it is good for us to be here

Luke 9:28–36 

Oh, Holy One,

may our communion with you

change us so others see 

us shining with your light 

Oh Holy One, 

may your presence with us

envelop us close as a cloud 

so we drip with your holiness 

Oh, Holy One, 

may we listen to Jesus,

your son, your chosen,

and become more like him 

Amen. 

to be merciful, like God

Luke 6:27–38

We pray for those who oppose us,

who hurl hate our way,

who curse our name,

who hurt, who attack, who abuse. 

We pray for the inner turmoil

that lies behind such harm,

self-loathing turned on others,

insecurities turned to venom,

pain, sorrow, abuse suffered themselves. 

We pray for those who cause harm,

for all in pain, not knowing how

to heal or to forgive. 

May we, your people,

be agents of love that heals,

living your grace that restores. 

We pray for those who act

with violence towards others,

with disrespect for property and person,

with greed, entitlement, selfish disdain. 

We pray for victims of violence

who learn no other way,

for poverty's angry outcomes,

wealth's insatiable appetite for more. 

We pray for those who cause harm,

for all in pain, not knowing how

to heal or to forgive. 

May we, your people,

be agents of love that heals,

living your grace that restores. 

We pray for those who pass judgement,

and for our own tendencies

toward self-congratulation. 

We pray from and for the messiness

of life lived alongside others

different and sometimes oh, too, similar

to ourselves. 

We pray for those who cause harm,

for all in pain, not knowing how

to heal or to forgive. 

May we, your people,

be agents of love that heals,

living your grace that restores. 

Hear our prayers, Holy One; 

may we live love for each other

that will transform enemies

into friends. 

Amen. 

Jesus begins

Three haikus with the story in Luke 

throw him back

Luke 4:14–30 

the valley would not 

receive him, returned, mountain

prophet home no more 

gather them in 

Luke 5:1–11 

he calls: fish sink boats

we fall to knees unworthy

then rise – gasp – he calls! 

come to the light

Luke 6:17–26 

he warms, he restores, 

riddles blessings into woes, 

woeful become blessed 

Song of the ages

Psalm 148 and John 1 

This One commanded

This One created

This One now here with us 

We praise the Word

We praise You, Wisdom,

Jesus, we praise Your Holy being 

Sun and moon and shining stars

Heavens and waters and earth

praise You, present through all creation 

Promise and presence

Prophet and Messiah

Your song is sung through time 

the Word became flesh

Christmas Blessing with John 1:1–14 

Word at the beginning,

Word without end;

Light in the darkness,

Light that God sent; 

born among us long ago,

born again, anew, now! 

This Jesus is born in you,

today/tonight, new life again and always: 

may his light guide your way,

beginnings, new beginnings, 

to the end. Amen. 

a multitude of the heavenly host

Christmas Praise with Luke 2:8–20 

angels fill our sky with gold:

our eyes blink with wonder! 

angels fill the air with music:

our hearts sing a song long awaited! 

angels fill the sky with light:

our souls dance, amazed! 

angels fill the air with life:

our lungs expand and – sigh! 

Praise to You, our Holy One,

Source of Life and Love,

born again in the wondrous story,

born again in us tonight / today! 

No place for them

Christmas Intercessions with Luke 2:1–7 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

displaced

and we pray for our neighbours, 

displaced 

silence 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

uprooted

and we pray for our neighbours, 

uprooted 

silence 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

expectant

and we pray for our neighbours, 

expectant 

silence 

We remember Jesus,

born 

and we pray for our neighbours, 

and ourselves 

silence 

Amen 

Be the kin-dom

Rev 1:4b–8 

Grace to you, and peace to you,

from the One who is and was

and is to come; from Christ

who lived and died and lived

again; from Beginning and End

and all between. 

Take that grace, take that peace,

be the kin-dom Christ called us

to be; the priesthood of the faithful,

the family of God; and so may

all eyes see our freedom 

and wonder – and wonder! 

Amen. 

faith on the outskirts of Jericho

Mark 10:46–52 

cloak, dust, flicked in eyes

liberation unsettles

perspective revolves 

Sharing his cup

Mark 10:35–45 

Do we know

for what we ask

from Jesus, our

own saviour? 

Do we know

what he will give,

to those who walk

his Way? 

The cup he drinks

is sour wine, is

rejection, betrayal,

is love even unto death! 

His baptism – 

that, too, is death,

the life to come

still more dying 

to self and wealth,

as we come last,

we serve not gain

more power. 

Know for what

you ask, and still – 

ask, and stay

the path. 

Drink and serve,

come last and see – 

that's first, and death

is life! 

a disciple's prayer

Mark 10:17–31 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am home 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am known 

I have kept God's Way,

Jesus, faithful all my life

I would follow you, Jesus,

if you would tell me how

must I give it up? 

Jesus, this is hard – 

harder than imagined,

Jesus, more than I can bear 

I will follow you, Jesus,

leave it all behind – 

the wealth, the home,

the people even – all, yes, all 

but Jesus, this is hard,

please meet me with your love

look at me with love, that

I may love with you 

help me love your Way,

Jesus, your people as my kin

help me give my all,

Jesus, all in love for you 

Inexplicable Paradox

Mark 9:30–37 

Confession 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand your death,

or our death with you;

how, so to live, you say, 'die'; 

how, if to die, still with you – life! 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand your life,

or our life with you, 

rising out of the tomb, 

shining, light in the dark. 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand greatness,

that with you, it hardly matters 

as much as littleness, or little ones;

that, to you, all matter, all, and each. 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand your way,

the taking nobodies as somebodies,

putting them in your arms,

turning life upside down: 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand welcome

or humility or servanthood;

the paradox of first and last,

of grace not merit, home not position. 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

Assurance of grace 

Welcome, all you children

into the embrace of Jesus,

which is the embrace of Holy One – 

welcome home, each

and every one. 

Be at peace:

we are forgiven, 

and we will never understand. 

Amen.

Who is Messiah?

Mark 8:27–38 

failed saviour

rejected hope

source of shame: 

who is Messiah? 

Jesus, we say you are 

peaceful resister 

upturned expectation 

life beyond death

who is Messiah? 

Jesus, we say you are 

with our praise

with our confession

with our prayer

for one another

Jesus, we say 

you are our Messiah! 

is it enough?

Mark 7:24–37 

I'm spent, don't tell them

where I am, so I may rest 

there is no hiding him: 

they know, they always know 

I'm here, spending my dignity,

hear me, save my child 

I can't. there is barely enough of me

for the children, and none for the dogs 

I am here, and with the dogs 

will take what crumbs that fall 

is that enough? what leftovers spill

out of my control? yours, not my, faith? 

hear me. see me. Jesus

Son of Holy One, kneeling at your feet

I have nothing, but what you 

have found at my feet is yours to keep 

go in peace; and so I go.

and she is found, the unclean spirit – gone! 

Assurance of Enough
Turn to God. It is enough.
Present your all. It is enough.
Receive God’s love. It is enough.
It is enough, and you will live.
Amen.

Love abandoned

Mark 7:1–8 

a lament

How often have we abandoned

God's commandment to love

in favour of human traditions? 

Instead of love, we have hated

those of other faiths, or none,

condemning them to hell; 

instead of love, we have hated 

noise and movement and not

welcomed the vibrant, curious, young; 

instead of love, we have hated

drama or drums, teachers or leaders

changing what we like best;

instead of love, we have hated

those of different sexualities, or genders,

dismissing their right to marry; 

instead of love, we have hated

those not pinkish white for not

being pinkish white like 'us';

instead of love, we have hated

political adversaries, vilified,

and criticised, not worked together for good; 

instead of love, we have hated

our embodied selves as if God 

never looked, and saw, and said, 'good.' 

How often have we abandoned

God's command to love

in favour of human traditions

we suffocate without the breath of Love? 

Who else but you?

 John 6:56–69 

a statement of faith or commitment 

To whom can we go? 

Though you speak wisdom

we cannot understand

or accept, which spins 

our heads, till dizzying,

we stumble and fall – 

To whom can we go? 

Though others mock and scorn

this foolish way, this

nonsense giving away of love

and life as if it has no end – to whom 

can we go, though our fellow

travellers on your path

will leave us, leave you,

offended, upended, beyond 

all bearing? O, Jesus, 

to whom can we go

for words of eternal life,

for embodiment of Holy One – 

to whom, if not to you? 

[ listen on SoundCloud ] 

Renewal

 John 6:51–58 

heaven's bread broken

red grapes oozing to quench thirst

creation sated 

True Bread

John 6:24–35 

We seek you for the bread you feed us;

we look for you, who is bread of life. 

The work of God is trust in you: 

we trust, we follow, we work for you. 

Give us the bread that falls from heaven;

feed us, quench our thirst, Son of Holy One. 

with Jesus

John 6:1–21 

withdraw to the mountaintop,

the sacred height, the thin

place; withdraw into the Presence

of God 

follow the Son of Holy One,

through valleys, over hills, follow

the Son of Holy One, seek, and find

God's peace 

look for the little one, the poor,

the young, the unlikely one – look

where you think you can not look and see

your God 

 

The rhythm of our days

Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

May the rhythm of our days

include gathering together to share

all we have done, who we have met; 

include a coming away to a deserted

place alone, to rest awhile, be fed; 

include compassion, open eyes

and open hearts to those whose need 

we can meet, today; 

include courage for crossing stormy

seas, wisdom to recognise the Sacred,

patience as we learn how to follow;

include mooring our boat in new places,

meeting strangers with peace that heals. 

May the rhythm of our days

resemble yours, Jesus our guide

to life, and may we know, ourselves, the peace 

with which you call us to meet each other. 

Amen.