen

Thousands of central American refugees heading for the American border

Tensions threatening war on the Ukraine- Russian border

Alaskans coming to terms with an earthquake in Anchorage

The UK in turmoil over Brexit, back stops and inertia at Stormont 

FOR GOD’S SAKE GIVE US SOME REALITY.

 

A seasonally well decorated stable

Freshly showered cattle and perfumed straw

A carpenter with extra mural skills in midwifery

Westminster Confession signing stargazing mystics

A perfect little baby “no crying he makes”

FOR GOD’S SAKE GIVE US SOME REALITY.

 

A teenage girl’s screams pierce a silent night

A baby laid in an infested animal stall

God, vulnerable and homeless

Death squads descending in the dawn’s first light

From where refugees risk their lives escaping hell

FOR GOD’S SAKE, BORN INTO THE MIDST OF REALITY.

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE IN FITZROY 2018 - Introduction and Prayer

art piece and photo: Gillian Fitch

 

100 Years ago

They ended the war

There was celebration that it was over

From our side, that we had won

Armistice Day

But ceasefire and peace

Did not stop the pain

Of the physically wounded

The traumatised

Or the grief

The parents

And loved ones who lost

Sons, mainly

Husbands

Fiancees

Boyfriends

Armistice Day

Didn’t bring back the adulthood 

Of those who fell in the fields of France

And other places

Teenagers… Our Theos and Judes

Gone… forever…

So… 

We promised

We would remember them

Today, as Gillian and Daphne 

Have highlighted 

In their art piece around our Memorial Stone

With 113 poppies

One for every one we lost

From Fitzroy, Donegal Pass and The Crescent

So we will remember them

We are delighted that we have sailors from HMS Duncan with us

We will pray for them and their colleagues in navy, army and airforce

 

PRAYER

Our God

Who reigns forever

Creator

Sustainer

Redeemer

We worship you

We put you in your place

As Lord

So we might find our place

In your space for us in your Creation

 

We are your people 

We sing your praise

Even as we remember

War

And loss

And wounds of body and heart and mind

 

Lord, we pray for our forces

That they would be channels of justice

Conduits of our safety and security

That you give them courage to resist the evil forces in our world

That you would give them wisdom in the dangerous situations they will find themselves in

That you would give them compassion for their colleagues

And indeed even their enemy

That you would make them sensitive to what you declare to be justice

That you would stop them from crossing any lines

That would move them from defenders of the nation

To being aggressors on other nations

God keep them safe

And God may they be harbingers of peace and justice 

Across the world

That you Kingdom would come

And your well would be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

AMEN

THANKSGIVING PRAYER #3 - Thanksgiving for the God of Place and People – BARBARA DASS

This is one of the prayers that member of Fitzroy, Barbara Dass, prayed as our Sunday service prayers. It is so good I asked Barbara permission to blog. I have broken it into 3 parts... this is part 3

 

Thanksgiving for the God of place and people – the Family of God - Fitzroy

 

Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits which you have won for us

For all the pains and insults you have borne for us. *

 

Our Loving Heavenly Father,

For each friend and member of the Fitzroy family we pray:

 

On all who are dis-spirited and dejected,

Lord, come in your mercy.

On all who have lost hope or joy,

Lord, come in your mercy.

On all who are unable to cope,

Lord, come in your mercy.

On all who are weak and heavy-burdened,

Christ, come in your mercy.

On all who are lost or who have strayed,

Christ, come in your mercy.

On all who are fearful and anxious,

Christ, come in your mercy.

On all who feel lifeless and dead,

Lord, come in your mercy.

On all who feel forsaken and betrayed,

Lord, come in your mercy.

On all who are powerless and helpless.

Lord, come in your mercy. *

 

Our Loving Heavenly Father,

For each friend and member of the Fitzroy family we pray:

 

That each step we take, may it be on the God-Trail,

Foot falling softly on sacred ground,

Hearts welling with your blessings,

Reveal your Holy Highway to us!

 

Save us from delusions of self-righteousness,

Keep us from mirages of lies,

Protect us from debilitating doubts,

Don’t let us miss your God-revealing signposts!

 

Our Father,

May we follow your counsel,

Immersed in your Word,

Waiting always,

Longing for you alone!

 

Prevent us from wandering off on our own,

Keep us on track…a steady pace,

And when the wild horses come thundering,

Fill us with untamed love!

May we abandon our selves to you alone,

Inhabiting the expanding landscape of your love,

Compelled to follow your bronze-fired feet!

 

May there be no regrets then,

Fitzroy lives sculpted by your Word!

Thank you, our Father, for your clear truth,

For speaking straight to our hearts today!

We’re going to do what you tell us to do.

Amazing God! 

Magnificent Counsellor!

Mighty Redeemer!

We’re on your Holy Highway!

Walking with the Sacred Three!

Never alone!

Confident in your presence!

 

Our most gracious and loving Heavenly Father,

Thanksgiving wells up from the deep!

Praise from the expanses!

Don’t ever walk off and leave us!

 

May it be so! 

 

* David Adam, “The Rhythm of Life – Celtic Daily Prayer”, Morehouse Publishing, USA, 2007

 

read part 1 of the prayer here

read part 2 of the prayer here

THANKSGIVING PRAYER #2 - Thanksgiving to the God of the Nations - Sovereign God - BARBARA DASS

art: World Literature Map by Dave Freeburn

 

This is one of the prayers that member of Fitzroy, Barbara Dass, prayed as our Sunday service prayers. It is so good I asked Barbara permission to blog. I have broken it into 3 parts... this is part 2...

 

We admit to sometimes being overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions when confronted by the affairs of the nations. 

Sorrow, anger, compassion, frustration, hope, fear, scepticism and struggling faith!

Daily we witness the strutting nations declaring:

“We’re powerful!”

“We’ve got wealth!”

“We’ve got strength!”

“We’ve got control!”

“We’re looking out for ourselves!”

“We’re getting the best deal!”

“We’re going to be great!”

“What we say goes!”

Playground bullies and gangsters!

 

Sovereign God – you alone rule the nations! 

Praise God!

 

We are full of thanksgiving that we belong to your Kingdom.

Our King is Jesus! 

The Servant King!

Kingdom earth-dwellers we are.

Praise God!

A Kingdom of servants,

Thanks be to our Sovereign God!

 

Upon all in the nations who are suffering from hunger,

Lord, come in hope.

Upon all in the nations who are refugees,

Lord, come in hope.

Upon all in the nations who are prisoners of tyranny and war,

Lord, come in hope.

Upon all in the nations who are exploited,

Lord, come in hope.

Upon all in the nations who are underprivileged,

Lord, come in hope.

Upon all in the nations who are without work,

Lord, come in hope. *

 

We declare to the leaders of all nations:

 

The LORD is King! God rules!

His Kingdom is established,

Subversive, pervasive, unseen, unstoppable!

Darkness is crashing out, death defeated.

The Servant King is on the throne.

Believing, trusting,

May we be Christ’s Kingdom in this place, this day!

Loving the Light. Living the Love.

Lighting up the day with your blazing truth!

 

Our God reigns!

We’re watching the clouds!

All creation is waiting!  

 

May it be so!

 

*David Adam, “The Rhythm of Life – Celtic Daily Prayer”, Morehouse Publishing, USA, 2007

 

read part 1 of the prayer

read part 3 of the prayer here

THANKSGIVING PRAYERS #1 - Thanksgiving to the God of the Universe - Maker God - BARBARA DASS

This is one of the prayers that member of Fitzroy, Barbara Dass, prayed as our Sunday service prayers. It is so good I asked Barbara permission to blog. I have broken it into 3 parts...

 

Our God the LORD is King!

Creator God we praise you!

 

You sculpted our wonderful land – the land that we breathe and walk in!

Let the white limestone cliffs of the North Coast rejoice!

Let the Fair Head boulders jump for joy!

Let the amazing Causeway columns shout!

Let the flora-carpeted sand dunes of White Park Bay dance!

Let the Mourne Mountains stamp their feet!

Let the heath lands of the Belfast Hills celebrate with swathes of white waving bog cotton!  

Let the fine sandy beaches shimmer and the crashing white horses roar!

All creation is glad in our place! 

 

Our God the LORD is King!

Creator God we praise you!

 

In your hand are power and might.

And it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.

And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name. *

 

Upon all who seek to care for our world,

Lord, have mercy.

Upon all who seek to conserve and preserve the earth’s goodness,

Lord, have mercy.

Upon all who work as your co-creators,

Lord, have mercy.

Upon all who work in dark or dangerous places,

Christ, have mercy.

Upon all who suffer through pollution,

Christ, have mercy.

Upon all whose land is spoiled through war,

Christ, have mercy.

Upon all who work on land or sea,

Lord, have mercy.

Upon all who seek to make this world beautiful,

Lord, have mercy. *

 

Father of all creation, we thank you that you 

Have given us a world rich in resources,

And made us stewards of your mysteries;

Help us to act responsibly,

Not wasting or destroying what we do not need,

Not polluting the earth, or sea or sky,

That we may act with love towards all things,

And so reflect the great love that you have for this world. *

 

Be with us, Lord God, Creator of all,

To strengthen us on our journey,

To guide us in all our doings,

That we may share in the love and care for your world.

Breathe new life into all creation and begin with us. * 

 

May it be so.

 * David Adam, “The Rhythm of Life – Celtic Daily Prayer”, Morehouse Publishing, USA, 2007.

 

read part 2 of the prayer here

read part 3 of the prayer here

CARRY IT GENTLY

God, give us a confidence in you

But give us grace to keep us from arrogance

God, give us a strength of conviction

But let us share it humbly

God may we believe courageously

But help us carry it gently

Lord, may we go forward with vision

But help us to be careful that we do not abuse your grace to feed our own self righteousness

But use your grace to feed the world’s deepest needs.

AMEN

THE JUGGLER... AND GOD'S SKITTLE OF GRACE

You are born
And before you know it
Your parents throw you a skittle
Catch it
Expectations of being like them
Thinking like them
Wearing what they think, to be respectable
Meeting their dreams
Finding a secure future in the job they’d like you to have
The spouse that they would like you to have
Making them proud...
Don’t drop it...
And you go off to school
And before you know it
Teachers are throwing you a skittle
To achieve and excel
To make the grade
To improve their school league tables
And to get you to University
To study that which would
Give you a secure future in the job that they’d like you to have
You better work, work, work
You better not drop it
Don’t drop it...
And you get a school break
And before you know it
You are trying to make friends
And trying to get into that gang
And your peers are throwing you a skittle
Wear what we wear
Like the music we like
Do what we do
Drink what we drink
Smoke what we smoke
Pray like we pray
Read the Bible like we read the Bible
Become like us
Because we are cool
And you need to be cool
To be given the same label of cool
You better get cool
You better conform
Don’t drop it...
You better juggle
You cannot hold all three skittles
Keep them all in the air
Don’t drop any
Even when your parents skittle
And your Church’s skittle
Clashes with your friends’ skittle
Keep them all up at the same time
Don’t drop one...
On Sunday you go to Church
And before you know it
The minister is throwing you a skittle
You better behave like this
It is Sunday wear this
Read this version of the Bible
Sing these kinds of songs
Do this with your hands
Believe this about baptism, tongues and predestination
And then you can belong
Only then
So you better just do as they say
Without thinking to much
Don’t drop it...
You better juggle
You cannot hold all three
Keep them all in the air
Don’t drop any
Even when your parents skittle
And your Church’s skittle
Clashes with your friends’ skittle
Keep them all up at the same time
Don’t drop one...
And you finally go off to University
And the freedom that brings
Throws you a skittle
Insecurity of being free
The inferiority of making new friends
The fear of not acting the right way in the freedom
The idea of not being good looking enough
Or talented enough
Or clever enough
Or spiritual enough
Or fashionable enough
Or free enough
Or too free
Will I ever find friends?
Will I ever fit in?
Don’t drop it
You better juggle
You cannot hold all three
Keep them all in the air
Don’t drop any
Even when your parents skittle
And your Church’s skittle
Clashes with your friends skittle
Keep them all up at the same time
Don’t drop one...
And God says
I love you
I died for you
I welcome you
Not by behaviour
Nor brains
Nor looks
Nor cool
Nor spirituality
I love you
Because...
I love you...
So much...
Now drop all those skittles
Catch this one
Grace
Unmerited favour
Grace
Loved as you are...
Into who you can become
With this one skittle
Grace
Catch it!

MAY WE BE A BEGINNING - START OF CHURCH YEAR PRAYER

Lord,

At the beginning of another Church year

As my friend Sarah Masen sings

“We come with what we have done

We come with who we are

We are a beginning.”

Lord, may we be a beginning

We ask that you give us a brand new impetus

We do not want to live on the momentum of what we have done

We seek a new impetus from your Holy Spirit

Even for the things we continue to do as before

So Lord

In our passion for you

In our compassion for others

In our love for one another

In our forgiving of enemies

In our commitment to serve in Fitzroy

In our commitment in work, leisure and volunteering outside Fitzroy

In our pastoral care

In our mission

In our Kingdom building

From our neighbourhood in the Holy Land

To Africa, India and wherever else

In our vision for your work

In our wisdom to carry it out

In the grace needed to be pastoral sensitive as we do

Lord, re-fuel us with an invigorating energy 

Shift our propelling forward

From momentum

To impetus

Keep us up to your speed

In the work you have called us to do

Give us your grace towards your holiness

May our deepest gladness meet the world’s deepest need.

In the name of Jesus 

In whose name we pray,

Amen