Lord. It is night. The night is for stillness. Let us be still in the presence of God. It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; Let it be. The night is dark. Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you. The night is quiet. Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us, and all who have no peace. The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities. In your name we pray. Amen. (Would be very appropriate on Easter Saturday or Christmas Eve) (Source: New Zealand Prayer Book)
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The International Day of Older Persons is a celebration of the older people in all societies, and a reminder to continue developing a society for all ages. It is an opportunity to challenge negative stereotypes and misconceptions about older persons and aging.
“It is widely recognised that older persons are an asset to the society; their wisdom, value-system and experience helps in guiding and mentoring the present generation…..What is important is not merely adding ‘years to life’ but also adding ‘life to years’”.
Churches are encouraged to recognise the human rights and dignity of older people on the first Sunday after the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons. The United Nations established the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) in 1990 as a way to focus attention around the globe on the barriers to respect and dignity for older people caused by ageism. In 2021 the theme stresses digital equality for older people. Digital access has become a more important issue with the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Resources from the United Nations on the IDOP are available here.
God of three, God of incarnation, You are with us in all the stages and transitions of life. With gentle threads of creation you knit us together in the womb and count the hairs on our head. When we are babies, you are with us in the Christ Child. You have slept in the cradle and woken your parents with your crying. You have looked at Mary with wordless love. As we grow, we grow with all the things that you have made. Like a tree planted by the stream you nurture us from good soil, and you make rain to feed our roots. In adulthood you remain with us as the Mother of Creation. Jesus calls out to you as Father, and so you are to us. As we grow old, you are with us in timeless mercy and love. You make new songs in our hearts and sit by us as the leaves turn. Holy Spirit be with us, and make more gentleness among us. Make more peace and more faithfulness. Make more self-control and more kindness. Make more patience and more love. Make more compassion for each other. Forgive us when we err, and make us new. In the name of Jesus the faithful one, we pray. Amen. (Source: Daniel Broadstock, Brunswick Uniting Church, May 2024)
Prayer God of the unknown, as age draws in on us, irresistible as the tide, make our life’s last quarter the best that there has been. As our strength ebbs, release our inner vitality, all you have taught us over the years; as our energy diminishes increase our compassion, and educate our prayer. You have made us human to share your divine life; grant us the first fruits; make our life’s last quarter the best that there has been. Amen. (Source: A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 747)
Prayers for others On this United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons, we pray for all who are in their senior years. We pray for churches that run lunches, cafés, clubs and groups of all kinds for older people. We pray that those who have the wisdom of many decades find opportunities to tell their stories. And we pray that all who are lonely in their later years find the love of God shown to them in the love of church communities. Until thy kingdom come. Amen
Prayers for Others God, parent of us all, you see every one of us as your child, no matter how young or old. You have known us every second of our lives. You gift us every breath, and you sustain us every day. We hold before you this International Day of the Older Person every adult living in the late autumn of their lives silence … no matter they be rich, or poor, comfortable or struggling; no matter they be well or unwell; no matter what creed, or colour, or faith they belong, we ask your blessing upon them this day. God of love/Hear our prayer Loving God, we pray especially for older adults who are lonely: those whose loved ones are gone or those who have never enjoyed the relationships they might have had; those who feel abandoned and unsure of their worth; those who live alone, and who feel isolated even when they are in company. Give to each person the knowledge that you are with them always, and help us to befriend the lonely, sharing with them the companionship we have found in you. God of love/Hear our prayer Loving God, we pray for the sick… those afflicted in body, those in pain, those wrestling with disease, or coming to terms with frailty. We pray for the troubled in mind; those whose confidence has been crushed, those who face sorrow or suffering, those who feel their hopes have been dashed and dreams broken, the let-down, the betrayed, the abused. We pray for those who struggle to cope with the pressures of life, who are oppressed by false imagination, or facing the dark of depression. We pray for those afflicted in spirit: all who feel their lives are empty, or who feel they have lost their faith… Living God, hold on to all who walk through the valley of tears. Minister the consolation that you alone can offer, and give the assurance that those who mourn will be comforted, and those who weep will laugh. Be that sure foundation in people’s lives, that come what may, their knowing of your love and presence with them, will uphold their spirits, and be an endless source of comfort, peace, and joy. God of love/Hear our prayer We pray for the dying… That wherever these people are in this moment that you will come as close to them as their very breath and bring your forgiveness and peace. In a moment of silence we name those we know and care for… God of love/Hear our prayer Holy One, we know, that every aging heart is held in your hands, young and vibrant to your touch. We see how you use the wisdom, knowledge and experience of the older generations to teach the young, to bring old insight to new problems, and to give love and security where there is uncertainty. You trusted an old man to build an ark and save humanity from the flood. You brought a child to Abraham and Sarah despite their years, a child who signalled the beginning of Israel. You guided an aging Moses through the desert so he could lead thousands to the promised-land, you gave Zechariah and Elizabeth a son in their old age, a son who would prepare the way for your own, and you gave the aged Simeon and Anna the honour of first recognising the infant Jesus in the temple, seeing someone who no one else saw. Your continued engagement with older adults is sure; and yet society is so quick to forget this generation. We are sorry. God of love/Hear our prayer We hold before you for blessing in thanks those people and organisations who care for needs of older persons in our city… Aged Care facilities, Chaplains and pastoral carers, those who provide in-home care, every person or organisation working to better the lives of our elders. God of love/Hear our prayer (Source: Revd. Amy Houben)
Charlie Chaplin The photo below is Charlie Chaplin at age 26, photographed 100 years ago. Below is a poem he read on his 70th birthday, written by Kim McMillen. As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is Authenticity. As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody if I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call this Respect. As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call this Maturity. As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm. Today I call this Self-Confidence. As I began to love myself I quit stealing my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call this Simplicity. As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is Love of Oneself. As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is Modesty. As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worrying about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where everything is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it Fulfillment. As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But as I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection Wisdom of the Heart. We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing, new worlds are born. Today I know: This is Life!
Charlie Chaplin, aged 26 years
Blessing Go as beloved of God to grow old in Christ. Be blessed in years and be a blessing to God’s Kingdom. Keep alive the gifts of wisdom received from older friends and become the gift of wisdom for those who follow. Remember you are God’s children even into old age: and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you always. Amen.
RCL Readings Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Job longs to put his case before God, but he does not know how to find God. If he could get to God’s dwelling place, he believes, he could lay out his case, but God is absent to him. Psalm 22:1-15 A cry for God’s presence and rescue in a time of great persecution and trial in which God seems to have forsaken the Psalmist. God is holy and the Psalmist’s ancestors trusted God and were saved, but now the Psalmist is being attacked, and is suffering greatly, and no rescue seems to be forthcoming. Hebrews 4:12-16 God’s word is sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing into the deepest parts of our beings and judging our thoughts and intentions. Therefore we need to keep our trust in Jesus who was tempted in every way, as we are but did not sin. In him we can draw near to God’s throne and find grace. Mark 10:17-31 A wealthy man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus answers that he must follow the commandments – which the man claims he has done. Then Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow him, at which point the man goes away sad. Then Jesus teaches that it is very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s Reign. When Peter points out that the disciples have left everything to follow him, Jesus responds that those who have left behind loved ones and possessions for the Reign of God will receive much more in return, both in this life and in the one to come. (Bible reading summaries by John van de Laar, Sacredise) Continue reading →
READINGS Job 1:1, 2:1-10: The Adversary (CEB) challenges God, saying that Job only stays faithful because God has not allowed Job to be harmed – even though the Adversary has already taken so much from Job. Then God allows the Adversary to afflict Job, as long as he spares Job’s life. But, even though Job gets very sick with a skin disease, and though his wife tells him to curse God, he refuses to give up on his faith. OR Genesis 2:18-24: God seeks to provide a companion for the man, so he brings all the animals for the man to name, but no companion is found. Then God creates woman, and the man celebrates her, as one like himself.
Psalm 26: The Psalmist pleads with God to save and protect him, because he has stayed away from foolish and evil people, preferring to spend time in God’s house and to bless God in the congregation. OR Psalm 8: God is majestic, yet notices human beings, making them just a little lower than the angels and putting them over all of creation as God’s stewards.
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12: God has spoken, as never before, through Jesus Christ, who was made a little lower than angels for a time in order to lead human beings – whom he calls sisters and brothers – to salvation.
Mark 10:2-16: The religious leaders challenge Jesus on whether it is acceptable to divorce one’s wife. Jesus says that the law allowed it only because of our hard hearts, but that if someone divorces and remarries, they commit adultery. Then, when the disciples scold those who bring children to Jesus to be blessed, Jesus stops them and tells them that God’s kingdom belongs to those who are like children, and that if we don’t welcome children, we cannot be part of God’s Reign. (Bible reading summaries by John van de Laar, Sacredise)
WE PRAY FOR AFGHANISTAN’S PEOPLE TODAY Tune: CRADLE SONG 11.11.11.11 (“Away in a Manger”) We pray for Afghanistan’s people today: for those who are fleeing – who know they can’t stay, for those who face terror by day and by night, for those who can’t leave and whose dreams can’t take flight.
We pray for the people who fear what’s in store, for dreamers and poets who grieve a closed door. for those who are hiding so no one will see the people they are – or who they hope to be.
We pray for girls facing a world they don’t know, who still long to read and to learn and to grow. We pray for young women who live with the fear their bodies, their voices, may soon disappear.
We pray for young children whose first lullabies were bombs and explosions and wounded ones’ cries – and for those who served there, who see how it ends, who ponder their service, who grieve for lost friends.
We weep for the places where war leads to war. We pray for your hand there to heal and restore! Bless all who seek justice and peace as your way. We pray for Afghanistan’s people today.
Readings: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22
The king asks Esther what he can do for her, and she asks him to deliver her people from Haman’s plot. The king orders that Haman be impaled upon the stake he had made for Mordecai. Then Mordecai writes to all the Jewish people instructing them to always remember the days of their deliverance. Psalm 124
A celebration of God’s help for God’s people, remembering how, when their enemies sought to destroy them, God helped his people to escape. James 5:13-20
Those who suffer should pray, and those who are sick should call on the elders of the church to pray for them and anoint them with oil, because the prayers of righteous people are effective. Also, we should turn one another back whenever we stray from the truth. Mark 9:38-50
Jesus tells his disciples not to stop a person who is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and Jesus tells them to let him be, adding that whoever is not against him is for him. Then he teaches that anyone who gives one of Jesus’ disciples water will be rewarded, but those who cause little ones to stumble will be cursed. Anything that causes us to sin must be thrown away, and we must “maintain our salt” and keep peace with each other.
(Bible Summaries by John van de Laar, Sacredise) Continue reading →
Readings Proverbs 31: 10-31
A good wife is to be valued because she cares for her family and her servants, she provides for her household, she brings honour to her husband.
This woman is an industrious resourceful household manager. She produces and sells textiles, brings in income for the family, oversees the planting of vineyards and uses her own money to set them up. She has servants she oversees, she gives to the poor, her household is a small business that provides for her family, and her husband is praised for it. She works both inside and outside of her home. Psalm 1
Righteous people are blessed because they do not follow the ways of the wicked, but love God’s instruction. They are like trees planted by streams, bearing fruit and always succeeding. The wicked, however, are destroyed. James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8a
Wise followers of Christ should live a humble life. Jealousy and selfish ambition are not wise, but cause evil, conflict, murder and struggle. Therefore God’s people should resist evil, submit to God, draw near to God, and seek to be cleansed. Mark 9: 30-37
Jesus predicts his death and resurrection, and then challenges the disciples for arguing about which of them is greatest. Then he teaches them that the greatest in God’s Reign must be the slave of all, and that whoever welcomes a child, welcomes Jesus, and the One who sent him.
(Bible reading summaries by John van de Laar, Sacredise) Continue reading →
