Morning Prayer: 11 March – John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 ~ he sent me to you

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

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

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
(Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 (NLT)

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters….
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But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.
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Christ Jesus

Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

Morning Prayer

Jesus Messiah: you redeemed us by your death and resurrection. Lord, have mercy on us.

+ You went up to Jerusalem to endure the passion and enter into glory; lead your Church into the paschal feast of eternal life.
+ Your heart was pierced with a lance; heal the wounds of our human weakness.
+ You made your cross the tree of life; share your victory with all who trust in you.
+ You gave salvation to the repentant thief; pardon all our sins.

Lord God, have mercy on us, and grant that we may reach out gladly for your healing grace, and thereby live in accordance with your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Jesus Messiah” – Chris Tomlin

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

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

Morning Prayer: 24 February – Matthew 20:17-28 ~ the bitter cup of suffering

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

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

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 20:17-28 (NLT)

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Morning Prayer

Gracious God: you gave your own Son, the Word made flesh, to suffer and die that we may have life. Give us the courage to “go up to Jerusalem” with him during this Lenten season.

+ May we listen to your voice as we journey with Christ from death to life.
+ Teach us to live sacrificially as willing servants for the good of others.
+ Teach us to live by your Spirit as faith-filled encouragers of those who doubt.
+ May the love of Christ find expression in all our ways of living.
+ May we celebrate his resurrection at Easter with great joy and love.

Heavenly Father protect your family during this Lenten journey. Strengthen us with your consoling presence and lead us to the joys of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“In Life And Death” – Greg Sykes |The New Hymns of Fanny Crosby

Closing Sentence

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

Morning Prayer: 23 February – Matthew 23:1-12 ~ humble yourself

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

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

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 23:1-12 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Morning Prayer

Gracious God: you gave your own Son, the Word made flesh, to be our bread of life. Satisfy our hunger for you during this season of Lent.

+ May the message of Christ, in all its richness, live in our hearts.
+ May we hear your voice and journey with Christ from death to life.
+ May we celebrate his resurrection at Easter with great joy and love.
+ Teach us to live by your Spirit and help us to encourage faith in those who doubt.
+ May the knowledge of Christ penetrate our minds and hearts and find expression in all our ways of living.

Consecrate us, Lord God, and make your Church the living witness of your presence in the world. Watch over your people with unfailing compassion. Left to ourselves, we are prone to evil. By your grace, turn us away from all that is harmful and direct us into the way of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Broken Vessels” – Hillsong Worship

Closing Sentence

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

Morning Prayer: 22 February – Matthew 16:13-19 ~ the faith-built kingdom

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

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

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 16:13-19 (NLT)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Morning Prayer

Heavenly Father: thank you for the heavenly inheritance your people have received through the prophets and apostles by faith. Together with them, and the angels in glory, I sing your praises.

+ Praise to you Lord God, for the gift of Christ’s body and blood, received in Holy Communion, which gives me strength and life.
+ Praise to you Lord God, for your word, delivered by the prophets and apostles, which brings me light and joy.
+ Praise to you Lord God, for your Church in all its expressions around the world which makes me a member of one body.
+ Praise to you Lord God, for the workings your Spirit, through confession and the grace of forgiveness, which cleanse my heart from sin.

Almighty God: you built your Church on the profession of faith in Jesus Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Grant me that same firm foundation; may I hold fast in every storm. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“In The Presence of Angels” – Roy Fields

Closing Sentence

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

Morning Prayer: 20 February – Matthew 5:43-48 ~ on loving kindness

Saturday of the First Week of Lent

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

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Morning Prayer

Christ the Lord has made me into a new creation. He gives me a new birth in the waters of baptism and nourishes me with his word and his Spirit. Glory to you, Lord Jesus, you are gentle and humble in spirit, renew me by your grace.

+ Teach me to be a good neighbor to the sad and the needy – that I may imitate you.
+ Grant me something of your compassion towards those who are suffering.
+ Grant me something of your kindness towards those who are needy.
+ Grant me something of your patience towards those who are frustrating.
+ Grant me the gift of your mercy, forgive my sins and deliver me from the evil one.

Turn my heart to you, eternal Father, so that, always seeking the one thing necessary and devoting myself to acts of kindness, I may worship you in spirit and in truth. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Be Thou My Vision” – Anna Weatherup

Closing Sentence

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

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