Church Stuff-More or less

Does the church make sense or do we make it too hard for people to come in? I think yes and yes and the task then is to make it easier. Maybe for someone out there, this will be the case. I write as a Lutheran (or, perhaps a Lutherpalian) although I might seem out of the mainstream from time to time. That's okay, isn't it? Let's blog on.

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Location: Northport, Long Island, United States

Contrary to what Google will tell you, I have been blogging for several year, right here. Look for Churchstuff-moreorless. life was a hell of a lot easier when you could talk to someone to get help. Now, you can't do it on the telephone, you can't do it on the internet. Life was easier and made more sense because people actually cared. Now they will screw you as quickly as they will help you. Unfuck the world.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

The Eucharistic Prayer for the Feast of Mary, Mother of Our Lord (August 15)

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. 

In the fullness of time you sent your Son to be born of Mary, your favored one. 
From that day forth all generations have called her blessed. 

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. 
Born of lowly estate, he was the Son most High. 

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 our souls proclaim the greatness of our Lord 
and may our spirits rejoice in God our Savior. 

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...

Friday, August 06, 2010

The Eucharistic Prayer I for the Transfiguration 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 brought light out of darkness and set
        the sun to brighten the day
and the moon and the stars to illumine the
        night. 
Your glory blinds the eyes of our sin, 
while your radiance warms our needy hearts. 
You lead us by the light of your truth into
the way of righteousness and peace. 
And so with the Church on earth, 
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.

On a lonely mountain his human body was transfigured by your divine splendor. 
In his face, we have glimpsed your glory. 
In his life, we have seen your love. 
For your image is untarnished in him, 
and the burden of human sorrow and suffering could not diminish his reflection of your holiness. 

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. 

Illumine our lives, O God, with the radiance of Christ’s love, 
and inspire us to shine in faith and witness as his holy disciples. 
Transform us into his likeness that we may live for you, as he lived,
and love others, as he loved. 

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...