Used in the Chapel at Gladstone's Library - March 2020
Please copy and use as you wish, including acknowledgements
Wilderness
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
Isaiah 35.1-2
PRAYER OF PREPARATION[1]
God of peace, keep our minds
on what is true and commands respect,
on what is true and commands respect,
what is just, pure and kind,
whatever is excellent and commendable.
Let these fill our hearts
and guide our actions in Jesus’ name.
KYRIE
Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
ABSOLUTION AND CONFESSION[2]
God forgives you;
Forgive others;
Forgive yourself.
In response to such grace let us confess our sins:
We need your healing, merciful God:
give us true repentance.
Some sins are plain to us,
some escape us,
some we cannot face.
Forgive us:
set us free to hear your word to us;
set us free to serve you. Amen.
PRAYER OF ADORATION[3]
Generous God,
When we travel in unfamiliar territory, remind us that:
Your word inspired the people of Israel to risk the wilderness.
Your word moved Miriam to dance in praise of you.
We adore you and worship you.
Your word led Moses to find life-saving water for his people.
Your Word became flesh and offers us life-giving water.
We adore you and worship you.
Help us to be attentive to your word,
faithful in worship, and generous in our living.
In Christ’s name. Amen.
THE WORD
The wilderness is a liminal place, a space away from the known and the understood. It is a space where things might change, new wisdom might be acquired and from where a new life might begin. The poem is based on Numbers 20, in which we learn that as well as being in the physical wilderness of Zin, the people of Israel are in the wilderness of mourning because Miriam has died.
IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIN[4]
In the wilderness of Zin
in the place called Kadesh,
you died Miriam and we grieved as we buried you.
Who will find the water to wash the grave soil from our hands?
Who will find the water to wash the pain from our hearts?
Who will find the water to keep us alive in this God-forsaken place?
Moses, with your laws and plans,
what use are they if we die of thirst?
Moses, with your tablets of stone,
will they feed us when our animals starve?
Moses, with your Yahweh yearning,
take us back to the familiar old landscapes.
What kind of wake can we offer you Miriam?
A funeral feast needs grain, figs, grapes and pomegranates.
In Egypt we would have said a proper prayer and sent you off in style.
Aaron, talk to Moses, get him to see sense.
Aaron, we are frightened, we are losing hope.
Aaron, stop hiding in your grief and rescue your people.
You led us to the rock, unyielding granite, hard like Edom’s heart.
You led us to the glorious holiness of Yahweh, the one God.
You led us to living water, flowing over angry words,
smoothing them to caresses.
We splashed in the spring, revelled in the ripples and drank deeply of love.
We danced in the sparkling jewels that form of light glancing on water.
We remembered Miriam and, in our dancing, grief was cleansed of anger.
SILENCE
GOSPEL
Luke 4.1-14
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.”’
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.”’
and serve only him.”’
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and
“On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’
“On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’
Jesus answered him, ‘It is said,
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’
When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.
SILENCE
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION[5]
God, whose Spirit drives your people out
from the comfortable, safe places;
guide us through each wilderness,
every tough and lifeless landscape
that would drain our energy and leave our souls parched.
We pray for those who travel through wildernesses of fear, loss and hate…
Help us to find places of refreshment,
to wet our lips with your living water,
to drink deeply of your life-giving stream.
to drink deeply of your life-giving stream.
We pray for those who travel through wildernesses of poverty, disease and injustice…
Help us to travel with our eyes open,
that we might glimpse your glory in unexpected places
and your presence in unlikely people.
We pray for those who travel through wildernesses of isolation, prejudice and misunderstanding…
Help us to remain attentive,
that we might see the wilderness as a place of beauty
and sanctuary that will bring us, in the end,
closer to the fullness of your grace.
In the name of the one tested in the wilderness. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Abba, hallowed be your name;
Your kingdom come.
The bread of tomorrow, give us today.
Forgive us our debts, as we, here and now, forgive our debtors.
Do not let us succumb to temptation.
Amen.
FOR REFLECTION
I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness;
I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too.
I feel the suffering of millions.
And yet, when I look up at the sky,
I somehow feel that everything will change for the better,
that this cruelty too shall end,
that peace and tranquility will return once more.
Anne Frank
Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.
Mary Oliver
For glimpses of grace,
For shade in the wilderness,
For places of rest
We thank you, loving God.
For shade in the wilderness,
For places of rest
We thank you, loving God.
In the arid places,
In the places of exposure,
In the heat of the day
We pray for your blessing.
In the places of exposure,
In the heat of the day
We pray for your blessing.
Guide us in your way.
Amen
Amen
Cover Image: Global Warming (detail), from ‘Six Acts of Uncreation’,
in fused glass by Michaela Youngson.
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