A Foray Into Existentialism…

Blue is red…
        And green is true…
                Dark is dread…
                        And light is through.
                                I am… I am… am I?

                                        ‘Pon wing-ed thought, I fly!

Faith-Centered Leadership

Jesus Washing Feet by Simon Dewey 

Christ’s leadership example is always and ever about serving the underserved. 

I’m not a theologian nor a pastor. What follows is just my perspective on what Faith-centered leadership should look like in our secular world. As Christians we should know that Jesus Himself, as always, is our example of how to live out all aspects of our Christ-centered Faith. 

Jesus himself was a leader and called his apostles and disciples to be leaders – Christ modeled leadership and challenged His Apostles and indeed all His disciples (i.e. ALL Christians) to strive to live out his example of leadership – that example is to lead with a sacrificial heart and to serve the needs of those most in need, to raise up the marginalized, to treat the lowliest equal to everyone else. He didn’t come into the world to bring down the wealthy and privileged; but, my understanding when I read the Scripture is that He did come into the world to raise up the underserved and all people, regardless of the superficial status we humans accord each other. Christ is our leadership example of that in every word and deed recorded of Him, from him telling Peter and us in John 21 to “Feed my sheep” to His own humbling example of washing the Apostles feet in John 13, and more. Christ’s leadership example is always and ever about serving the underserved. 

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow Me, Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 

Matthew 20:25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. 

John 13:12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 

John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” 

James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.

There are many other passages teaching leadership in both the Old and New Testaments; I find the most meaning in the above Scriptures. What these passages mean to me are basic guides, listed below, for how to live out a life of Christ-centered leadership. And, again, Christ’s leadership example is always and ever about serving the underserved. 

Christ led with a focus on those most in need – the underserved in our societies. He never valued a rich man over a poor man. He didn’t spend His ministry raising the privileged even higher – He spent his ministry raising up the down trodden. 

Christ led with a sacrificial heart of service focused on those most in need, and He sent others out to share His example of leadership, raising others to their best potential. 

Christ showed us that we must understand those we want to help and be understood by them. He talked to the people in need and He heard them, healed them, filled them with hope. As leaders, we have to begin by listening and understanding in tolerance and compassion for all, to recognize and serve the needs of others without judgment. 

Jesus taught us by His every Word and by the example of His every deed how to live out a life of leadership through service to those most in need. And, He taught us that we all stand equal before God. 

Moreover, Christ shows us that our notions of serving status (i.e., the interests of the wealth, privilege, and of corporations – an entirely humanistic leadership viewpoint) are counterproductive to Christ-centered leadership and His commands that we love one another and care for those in need. 

His example also taught us to work together, even as He sent His disciples out into the world in teams to work together. Even the blessing of the Holy Spirit is an assurance that we are not alone in whatever mission God has for our lives, that we will always have a partner working together with us when we work for God’s will. 

Christ’s message is always of hope for all people equally. His example of leadership is always and ever about serving the underserved. His hope isn’t reserved for the privileged or the powerful. 

Jesus’ message is of hope for all people everywhere – to me, that is a Christ-given directive found in His message and in His example of DIVINE EQUALITY. That is Christ’s shared inspiration for Faith-centered leadership. 




Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. 

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Proverbs 24 – Wisdom sayings

1 Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them; 2 for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief. 

3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 

5 Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones, and those who have knowledge than those who have strength; 6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. 

7 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the gate they do not open their mouths. 

8 Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.
9 The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to all. 

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength being small; 11 if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death, those who go staggering to the slaughter; 12 if you say, "Look, we did not know this"— does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will he not repay all according to their deeds? 

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. 

14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, you will find a future, and your hope will not be cut off. 

15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do no violence to the place where the righteous live; 16 for though they fall seven times, they will rise again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. 

17 Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble, 18 or else the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from them. 

19 Do not fret because of evildoers. Do not envy the wicked; 20 for the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will go out. 

21 My child, fear the Lord and the king, and do not disobey either of them; 22 for disaster comes from them suddenly, and who knows the ruin that both can bring? 

23 These also are sayings of the wise: Partiality in judging is not good.

24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations; 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. 

26 One who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
27Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house. 

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 

29 Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me; I will pay them back for what they have done.” 

30 I passed by the field of one who was lazy, by the vineyard of a stupid person; 31 and see, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. 

32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. 

33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.

Deuteronomy 10:16-20 – Justice & Equality for the Underserved

NRSV Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise, then, the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, 18 who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear.

I understand this passage of Scripture as telling us to demand justice for the underserved; to love the stranger (in the NIV translated as “foreigner”) which can only be interpreted as neighbors and immigrants; and to provide help to those underserved members of our society and to strangers, to fight for their equity of opportunity to gain those abilities to provide for their own success in our world. 

"May the meditations of our hearts

be acceptable in Thy sight,

Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer.”

~In Jesus’ Holy name

We pray all believing,

Amen

NRSV James 1:12-18 – Personal Responsibility

NRSV James 1:12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 No one, when tempted, should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved. 17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

This is what – to me – the entire passage tells us: Our own temptation and the responsibility for resisting wrong and doing good lies entirely with our own choices. We are admonished not to let ourselves be led to wrong by anyone, but especially not by our own selves. And we are reminded that God loves us and that the fulfillment of His purpose is to be in right relationship with Him. To me, the entirety of The Book of James is about responsibility for ourselves and living out our Faith in the full self-determination to live out a Christ-centered Faith.

"May the meditations of our hearts

be acceptable in Thy sight,

Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer.”

~In Jesus’ Holy name

We pray all believing,

Amen

You Say They Won’t Cut Our Safety Nets?

I can only hope you’re right… 

We’ve all heard those folks who say the government won’t tear down our safety nets. I can only hope they’re right and that the GOP will see sense. But, the truth is that all our civil rights gains of the last seventy years are under assault. This regime is going to make us refight every battle of the last seventy years.

The GOP has already repealed the ACA and their “replacement” plan specifically targets people like me. I’m over 50 and will be hit hard by that age scale (age tax, more like). My son is on Medicaid and will surely lose his coverage with the Medicaid rollback. CHIP has been in place since the 90s and has covered millions of children every year, but was included in the repeal of the ACA. 

There have been plenty of examples over the last six years, since 2010, of the GOP-held government cutting those safety nets. I personally know people who’ve lost such support. I know many families who’ve been pushed from free school meals to reduced, or off the meal support altogether. And, don’t forget, the Congress, in their first few days this year, cut funding for school meals AGAIN! That’s CHILDREN having their access to meals eliminated.

Moreover, the GOP’s primary thrust of their healthcare is going to be tax credits on a by-age sliding scale – which even the AARP has roundly condemned – and health savings accounts. Do you have money to put into a health savings account? I don’t. I don’t know about you, but we already receive the maximum tax deduction each year. Tax credits will be meaningless for us.

As for those rising insurance costs, that has nothing to do with the ACA and everything to do with the GOP and the boards of those insurance companies. Did you know that Paul Ryan has personally taken over $4 MILLION from the insurance industry? Were you aware that Mitch McConnell took upwards of $6 million? And, the CEOs of those insurance corporations make more PER DAY than most of their customers make per year! If the CEOs are making that much, you can be very sure there’s not a person on their boards making much less than their CEOs. Today’s GOPers are not people who care about us – these are mammonites who care only about increasing their own wealth and their own self-aggrandizement. We are just fodder for their wealth engines. 

Immigration is particularly under assault. My son and my naturalized citizen husband already have been impacted by the visa-waiver exclusions for dual nationals passed by the GOP last year; my husband and son are Iranian-American dual nationals – not by choice but because Iran does not permit anyone to give up their citizenship and automatically deems their children citizens too. And, this president has a particular burr under his backside about Iranians. We have several acquaintances who were stymied by that stupid first ban, left hanging in airports around the word when their legitimate visas were denied – that’s violating the civil rights of completely LEGAL immigrants. I’m haunted by what this presidency will mean for my Iranian-American husband and son.

Both the president and the GOP-held congress have rolled back clean air and water protections already and are steam-rolling the end of the EPA, our environmental safety net. They’re eliminating the tax credits and subsidies for converting to or installing clean energy and are trying to actively kill wind and solar to favor fossil fuels. They block wind and solar fields yet promote fracking and strip mining and deep-sea oil rigs. They pass laws and policies to allow coal ash dumping in waterways and more…

It’s naive to think these GOP theocratic corporate extremists will not strip away everything that helps the working poor. They are not the republicans of Lincoln’s party; they’re not even the republicans of the 1950s. The entire party has become increasingly radicalized, starting with Nixon’s Southern Strategy. Today’s GOP does not care about the working poor. They do not work for us. They work for corporations who keep turning in those record breaking profits while complaining that they cannot afford to increase wages and even trying to convince us that there doesn’t need to even be a minimum wage. And today’s GOP embraces the racism, bigotry, misogyny, sexism, and xenophobia of the alt-right (white nationalists and white supremacists) by the expediency of their refusal to turn their backs on such evils for the sake of their own political greed.

I understand those who feel they need to stay away from the political fight. But, it is a fight, a fight for the very survival of democracy in the world. Our own constitutional democratic republic is being systematically supplanted for the GOP’s theocratic corporatist vision. Add to that the fascist and would-be tin-pot dictator that is our groping bigot-in-chief and the danger to freedom in the world becomes glaring and imminent.

I’m sick and crippled. I’m not young. I’m poor. I’m married to an Iranian immigrant. I don’t expect to survive this presidency. But, I’m going to fight to the last for whomever comes next – especially for my 13-year old son.

Love Your Neighbor – Scripture

RSV Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Luke 10:27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over you? 8 If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well.

Laugh It Off and Carry On

A blog about discrimination

I shrugged it off and carried on when I found out the entry level guy was being paid the same as me, when I was the award-winning lead graphic designer on a local commercial magazine. No point in risking my job, that’s just the way things are… Wouldn’t you agree?

I’ve laughed off a lot of gender demeaning comments in my lifetime. They were only joking, right?

I’ve laughed off dudes’ accusations that I must be “frigid" or a “lesbo” because I wouldn’t fall into bed with them… But, that’s just their stupid ego, yeah?

I laughed off men brushing too intimately up against me “accidentally.” That’s just boys being boys, isn’t it?

I laughed it off right up until I was assaulted.

I laughed off and continue to laugh off people turning their backs on me and calling me hateful names because I married an Iranian political refugee. That’s just their ignorance, just their problem, eh? 

We carried on when a woman cursed a blue-streak at my husband – who speaks six languages and graduated on the National Dean’s List – for refusing to hand a six-pack of beer to her elementary school-aged children with the pizza delivery, capping her tirade with “Learn to speak f*cking English or go back where you came from, towel head.”

When someone blocked the alley to our business’ rear delivery door, and he found the store they were in and asked them politely to move their car; the person followed him to the alley and cursed my husband with every low-class epithet he could spew against immigrants. We carried on. 

We carried on, after 9/11, when someone walked into our business, saw my Iranian-American husband behind the counter, walked up to him and said, “I won’t do business with you people after what you did to us in New York.”

I admit my hackles rise when I can NEVER laugh off some ignorant adult calling my son a “sand nigger.” 

I cannot laugh it off when my Christian son is called “ISIS” and threatened that Trump will send him and his dad to the gas chambers by middle school school bullies. 

I did not laugh it off when my son was assaulted by those middle school bullies and left with a serious concussion from which he spent months recovering.

Should I just “let it go” and carry on? 

Should I keep on laughing?

Are you laughing?

When do we stop laughing it off and do something about it?

“Apathy is acquiescence is compliance is approval.” –MomzillaNC

“Hands and hearts and minds and voices committed to working for tolerance, peace and social justice everywhere, always.” –MomzillaNC

Remember:
We, women and girls, have been told all our lives not to argue. Who told us that?

We’ve all been told all our lives not to discuss politics. Who told us that?

We women and girls have been told all our lives to “laugh it off” or “get over it.” Who told us that?

We’ve all been told all our lives it’s disrespectful to disagree with our elders. Who told us that?

The people who told us that also said “feminism” or “liberal” or “progressive” or “democrat” were dirty words.

The people who told us that are the very people hammering us with their “conservative” opinions and policies.

I’m sick to death of being told to hush! I’m beyond fed up with being silenced. Like the refrain from “Fight Song” says:

"And all the words I didn’t say…
Wrecking balls inside my brain…
I will scream them loud tonight!
Can you hear my voice this time!?”

We cannot – nay – we MUST NOT allow anyone to silence us ever again! I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!

by D. Denise Dianaty 

© 20 January 2016

Ra'qedyet -- A Poem

Ra'qedyet

A Poem by D. Denise Dianaty

An historical poem

“Ra'qedyet, or Râ-Kedet, was the original name of the city of Alexandria on the northern coast of Kemet, before it was renamed by Alexander the Great. Ra'qedyet is believed to have existed about 700 to 1000 years before Alexander even came to that site. The logic now is not that Alexander built his city on the same site as Ra'qedyet, but that he used an already flourishing city and simply expanded upon it!" -- From Ancient Worlds, an online website: http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/Property/1034345

Tell me more…

  I want to know…

  What came before…

  Before Alexander’s hell-bent stamp

  Upon cultures already ancient 

  when his own still cowered in caves

  Tell me about it…Tell me more…

  Tell me… tell me… tell me, please

  Of ancient Ra’qedyet

Like ill-fated Takht-e-jamshid

  where Alexander rested his feet…

  Yes… he rested his feet…

  His feet upon Xerxes’ table.

  Fair Parsa’s palace burned to ruin…

  it’s native name lost in time…

  It’s city recalled forevermore…

  by Greek arrogance… Persepolis!

Of all Carians, given up in fear…

  Given over by their Queen Ada.

  Anatolia laid wide… laid bare

  Before Alexander’s gluttonous march…

  His stamp left hither and yon… 

  A people entire… forgotten… gone

  Ground ‘neath his inexorable march

  His lustful ego used to erase Caria

Histories trampled, societies wasted…

  reaching farther, ever further…

  veneered by every raped culture,

  burying history 'neath his avarice

  from Anatolia to the Punjab

  where King Purushottama lost…

  lost even his name to Alexander…

  left a client king named Porus.

Grinding on… grinding down 

  like so many others…

  Anatolia, Achaemenid, Babylonia, 

  Egypt, Punjab, and more

  From Alinda to Babylon, Parsa, to Jhelum 

  and more and more and ever more.

  Never too much… never enough…

  Till death at last embraced his lust.

He built his city hailed through th’years…

  Crushing… o’erlaying atop Ra’qedyet…

  Ra’qedyet from ancient Pharo’s lines…

  Lost in Alexandria… stamped out.

  All that remains… a sad and silent jumble

  Ruins ‘neath ruins ‘neath a briny sea…

  At th’Nile’s mouth, it’s fate ’twas sealed

  So he might stamp his name ‘cross the world

A mighty nation prospered…

  before made a warning for the future…

  Now sad and silent jumbled ruins.

  In the ruins of ancient Alexandria

  lay ruins yet much older still

  ‘Neath th’magnificent capital of Ptolemy,

  Alexandria app Aegyptum… Alexandria Beside Egypt.

  It’s birth razing Ra’qedyet’s life…

  That long before haven of sailors.

Tell me of the histories lost…

  Tell me the stories of “the Great”

  How his exploits are to be lauded,

  ever to be praised and applauded…

  Of the lessons we should learn…

  the warfare that should burn.

  Tell me of the histories lost…

  lost in th’onslaught of Alexander… 

  Lost when he put them to the death.

Tell me more…

  I want to know…

  What came before…

  Before Alexander’s hell-bent stamp

  Upon cultures already ancient 

  when his own still cowered in caves

  Tell me about it…Tell me more…

  Tell me… tell me… tell me, please

  Of ancient Ra’qedyet

Tell me the glories of Alexander

  of his “Great” folly of death and debt.

Photo: ruins from Ra'qedyet (from: weburbanist.com/2007/09/12/underwater-urban-archeology-7-submerged-wonders-of-the-world")

and from: "2eyeswatching.com/tag/once-majestic-cities-that-sank-beneath-the-ocean"

Pray for Mission

Heavenly Father, God of grace and mercy,
By the great gift of Salvation and His resurrection
You offer the gifts of eternal hope and peace
Through Your only begotten son, Christ Jesus.
Baptized by water, we are born anew…
Born into Your heavenly kingdom.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, we are never alone.
In the Spirit, together we strive to do Your will.
Hold us, our nation, and our mission in Your hands.
Make us the body and voice of Your will.

Together in the Spirit, we open our hearts.
We lay bear our souls before You, Father.
As one in the Spirit, we open our minds.
Together we are Christ’s hands in this world.
United in the Spirit, our doors are open.
In Your will we work together for peace.
As one voice we desire your will be done.
Together in the Holy Spirit and in unity
We know Your strength makes us
Stronger together for a more just world.

Help us, Lord, to feed the hungry.
Teach us, Father, to care for the sick.
Guide us, God, to shelter the homeless.
Use us, El-Shaddai, to love everyone.
Humble us, Adoni, to find Your wisdom.
Grant us, Yaweh, solace in our tribulation.
Make us, Elohim, obedient in service.
Lead us, Sar Shalom, to be peacemakers.
King of Kings, grant wisdom to our leaders
With sacrificial hearts of service and compassion.

We ask for open eyes for our leaders
to see all humankind as Your sheep.
We pray for leaders with open hearts
to understand the cares of Your lambs.
We plead that our leaders have open minds
of love and compassion for all Your sheep.
We thank you for giving us clear vision, and pray
You will protect and perfect us in Your will.
In Christ’s name, with Faith all believing and
in humble gratitude, we pray. Amen.

"May the meditations of our hearts

be acceptable in Thy sight,

Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer.”

~In Jesus’ Holy name

We pray all believing,

Amen