Search
Close this search box.

Through the Spring and Summer, and now into Fall, we have borne the grief of a global pandemic, endured a massive loss of life and of livelihood, and protested escalating violence against Black Lives. Even as we wait on the help of Almighty God, we are compelled to stand up; to defend the cause of righteousness. With boldness in our prayers and by our actions we seek to redeem the soul of our nation.

Love Versus Bitterness (Genesis 41:25-33, 37-40, 50-52 NRSV)

The Scripture reading is drawn from Sunday’s lesson for September 13, 2020 ©Uniform Lessons Series, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 30 After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land. 31 The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

50 Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The second he named Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortunes.”

A Litany for Hands in these Pandemic Times

Today’s prayer, written by Rev. Dr. Robert D. Nicholson, of Seattle WA, Honorably Retired from the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is used here with permission of the author.

 (Note the Biblical meaning of the word liturgy. It is the merger of two words “laos,” people+ “ergos,” work = “the work of the people’s hands.” Work applies in all areas of our lives: in both the holy place at worship and in all the common places of daily life—home, hospital, office shop, school, business and leisure.) 

When you wash your hands, give thanks to God for hands.

For hands that work and hands that create, for hands that serve and hands that wait.

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HANDS

For hands that plant and hands that weed, for hand sowing love, in word and in deed.

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HANDS

For hands that serve food and hands that write notes, for hands that bring comfort and hands that lift hopes.

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HANDS

For hands joined in love and hands folded in prayer, for hands reaching out, always eager to share.

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HANDS

For the hands of our children, their art and their play, for poems they write and the prayers that they say.

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HANDS

For hands that bring healing and hands that bring hope, for hands that show others a new way to cope.

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HANDS

For hands that make phone calls and hands that paint walls, for hands leading music, for hands great and small.

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HANDS

For the bread from wheat fields, the grape from our vines, the hands that work these fields providing gifs of our times.

THANK YOU GOD, FOR HANDS

Amen.