listen to the voices

 

Matthew 2:13–23 

a voice in a dream

whispers, urges – go! 

take mother and flee,

take child and run for his life

to Egypt – 

get up

Joseph

go! 

a voice cries out

wailing, loud lamentation,

Bethlehem will not be consoled

weeping for her children,

will not be consoled,

for they are 

no more 

a voice. a dream. once

more – again – get up! 

I have called you,

called him out of Egypt

come home, Israel is waiting

but make a new home

to call him Nazarean

go there, go now

come to the place

I call you

home

forgive our unbelief

 

Matthew 21:33–46 

forgive us when we do not believe

you'll take the kin-dom away 

forgive us when we do not believe

we must follow your way 

forgive us when we do not believe

there are consequences when we reject you 

forgive us when we do not believe

your kin-dom is for all, not only a few 

forgive us when we do not believe

shooting the messenger is unjustified

forgive us when we do not believe

you mean it: love, and be kind 

Holy One will forgive: 

hear this, and believe it. 

Your forgiveness is fulfilled

when you trust, when you live

as if it changes everything: 

you are forgiven, be transformed.

Amen. 

instead of arguing ...

Matthew 21:23–32

You call us to join you
in the House of the Holy,

relinquish our seats,

shut our mouths – 

and hear in the silence

the voice of Wisdom,

and finally fall to our knees. 

holding all within

Matthew 13:31–33 

Falling seeds

a parable retold – Matthew 13:1–9

Listen.
Life scatters seeds indiscriminately.
Seeds of hope, of peace, of kindness;
seeds of joy, of love, of wisdom.
Falling on stone, birds may steal the seeds.
Falling on rocky ground, the seeds grow fast, but
do not live long without depth for resilience
when the wind howls, and the sun scorches.
Falling among thorns, the seeds are choked,
no air to breathe, no room to move.
Falling on healthy soil, the seeds of hope,
of peace, of kindness, seeds
of joy, of love, of wisdom push their roots
down deep, stretch their leaves high and wide,
grow strong, fruitful, spreading hope, peace
kindness, joy, love, wisdom, letting seeds
fall for more to grow in time.
Listen.
Which soil are you, for the falling seeds?
Listen. Listen and hear.
Amen.

Welcome

Matthew 10:40–42 

a sort of confession,
a sort of intercession,
a commitment to offer
what I have, in welcome 

I have but a cup,
cold water to quench
a moment's thirst.

It is not a bucket or
a well; no stream
or lake or river.

I have a cup, I have
cold water to quench
your thirst this moment:

drink, well met; drink,
refresh; drink, and may you
find your way to the source.

More like my teacher

Matthew 10:24–39 

Jesus, bid me lose my life
so I may find more life with you.

Jesus, bid me stand my ground,
so I stand for peace with you.

Jesus, bid me claim your Way,
so I may enter your kin-dom now.

Jesus bid me risk my life,
so I may gain a life worth living.

Jesus, whisper life to me,
that I may shout it with my being.

Jesus, meet me in the dark,
and in the light I'll speak with freedom.

Jesus, make me more like you:
whisper, linger, bid me come to life!

After: Life

Matthew 28:1–10 

after they rested
they went to see
after the dark
a new light dawning

after separation
they sought him anew
after the death
a new way dawning

after the earth shook
an angel met them
after the fear
a new hope dawning

after the strange words
they ran they skipped
after despair
new life dawning

after the greeting
a falling holding tight
after all do not fear
I am here

for the non-violent resisters

Matthew 27:11–54

We give thanks for the non-violent resisters,
the peaceful protesters, the prophets
who show us where you stand, O God:

the falsely accused – 'do you hear their many
accusations against you?'
'what evil has he done?

the abandoned – 'then what should I do
with this Jesus, your Messiah?'
'let him be crucified!'

the beaten – they stripped him, spat
on him, struck him on the head;
they twisted a crown of thorns
and put it on his head

the mocked – they taunted him, 'King
of the Jews', mixed gall with his wine,
cast lots for his clothes; 'you Son of God,
save yourself!'

the crucified – 'My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?'
he cried out again, then breathed
his last.

We give thanks for the non-violent resisters,
the peaceful protesters, the prophets
who show us where you stand, O God.
Amen.

Your Kin-dom Come

Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus, teach us again,
for whom your kin-dom comes:

the kindom belongs to the ailing spirits,
the ones in need of hope

the kindom comes to those who mourn,
the ones in need of comfort

the kindom is given to the humble,
the ones who ask for nothing

the kindom comes to the just,
the ones who thirst for what is right

the kindom belongs to the merciful,
they, too, will receive mercy

the kindom comes for the pure-hearted,
the ones with eyes open to God

the kindom is given to peacemakers,
living as children of God

the kindom comes to the persecuted,
standing firm with integrity in Wisdom

the kindom belongs to us,
though we suffer for the sake of God

the kindom comes for us -
rejoice, enter, and live!

Loud Lamentation

Matthew 2:13-18 

How can we hear your story of flight,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and not hear the stories of flight
that flood across our borders?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

How can we hear of Herod's fury,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and not hear the ringing of tyrants'
fear-filled rage through our own time, still?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

How can we hear of innocents' slaughter,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and not hear echoes of children slaughtered
in wars, abused at home, starving near and far?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

How can we hear of ancient wailing,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
in Bethlehem and Ramah, and not hear
the wails of the unconsolable now?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

Help us to hear your ancient story,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and to meet the stories we hear today
with compassion, welcome, hope.

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 
Amen. 

Make it now

Matthew 2:1-12 

Where is the child, born king? they ask.
Where is the child born now? we ask.
Where the hope? Where the light?
Where is the challenge born today?
The challenge to kings on flimsy thrones,
the promise of peace for victims of war,
the threat of justice to shake oppressors
in their slave-built towers - where
is the Holy child born again
in a world starved of miracle,
parched of life?
                           Where is the child
piercing silence with angel chorus,
piercing darkness with star-light shining,
piercing hearts with love Divine?

Make it here, o Holy child,
your entry to the world;
make it us, o Holy child,
your challenge to the world;
make it now, o Holy child,
your peace through all the earth -
o make it now, we pray.
Amen.

Lament for the fleeing

Matthew 2:13–23 

Why, oh Holy One,

have we not learnt from our story, 

that humans fleeing massacres

need a safe place to stay

like Mary, Joseph, and Jesus

fleeing Bethlehem for Egypt? 

Why, oh Holy One,

have we not learnt from our story,

that refugees arriving on leaky boats

weave tenacious threads through our community,

make us stronger,

like another Joseph, 

in an older Egypt? 

Why, oh Holy One,

do we not learn from our story,

not listen to the messengers,

or angels, or prophets,

calling us back to your Way

of Love and Justice  – 

angels you have sent to warn

and protect, again and again? 

Holy One, hear our lamentation

for the fleeing, the weeping; 

for the injustice, the unkindness: 

help us to enact your love and justice

for a new day dawning with the light

of the Christ born again and again. 

Amen

Testing, one, two, three

Luke 4:1–14. Lent 1
1.

Accuser Are you Son of God?
Make this rock
turn soft
as bread to stop
your hunger, what?

Messiah By bread alone
do I live? Oh, no,
but by the One,
the life of Holy One.

2.

Accuser These kingdoms, see,
this glory, all authority
to me
has given been,
and it is me
does pass it as I please,
when me
you worship – me.

Messiah Hear, O Israel: listen.
God is One,
our God, Holy One;
worship God alone.

3.

Accuser Here we are atop
the Temple – drop
and God will stop
your fall, no rock
will make a scratch.

Messiah Put the Divine
to test, a whim,
oh no,
not God, the Holy One.

of dust and ash

Matthew 6

all flit and flurry

no flow, no flourish, without

depth, dug into me

In secret

litany based on Matt 6:1–6, 16–21


Come into a secret room,
come away from the crowds
and the light.
Come into the secret room
of your heart, your depth,
your all.

Here you are met by God,
and God alone.
Here you confess to God,
and God alone.

In secret, name your hurts,
your fears: none will hear
but God.
In secret bear your scars,
your tears: none will see
but God.

Here you will need your courage,
beloved;
here you will need to be brave.
But there will be no fanfare,
beloved;
no heroes’ welcome as we look
only to ourselves.

Look closely, look with care
and attention, at your fullness
of humanity.
See and do not turn away
from what you have done or left
undone.

Look closely, look with care
and attention, in a mirror
of God’s deep loving;
look, be seen, and in this secret
place of honesty, find hope,
and healing, and humility.

The witnesses

Matthew 25:37–46



Angels will bear witness
when the Son of Humanity comes,
when people are divided,
the inheritance of blessing received.

Angels will bear witness
as the stories then are told,
of hungry fed, or left to starve;
of thirst quenched, or panting, wanting;
the naked clothed or left exposed;
strangers welcomed or neglected;
the sick cared for or abandoned;
prisoners remembered, or shunned.

Angels will bear witness
to kindness inviting kindness,
cruelty reaping punishment,
and God’s Wisdom understood, at last.

Be ready for the day

Matthew 25:1–13

call to worship



keep watch
keep up
keep your lamp alight!

prepare yourself
for the day to come,
the day of new life beginning.

keep watch!
prepare!
be ready to greet our God!

We are the hypocrites.

confession and assurance of grace

Matthew 23:1–12



confession

When we do not practice what we teach here,
forgive us, God of grace.
When we place burdens on each other,
too heavy to be born,
do nothing to relieve the suffering of another,
forgive us, God of grace.

When we do good deeds for applause, not kindness,
are disciplined for show, not closeness to you,
forgive us, God of grace.
When we take on positions for the honour of the rank,
expect adoration and the best seat for ourselves,
forgive us, God of grace.
When we forget it is you who are great,
and we the servants to you and each other,
when we seek to be exalted, rather
than to kneel before you in humble gratitude,
forgive us, God of grace.

assurance of grace 

We have one teacher: Wisdom, Jesus, Word of God
We have one guide: Spirit, Breath, Wind of God
We have one source of life: Creator, Father, Womb of God

Receive from the Holy One Holy Three
the grace to heal you,
love to nurture you,
life to restore you.
Know you are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Begin in love

Matthew 22:34–46



Build a scaffolding of love,
each beam, each joint,
each step to climb on, made
of love directed God’s way,
reaching to your neighbour,
touching you, yourself.

And on that scaffold you will hang
securely all the teaching,
the laws and rules and wisdom
from our forbears and our God
that will lead you into life.

And if they fall away no longer
useful, the teachings and the rules
for living wisely, the scaffold still
remains to hold new precepts and new
guidelines for your living well,
if you begin with love.