02B*
A Call to Worship
Advent 2B 2017
Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13

We come to worship God, praying that our hearts are open to God.
We come praying that God’s faithfulness will embrace our own faith.

We come to praise God, praying that our inner being is open to God.
We come praying that God’s peace will embrace our own inner peace.

We come in awe-filled reverence before God, the Holy and Eternal
One, praying that our minds and intellects are open to God’s guiding.
We come praying that God’s truth and righteousness will embrace and
bless us in our understanding of being in a right relationship with God. Amen.

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Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1 LORD, you poured out blessings on your land!
You restored the fortunes of Israel.
2 You forgave the guilt of your people—
yes, you covered all their sins.              Interlude

8 I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
But let them not return to their foolish ways.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
so our land will be filled with his glory.

10 Unfailing love and truth have met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed!
11 Truth springs up from the earth,
and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
12 Yes, the LORD pours down his blessings.
Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.
13 Righteousness goes as a herald before him,
preparing the way for his steps.

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Prayers of Trust and Petition
Advent 2B 2017
Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13

God of all faithfulness: we come to worship you and to pray that our hearts are
open to God’s faithfulness and to God’s unfailing love. It is because of God’s
faithfulness that we dare to approach God’s throne of grace. It is because of the
experiences we have had; and those we have heard about of God’s faithful and
constant love for humanity, that in trust and humility that we come to make our
petitions today. We come praying that God’s faithfulness will embrace our own
faith within God’s accepting embrace of love; that we will grow in our own love
and faithfulness of and for God; and faithfully serve God all our days. May we
always listen carefully when our God “…speaks peace to his faithful people…”

Peace-giving God: we come to praise God, praying that our inner being is open
to God’s gracious gift of peace. It is because of the holy and sacred peace that
God alone can give, that we dare to approach God’s throne of mercy. It is because
of the experiences we have had; and those we have heard about of God’s peace
and serenity, that in trust and humility that we come to make our petitions today.
We come praying that God’s peace will embrace our own inner peace; and that in
God’s accepting embrace of love; we will grow in our love found in God’s own peace.
May we always listen carefully when God “…speaks peace to his faithful people…”

Truth-Revealing God: we come in awe-filled reverence before God, the Holy and
Eternal One, praying that our minds and intellects are always open to God’s guiding.
It is because of God’s accepting embrace of truth and beauty that we dare to approach
God’s throne of love, praying that God’s truth and righteousness will bless us in our
growth in understanding about what it means to be in a right relationship with God.
It is because of the experiences we have had; and those we have heard about, that
God is true and always speaks the truth about life and love; that in trust and humility
we come to make our petitions today. We come praying that God’s truth-telling gifts
will increase our understanding of truth, loyalty, justice, fidelity and integrity; and that
within that accepting embrace of love; we will grow nearer to the truth-telling of God.
May we always listen carefully when God “…speaks peace to his faithful people…” Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
Advent 2B 2017
Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13

I have many souvenirs of my international travels, which still give me great
pleasure, but a pair of wood carvings given to me by the women of West
Africa have a special significance to me - and I treasure them! In 1986, I
attended my first world conference in Nairobi, Kenya, and the meeting hall
stage had a painted backdrop of African women of all nationalities grinding
various grains - creating one flour. This was a very symbolic concept, as at
that time, there was many conflicts within the African nations; yet the women
of Africa chose this symbolism of their oneness in and before God. To me, it
also symbolised the unity that faith in God brings with it – faithfulness, peace,
fidelity and mercy towards, with and for each other under God’s reign of love.



The psalmist sang: “...I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for
he speaks peace to his faithful people...” Our God “…speaks peace…”, but
how do we respond? We may think or pray for “peace” to and for each other,
but do we “speak” peace? Speaking or sharing our convictions - means a sense
of commitment to a cause; but when they are negative convictions – that is
another matter! If only the negatives could be placed into one bowl together
and ground into one “powder” - they may change into something different and
become positive attitudes and convictions – and even consensus! It is hard to
decide which are the most important words: “…listen carefully to what God the
LORD is saying…” OR “…God the LORD speaks peace to his faithful people...”



Drawing on his vast wisdom and years of study, Professor Walter Brueggemann
reminds us that: “…The psalms mediate for us the great promise keeper whose
resolve guarantees that the world is not a closed system. Creation, instead, is a
world very much in process, sure to come to full ‘shalom’. Despair is the fate of
a world ‘without god’, where there are no new gifts to be given. The Psalms
refuse that world, knowing that God has not yet finished. Consequently, the Psalms
can gather all the great words of the covenant and apply them to the future…” He
then quoted Psalm 85: 10-13. “….Here the entire vocabulary of fidelity is thrown
towards the future – steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, peace, faithfulness
twice, righteousness three times – all in the ‘will’ of the not yet. At the centre of this
hope is YHWH: ‘The LORD will give…’”¹ How wonderful, that God, the Great Promise-
Keeper, is not yet finished with us - or creation! How glorious is God’s faithful love!



1 Text by Professor Walter Brueggemann
from “From whom no secrets are hid”
Chapter 2, page 32
© 2014 Westminster/John Knox Press
Louisville Kentucky USA

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Acknowledgements:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

*Revised Indexing Scheme from 'Consultation on Church Union' (COCU).

I acknowledge and give heartfelt thanks for the theological help and inspiration so frequently available from the writings of Professor Walter Brueggemann and Professorial brothers Rolf and Karl Jacobson; and the resources from "The Text this Week" (Textweek).

If the Prayers and/or Meditation are used in shared worship, please provide this acknowledgement:
© 2017 Joan Stott –‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year B. Based on verses from Psalm 85.
Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au
www.thetimelesspsalms.net

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