regardless of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation or identity.
| We
warmly welcome all people regardless of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation or identity. |
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Worship at Mt. Carmel
Adult & Youth Forums and Bible Study
Topical Bible Study
Prayer Chain
Prayer Circle
Women's Prayer Partner
Worship services used at Mt. Carmel
Other Resources
| "FOR
THE HARD OF HEARING...." |
. . . . So when there are two people praying the Lord's Prayer in Iraq, one an American and the other an Iraqi, and the American prays, "deliver us from evil," and thinks of the Iraqis, and the Iraqi prays, "deliver us from evil," and thinks of the Americans, to whom does God listen? . . . . |
A prayer in time of conflict:
Lord, you are indeed the healer of all our ills. We bring to you, Lord, our bodies, minds and spirits hurting and broken by the violence, ills, trauma and cares of a world separated from you. Come to us now with your healing powers. Breathe on me, O God, and make me whole.
O God, we ask that you heal us. Give us the strength, health, wisdom and knowledge found only through you. Send your life-giving Spirit so that we may live our lives with courage in the profound peace of your love. Come to us now with your healing powers. Breathe on me, O God, and make me whole.
O God, we ask that you sustain those who seek to alleviate the pain and suffering of this world. Give strength, courage, wisdom and knowledge to all doctors and orderlies, nurses and clerks, psychiatrists, researchers, and all other medical care givers, volunteers and professionals. Send your life-giving Spirit so that their ministries may bring healing and promote health. Come to us now with your healing powers. Breathe on me, O God, and make me whole.
Be also with those who work to heal the wounds of societies and nations. Guide, protect and strengthen our lawyers and police, chaplains and pastors, healthcare and social workers, politicians, military, diplomats and all others who work for economic and social reform. Send your life-giving Spirit that they may promote your love and grace, bringing healing to those in conflict and stability to those who are vulnerable. Come to us now with your healing powers. Breathe on me, O God, and make me whole. Amen.
Lord God, Healer of us all, you hear our cries of pain, even those so deep that they are silent. You see every wound of body, mind, and spirit; those inflicted upon us and those we have inflicted. You see us: imperfect, guilty, hurting, angry, scared, helpless, confused. You see us; touch us; mend us. Amen.
God so loved this world and this people that God sent Christ to suffer and die for all. Accept now that gift of love for we are forgiven, reconciled, accepted and loved.
Amen.
(Lisa Frenz copyright 2003)On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25:6-9
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:38-48
An Easter Proclamation
In the beginning was the Word and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
And that Word was Christ Jesus.
From before the foundation of this world Christ has been our means of grace
and the way to eternal life. In full knowledge of the consequences of our creation
God loved us so much that God brought us into being, sought us out, and redeemed
us from the separation caused by our sin, the rejection of God’s plan
for us.
You have heard his story: How he took on our humanity becoming a man, how 2000
years ago he lived for thirty-three years among us, how he walked with God and
changed all who followed him, how he was crucified for his righteousness, dying
a tortured death.
Hear now the ending that is a beginning: On the third day after his death, Jesus
the Christ rose from the dead and made himself known to his friends. He touched
them, ate with them and taught them, completing God’s plan of salvation,
the plan that was in place before the creation of this universe, this world,
and each one of us.
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
(Lisa Frenz copyright 2005)
Adult & Youth Forums meet after worship to take a deeper look at our relationship with God through the study of the Bible. Taking what we learn with us into our daily lives and into the world helps us to see opportunities to share the love of Christ with our neighbors and friends. (top) (bottom)
|
Sermon for LENT 3 |
TRUE TO FORM, JUST AS THE PHARISEES SUSPECTED, JESUS WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERSON THAN ABOUT THE LAW. |
Topical Bible Study meets once a month (usually the 4th Wednesday) with Pastor Ron leading the discussion. We meet at 6:30pm for a hosted dinner and continue with the study. (top) (bottom)
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right; for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. . . . My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries. . . . To those without sense she says, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight." Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; prudence will watch over you; and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:6-11.
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YOU WOULD THINK, AFTER TALKING ABOUT THE MISSION OF
THE CHURCH FOR NEARLY 2,000 YEARS, USING THIS VERY VERSE, THAT THERE WOULD
BE NOTHING NEW TO SAY ABOUT OR LEARN FROM THIS VERSE. And yet,
the dynamic nature of this critical verse is completely lost on most Christian
congregations today. . . . ONE OF THE REASONS WE TEND TO “TUNE OUT” WHEN THIS CRITICAL PASSAGE IS READ IS NOT JUST BECAUSE WE THINK WE KNOW IT SO WELL, BUT BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR WHAT IT’S REALLY SAYING TO THE CHURCH! We are Jesus’ disciples today. Thank God, someone helped us to become a disciple. Now it’s our turn. No matter how much we’d rather bake a cake, or paint a wall, or pull a weed, or sing a hymn, making disciples for Jesus Christ is our only real job as Christians. . . |
Prayer Chain is a group of people in our community who have dedicated themselves to praying for others. This daily ministry is a vital part of Mt. Carmel's community. (top) (bottom)
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.. James 5:13-16
Prayer Circle meets every Sunday before worship around 10:30 a.m. to pray for the community of Mt. Carmel and personal concerns of members and friends. Special prayer concerns may be left in the Secret Prayer Box in the sanctuary. These concerns are confidential and left in the box. The Circle prays for those concerns without looking at them. No one reads them. (top) (bottom)
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be caring towards you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26
Amen.
Women's Payer Partners draw a Prayer Partner Necklace. The two women with the matching Necklaces are Prayer Partners for the year. Once a year at our Prayer Partner Tea, all the Necklaces are pooled and new Partners are chosen. All that's required is that you remember to keep your partner in your prayers. Contact the office if you would like to join the Prayer Partners. We wear our Prayer Partner Necklaces as a sign of our commitment to prayer. (top) (bottom)
Prayers, Liturgies, Litanies, etc. which have been used at Mt. Carmel (top) (bottom)
While we do use Orders of Worship from "Evangelical Lutheran Worship" and "With One Voice", etc. we also use liturgies which we have created. Below are links to a couple of the special services we have done in the past.
Samples of litanies used at Mt. Carmel
Worship Service of Remembrance and Healing
Call to Worship, Litany, and Prayer of Affirmation and Inclusivity
Top of Liturgies webpage.
The Holy Bible:
New Revised Standard Version
Various Translations
More Translations and links
Revised Common Lectionary
Lectionary Helps
ELCA Church Calendar
E.L.C.A. Spiritual
Center, Prayers and Litanies,
Prayer Thoughts
Resources for the Church
from Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg PA
Daily Devotions
from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Essays and Sermons
from Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago
The Lutheran the magazine of
the E.L.C.A. with articles, study guides and discussion boards
Daily Reflections from Creighton University.
World Council of Churches prayer resources (do a site search on "prayer").
Pax Christi USA prayer resources.
Martin Niemoller a short biography. "In Germany they came first for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me--and by that time no one was left to speak up."
A Litany of Affirmation
On Being Gay and Christian
Being
Lutheran and Gay Stories and thoughts on Christianity from gay Lutherans
SacredFlight music for those suffering from terminal illness.
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Mt. Carmel is a community which expresses its spirituality through thoughtful creative poetic worship, prayer, meditation, and the pursuit of wisdom. |
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Mt. Carmel Evangelical Lutheran Church
515 S.W. Maplecrest Drive, Portland, OR 97219
503-244-5143
Updated:
January 8, 2008
