+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. – 1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)
E100:9.b Psalms and Proverbs:
Have mercy on me – Psalm 51 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. 14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. 16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
“God Be Merciful to Me” – Indelible Grace
Prayer of Confession
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. My Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for me. In his name, my God, have mercy.
Declaration of Pardon
God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; may God give you pardon and peace, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Closing Sentence
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences
Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
Revelation 11:7-14 (ESV) – to be read aloud
The Prophets and the Beast for the abyss. The Bamberg Apocalypse (Bamberg State Library, Msc.Bibl.140) is an 11th-century richly illuminated manuscript containing the Book of Revelation and a Gospel Lectionary.
And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.
But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
Reflection
THE SECOND VISION – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
Interlude: The two witnesses (11:3-14)
Martyrdom at the hands of the beast: (11:7-10)
When the witnesses have finished their task, they fall prey to the wrath of the beast…. a familiar concept in Jewish-Christian thought (Daniel 7; Mark 13:14; Matt 24:15; Luke 21:20)…. Here is a fundamental clue to the understanding of biblical prophecy: eschatological events are foreshadowed in historical events.
The beast is a central figure in the Revelation…. In this passage, the beast represents both every hostile evil power that oppresses and persecutes God’s people, but primarily the eschatological figure at the end of the age. (Ladd, p.156)
Ladd: Here Jerusalem is not mentioned as an empty theoretical metaphor. In some way or another the earthly, geographical Jerusalem will have its place in the history of the last days. (Ladd, p.157)
Morris: The great city is every city and no city. It is civilized man in organized community. (Morris, p.146)
Mounce: The city illustrates the response of paganism to righteousness…. Sodom refers to the depths of moral degradation… and Egypt is a symbol of oppression and slavery. The great city in which the martyred church lies dead is the world under the wicked and oppressive sway of Antichrist. (Mounce, p.221)
The world has always shown hostility to the message of God – a truth that ought to give some concern to the contemporary church existing for the most part rather comfortably in a world of increasing wickedness. (Mounce, p.222)
Witness vindication: (11:11-12)
Ladd: The conversion of Israel is to be accomplished by a miracle of resurrection… reminiscent of the revival of Israel in Ezek 37:10…. The resurrection of the martyrs is a public event designed to bring “great fear… on those who saw them.” (Ladd, p.159)
Mounce: The resurrection of the church is a sure indication that God possesses the ultimate authority over life and death…. The triumph of the witnesses is no secret rapture; it is openly visible to all (Matt 24:27; 1 Thess 4:17). (Mounce, p.223)
‘Why does the Church of Jesus Christ today sit so easy to her surroundings? Why do Christian people live such comfortable and such undisturbed lives in this evil and disturbed world? Surely it is because we are not true to the Word of God?’ (Torrence)
(Morris, p.146)
Repentance: (11:13)
Ladd: The result of the resurrection and ascension of the two martyrs and of the following earthquake was the conversion of the rest of the city. This appears to be a symbolic way of describing the final conversion of the Jewish people as a whole.
Because of these mighty acts of God in the end time, the Jewish people will repent of their sins and give glory to the true God. Previously they have not glorified God; they had crucified his Messiah and rejected his prophets. But now they repent of their disobedience and glorify God. (Ladd, p.159-60)
Morris: The survivors not only gave way to fear, they also gave glory to the God of heaven. This is a new note, for John has not hitherto spoken of sinners as being other than hardened by the judgements of God. But these happenings are so striking and so clearly from God that even sinful men could not forbear from ascribing glory to him. (Morris, p.147-8)
__________
__________
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: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.
The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
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.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV) – to be read aloud
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
“‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
“‘The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Summary: The church in Laodicea posed a special problem. Their self-confidence had blinded them to the fact that they were “poor and naked.” Assurance that they had it all together had resulted in lukewarmness that made Christ want to spit them out of his mouth. They were counseled to buy from him spiritual wealth, the white robes of righteousness and clear vision into spiritual matters. He stands at the heart’s door of each believer and knocks, requesting permission to enter and share the blessings and joy of personal fellowship. Christ promises to each overcomer the privilege of sitting with him on his throne. (Mounce, p.106)
Christ: The titles of Christ… stress his faithfulness, his reliability and his trustworthiness. These stand in sharp contrast with the unfaithfulness of the Christians in Laodicea…. Christ is the “source and origin” of creation… for Christ is eternal. (Morris, p.81; Ladd, p.65)
The problem in Laodicea: Laodicea was on of the richest commercial centers in the world, so that we have here a picture of the church in an affluent society….. Their coolness was a denial of all that Christ stands for. (Morris, p.80, 82) Church members were simply indifferent, nominal, complacent…. However, the church is not entirely beyond hope of recovery. The strong language – spew you out of my mouth – is designed to rouse the church from her spiritual indifference. (Ladd, p.65)
The remedy in Christ: The deficiency – “poor, blind, and naked” – has a threefold remedy in Christ: (1) real spiritual wealth, (2) real spiritual sight, and (3) real spiritual honor (purity and sincerity). In spite of their sad plight, Christ does not love them any less than the others. His attitude toward the church was not punitive but disciplinary and corrective. (Ladd, p.67)
The call to repentance: A decisive (zealous) act of repentance is required in order to restore the Laodiceans relationship with Christ. Christ summons the members of a lifeless, complacent church to spiritual life. Even though the church is in a sad and deplorable state, Christ still stands at the door of the heart of each individual seeking admission…. Like any new convert, the Laodiceans must respond to the appeal of Christ and open the life to his coming. (Ladd, p.67)
The reward in Christ: The response of Christ to the opened door is that he enters and joins in table fellowship…. The shared meal was a symbol of affection, of confidence, of intimacy… it was a promise of the most intimate fellowship possible…. The promise of sitting with Christ on his throne… looks forward to the ultimate victory of the saints…. The important fact is that Christ is already enthroned. His messianic reign… has already begun, even though it is visible only to the eye of faith. (Ladd, p.68)
Here is a message for every church which faces persecution: the assurance that their evil plight is only temporary; that even though human experience may seem to contradict it, Christ is already enthroned as Lord and King; and that his kingly rule will soon put all his enemies under his feet…. The promise in each of the seven letters to the conqueror is addressed to all disciples of Christ, with the expectation that all faithful disciples will overcome. (Ladd, p.69)
Prayer
Risen and exalted Christ, our Lord and King – Come into our hearts today, renew us and remake us in Your image so that we are pleasing to You. Forgive us our complacency and self-satisfaction and create in us a holy unrest with our affluent, Western lifestyles. Thank you for not giving up on us.
Holy Spirit – Give us spiritual eyes to see our poverty… our nakedness… our blindness. Gently lead us into the Truth about our own condition and that of the world around us. Give us broken hearts – even the heart of Christ – for the broken lives, the broken people and the broken churches around us. Give us a spirit of grace and truth as we offer them hospitality and invite them to enter into a new relationship with You.
Heavenly Father – You made us to walk with You: to know You, to love You, to serve You. You are the Ruler of heaven and earth. Fill us with a proper sense of awe and wonder as we humble ourselves before You. We would be faithful and true to You – the one and only God – Father, Son and Spirit. Amen.
__________
__________
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: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.
The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences
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.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
Pilgrimage
Psalm 130 NLT
From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.
I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.
O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.
Jonah 3:5-10 NLT
The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.
When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:
“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT
I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
In my dream, behold I saw a man clothed in rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein, and as he read he wept and trembled…
(John Bunyan)
_____
Repentance is seen by many as unfashionable and outmoded. Like sin, it is not to be talked about. But John the Baptist and Jesus Himself made it central to their teaching of the Kingdom of God.
_____
In Darmstadt, on State Highway 3 between Frankfurt and Heidelburg, stands a small chapel. Its building was the first of many victories for the sisters in establishing their Land of Canaan. Basilea Schlink and her community of Mary Sisters believed for the land, the finance, the permission, and with each obstacle, they sought deeper repentance lest any inward attitude blocked the release of God’s blessing. Repentance is at the heart of their community, repentance, the joy-filled life.
_____
As Christian walked on he came to a hill which grew steeper and steeper. The load on his back was very heavy as he climbed. Near the top there was a cross, and just as Christian came to the cross his burden fell from his back. It rolled and tumbled down the hill until it fell into a dark hole, and he saw it no more.
(John Bunyan)
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 general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) Our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Aidan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer) during the month of July. On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences
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.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner — yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me — now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Job 9:14-15 NLT
“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy….”
John 8:1-11 NLT
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Reflections
There was a fornicating monk who kept a woman in his cell, so indiscreetly that word began to get around about it. Some of the monks living nearby decided to do something about it, and they asked Abba Ammonas who was visiting the region to go with them.
The offending monk, seeing them coming, hid the woman in a large water jar. This was spotted by the Abba when they all went into the cell. The Abba sat on the jar, while the others searched the room. They could find nothing, and went away ashamed. When they had gone the Abba got up and took the culprit’s hand and simply said to him: “Brother, pay attention to yourself.”
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 general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Aidan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Aidan readings through June. On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
The Peanut Gallery 