25th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Psalm 113:1-8; Amos 8:7; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:10-13 ~ cumulative faithfulness

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

Opening sentence: I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 113:1-8 (NLT)

Praise the Lord! Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever. Everywhere — from east to west — praise the name of the Lord. For the Lord is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!

Reading Psalm 113 to the people of the Garbage Dump in Managua.

A Reading from the Prophet Amos: Amos 8:7 (NLT)

Now the Lord has sworn this oath by his own name, the Pride of Israel: “I will never forget the wicked things you have done!”

A Reading from Paul’s Letter to Timothy: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NLT)

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity — the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating — just telling the truth.

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke: Luke 16:10-13 (NLT)

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Intercessions: God, who heeds the cry of the poor… hear our prayers today. We pray…

For the ministry of service to people who are poor, homeless, hungry or in any other need…

For those who govern with honesty and justice, and for citizens… immigrants… and refugees…

For all who are victims of injustice… and those impoverished by war and neglect…

For all of us to put God, not wealth and possessions, at the center of our lives…

For all Americans serving our country…and for the loved ones who await their safe return…

For those who are seriously ill, hospitalized, or homebound…

For the ministry of healing with people who are broken in body… mind… or spirit…

For the recently deceased, and for all who mourn their loss…

All-powerful and ever-living God, the world is your footstool. Make us always worthy of your trust. This we ask you through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Micha’el Eliyahu Ben David

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

Morning Prayer: Psalm 24:7-10; Genesis 19:2-3; Luke 19:15-16 ~ hospitality

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences
Seek the Lord while He may be found – with all your heart… with all your soul… with all your mind… with all your strength.

Call upon Him while He is near.

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

Psalm 24:7-10 ESV: Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory.

Genesis 19:2-3 ESV: He said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Luke 19:15-16 ESV: When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’

Prayer/Reflection:

In Hospitality there is a door to which you have the key, and you are the sole keeper. There is a latch no hand can lift save yours. No ruler, nor warrior, writer, thinker: but only you.

O heart, hurry now and welcome your King to sit by the warmth of your fire. (Henri Nouwen)

Anthem: “Lift Up Your Heads” ~ Messiah by George Friedrich Händel (Wien, Theater an der Wien April 2009)

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

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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 65:9-10; Genesis 1:11; John 20:6-10 ~ the river of God

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences
Seek the Lord while He may be found – with all your heart… with all your soul… with all your mind… with all your strength.

Call upon Him while He is near.

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

Psalm 65:9-10 ESV: You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

Genesis 1:11 ESV: And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so.

John 20:6-10 ESV: Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Prayer/Reflection:

Even though the day be laden and my task dreary and my strength small, a song keeps singing in my heart. For I know that I am Thine. I am part of Thee. Thou art kin to me, and all my times are in Thy hand. (Alistair Maclean)

Spiritual Song: “The River Is Here” – Andy Park

Blessing

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

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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 22:26-28: 1 Chronicles 29:11-14; Mark 6:2-4 ~ kingdom come

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences
Seek the Lord while He may be found – with all your heart… with all your soul… with all your mind… with all your strength.

Call upon Him while He is near.

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

Psalm 22:26-28 ESV The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

1 Chronicles 29:11-14 ESV Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

Mark 6:2-4 ESV And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

Prayer:

O Son of Mary, how wonderful Your friendliness to me! How deep! How unchanging! Help me to pass it on.

Help me to find my happiness in my acceptance of what is Your purpose for me: in friendly eyes; in work well done; in quietness born of trust; and, most of all, in the awareness of Your presence in my spirit.

Come, Lord Jesus, come as King. Rule in our minds: come as peace. Rule in our actions: come as power. Rule in our days: come as joy.

Thy Kingdom come among us. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Let Your Kingdom Come” – Hillsong Music

Blessing

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

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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 143:5-6: Isaiah 49:15-16; 1 Timothy 2:8 ~ holy hands

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences
Seek the Lord while He may be found – with all your heart… with all your soul… with all your mind… with all your strength.

Call upon Him while He is near.

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

This from the catacombs in Rome... A covered woman, with her hands raised in praise/prayer to God. — This from the catacombs in Rome…
A covered woman, with her hands raised in praise/prayer to God.

Morning readings

Psalm 143:5-6 ESV ” I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.”

Isaiah 49:15-16 ESV “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

1 Timothy 2:8 ESV “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling….”

Prayer/Meditation:

Hands, Lord – Your gift to us. We stretch them up to You. Always You hold them.

Your Hands, scarred, became a sign of Your love no time can erase.

Your hands, which have us inscribed on their palms, pour down blessing on the details of our days. (Laurel Bridges)

Spiritual Song: Israel and New Breed – Alive in South Africa – Worship Medley.

Blessing

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

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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.

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