Tuesday Morning Prayer, 07 Jul 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Grant us, O Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who can do no good thing apart from you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

       Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]

Scripture Reading (CEV)

Psalm 122:1

It made me glad
to hear them say,
“Let’s go to the house
of the Lord!”

Ezra 5:1-2

Then the Lord God of Israel told the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speak in his name to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And they did. So Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the priest urged the people to start working on the temple again, and God’s prophets encouraged them.

Mark 1:35-36

Very early the next morning, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. Simon and the others started looking for him.

Saint’s Feast Day – 07 Jul, Boisil (?–661)

A prior at Melrose Abbey who first welcomed Cuthbert and recognized how greatly God’s hand would be upon him. Whilst dying of the plague he asked to spend a week with Cuthbert in reading John’s Gospel, and prophesied that God wanted Cuthbert to be a bishop one day.*

Reflection:

Old Bewick

Beside the little road from Eglingham to Chatton is a stone Celtic cross, and carved beneath it are the joyful words, I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord. A narrow drive leads to a tiny chapel hushed with prayer, where twice a month communion services still are held, but day by day people make their way to be alone, to be quiet. At Easter in 1988 with adults and children we sang and processed up that little path to place a wooden cross from Heavenfield in the hut by the church gate. This hut was to be used as a poustinia, a silent place for prayer. Come, occupy my silent place and make Thy dwelling there. More grace is wrought in quietness than any is aware.
(John Oxenham)

God’s regular channels of grace are his word, his ear, and his people. So often, he showers his people with unexpected favor. But typically the grace that sends our roots deepest, truly grows us up in Christ, and produces lasting spiritual maturity, streams from the ordinary and unspectacular paths of fellowship, prayer, and Bible intake in its many forms.
(David Mathis)

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we don’t have to earn a drop of the mighty river of grace that flows freely for us today. Thank you for the unexpected, unmerited favor you’ve showered on my life. Help me put myself in the path of your love and grace. Help me not neglect the disciplines I need to meet with you regularly and to drink from the water of life. Thank you for your rich love. Amen.

Know (Be Still) – Jeremy Riddle

Closing

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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* Northumbria Community. Celtic Daily Prayer (Kindle Locations 12184-12189). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.