A Concord Pastor Comments

9/12/26

$5,000 for your vote: a theological perspective

Among the many online sites I visit daily, one of the most valuable is Arthur Holquin's substack: Liturgy and Life Here you'll find wise commentary on the juncture of worship, belief and daily life - in equal parts probing and sobering.

No surprise, then, that Msgr. Holquin has weighed in sagely on Trump's offer of checks in the amount of $5,000 made out to those who vote Republican in the upcoming midterm elections.

Take a few minutes and follow the link in the previous paragraph. I guarantee you'll be glad you did.

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A royal funeral - and a song...

The image above is crown of the King of Norway - until very recently worn by King Harald V.

King Harald died on August 28, 2026. I've only recently come across video of his funeral, celebrated in the Evangelical-Lutheran communion. The liturgy is stately, solemn and beautiful in every way. The musical selections are superb. You can see all the funeral rites including a lengthy procession to the church in this video (skip to 2:49:00 for where the procession reaches and enters the church).

In particular, however, I want to draw your attention to one song, Abide With Me, composed in 1847 by Henry Francis Lyte. It's a hymn I'm familiar with but to which I've never paid much attention - until now.

The arrangement here is by Norwegian musician and composer Lars Andreas Aspesæter. This setting of a 19th century hymn tune is faithful to the original but deeply textured by more contemporary, soulful themes. Part of the success here is its performance by the Oslo Cathedral Choir and Filipino-Norwegian solist, Hilari Alison. I wondered, when listening, if Aspesæter wrote this arrangement specifically for these voices - so perfect is the match.

I hope the video below and the lyrics below will lift you up in prayer today...

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Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless,
ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

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9/11/26

Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 9/12

If you don't find yourself in this morning's prayer

- then thank God and pray for those who do...

Lord,
   for all who struggle through this day,
       I pray you soften its rough edges...

For all who will grieve a loss today,
   I pray you lift their spirits with your grace...

For all who will find today a long day, Lord
   help them pass the time in peace...

For all who may be lonely today,
   open wide your heart to them and theirs to you...

For all who will be anxious today,
calm their fears and ease their worries...

For all who find today a dark day,
   let your light pierce through the shadows...

For all who will feel empty today,
fill their hearts with simple gifts of joy...

For all who may find it hard to hope today,
refresh their trust and confidence in you...

And for any who find today their last day,
lead them gently home, Lord,

to your everlasting arms...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 9/11

Two options for prayer this evening... First, a Prayer for First Responders. While 9/11 is a sad and tragic memory for most of us, first responders live in anticipation of just such danger as part of their daily lives... Second, a Prayer for Peace in Our World and in Our Hearts...

A Prayer for First Responders

Twenty-five years ago today, Lord,

in New York City, Washington, DC

and Shanksville, PA,

first responders rushed into harm's way,

putting their lives on the line

to save the lives of strangers...

And first responders stand bravely tonight

in the face of enemies, accidents and fire,

tsunamis, tornadoes and landslides,

earthquakes, avalanches,

hurricanes and floods,

putting their lives on the line

for sisters and brothers

threatened by war and natural disaster

by the loss of their homes and belongings,

indeed, the loss of their lives...

Among all who perished on 9/11,
we remember these brave and selfless souls

in our moments of silence,

in our tributes and song,

in our prayer together this night...

Hear our prayer for the women and men

who willingly put their lives on the line,

as you have taught us, Lord:

no love greater than this is known

than to lay down one's life for a friend...

Watch over those, Lord, who, night and day,

spend their lives protecting ours:

be their courage, their shield and strength

and hold them close within your arms

in your loving, strong embrace...

Protect us all while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with Christ
and asleep, rest in his peace...

Amen.

There Is No Greater Love

by Michael Joncas

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There is no greater love, says the Lord,

there is no greater love, says the Lord,

there is no greater love, no greater love

than to lay down your life for a friend

As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Live on in my love.
You will live in my love
if you keep my commands,
even as I have kept my Father's.

All this I tell you that my joy may be yours
and your joy may be complete.
Love one another as I have loved you:
This is my command.

You are my friends
if you keep my commands,
no longer slaves but friends to me.
All I heard from my Father,
I have made known to you:
Now I call you friends.

It was not you who chose me,
it was I who chose you,
chose you to go forth and bear fruit
Your fruit must endure, so you will receive
all you ask the Father in my name.

A Prayer for Peace in the World

and in Our Hearts...

We pray for peace in the world, Lord,

the world you created, the world you gave us,

the world entrusted to our care...

We pray for an end to the scourge of war,
terrorism, violence and bloodshed

and to all the ways, great and small,

that we fail to love our neighbor...

We pray for those who have died in war,

especially those who died in their youth
and for all those who grieve their loss...

We pray for the safety of those in harm's way,
far from home, their families and friends

and we pray for their safe return...

We pray for all the innocent poor

who suffer most keenly the hardship of war:

the victims of battles that others wage...

We pray, too, for our enemies, Lord:

turn their hearts and ours to thoughts of peace

and freedom for all your people...

We pray for peace at our borders, Lord,
and at borders around the world:

tear down the walls we build in our hearts...

We pray for peace among all your people:

we're brothers and sisters all,

no matter our race, our color or creed...

We pray for peace in our cities, Lord,

for an end to violence ruling our streets,

the pandemic of deadly arms...

We pray for peace in our nation, Lord,

and for truth and wisdom to guide the way

in our politics, left and right...

We pray for peace in our broken Church,

for the healing of those who've been abused,

for your Spirit to cleanse and mend us all...

We pray for a peaceful coming together

of all who profess their faith and belief

in your power, divine and holy...

We pray for peace in our daily lives

with those whom we make our enemies,

with those who make us their foes...

We pray, Lord, for peace in those hidden places,

where we're often at war with ourselves,

in our minds, our thoughts and our hearts...

We pray for peace, for healing and wholeness
for all who live with depression,

with anxiety, worry and fear...

We pray for peace in those places, Lord,
where only you can understand

how deep is our need for your presence...

We pray for that peace we can't make ourselves,
the peace, Lord, that comes from you alone,

        the peace of your mercy and grace...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake
   and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
   and asleep, rest in your peace...

And two options for music after this prayer: first, a four minute recording of the wind-powered bells in the memorial tower at Shanksville; and second, Philip Young's setting of Jesus' words, "Peace I leave with you..."

The Bell Tower at Shanksville

Bell Tower, Shanksville, PA

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Peace I Leave With You
by Philip M. Young

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Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give to you.

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Rosh Hoshana

Almighty God, 

our refuge and our strength,
we turn to you as a new year begins

as we once again witness 

the rising of conflict
and the fear laid upon ordinary lives.

Trusting in your steadfast love,
we hold before you our friends and partners 

across the Middle East,
in communities already stretched 

beyond endurance.

Surround them with your protection.
Be a fortress for those who cannot flee
and a shield for those whose work

is to heal and to hope.

We remember before you 

all whose hearts are filled with dread today
and whose future feels unbearably fragile.

Do not let the innocent be swept away
by the decisions of the powerful.

Break the bow and shatter the spear.

Open paths for wisdom, restraint, and justice
where none seem possible.

Give courage to peacemakers
and clarity to those who speak truth.

Let your peace take root
in scorched and fearful places.

Keep our hearts from despair
and teach us to stand with those who suffer,
to pray without ceasing
and to hope, even now,

and in the new year, 

in your redeeming mercy and love.

Amen.

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9/10/26

9/11... 25 years later

On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, I'm offering several starting points for our prayer and reflection.

1) The homily I preached on the 10th anniversary when it fell on a Sunday.

2) A Pause for Prayer in the usual format

3) "When Sudden Terror Tears Apart," a hymn written by Carl Daw just after 9/11/2001

Homily 9/11/11

It was a beautiful, bright-skyed September morning and as I left Our Lady’s Church after Mass, Ann Gallagher stopped me and told me a plane had flown into the World Trade Center.

On the way back to the rectory, I remember thinking that the news was probably exaggerated, that some small aircraft, off its flight plan, might have nearly clipped the Tower but certainly hadn’t flown into it.

(Confronted with tragedy, the mind and spirit will often rush to recalculate the facts in an effort to make them fit a more comfortable framework, a more acceptable reality.)

But the news and Ann’s report of it were accurate, even if incomplete: not one but two planes in New York - and another in Shanksville and another in Arlington.

The most painful moments in our lives are often those that bring us to God.

When our eyes can’t believe what they see, and our ears can't believe what they hear; when our souls are too small to hold the grief that fills them, when our hearts are too angry for any peace to enter; when no recalculation of the facts can stand up to the tragedy before us - we often turn to the Lord: hoping that through his eyes we might see something different, something brighter; that in his arms our hurt and grief might find healing; that in his heart we might savor some moments of longed for peace.

But often enough, in just such times, the Lord calls us to a further recalculation.

He doesn’t ask us to re-imagine our reality but rather, to recalculate our response to it.

As he does in the scriptures today.

The Word today addresses the minds and hearts of people who are unjustifiably wronged, angry, hurt, grieving, wrathful and vengeful.

The Lord knows well what they’ve suffered and yet he calls them to recalculate not their reality - but their response to it.

He tells them,
Let go your anger and hate

- don’t hold on to them.
Vengeance is mine to take, says the Lord

- not yours.
Forgive those who have treated you unjustly.

Forgive them!
If you want your heart healed

- don’t feed it with anger.
If you want to be forgiven

- pardon those who have offended you.

Hard sayings, indeed. And our first response might be to try to soften the hard saying. "I don’t think God means that in THIS situation!" But yes, in every situation God is ready to forgive and calls on us to be merciful, too.

But some things just can’t be forgiven!
Not so.
All wrongs, and therefore any wrong, can be forgiven, even the most heinous.

I can’t accept the evil that was done!
Of course not - we should never accept evil. The Lord doesn’t ask us to condone or accept any wrong-doing, but the Lord does ask us to accept, to forgive the neighbor who wronged us, just as the Lord accepts and forgives us
when we offend him.

How will the Lord’s Word today help us recalculate our response when someone wrongs us?

Let me suggest, it’s probably best not to start by trying to love Al Queda or the 19 terrorists who executed the horror of 9/11.

Better to start closer to home - although this might be more difficult.

I need to learn to forgive the family member or neighbor, the friend or colleague or schoolmate who wronged me, hurt me, betrayed me, cheated me, abandoned me...

I need to find a place in my heart for someone I’ve kicked out of my heart, even a place for those who've kicked me out of their hearts.

I need to find compassion and understanding for those who have hurt me, just the kind of compassion and understanding I hope to find when I’ve hurt someone else.

I need to find a place in my heart to forgive as I have been forgiven.

I need to learn that when I forgive someone who has offended me, the first person who is freed of the burden of the offense - is me. I let it go.

It’s easy to believe that the greater the wrong done to us, the more leeway is ours for anger and vengeance. But the Lord calls us to a much higher standard.
The greater the harm done, the greater the love the Lord calls us to offer. And the standard for such love is the Cross of Jesus on which the most Innocent of all laid down his life for all of us, sinners.

As he gave himself for us on the Cross, so he gives himself to us at this table, on the altar of the Eucharist, where, from his heart, he forgives us, his brothers and sisters, and calls us to forgive one another.

Pause for Prayer

Gracious God,

All good gifts come from your hand:
   into our clumsy grasp
   you entrust the precious realities
   of life, justice and peace.

We remember this day
   how fragile is the gift of peace
   and how vulnerable are we
   in each other’s hands.

We remember those who died
   and those who mourn their loss...

We remember those whose courage
   gave us a new model for bravery...

We remember those who gave their lives
   in their selfless efforts to save others...

We remember that day, that sunny morning
   when the borders of our nation
   were broken through

   to the depths of our hearts...

We remember and we pray
   for the healing and peace
   that only you can give,
    that you call us to share...

Bring us to the day, O God,
   when war is but a memory
   and peace our way of life...

Bring us to the day, O God,
   when the harvest of justice
   will nourish the people of all nations...

Hasten the advent of that day, O God
   and let our pride not stand in its way...

Give us peace, O God,

the peace for which we pray,

the peace for which we plead,

the peace that's only yours to give...

Amen.

When Sudden Terror Tears Apart by Carl Daw

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When sudden terror tears apart
the world we thought was ours,
we find how fragile strength can be,
how limited our powers.

As tower and fortress fall, we watch
with disbelieving stare
and numbly hear the anguished cries 
that pierce the ash-filled air.

Yet most of all we are aware
of emptiness and void:
of lives cut short, of structures razed,
of confidence destroyed.

From this abyss of doubt and fear
we grope for words to pray,
and hear our stammering tongues embrace
a timeless Kyrie.

Have mercy, Lord, give strength and peace,
and make our courage great;
restrain our urge to seek revenge,
to turn our hurt to hate.

Help us to know your steadfast love, 
your presence near as breath;
rekindle in our hearts the hope
of life that conquers death.

Rev. Carl P. Daw, Jr. wrote this hymn to commemorate the terrorist attack on the World Trade 
Center towers and the Pentagon September 11.  (Hope Publishing Co.)

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9/8/26

I'm sailing on the Sapphire Princess...

... and as we head to Prince Edward Island I'm taking a little break from writing!

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9/7/26

Pause for Prayer: Mr. Rogers Receives the Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award 1997

I never know where the Spirit may lead me online but last night that path lead to a wonderful video I'd never seen before.

I was deeply moved by Fred Rogers' words and - moved to prayer - and for more than 10 seconds! I thought you might have the same experience - actually, I hope you will have the same experience...

Who have been the people who have loved you into being... who have helped you become who you are... who have cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life?

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 9/7

I know you don't take holidays, Lord

- not even Christmas or Easter!

And I'm guessing you work on Labor Day, too!

You're the ultimate worker,

24/7/365: you never clock out!

But I gotta say, Lord,

(and please be patient with me here)

I gotta say that sometimes,

well, once in a while,

maybe now and then,

sometimes it seems

that you've called in sick

taken a day off,

maybe a personal day,

or even a leave of absence

- even though I know you haven't!

But sometimes I have to wonder, Lord:

where are you?

where'd ya go?

have you, the Invisible One - disappeared?

why can't I find you?

did I lose you? did you lose me?

have you forgotten me?

how can I find you?

In my heart of hearts, Lord,

I want to trust

and in my faith

I do believe you're always there,

no time-outs,

working for my good,

for my well-being,

my peace of mind and heart,

my welfare and serenity

and that not for a moment

do you take a break

from loving, forgiving and healing me,

from mending, strengthening and blessing me,

from lifting me up and saving me

from anyone and anything

that comes between you and me...

So help me remember tonight, Lord,

that you're always at my side,

you always have my back,

your never take your eyes off me,

your Spirit always leads me,

your wisdom keenly guides me,

that you work for me, on my behalf

always, Lord, and only

for my peace and my well-being,

day and night, night and day

24/7/365...

You've never taken a break, Lord,

from strengthening, loving and caring for me

and I trust and know you never will...

You've never left my side, Lord,

never left me to fend for myself

and I trust and know you never will...

You're always there to help me, Lord,

working on me and helping me grow

- and I pray you always will be...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and work on me in my sleep,

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, grow in your peace...

Amen.

Two songs for prayer tonight (sharing the identical title). The first is a new find for me and I hope it will strengthen your faith and hope. The second I've used before - and it's sure to lift your spirits. I hope you listen to both!

God Is Working by Deon Kipping

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I can't say I have all of the answersAnd I don't know how long you'll feel this painPlease believe that life is like a movieAnd God is working hard behind the scene

God is workingWorking in your life Working in your lifeWorking in your lifeGod is workingWorking in your life Working in your lifeHe's working in your life

It's hard for you to celebrate God's grace'Cause every day there's something in the wayBut just before you start to fall apartRemember, God does all His best work in the dark

God is working in your life(Working in your life) oh, He is working in your life(Working in your life) you can wipe your tears, because(God is working)(Working in your life) oh, yeah(Working in your life) oh, He is working(Working in your life) working in your life

Sometimes your faith and the facts don't line upWhen you're trying to believeBut you feel like giving upYou need to knowHe doesn't take any days offAnd He promised He would finishEverything that He starts

You need to know

God is working(Working in your life) working in your life(Working in your life) whoa-oh(Working in your life) He is working on your behalf(God is working) yes, He is(Working in your life) even when you can't see it(Working in your life) even when you can't feel it(Working in your life) He is working in your life

Sit back and let Him work Let go and let Him work Pray and let Him work Let Him work in your life

Please listen (sit back and let Him work)Let go and let Him work (let go and let Him work)Pray and let Him work (pray and let Him work)Let Him work (let Him work in your life)

Sit back and let Him work (sit back and let Him work)And let go (let go and let Him work)Pray and let Him work (pray and let Him work)Let Him work in your life (let Him work in your life)

Yeah-yeah (sit back and let Him work)Let go and let Him work (let go and let Him work)Pray and let Him work (pray and let Him work)Let Him work in your life (let Him work in your life)

Yeah (sit back and let Him work)Let go and let Him work (let go and let Him work)Pray and let Him work (pray and let Him work)Let Him work in your life (let Him work in your life)

And when life doesn't make senseKnow that God is working(Working in your life) yes, He is, oh(Working in your life) He is working on your behalf(Working in your life) oh, you can let it go if God is in control(God is working) yes, He is(Working in your life) so you can walk around(Working in your life) everything will be alright(Working in your life) 'cause He is working in your life

And just before you start to fall apartRemember, God does all His best work in the dark

God is Working

by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

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God is working, he's still working
God is working even now
Though we often don't know just how
God is working, he's still working,
God is working even now!

God is working, he's still working
God is working even now
Though we often don't know just how
God is working, he's still working,
God is working even now!

Though you cannot see and you can't quite understand
Remember God is still in control
He has promised to bring us through some how
And he's working - even now!

Hallelujah, he's working even now
Hallelujah, he's working even now
Though we often don't know just how
God is working, he's still working
God is working even - now!

Hallelujah, he's working even now
Hallelujah, he's working even now
Though we often don't know just how
God is working, he's still working
God is working even - now!