O Prosper the Work of Our Hands!

19th Sunday after Pentecost
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Proper 25
for Sunday, October 23, 2011
lectionary focus: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
prop: 2 buckets

Welcome!

Once upon a time there were two buckets. Every day they were taken to the well, filled with water, and carried to where they were needed. Back and forth. Back and forth. One day as they arrived at the well, the first bucket said, “Isn’t it sad? No matter how many times we leave this well full of water, we always come back to it empty!”
The second bucket was a little startled and replied, “Not sad at all! No matter how many times we come to this well empty, we always leave full!”

In our Bible story today, the psalmist sings about the hardness of life…so much work, always work, then more work, there is always some work that needs to be done! But as with all prayers prayed with strength, the psalmist stops his whining and comes to see that our work is done for God. Back and forth. Over and over. We work every day to spread God’s love, peace, and hope. With our hearts, we share God’s love. With our words, we speak God’s peace. With our hands, we build God’s hope. And no matter how many  times we come back empty, having given it all away…God has more love, peace, and hope to make us full. The psalmist prays O let the work of our hands be successful! We too reach out to God and ask Him to fill us so that our hands and hearts and words can do His work with success.

Will you pray with me? (This is an echo prayer: the leader says a line and the children repeat it back.)

Dear Lord,
Thank You
for keeping us full.
Let the work of our hands
be successful
in sharing Your love,
Your peace,
Your hope.
Amen

We are not Christians alone. My mission is to share, inspire, and encourage.