September 13, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
Job 38:1-17
Acts 15:22-35
John 11:45-54

II. Selections
Psalm 98:8-9a
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming
to judge the earth.

Job 38:12-13
" ...Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
so that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be shaken out of it? ... "
[ God answers Job]

Acts 15:24
" ...Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds ... ." [ Letter from the Jerusalem Council to the church in Antioch]

John 11:51-52
[ Caiaphas] did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God.

III. Meditation: For unsettled minds

Blessed are you, Creator God,
who command the morning
and cause the dawn to know its place,

for whom the floods clap their hands,
and the hills sing together for joy
at your presence.

Bring perspective, we pray, to our unsettled minds;
grant us wisdom to reconcile the things that disturb us,
forbearing one another in the midst of our discord,

for you are coming to judge the earth;
and you have given us Jesus to die for us
and to gather into one all your dispersed children.

In his name we pray.