Prayer of Intercession

(Inspired by Isaiah 11: 1-10, Matthew 3: 1-12)

Let us pray for the Spirit of Wisdom to rest upon us
A spirit of understanding and knowledge
Grant us to live in harmony
God’s mercy prevail

Let us pray for God’s steadfastness to gird our spirit
May peace prevail like lamb and wolf
Grant us to live in harmony
God’s mercy prevail

Let us pray, for voices crying out in the wilderness
Women living in fear, children hiding
Grant all a place of harmony
God’s mercy prevail

Let us pray, repent of harm done to the innocent
Clear the chaff of abuse and hurt
Bear the Spirit of harmony
God’s mercy prevail

Let us pray for the God of hope, joy and peace to fill
All hearts, one voice glorify
God, prepare the way
God’s mercy prevail

Written by Terri and posted on RevGalPrayerPals. http://revgalblogpals.org/2010/12/05/sunday-prayer-advent-2a-sixteen-days-of-prayer-advocating-for-the-end-of-domestic-violence/. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/11/prayer-of-intercession-advent-2a.html.

Litany: Like a Shoot Out of a Stump

Cut off from home and heritage, cut down to build somebody else’s prosperity, Lord we come.

Cut off from songs, traditions, and culture that kept us together for so long, Lord we come.

Cut off by a world that expects more misery and more money, Lord we come.

Cut off by systems that delight in evil and ignore righteousness, Lord we come.

But because we serve God who judges people like us with righteousness, God will send a righteous judge, like a shoot out of a stump.

Because God is with us, the wolf will dwell with the lamb, like a shoot out of a stump.

Let your spirit of wisdom and understanding rise up in us, like a shoot out of a stump.

We expect you to help us grow powerful and united, righteous and holy, even in a sinful world, like a root out of a stump.

Tim Warner, The Africana Worship Book, Valerie Bridgeman Davis and Safiyah Fosua, eds., (Discipleship Resources, 2006), 99.

Benediction

Prophets of old put forth bold and broad dreams of the coming of God. So too may we, here and now, imagine unlikely and precious life – possible once more as the Divine draws near. The opportunity is ours to be faithful and courageous in our commitment to that incarnation.

Martha Brunell, Women’s Preaching Annual, Series 2, Year A, Compiled and edited by Lenora Tubbs Tisdale (Abingdon, 2001), 22.