Dear God, long ago you spoke to Moses through a burning bush.
You told him to return to Egypt and he would become a messenger of deliverance.
Holy One, make your presence known through burning bushes each day.
On this the birthday of your church, give us the courage to prayerfully anticipate becoming a burning bush like Moses who dared to lead out of slavery into promised land.
Holy Creator and Father of all, make us effervescent like Moses who shined with your glory.
Giver of all community forming commandments, like you dressed Moses, clothe us with awe filled awe inspired obedience empowering us to carry holy fire breathing tablets in our hands.
Only True One Who sets all free, release us from endless cycles of being stuck wandering in desert places caused by fear, projection, division, idolization.
Perfect love made known in Jesus of Nazareth, make our ears tingle as we hear Jesus announce, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come..."The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" (Luke 4:18-19, 21, "The New Living Translation of the Bible").
May we catch rides on the wind like Jesus' first followers who followed him to the cross where he gave his life to save from sin, separation, and a world seeking to craft meaning in her own image a part from God in the flesh.
May we follow the disciples into an upper room for a long season of bathing ourselves in sheer silence anticipating a Word from Holy, Holy, Holy.
Tongues like fire descend above each head.
Transform us into burning bushes whose unique God breathed personalities are not consumed but awakened with Son-filled light.
Holy Spirit, purify, illuminate.
Holy Spirit, breathe deliverance.
Holy Spirit, reveal authentic truth bearing Christlike-ness.
Holy Spirit, carry us in wind dancing adventures where you give us dance partners we never anticipated, discovering rhythms and tunes of holy living with persons you want us to touch.
Holy Connector, dance in the middle of all relationships so we may see each sister and brother we meet the ways you see each person we meet and love each other the ways you love us.
Holy Spirit, embrace us in the arms of Jesus who helps us dare to be unsettled by what You see so much we expose tears we deny to your Son birthing resurrection life witnessed through Christ-like compassion, Christ-like empathy, and Christ-like prophecy.
Holy communion, expose labels and better than lesser than categorizations.
Open listening ears who dare to listen to the hearts of people who cry tears caused by oppression and desire to be set free.
Speak through us.
Love through us.
Heal through us.
Holy communion, inspire beloved community where Christ-like friends discover beauty through the various colors of diversity.
Holy communion, bring followers of Jesus together so we can learn from various perceptions and theologies of you.
Holy communion, bring followers of Jesus together across brands and labels so we can learn new ways of prayer.
Holy communion, bring followers of Jesus together so we may learn new habits of friendship formation that influence whose we are, who we are, who we see and where we go.
Holy communion shape holy conversation where people agree Jesus is big enough to enlarge our hearts so we can learn through unsettling tensions caused by passionate disagreement.
Help us live in the birth pang travail of tension long enough to become midwives of new creation birth bearing forth the reign of God here and now.
Grant holy conversation where we gather around world transforming scriptures that jump from pages soaking souls.
Speak through us.
Love through us.
Heal through us.
Teach though us.
Holy Encourager, help us say "Yes" to each life giving mission to serve as a messenger of deliverance in a world crying out in pain.
Holy Equipper, put on us the audacity to receive and bear the Good news of your promises:
"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask for anything in my name and I will do it!"
(John 14:12-14, "New Living Translation of the Bible").
"If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth."
(John 14:15-17a, "New Living Translation of the Bible").
"I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
(John 15:11-13, "New Living Translation of the Bible").
"Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray they may be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."
(John 17:15-21, "New Living Translation of the Bible").
Triune God, as we embody these messages of agape, we will become messengers of deliverance who breathe holy fire turning judgment into justice, oppression into redemption, division into beloved community!
Come, Spirit, Come!
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