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The Holy Gospel

Mark 9:14-29

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When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

 

“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

 

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

 

“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

 

So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

 

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

 

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

 

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

 

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

 

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

 

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

 

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

The Word of the Lord

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Lord’s Prayer (New Translation from the Aramaic)  

1. O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, 

2. Focus your light within us – make it useful 

3. Create your reign of unity now 

 4. Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms. 

5. Grant what we need each day in bread and insight. 

6. Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt. 

7. Don’t let surface things delude us, But free us from what holds us back. 

8. From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews. Truly – power to these statements – may they be the ground from which all my actions grow: Amen.

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Prayers of Intercession
 

God of power and glory,

we remember your awesome deeds across the ages— 

the times you saved us and brought us home.

Yet, we also remember times       

when we felt alone and afraid.

 

O God, we are your people,

the work of your hand.

Look upon us with your shining face,   

especially in the time of need.

 

We pray for those who look to you for healing

and hope . . .

those who are sick or recuperating from

illness and injury . . .

those who are lonely and need companionship

and care . . .

those for whom the holidays bring sorrow or pain . . .

those whose deep sadness overshadows joy.

Let your face shine upon us, O God.

 

We pray for people in need of restoration and reconciliation:

for those battling addictions and those in recovery . . .

for people estranged from those they love . . .

for someone lost in grief . . .

for someone far from home.

Let your face shine upon us, O God,

that we might be saved.

 

Renew the spirit of a world grown weary

with waiting and hoping.      

Especially we pray for wars to end,

for hunger and poverty to be crowded out by abundance.

 

And we pray, too, for the church

because we also grow weary in our waiting and watching

for your power and glory to be made known.

Grant us clarity, passion, and true fellowship

so that we are awake to your presence.

Let your face shine upon the church

and all this weary world, we pray;

in the name of the One born in a manger

and coming again on clouds of glory. Amen.

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