Genesis 6: 5-8; 7: 1-10; Psalm 29: 1-3, 9-10; Mark 8: 14-21

do you
not see?
do you
not hear?
do you
not understand?
there is enough
do not let
you hearts
be hardened
by the religion
of the Pharisees
and the politics
of Herod
but live
in the holy spirit
who guides us
to share
in faith
with love and joy
patience and peace
kindness and gentleness
for the common good
in God’s justice
God’s love for all

Is your heart troubled and hardened by religion and politics?
Do you see the path of the Holy Spirit?
Do you follow?

Genesis 4: 1-15; 25; Psalm 50: 1 and 8, 16-17, 20-21; Mark 8: 11-13

resentful
crestfallen
we give in
to envy
crushing
the life
of our
brother
becoming
a restless
wanderer
of the earth
while
blood
cries out
from the soil
that no longer
bears fruit
asking
for a sign
there is
none
given to
our lack
of faith

Lord, why have we forsaken you?

Lv 13: 1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32: 1-2, 5, 11; 1 Cor 10: 31-11: 1; Mk 1: 40-45

set apart
in our sickness
we shout
“unclean”
living
in isolation
and waiting
faith

turning to God
in our sorrow
and agony
we reach out
to his will
for our healing

no longer
set apart
and alone
we are filled
we joy

Who do you set apart?
How do you bring healing?

Genesis 3: 9-24; Psalm 90: 2-13; Mark 8: 1-10

hiding
from what
cannot be
hidden from
we are found
by Love
and Compassion
and fed
all that
we need
no longer
lost
from who
we are
we see
the Good
from which
we came
and share
what has been
given

Where are you?
From what are you hiding?
Where can you hide from God?

Genesis 3: 1-8; Psalm 32: 1-7; Mark 7: 31-37

ears opened
can we
hear?
minds
opened
can we
know
good
and evil
risking
life
not heeding
warning
we push
against
the boundaries
of God
unaware
of our
frailty
unable
to accept
our limits
we learn
who
we are

Who are you?
Who are we?

Genesis 2: 18-25; Psalm 128: 1-5; Mark 7: 24-30

wisdom
of no escape
the door
is opened
to the other
the outsider
the persistent
as the One
who loves us
calls us
to Love
and Compassion
driving out
our demons
and setting us
free

Do you see yourself in relationship to all?

Genesis 2: 4-9, 15-17; Psalm 104: 1-30; Mark 7: 14-23

life
and death
came
in a garden
Goodness
shattered
in our freedom
to reach
beyond
our grasp
and fall
heart shattered
and lost
laboring in
a wounded life
that will not trust
or believe
in Good enough
until
His love
comes
to heal
Spirit
breathing
new life
into brokenness
we are
recreated
in Love

What do you do with your freedom?

Genesis 1: 20-2:4; Psalm 8: 4-9; Mark 7: 1-13

God of Life
giving
in abundance
blessing
filling
teeming
with Goodness
giving us
dominion
and freedom
to choose
life or death
to have
reverence for
or to exploit
Creation

called into
God’s image
And likeness
Father and Mother
Of care
We choose
Life
And create
“On Earth
As it is
In Heaven”

What do you choose?

Genesis 1:1-19; Psalm 104: 1-12, 24 and 35; Mark 6:53-56

you come
with Light
to heal
as in
first Creation
from formless mass
and dark abyss
came Light

water and wind
sky and land
seed and plant
sun and stars
all blessed as Good

we begin again
in your Light
in your touch
a new creation
in Love

How do you begin again?

Job 7.1-4,6,7; Psalm 147: 1-6; 1 Cor 9.16-19,22,23; Mark 1.29-39

Job
you speak of
our drudgery
our slavery
our misery
troubled nights
restless til dawn
we wake in hopelessness
and despair
our life
like the wind
come and gone
our happiness
with it

for this
our poverty
we wonder
who will
answer our cries?

into this void
this dark night
we call

we pause

for soul speaks
from the dark
a song of praise
arises
in the void before
creation
our God
answers

we praise
as goodness comes
we praise
His graciousness
we praise
His gathering
His rebuiding
we praise Him
healer of broken hearts
wound binder
we praise Him
caller of stars by name
He fills our
empty space

we praise

we come before you
Jesus
our broken hearts
demons and illness
in hand
the truth of you
heals–
alive within us
we move with you
to the lonely places
in deep silence
our Jesus heart
restored

words upon our lips
compelled
we must speak
of such great love
a charge given
in Spirit
imageless love
flows
to the present need
all things to all
we rise from the dead
to serve
what has loved us
to Life

Of what are you compelled to speak?