Month: October 2013
Morning Prayer: Psalm 119:89-95; Deuteronomy 17:19; Revelation 1:3; 5:2-5 ~ words of life
Morning Prayer:
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Morning readings
Psalm 119:89-95 NLT:
Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments. Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Deuteronomy 17:19 NLT:
He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.
Revelation 1:3; 5:2-5 NLT:
God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.
And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.
Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Reflection/Prayer:
Oh well, I guess it has been settled in heaven, and yet I would have died had my trust not been in Your word.
Prayer is not the privilege of a few. It is a reality easily accessible, for tiny children as for old men. It finds expression in innumerable ways. (Brother Roger of Taize)
Delighful I think it to be / in the bosom of an isle / on the crest of a rock / that I may see often / the calm of the sea, that I may pore on one of my books good for my soul, a while kneeling for beloved heaven, a while at psalms, a while meditating upon the Prince of Heaven (Columba)
Little men perceive what solitude is…
For a crowd is not company,
and faces are but a gallery of pictures,
and talk but a tinkling cymbal
where there is no love. (Francis Bacon)
Spiritual Song: “Wonderful Words of Life” – Philip P. Bliss (1874)
Canticle
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________
Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.
The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.
Morning Prayer: Psalm 119:81-88; Judges 6:11-14; Hebrews 12:11-12 ~ get a grip
Morning Prayer:
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Morning readings
Psalm 119:81-88 NLT:
I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.
How long must I wait? When will you punish those who persecute me? These arrogant people who hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me. All your commands are trustworthy. Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause. They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments.
In your unfailing love, spare my life; then I can continue to obey your laws.
Judges 6:11-14 NLT:
Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
Hebrews 12:11-12 NLT:
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.
Reflection/Prayer:
The story is told of a man who tripped and fell off a cliff. Clutching at the grasses on the edge of the cliff he found himself for a moment or two able to hang on and delay his fall.
‘Is there anyone up there?’ he cried out desperately. ‘Yes,’ came the reply, but no further response. ‘Who are you? Why don’t you help me?’ shouted the man. ‘I’m God,’ said the Voice, ‘and I will help you. But you must do exactly as I say.’ ‘OK,’ whispered the man, ‘what have I to do?’ ‘First, let go!’ ‘Is there anybody else up there?’ called out the man?’
Poor fearful little Gideon had to do something just like that to become the mighty man of valour God saw him as. Against an army which far outnumbered them, God’s solution was to cut back even further on numbers!!
With decrease thou shalt increase. Count not as men count. Do not look into thy hand and say, ‘I have not enough,’ for with less, even with the decrease, nothing shall be impossible to thee. Like with the army of old – I can do more even with less.
Spiritual Song: “Where No One Stands Alone” – Mosie Lister
Canticle
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________
Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.
The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19 ~ glory to God
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence: The Spirit of God lives in us, inspiring and guarding. In the Spirit, we worship our creator and entrust ourselves to the Lord’s loving care.
As we prepare to approach God’s throne of grace, we call to mind our sins: (pause). Amen.
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s kingdom … You come in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness … You will come in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy.
A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 98:1-4 (NLT)
Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
The Lord has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
A Reading from the Old Teastament: 2 Kings 5:14-17 (NLT)
So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!
Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.
Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD….”
A Reading from the Pastoral Letters: 2 Timothy 2:8-13 (NLT)
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 17:11-19 (NLT)
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
Intercessions:
Wonder-working God: With a grateful heart, I ask that You, once again, respond to the needs of Your people –
- For peace with justice for all in Syria and the Middle East — and an end to war and violence (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear my prayer.
- For refugees and asylum-seekers — that their dignity may be respected and their rights upheld (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear my prayer.
- For the men and women chosen to spread the Good News — that they may bear the hardships which come with that task (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear my prayer.
- For all who suffer disease in our world, that full medical help may be available to rich and poor alike (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear my prayer.
- For those who suffer isolation today, as the lepers once did — that nothing may deprive them of the support of Christians (Pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear my prayer.
- For our emigrants and all who are away from home — that our support may remind them of God’s care for them (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear my prayer.
God of many wonders, you bring salvation to all the earth: Remember your people and grant my prayer, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” – Translator: Clarence A. Walworth; Author (attributed to): Ignace Franz
Holy God, we praise Thy name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee. All on earth Thy scepter claim, All in heav’n above adore Thee. Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign.
Hark! the glad celestial hymn / Angel choirs above are raising; Cherubim and seraphim, In unceasing chorus praising, Fill the heav’ns with sweet accord: “Holy, holy, holy Lord!”
Spare Thy people, Lord, we pray, By a thousand snares surrounded: Keep us without sin today, Never let us be confounded. Lo, I put my trust in Thee; Never, Lord, abandon me.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Morning Prayer: Psalm 119:73-78; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 8:25-26 ~ just clay
Morning Prayer:
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Morning readings
Psalm 119:73-78 NLT:
You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight. Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Jeremiah 18:1-6 NLT:
The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.
Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand….”
Romans 8:25-26 NLT:
But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Reflection/Prayer:
O God, forgive the poverty and pettiness of our prayers. Listen not to our words, but to the yearning of our hearts. Hear beneath our petitions the crying of our need. (Peter Marshall)
God, You hear within us the groanings so deep they cannot even be uttered. Let Your tender mercies come unto us that we may live again.
‘Can I not do with you as the Potter?’ says the Lord God. Lord, help me to realize that I am Your project.
Have Your own way, Lord, have Your own way
You are the Potter – I am the clay
Mould me and make me after Your will
while I am waiting, yielded and still.
(Adelaide A. Pollard)
‘Can I not do with you as the Potter?’
‘Yes.’
Spiritual Song: “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” – Adelaide A. Pollard
Canticle
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________
Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.
The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.
The Peanut Gallery 