Prayer. O God, on a Sabbath long ago your Son read the words of Isaiah and preached, proclaiming that the words of scripture had been fulfilled. Send your Holy Spirit among us this day so that the promises of scripture may not merely be words on a page or sounds in our ears. Let the words read be fulfilled, so that our souls are nourished, our eyes are opened to your truth, and our feet set on your path. Amen 

 I have learned overtime that discernment takes time. That it can be a slow process. Of being open to what is possible but also to what seems to be impossible.  

 "The reinvention of daily life which means marching off the edge of our maps." Is this life’s disturbed comedy? We are reminded to find the time to stop in the rush our day, to breath deep from the belly and be patient in knowing our way.  Mathew Banks and Bob Black

To calm oneself long enough to perhaps open yourself to the epiphany of the Spirits presence.  

We cannot always explain or understand the mysteries of faith and belief. We cannot always comprehend the gifts of the spirit. However we are, if we stay still long enough, able to receive those Apostrophe epiphanies.  

 Here in the gospel we have Jesus teaching in the home town church and reads a scripture sits down and says.  “Today this is fulfilled in your presence.”  For some it was an Epiphany moment for others.. ”well there you don’t see that everyday” and for others. “Well isn’t he full of himself this upstart sprout.”  

 What this is, is a beginning. Luke’s start point for Jesus.  

As Judith Jones states in her commentary By reading from Isaiah 61 and declaring the acceptable year of the Lord, Jesus recalls the year of Jubilee. According to Leviticus 25, the year of Jubilee is a year of release. Every 50 years, God’s people are to observe a Sabbath of Sabbaths: “you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” The law of Jubilee is designed to transform society 

This idea of a year of Jubilee, the year of the Lord has been a practice by Christianity beginning in 1300ce. One of those celebrations that did not survive the reformation 

Drawing on their Jewish roots, jubilee years emphasize the sacrament of reconciliation and restoring relationships with God.

 It is a year of transformation. Of allowing the Spirit to move us in a new direction.  

 May we be bold and proclaim that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us and in this place. We have been anointed by virtue of baptism may we make this a year of transformation, a year of living out our mission statement. A year of compassion and justice. A year of vision and dreaming.  

 May we call upon God to be our guide on this path of faith. That we may stop long enough to discover the new within ourselves, to discover our gifts.  To be open to gifts of the spirit. To see that the spirit speaks her wisdom to us in many different ways May we be blessed with an Apostrophe epiphanies

May we with confidence utter.

Come spirit come Come holy spirit come.  Embrace us in our weakness.  Give us confidence in our calling. May we stand with the ancient wisdom shared by you, known for us in Jesus and to the world in your presence. 

For we are one body.  No one part greater than the next. We are Connected in tapestry of faith by our baptism brothers and sisters of the faith. - in all it's glory is beauty and truth beyond. Each of us strand woven with purpose. 

May we Know who we are

May we know Why we have come and what is needed to be done. 

May we live the ancient song which has be song from the beginning to 

- Love without condition - teach love - share love - to Be love

In this we embrace the wisdom of Christ  In this we live out our calling. In this we are reminded by the Saints who are with us always that we are not alone. We are connected by the Spirit of God one body sharing many gifts a web connected by the spiral of the eternal presence of God. Reminding us that we are not alone. 

Prayers of the people

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God.

 Blessed God we come to you to ask that may we be bold and proclaim that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us and in this place 

 we call upon God to be our guide on this path of faith. That we may stop long enough to discover the new within ourselves, to discover our gifts.  To be open to gifts of the Spirit. To see that the spirit speak her wisdom to us in many different ways  

It is your Spirit that moves among us and calls us to walk with those who need you in their lives.  

We pray for brokenness of your world.  We plead that those who are in great positions of leadership and power Have Mercy on the most vulnerable sectors of our society. That they may seek Justice and compassion and not the needless pursuit of personal power. 

We pray for those who are a part of our lives that we walk with. We ask for them courage strength and healing. 

 We as your people gathered in this place come to you and ask that you be with us in our community of faith.   Embrace us in our weakness.  Give us confidence in our calling. May we stand with the ancient wisdom shared by you, known for us in Jesus and to the world in your presence.  

For we are one body.  No one part greater than the next. We are Connected in tapestry of faith by our baptism brothers and sisters of the faith. - in all it's glory is beauty and truth beyond. Each of us strand woven with purpose.  May we Know who we are May we live the into what we hold as our truth as a congregation to live our discipleship with integrity and grace. With compassion and justice. With a heart open to your Spirit leading.  Here our own personal prayers spoken in silence of our hearts knowing that in your tie they shall be answered.