The Eucharistic Prayer for the Feast of Saints Mary and Martha of Bethany, Companions of Jesus

P: It is truly right and a good and joyful thing 

that we should at all times and in all places, 

offer our thanks and praise to you, Holy

God through Christ our Lord.

You founded your Church on the apostles

to stand firm forever 

as the sign on earth of your infinite holiness 

and as the living gospel for all humankind. 

And so with the Church on earth, 

with Mary, Martha, their brother Lazarus, 

and all the hosts of heaven, 

we praise your name and join their unending

hymn:

The Sanctus is said or sung.

P: You are indeed holy, O God,

and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 

For over thirty years, he walked among us,

yet he had no home to call his own.

Often, the only rest he knew was found in

Bethany, in the company of those he called his

friends. 

It was there that Martha would serve him,

while Mary was fed by his words.

By the baptism of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, 

you gave birth to your church, 

delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 

and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night before he suffered death, 

our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around

the table and as he took bread, 

he offered thanks to you; breaking it, and

giving it to all of them, saying: 

“Take and eat; this is my body, given for

you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

After all of them had eaten, he again took

the cup and offered thanks to you, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness

of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your

mighty acts in Jesus Christ, 

we offer ourselves in praise and

thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, 

in union with Christ’s offering for us, 

as we proclaim the mystery of faith: 

C: Christ has died. Christ has risen.

Christ will come again.

P: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered

here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 

As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 

so may we be for the world the body of

Christ, redeemed by his blood.

Help us to choose the better way that,

having been fed at your table,

we might serve all those in need. 

By your Spirit bind us to Christ,

one to another, 

together in ministry to all the world, 

until Christ comes in final victory and we

feast at the heavenly banquet. 

Through your son Jesus Christ, 

with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, 

all honor and glory is yours, 

Almighty God, now and forever. 

C: Amen

P: And now, as God’s confident children,

we boldly pray: 

C: Our Father in heaven...

Rite of Reception

Forty years ago, I was still in the Missouri Synod and spending the hot summer at St. Paul's/Bushwick with five or six other Bronxville schoolmates. The pastor was Richard Frank. I mention him because he was a gay pastor, and in 1970 one was not a publicly gay pastor, let alone a partnered gay pastor. Richard was single but he wasn't the only gay pastor in the area and often, on weekend nights there would be cocktail parties at one of their homes. In those days, because they were all closeted, these parties were their only opportunities for socializing together. Richard was also an alcoholic and I remain convinced, to this day, that prevailing thought in both church and society contributed to that problem. So, I was called upon to be his designated driver. When there was a party, Richard and I would get in his VW beetle and head off and, as far as I know, I would be the only straight person present. I only remember the name of one other person who would be there and, even though he is also dead, I don't mention his name because he was a prominent figure in the church. I stopped being the designated driver the night Richard hit on me on the way home.

I have known and worked with many gay pastors since those days and I have been able to get past that incident in the car with Richard and work in the church (and society) to help bring about the day when LGBT pastors not only need not live and work in a closet but can also enjoy the same rights and benefits of marriage like the rest of us. The Lutheran Church in which I serve has been trying to get past those days of repression and it hasn't been easy. But today, in San Francisco, a group of pastors will finally be recognized, and received, as partnered people who have faithfully served the church despite all of the obstacles that have been placed in their paths. Ironically, perhaps, this group is roughly the same size as those cocktail parties back in Brooklyn. Seven pastors are in this class-the Rev. Paul Brenner, the Rev. Jeff Johnson, the Rev. Craig Minich, the Rev. Dawn Roginski, the Rev. Megan Rohrer, and the Rev. Sharon Stalkfleet. The Rev. Ross Merkel will be reinstated to the roster. For our church, this is indeed an historic day. It is conceivable that, my good and dear friend,  the Rev. Michael Hiller would have also been included today but he could not wait for this day and transferred his service to the Episcopal Church a few years ago.

Recently, I came across this song and I posted it on my Facebook page in honor of Megan:

Bless you, my sister, bless you on your way

You have roads to roam before you're home

And winds to speak your name.

So go gently, my sister, let courage be your song
You have words to say in your own way
And stars to light your night.

And if you ever grow weary,
And your heart song has no refrain
Just remember we'll be waiting
To raise you up again.

And we'll bless you, our sister, bless you in our way
And we'll welcome home all life you've known
And softly speak your name.
And softly speak your name.
Bless you, our sister, bless you on your way.
(Blessing Song by Marsie Silvestro)

If necessary, let us all be ready to raise her (and others) up again because we still have work left to do until all are truly welcome in this church of ours.

The Eucharistic Prayer for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles and Companion of Our Lord

It is truly right and a good and joyful thing 

that we should at all times and in all places, 

offer our thanks and praise to you, Holy

God through Christ our Lord. 

You chose Mary of Magdala, the apostle to the Apostles, 

to be the first to herald the resurrection of your Son. 

Having been loyal to him, even to his crucifixion,

she went to his tomb on that first Easter morning 

where she beheld the Risen Christ.

And so with the Church on earth, 

with Mary and all the hosts of heaven, 

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

The Sanctus is said or sung.

You are indeed holy, O God,

and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

He came to redeem even those whom the world deemed most unworthy. 

He restored Mary to health of body, mind, and spirit 

and she remained faithful to him, even to the cross and grave.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and

resurrection, 

you gave birth to your church, 

delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 

and made with us a new covenant by water

and the Spirit.

On the night before he suffered death, 

our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table

and as he took bread, he offered thanks to you; 

breaking it, and giving it to all of them, saying: 

“Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. 

Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

After all of them had eaten, 

he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, 

and gave it for all to drink, saying: 

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 

Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your

mighty acts in Jesus Christ,  

we offer ourselves in praise and

thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, 

in union with Christ’s offering for us, 

as we proclaim the mystery of faith: 

Christ has died. 

Christ has risen.

Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered

here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 

As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 

so may we be for the world the body of Christ, 

redeemed by his blood. 

May we ever share in the proclamation of

his resurrection. 

By your Spirit bind us to Christ,

one to another, 

together in ministry to all the world, 

until Christ comes in final victory and we

feast at the heavenly banquet. 

Through your son Jesus Christ, 

with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, 

all honor and glory is yours, 

Almighty God, now and forever. 

Amen

And now, as God’s confident children,

we boldly pray:

Our Father in heaven...