Hannah's Story

 

Haiku of entreaty

Hannah was favoured

by Elkanah, but sadly,

she had no children.

Hannah wept. Husband

Elkanah spoke words of love

to reassure her.

At Shiloh, Hannah

prayed earnestly to the Lord;

See my misery!

Remember me, Lord.

Give me a child, a son; I'll

give him back to you.

Judge Eli, watching,

thought her drunk, rebuked Hannah:

Put away your wine!

Hannah protested,

Not drunk; merely pouring out

my heart before God.

Eli answered, Go

in peace; may Israel's God

grant your petition.

Back home in Ramah,

Hannah conceived, bore a son,

sang her song of praise.

I asked God for him

and the Lord has answered me.

Samuel's his name.

Hannah sang:

The barren bear fruit,

the mighty will be brought low,

and the poor raised up!

(Sound familiar?)

© Ken Rookes 2024

Solomon prays

Haiku for a dedication

Solomon offers

his prayer of dedication

having built God’s house.

Before God’s altar

in the presence of Israel,

the King spread his hands.

There is none like you,

Lord, in heaven or on earth;

keeping your promise.

You told my father,

David, that his successors

would sit on his throne.

God, you dwell on earth

by grace; we don’t imagine

this house contains you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

watch over this house, hear us;

listen and forgive.

When foreigners come

and offer prayers in this place,

listen to them, too.

All people of earth

shall know your name and fear you,

coming here to pray.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Jesus is praying

Haiku of unity

Jesus is praying.

He prays for those who follow:

May we all be one.

Divine indwelling:

You in me and I in you;

may they dwell in us.

This deep unity,

purposed at creation’s core;

let nothing divide.

It’s all about love,

generosity ruling

all human dealings.

He knows his Father,

revealing God’s name of Love,

to all who listen.

Jesus’ rule of love,

given to direct our lives

and join us as one.

© Ken Rookes 2022

 

All mine are yours

Haiku of departure

He calls God ‘Father’

inviting his friends to share

the intimacy.

He keeps his father’s

trust; the men and the women

he took to himself.

Not one of them lost.

He embraces them in love,

giving protection.

Their home is not here

amidst earth’s dust and despair,

but with the Father.

Here, amidst earth’s dust

is the place of struggle, where

love is made concrete.

I made known your word,

they are holy through your truth.

Father, keep them safe.

Here, amidst earth’s dust

they must go on, without me;

making the love real.

The joy is complete

when love, truth, witness and word

are come together.

© Ken Rookes 2021

 

Dining

Haiku for the hungry

Seeking solitude,

he found a deserted place,

but the crowd followed.

Sometimes it’s too much,

we all need time for ourselves;

space to think and pray.

Seeing the people,

he was stirred with compassion,

reaching out to heal.

As the sun went down

his friends spoke: Send them away,

they need to buy food.

They need not depart,

I have fed their souls, we’ll find

food for bodies, too.

They brought it to him,

the five loaves and the two fish;

all the food they had.

That should do, he said.

as he blessed and broke the loaves.

They shared them around.

So many people,

so many ways to hunger;

Jesus feeds them all.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Protect, keep them safe.

Haiku for persevering.

This eternal life

is given to all of you;

you who are my friends.

Life that’s full and true;

forget the hereafter, this

is eternal life.

The hour has come near,

we’re coming to the climax;

glorify your Son.

The work is finished,

well, almost. Shadows lengthen,

the darkness threatens.

You gave them to me,

I made your name known to them,

they have kept your word.

What are mine are yours;

when I am with them no more

hold them in your hand.

They remain earth-bound;

here they must live out their faith

with courage and love.

Protect them, Father;

let them be as one, just as

you and I are one.

© Ken Rookes 2020

A lesson in prayer

Haiku of generosity

Lord, teach us to pray.

A request from disciples

eager to know more.

He tells a story

of a nocturnal knocking,

requesting three loaves.

Don’t ask me for bread;

that is far too much trouble!

(This could not happen!)

The story’s hearers

would have laughed in disbelief.

Quite impossible!

Hospitality’s

demands for generousness

are laid before us.

This lesson in prayer

offers one decisive point:

God is generous

When we come in prayer

to God we can be assured:

God is here for us.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Belonging, not belonging

Haiku for strangers

You gave them to me,

companions on the journey

towards the kingdom.

I made your name known.

They listened, learning from me,

and keeping your word.

They know that it all

has come from you; ev’rything

that I gave to them.

The hour comes soon

when I can’t be here for them,

to keep my friends safe.

Although I must go,

The world shall remain their home.

Father, protect them.

The world is hostile

to those who are of the truth,

those who don’t belong.

Never my true home,

now my friends are strangers too;

eyes fixed on God’s word.

Here they must remain,

it is here love’s work goes on,

my joy made complete.

They know you sent me.

As I was sent to the world

I am sending them.

© Ken Rookes 2018

the Mysteries of prayer

"For those of us who like to earn our way, or prove ourselves to God, ourselves, and to others, it's hard to do nothing at all but accept God's love. Edwina Gateley's beautiful poem is full of wise advice:

Be silent.
Be still.
Alone.
Empty
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Ask nothing.
Be silent.
Be still.
Let your God look upon you.
That is all.
God knows.
God understands.
God loves you
With an enormous love,
And only wants
To look upon you
With that love.
Quiet.
Still.
Be.

Let your God—
Love you.

           Yes, God is infinite and Wholly Other, and therein lie the mysteries of prayer. But in his own prayers Jesus reminds us that God is also intimate, like a Loving Father.

           To experience God's love is the true end of all true prayer.

           Paul prays for the Ephesians that, "being rooted and established in love, you may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

           And so, says the English mystic Juliana of Norwich (1342–1416), "the greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love.""

https://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20150202JJ.shtml

a prayer of rest

Tonight I will sleep beneath your feet, O Lord of the mountains and valleys, ruler

of the trees and vines.  I will rest in your love, with you protecting me as a father protects his children, with you watching over me as a mother watches over her children.  Then tomorrow the sun will rise and I will not know where I am; but I know that you will guide my footsteps.

A Sioux prayer.

The hour has come

Haiku to unite a people.

The hour has come;

things move inexorably

to their conclusion.

Jesus' work is done.

Just one last task before him;

shouldn't be too hard.

We struggle to grasp:

the Son will be glorified

as he meets his death.

Receiving God's word,

he opened it to his friends,

sharing the wonder.

Touched by divine grace

he speaks of life eternal:

communion with God.

He prays for his friends,

knowing he must soon depart,

leaves them in God's care.

Father, keep them safe

beyond this hour. Unite them;

ground them in your love.

© Ken Rookes 2017

a transfiguration Prayer for others

·       FOR OTHERS

Stir up in us, Loving God, the desire and the determination to glorify you in every prayer and in all our relationships. Transfigure not only our own lives but also the lives and affairs of the millions with whom we share this planet.

 Transfigure each ordinary church-goer.

     Dispel discouragement and self-doubt, self-righteousness and arrogance.

 Transfigure the women and men who preach the Gospel. 

     Enlarge their understanding and expand their capacity to love.

 Transfigure the hopes of the down-trodden and dispossessed.

     Give a new compassion to the strong and the prosperous.

 Transfigure the expectations of the young.

     Disperse the vainglory and indulgence with which this society indoctrinates them.

 Transfigure the values and goals of political leaders.

     Inspire them to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with you.

 Transfigure the anguish of those who tremble or weep, suffer or die today.

     Let the valley of sorrows become an avenue of hope to your children.

 Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen!

Bruce Prewer

loving the Trump

I wonder if we truly realize the radical nature of this particular section of Gospel. We are 'commanded' to love our enemies and pray for those that hate us, and yet we live in a world that preaches and practices the very opposite. And before we get 'holier than the other bloke' then remember that we are called to love that which we cannot understand; that with which we cannot agree and even those we see hurting others by their words and actions. In other words we are called to love that which we see as 'evil', not just misguided.
So, yes, we are called to love 'the Donald'. What does that mean? Well firstly we pray for him. And secondly we do not let hate carry us away in its grip. We do the radical thing and find 'love' for him. The challenge is to balance the prophet in our faith (that which calls for justice for the marginalised and for a better world) with the call to pray for our enemies. We do not live by an 'eye for an eye' but rather use the Divine creative imagination to pray a new way into being. Jesus was talking about breaking the cycle of hatred and he knew (and practiced) that it is not broken by more hate but only by love. My guess is that what Jesus is saying in this gospel is that, if we allow ourselves to be ruled by hate and competition, then we are not living the Divine way ourselves.
This is not an easy thing to do when we are surrounded by anxiety and disillusionment and 'bad' news, but Jesus' guidance here is that we do not change the despot by hate, but only corrupt ourselves. Am i up to it???? I am still working on it i think.
And also, on reflection, perhaps what Jesus gives here is not so much a commandment as a guide to living a rich and blessed life.
Rev Gordon Bannon

Zechariah's prayer

this year i feel prompted to look at the Luke reading that gifts us with Zechariah's prayer.
I think this is, in part, due to my need for a hopeful response to darkness. I love this poem by Carter Heyward which i think is a response to this gospel.

And you whose spirit is sad and unsure, try to remember
the very best parts of your life, the loveliest
feelings in your body self,
occasions of bold delight and quiet confidence,
moments of unambivalent commitment and unrestrained joy.
Try to remember when you have believed passionately in
something or someone human or divine.
Try to imagine that someone now believes in you
because she trusts your loveliest feelings
… commitments… confidence… joy.
She goes with us as we are called forth to go, with one
another, evoked by historical memory
and voices audible only to ears that can hear the
power of God in history.
Her name is love.
Carter Heyward:

There is a place

They say there is a place, a state;

a sacred somewhere.

Distant; but not always.

A mystery glimpsed, at times,

on other occasions, cloud-shrouded

with shimmering smoke, obscured

such that only the persistent

will gaze long and hard enough

to be certain it is there.

A place that is there to be found by those who search;

a few stumble upon it.

Their surprise and delight is great.

There, meaning is written sharply,

truths are incandescent

and painted on walls.

There, light shines with the clear brightness

of autumn late afternoons,

the loving is fierce,

and justice compels.

This elusive place appears

as a flash glimpsed

for a moment among the shadows;

where mystery's flickering panorama excites

and calls to the depths

to awaken aches and earnings.

Seek, the man once instructed his friends.

You will find; and watch

as the divinely dusted universe

opens to disclose its possibilities.

© Ken Rookes 2016

Unity Haiku

Prayer

Jesus' parting prayer

for those who come after him.

That they may be one.

Sent

Sent into the world

that love might find fulfilment;

Jesus, among us.

Indwelling

He spoke unity:

I in them and you in me.

Divine indwelling.

© Ken Rookes 2016

Open my eyes

Open my eyes that they may see

the deepest needs of people.

Move my hands that they may feed the hungry;

touch my heart that it may bring warmth to the despairing;

teach me the generosity that welcomes strangers;

let me share my possessions to clothe the naked;

give me the care that strengthens the sick;

make me share in the quest to set the prisoner free;

in sharing our anxieties and our love,

our poverty and our prosperity,

we partake of your divine presence. Amen.

Rev. Canaan Banana

What does prayer mean for you?

What does prayer mean for you? God is the great Mystery we can barely begin to know and yet, paradoxically, are called to know and prayer often seems even more of a mystery and paradox. Many people can give examples of prayer being answered and maybe even more of prayer seeming not to be answered. When you start talking about frustration with unanswered prayer, people are likely to tell you that it’s your fault that it isn’t working, you are not doing it right. This is frustrating.

Perhaps it would be easier for us to understand pray if we gave it a different name and expanded our view of it. The word ‘prayer’ may make us nervous and we be anxious about getting the right words or we may think that only certain people can pray or even that God only listens to some people. Prayer is communication with God and we are aware of the importance of body language in communication. It is about our attitude and activities as well as our words.

It is intended to be two way but we sometimes don’t let God get a word in. It doesn’t always require conversation. It can be about being present to God the way we spend time with friends. If we talked ceaselessly in any given situation, our friends would soon become tired of us so sometimes it is better to remain silent. Meditation and contemplation are forms of silent prayer and Lectio Divino is prayerfully asked God to speak to us through contemplation of Scripture, creation or a particular situation.

Unfortunately, most of us never get anywhere near the pinnacle of prayer experience. That requires dedication, concentration, practice and commitment. It also about realising that more is available and possible for us than we have ever dreamed of in relationship with God.

Rev Julianne Parker

(for full sermon see sermons page)

Epiphany-Brueggemann

Epiphany

On Epiphany day,
     we are still the people walking.
     We are still people in the dark,
          and the darkness looms large around us,
          beset as we are by fear,
                                        anxiety,
                                        brutality,
                                        violence,
                                        loss —
          a dozen alienations that we cannot manage.

We are — we could be — people of your light.
     So we pray for the light of your glorious presence
          as we wait for your appearing;
     we pray for the light of your wondrous grace
          as we exhaust our coping capacity;
     we pray for your gift of newness that
          will override our weariness;
     we pray that we may see and know and hear and trust
          in your good rule.

That we may have energy, courage, and freedom to enact
         your rule through the demands of this day.
         We submit our day to you and to your rule, with deep joy and high hope.

Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933)

every day may we wonder at ourselves and the richness of life.

Julia Esquivel, Guatemalan poet,  prays this way:

Jesus said,
“You ought always to pray and not to faint.”
So we do not pray for easy lives;
we pray to be stronger women and men.
And we do not pray for tasks equal to our powers,
but for power equal to our tasks.
Then, the doing of our work will be no miracle
– we will be the miracle.
Every day may we wonder at ourselves
and the richness of life
which has come to us by the grace of God. Amen.

http://biteintheapple.com/midsummer-wisdom/