A Weekly Lament
Father of Lights,
Another week has passed and there seems to be so little light
The bombs continue to fall, the children continue to cry and die
Plough shares are beaten into swords, fishing hooks into spears
Families desperate for hope run from their countries hoping to find life in another
The hungry finish the week hungry, the oppressed still under the boot
The prisoner is not set free, the poor hear no good news
Politicians lie in alarming ways, their followers use the lies to stoke alarm
The mourning find only more tears, the humble find more jeers
The homeless find no home, children of the street continue to roam
The outcast is still cast out, the justice hungry is hungrier still
We still judge by the color of skin, not the content of character
With the prophet Jeremiah we cry out: the harvest is past, the summer has ended and we are not saved
All Things New https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXXvYDSL3lU
Come, Lord, and tarry not;
bring the long looked for day;
O why these years of waiting here,
these ages of delay?
Come, for Thy saints still wait;
daily ascends their sigh;
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”;
does Thou not hear the cry?
O come and make all things new.
Come and make all things new
O come and make all things new.
Build up this ruined Earth,
Come and make all things new.
Come, for creation groans,
impatient of Thy stay,
Worn out with these long years of ill,
these ages of delay.
Come, for love waxes cold,
its steps are faint and slow;
Faith now is lost in unbelief,
hope’s lamp burns dim and low.
Jesus, Redeemer and Restorer of all,
- Another week has passed and we hear again your words inaugurating your earthly rule,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV11-GK)
We pray fervently for year of the Lord’s favor to fully become reality
We pray for the outflow of your life, death, resurrection and ascension to take deep root in
Kings and Dictators
Presidents and Prime Ministers
All Rulers and Authorities
Generals and Soldiers
Families and Individuals
Businesses and the Arts
Education and Recreation
Sport and Neighborhoods
Us
We pray for the day of your return when we and all of creation will be redeemed, restored and made new.
O Jerusalem
They have told us of a city
Where our tears are washed away
And every shadowed valley
Is washed in endless day
They have told us of a table
Where the poor are honored guests
Where all the weary wanderers
Come in to bless and rest
Will we see the day of the city of God?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Can we run away, to the city of God?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
They have told us of a chorus
Where our voices join as one
In songs of celebration
That all our wars are done
Will we see the day of the city of God?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Can we run away, to the city of God?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Ahhh, Ohhhh ohhh
Come, Lord Jesus, Come (Come, Lord Jesus, Come)
Come, Lord Jesus, Come (Come, Lord Jesus, Come)
Come, Lord Jesus, Come (Come, Lord Jesus, Come)
Come, Lord Jesus, Come
They have told us of a city
Where all death will be undone
And all our tearful mourning
Gives way to healing song
Holy Spirit, giver and renewer of life
Strengthen our lament so it leads us beyond our prayers
Infuse in us the ways of Isaiah 58
To loose the chains of injustice
To untie the cords of the yoke
To set the prisoner free
To share our food with the hungry
To provide the poor wanderer with shelter
To clothe the naked
To care for our families
Build in us a holy imagination for the way things are supposed to be
Grow in us a longing for a shalom that fills
Our churches
Our neighborhoods
Our Cities
The Nations
Us
Envelop us with a holy discontent until this world is turned right side up
The Kingdom of Jesus
[Verse 1]
To what shall we compare the Kingdom of Jesus if not a seed?
It's small, it's sewn, it's tended and grown and it's sturdying you and me
Its branches never break and its fruit never withers
[Chorus 1]
His Kingdom is not of this world or of any kingdom whose ruler's face is on a penny
He comes to make all things bright and put a new wine in us
He's chosen the small things to outlast the great
The meek and the merciful to shine through the hate
Though it seems some days that Hell and its gates are prevailing
Oh say can you see the kingdom within us is the Kingdom of Jesus?
[Verse 2]
To what shall we compare the spirit of the hour if not a sword?
It frees us, unites us, it slaves and divides us and violence, help us Lord
[Chorus 2]
His Kingdom is not of this world or of any kingdom whose ruler's face is on a penny
He comes to make all things bright and put a new wine in us
He's chosen the small things to outlast the great
The meek and the merciful to shine through the hate
Though it seems some days that Hell and its gates are prevailing
Oh say can't you see we have one allegiance?
It's to the Kingdom of Jesus
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Another week has past and the New Jerusalem feels as far away as it ever has.
In the midst of our longing bring to us hope.
May we see the bright spots of your kingdom, even as we lament the darkness of the world.
And may the darkness of this world soon turn to the brightness of city of God.
May we know the wondrous day
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5 NIV11)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
O God Beyond All Praising
O God beyond all praising,
We worship you today
And sing the love amazing
That songs cannot repay;
For we can only wonder
At every gift you send,
At blessings without number
And mercies without end:
We lift our hearts before you
And wait upon your word,
We honor and adore you,
Our great and mighty Lord.
The flower of earthly splendor
In time must surely die,
Its fragile bloom surrender
To you, the Lord most high;
But hidden from all nature
Th'eternal seed is sown--
Though small in mortal stature,
To heaven's garden grown:
For Christ the man from heaven
From death has set us free,
And we through him are given
The final victory!
Then hear, O gracious Savior,
Accept the love we bring,
That we who know your favor
May serve you as our king;
And whether our tomorrows
Be filled with good or ill,
We'II triumph through our sorrows
And rise to bless you still:
To marvel at your beauty
And glory in your ways,
And make a joyful duty
Our sacrifice of praise.
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