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More or Less Church

Joanna Depue "DJ/Deacon J" writes original songs and liturgies, does daily Farm office work and records Barbara's eMos on The Geranium Farm. A singer and dog trainer she utilizes healing touch in her private massage practice. PLEASE share YOUR original ideas for worship, special liturgies, prayers, songs, sermons and noteworthy blogs right here.
Send emails to: deaconj@geraniumfarm.org or add a comment on an existing post.

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Prayer on the Anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti: Tuesday, 12 January 2010

It has been nearly a year!  Aid in the form of labor, volunteers, goods, services which began as soon as some of the dust has settled has dwindled somewhat, but continues.  From the ENS comes a link for a prayer for the people and church in Haiti: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_126489_ENG_HTM.htm

Friday, January 07, 2011

Post Christmastide - The Work Before Us

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
Then the work of Christmas begins...
To find the lost, to heal the broken
To feed the hungry, to release the prisoner
To rebuild the nations, to bring peace among people
To make music in the heart.

- Howard Thurman

Litany for Sudan and other Resources for the Mission in Sudan

I'm pleased to share with you a message just received from the Venerable William C. Parnell, Archdeacon for Mission, The Episcopal Diocese of New York.

"This Sunday, January 9, the people of southern Sudan will vote in a referendum on independence. Here are some resources which might be helpful to you as we offer prayers in the coming days along with our sisters and brothers in the Episcopal Church in Sudan:

http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/004796.html.  This link to the Thinking Anglicans blog will provide you with links to:

Background material and prayers from the Anglican Communion Office http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/12/21/ACNS4760;

Background on the conflict in Sudan from Trinity Wall Street http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/news/articles/sudan-background-on-the-conflict;

The Presiding Bishop's call for a Season of Prayer with Sudan, with suggested prayers http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sudan/;

Other articles from around the Anglican Communion as well as from the secular press -

The Right Rev. David Jones, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia and President of the American Friends of the Episcopal Church in Sudan (AFRECS - www.afrecs.org ) has written about his recent trip to Sudan in the current issue of The Virginia Episcopalian, available at: http://www.thediocese.net/Customer-Content/WWW/CMS/files/VEJan11_web.pdf (See page 5);

[I have added this resource] The Diocese of Missouri has had a history of partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Sudan.  See the information regarding their history, partnership, missions and cooperation with EDS, please go to: http://www.diocesemo.org/ministries/dioceseoflui/.

 The Diocese of Chicago recently put out two pieces, published by ENS: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_126483_ENG_HTM.htm;
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_126471_ENG_HTM.htm.
Another post from ENS came through just hours ago:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_126500_ENG_HTM.htm



Finally, here is a Litany in Preparation for the Referendum and Future of Sudan, which was distributed at the Sudanese Leadership Summit held last month in Phoenix:
Let us pray for and with the people of the Sudan:

O God, Author of Peace, stir your wisdom in the leaders of all nations that they may be guided towards peace that will grow until the world is filled with the knowledge of your love.

Help us to love peace.

O God, Rock of our salvation, we and the people of Sudan face great evil which cannot be avoided. Keep us steadfast in your love, resisting evil when we sin, to repent and turn to you.

Help us to resist evil.

O God, Compassionate Creator, in the world you wish your children not to use swords but to turn in love towards one another in reconciliation. We pray that in Sudan and throughout the world all people may move through hatred and mistrust and find a common ground in you.

Help us to find the way to reconciliation.

O God, Source of Justice, the children and people of Sudan have suffered long against powers of destruction, intolerance and greed. May the leaders of the north and south strive for justice and peace and may the nations of the world stand steadfast with them in their goal to create a just society founded on the knowledge of your love.

Help us stand together for justice everywhere.

O God, Fount of all Freedom, you created us to be liberated from all oppression and to live with self-determination and peace. Give power to all the people of Sudan to work for justice and security. Give them the tools of patience and understanding and the wisdom to know that greed and deception always will be lurking nearby. May freedom once attained be the bedrock of their new society.
Help us to walk gently with eyes wide open.

O God, you gave us choice at our creation. Each of us must explain our actions to you. Guide the people of south Sudan as the vote for their future. Prepare them for whatever outcome may arise, giving them vigor and astuteness to take what that outcome might be and continue to strive for the highest values that you have planted deep within their hearts.

We pray in Jesus' name, who died and rose again so that when we die we might rise with him. Amen.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Epiphany Reflection Poem

Rita Burleson has been a Geranium Farmer for years.  Although she has her own blog (http://ritagail.posterous.com/)  she shares with us her Epiphany reflection for 2011.  Thanks again, Rita!

Breaking News: Three Kings Make Foolish Journey


WHERE
Are you going?
Following a star?

WHY
Are you going?
To pay tribute to some
Baby
That some say will
Some day
Be some king?
Don't you know our
Own kings
Need their own tributes?
What strange star
Is so important?
And, what will you do

IF
You find this creature--
Will you stay there
And abandon
Our valued ways,
Our valued traditions,
Our treasured religion?
What if that "star"
Leads you right over a cliff
Into a bottomless waste?

WHO is going to care,
Anyway--
Even if some child becomes
Some king,
He will be dead in 70 or 80 years--
Or less.

WHAT possible reason could you have
To risk your reputations,
Your careers,
Your lives?

WHO is this Jesus Messiah--
Immanuel--
Whom you seek?

 



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