6th July 2024
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12
You Lord, are the source of all good things:
We praise you.
You call us to tend and care for your creation:
May we strive to do your will.
You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives:
May we live together in peace.
A reading from Matthew 25: 31- 45
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
Loving God
who called upon the first humans
to care and nurture all that had been created,
we ask your blessing on those we have elected
to create a new government to direct the ways of this nation.
Bless those we have elected with compassion
that they will be mindful always of those in need.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Bless those we have elected with kindness
that they will look upon everyone they serve with love.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Bless those we have elected with humility
that they will not consider themselves more important than those they serve.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Bless those we have elected with meekness
that they will not be swayed by powerful interests.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Bless those we have elected with patience
that they will not use short term popularity to divert them from long term needs.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Bless those of us who have been the electorate
that we will do all that is within our power
to enable that rule that brings about your kingdom of love
here on earth as in heaven.
Amen.
The Green Tau 