Morning Prayer: Psalm 8:9; Ecclesiastes 3:11-13; Matthew 20:25-28 ~ the beauty of it all

Morning Prayer:

+ 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.

Morning readings

Psalm 8:9 ESV:

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 ESV:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil — this is God’s gift to man.

Matthew 20:25-28 ESV:

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer/Reflection:

God, our God, Your design for each of us is perfect in its friendliness. There is purpose in all things; and whoso finds it wins strength to bear. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life for many.
_________________________

Savior and friend, how wonderful art Thou!
+ my companion upon the changeful way,
+ the comforter of its weariness,
+ my guide to the eternal town,
+ the welcome at its gates. (Alistair Maclean)

Song

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

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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 139:13-18; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 John 4:18-19 ~ no fear

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 139:13-18 ESV:

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

1 John 4:18-19 ESV:

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

Prayer/Reflection:

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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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.

Psalm 8: The Wonder of God’s Creation (Creation Calls & Baba Yetu) ~ Worship Video

Peanut Gallery: Special thanks to agnus dei for bringing this amazing video to our attention.

This music video is meant to take a look at the wonder and majesty of God’s creation and to glorify Him. Music nature documentary of God’s beautiful Creation, with Psalm 8 and two gospel and worship songs. Praise the Lord!!! Amen!

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

+ 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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