A Prayer for Our Times ^©

We praise you for the abundance and beauty of all things;
for the gift of life;
for the diversity of living things;
and for the great ecologies that sustains us.

We give thanks for our embodiment as persons,
for our being and our life,
through which you have made known 
the mystery of The Incarnation.

We give praise and thanks for our sexuality,
for the intimacy of being for another;
for making love known
and for sharing life in relationship.

Incarnate God, Our Friend, the bringer of Wisdom,
Open our hearts, that we may be 
your instruments of justice,
God-bearers of love and mercy,
that all may live in peace.

Teach us your way continually, 
that we may walk in discipleship,
as friends of Earth and sky,
brother and sister to all.

Spirit God, in whom all things become one,
Come as our source of renewal;
Set us aflame with justice-making,
that the Earth and all its ecologies
shall not suffer extinction.

Come, Holy Spirit, renew the whole of Creation,
Help us to overcome violence,
to end all discrimination
and to remove barriers to justice.

Amen
Prayer composed by Wal Anderson, Pilgrim Church, Adelaide, September, 2003. 
Reproduced in Horne, B., Lockyer, A., & Wickham, S., (eds)  Singing while it is still dark... a gift book of prayers and meditations for members of the South Australian Synod 2003. A Publication of Friends of Unity, 2003, p. 63.  

A MEDITATION
Every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 
Thus you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:19-20)

We are often warned about false prophets, especially when we disagree with each other about the way forward in the faith.  We usually assume that we will be able to recognise the people of the true faith because they are, after all, one of us!  Or they seem to be holding to the ways we recognise.  Jesus thought differently.  As he prepares his disciples for their future as the Church he warns them that recognising true disciples and false prophets may not be as easy as they might think.

Jesus does not say, "Look for those who are obeying the rules."  He says, "You will know them by their fruits."  It will be as hard as that and as easy as that.  "Bad trees" cannot bear this good fruit and good trees cannot bear "bad fruit".  Jesus does not say what the fruits might be, but Paul tells the Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit is: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Gal. 522-23).

Dear God,
free us from judgements about each other,
and open our hearts to your leading in recognising the fruits of the Spirit
in those whom we might believe to be the most unlikely people.
We ask this in the name of the Christ,
who saw beyond the law and the expected into all truth.  Amen.

From Talbot, W., (ed.) Uniting in Prayer: Prayers and Reflections. Prepared for use at the Eight Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia.  A Uniting Network Publication, July 1997, p. 6.

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A Parent's Thanksgiving 

Because of my age (60+) and a fairly sheltered upbringing, I had little contact with, or knowledge about, any sexuality - and in particular, formed opinions of homosexuality through literature and the sniggering or stereotyped jokes that come through reading and the media. Suddenly I had to learn a lot very quickly as it became apparent that my child was homosexual. 

· It hurts when you only have labels such as depraved, sinful, deviant, evil, filthy, an abomination and equally negative words for your own child who you know is a deeply committed Christian, loving, caring, creative, faithful and honest.

· It hurts when groups of fellow Christians at church and in the media talk about homosexuality (hopefully from ignorance), as an aberration, wicked, a sinful lifestyle and treat others accordingly.

· It hurts when you have to be careful not to react too quickly to the mindless jokes or comments in public.

· It hurts when you have to be very guarded with family members who hold these rigid, negative views, or talk about "them" as a generic group, a bit of a joke really.

Thank God for Friends of Unity!  For a place where I can mix with fellow Christians who rejoice with me in my child's abilities, celebrate achievements, and above all see beyond the label to the whole person. 

Thank God for the chance to meet with other families who have had similar journeys. 

Thank God for those homosexual persons who come along to be with us and share their vibrant faith as well as their struggles. 

Thank God for those who are there because they seek to support, not condemn. 

Thank God that my faith has been strengthened and my vision of Christ has grown clearer.

Thank God that I have had my mind opened and my life enriched because my child is homosexual. 

Thank God for Friends of Unity!

Written by a parent whose child who is homosexual, this prayer first appeared in the Friends of Unity Newsletter. We thank the writer for allowing us the privilege of sharing personal insights through this prayer. Ed. 

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A MEDITATION ON INCLUSIVITY ©

Let it Be Done to You According to Your Faith

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress."  And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it."  When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.  I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith." And the servant was healed in that hour. (Matthew 8:5-13)

Under Law and custom, the centurion was an outsider, a Gentile and the keeper of catamite slave, whom he loved.  Race and sexuality are two of the prejudicial strikes against this man.  Yet his faith is shown as greater than those who prescribe Laws to distance him.  In taking up the positive example of this person, Matthew's Jesus promises other outsiders entry into the reign of God, by virtue of faith alone.  It also points out that those who assume to be heirs of the reign of God may be excluded through lack of faith.  This is a story of radical inclusivity through faith, which Matthew places in the context of the eschatological banquet or festival of ingathering.  It stands against the belief that being a child of Abraham is a guarantee of salvation (Matt. 3:9).  Jesus' challenge is to insiders to look beyond their own religious, comfort zones and self assurances, to the possibility that Gentiles may be significant bearers of faith and of the reign of God.  Thus his radical inclusivity points to bringing in the outsiders by virtue of faith alone.  It breaks down the barriers of exclusivity that we find in Levitical Law.  It does not focus upon conditional understandings of covenant, based on Mosaic Law and obedience, as determinants of membership and participation but upon faith alone.  It is Abraham's faith that is met in this man, not other marks of distinction.

Now that understanding speaks with relevance to the Church, today.  Where religious sensitivities, application of Levitical Law or of restrictive ethical standards exclude gay and lesbian Christians from full participation, the Matthean challenge is to risk pulling down the barriers and to countenance radical inclusivity by faith alone.  Just as the centurion is shown as a significant bearer of faith and of the realm of God, so may gay and lesbian Christians be viewed as significant bearers of faith and of the realm of God in our time.  They, too, reach out to Jesus in faith, putting their faith and trust in Jesus and the Gospel.  They courageously cross the barriers of distinction that seek to exclude, prohibit or question their unconditional participation.  Matthew 8:5-13 is a text of liberation that points to the possibility of radical inclusivity for those who differ from the dominant norm in their relationships.  In this we stand as inheritors of the questioning tradition that is contained in the early voice of Jewish Christianity, as together we ask, "Who are my brothers and sisters?"

Dear God,
Heal our paralysis, that we may have faith to overcome barriers.
Help us befriend those outside the Law of Moses, beyond our comfort zones,
    open our hearts to those we see as different to ourselves
    and make us all bearers of reconciliation.
Help us to enter right relationships with You and each other,
that together we may work for love and peace.

Where we have sinned against You and our fellows,
God forgive us.
Where we have forced others to leave our communities,
God forgive us.
Where we need light and knowledge,
God enlighten us.

Where new visions are needed,
God help us to dream.
Where love is needed,
make us Your instruments of grace,
In the name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Wal Anderson
Adapted, 5 September, 2003.

A form of this meditation first appeared in Talbot, W., (ed.) Uniting in Prayer: Prayers and Reflections. Prepared for use at the Eight Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia.  A Uniting Network Publication, July 1997, p. 11.
An exegetical commentary on the text of Matthew 8:5-13, by Wal Anderson is available here.

Reflection:
A love that is greater than life and death, embracing all that there is in Creation, is ours through faith in God in Christ.  Nothing separates us from this love.  Hold that thought for awhile… contemplate on the words, 

This love knows no barriers and brings no division, for it is unconditional.  It is God’s gift to us all, to bring us to God’s Self.  Who, then, can think of erecting barriers of distinction that insist that love must be expressed in a single way.  Surely it is more important to express that love, to give it freedom rather than to contain it within new rules of distinction?   For to construct new barriers denies the very truth that Paul has taught us, that nothing separates us from the love of God in Christ. 

The love of God in Christ confronts us all.  It hits at our own actions, throwing its light into the darkness, loving continually, unconditionally.   As we see the depth of that love, it brings a humble heart and mind.  All sense of superiority, of rightness or of sinfulness dissipates before this love- especially the sinfulness that we see in others. It uncovers our own fears and prejudices that deny or betray that love.  It becomes the love of Wisdom, teaching us to trust in that love. 

Let us continually pray together in love.
Loving God, teach us to live anew;
bring us from separation into greater union
with you and each other
that we may affirm the stranger,
forgive those who have harmed us,
and seek to live in peace,
with grace and humility.

Amen.

Let us continue to pray together

INTRODUCING
Singing while it is still dark: a gift book of prayers and meditations
for members of the South Australian Synod 2003
A publication of Friends of Unity, Adelaide, South Australia.

Cost per book is $15 plus $2 p&p.  GST Free.
ORDERS may be placed in writing to 
Gift Book of Prayers
PO Box 848
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006.

Please make cheques payable to Friends of Unity and please ensure that a return address is given.

MORE DETAILS

For Prayerful Reading:

Approaches to Scripture: Considering the Options. By  Bill Loader
Prof. Bill Loader looks at several approaches to reading the bible for meaning.  His article is highly recommended to those seeking guidance in understanding the bible.

How Do we Read the Bible?    By Brian Phillips
Rev. Brian Phillips presents a discussion of the wisdom of intolerance and approaches to reading the bible.  This is a paper presented at Friends of Unity, May 25. 2004.

Homosexuality: What Does the Bible Say?  By Welwood L. Anderson
Our own web manager presents a detailed study of relevant "texts of terror" in the sexuality debate. 

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