Morning Prayers
First Week of Lent
Year B
Sunday, First week of Lent
Rest as a Rule of Life
This is a day for rest and renewal of body, mind, and spirit
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer
May God work through our prayers
May our work be an answer
To God’s will working through us
May we rest in God’s love
May God’s rest feed our souls
May our table be open
May we welcome friends and foes
May the poor be our neighbors
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 9:8-17;
Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15
Monday, First Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
To you, O LORD, we lift up our souls.
Make us to know your ways, O LORD;
~Psalm 25:1, 4a
Silence
Be still and aware
Of God’s presence
Within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
“Thank you.”
is a sufficient prayer
to offer each day.
Gratitude from the heart
understanding that the
One who creates each and every one of us,
the One who creates all that exists,
desires what is good, right, and just for all.
So, a simple “Thank you!”
is enough bringing awareness to
God within and among us.
What prayers of “Thank You,” do we offer this day?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Scripture: Mark 1:9-15
Reflect on the scripture and the diverse rhythms of life.
Silence
Intercessions
Rhythm of life
Journey that carries us
Sometimes
A sweet, refreshing voice,
At other times discordant chaos.
From steady calming heartbeat
to frenetic heart-racing,
reality is…
resiliency giving
tear bringing
belly laughing
joy woven with sorrow
the ordinary
Rhythm of life
Sending Forth Prayer
God be in our heads, and in our understanding;
God be in our eyes, and in our looking;
God be in our mouths, and in our speaking;
God be in our hearts, and in our thinking;
God be at our end, and at our departing.
Attributed to Old Sarum Primer, also attributed to Pynson’s Horae, 1514
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 77; Job 4:1-21; Ephesians 2:1-10
Tuesday, First Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
We cry aloud to God,
that God may hear us.
Psalm 77:1
Silence
We will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;We will remember your wonders of old. We will meditate on all your work and muse on your mighty deeds.
Psalm 77:11-12
Prayers of Gratitude
We are ever grateful to you, O God.
We remember the works of your hands in all of creation.
We draw hope and comfort from the wonder and awe
of your loving grace and mercy.
We give you thanks for the many ways
You come to us.
Now, we come to you with grateful hearts
to offer our prayers of thanksgiving.
Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Job 5:8-27
Reflect on the complex and varied images of God
as perceived in these words of Scripture.
Silence
Intercessions
We come before you, Creator of All,
With bowed heads and humble hearts.
The world in which we live is often hard
with hurts and troubles
we find hard to understand.
We offer our prayers,
not only for your ears alone,
but to penetrate our own hearts as well
opening to the awareness of
Your love and mercy.
Sending Forth
Christ with us, Christ before us,
Christ behind us, Christ in us,
Christ beneath us, Christ above us,
Christ on our right, Christ on our left,
Christ when we lie down, Christ when we sit down,
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of us,
Christ in the mouth of every person who speaks of us
Christ in the eye that sees us, Christ in the ear that hears us.
Prayer of St Patrick Breastplate, adapted
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 77; Job 5:8-27; 1 Peter 3:8-18a
Wednesday, First Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
We will remember the actions the Eternal has taken, reminisce on Your ancient wonders.We will reflect on all of Your work; indeed, we will study all You have performed.Psalm 77:11-12 (Voice)
Silence
O God, Your way is so different, so distinct, so divine.
No other god compares with our God.
You, God, and Your works evoke wonder.
You have proved Your strength to the nations.
Psalm 77:13-14 (Voice)
Prayer of Gratitude
When we gather to pray
we open ourselves to the Beloved.
We choose relationship
with the One who is known by many names.
We choose relationship
with others and the world in which we live.
We choose relationship
with our deepest selves,
our souls that hold the divine light of Love
Generous One, hear our prayers of grateful thanks.
A Reading
Matthew 4:1-11
Silence
Reflect on these words and the reality of temptations that are part of daily life.
Intercessions
From the beginning of time
You have been our constant companion.
You have called us your beloved children.
You have asked us to be co-creators,
bringing about your kin-dom
in which you long for all to live.
Forgive us the temptation to succumb to despair.
Lift us once again, to not give up, but to look around,
and be mindful of those around us,
to see not only the sorrows and needs, but also
the gifts, beauty, and strength of others.
Grant us strength and courage to move into each day
Serving with hope for justice and peace.
Sending Forth
Jesus knew the temptations we face.
Each and every day, set us on the path
of mercy, grace, and justice.
May we follow him with resolute resilience
and walk with bold joy!
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 77; Proverbs 30:1-9; Matthew 4:1-11
Thursday, First Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy, blot out our transgressions.
Psalm 51:1
Silence
To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls.
Psalm 25:1
Prayer of Gratitude
To you, Love Incarnate,
we raise our prayers of gratitude.
Your Presence is often so obvious before us
that we often fail to see it.
As the Poet Mary Oliver invites,
may we pay attention to each moment of life,
be astonished by all we observe,
and then tell about our experiences
with wonder and curiosity.
A Reading
Romans 3:21-31
Reflect on these words of scripture in the light of restorative justice.
Silence
Intercessions
When so much assails us in our lives that leaves us confused and disheartened, we come together to seek your Truth, the Truth of your gracious, forgiving grace. We ask for the wisdom of faith to see beyond our concerns.
We ask to be present to one another in the merciful strength of your love.
We ask to be ever mindful of your restorative healing love.
Let your righteousness prevail in all our actions and words.
Love Incarnate, hear our prayers.
Sending Forth
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, i
t is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Prayer of St Patrick Breastplate, adapted
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 22:23-31;
Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18; Romans 3:21-31
Friday, First Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
The Eternal One is our shepherd, and cares for us always.
The Eternal One provides us rest in rich, green fields
beside streams of refreshing water.
The Eternal One soothes our fears;
Psalm 23:1-2 (Voice)
Silence
The Eternal One makes us whole again,
steering us off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness
echo the Eternal One’s name.
Psalm 23:3 (Voice)
Prayer of Gratitude
We are grateful we can join in community
to share our prayers with one another,
knowing that you are within and among us.
We are nourished and sustained
by the awareness of the multitude of ways
you are present in our lives and in the world.
We give you thanks!
A Reading
Mark 8:31-38
Reflect on what it means to follow Jesus in the hard challenges,
and life is not going the way you would like it to go?
Silence
Intercessions
Each day is a prayer unfolding before us.
Each person we meet along the way is an opportunity
to be witness to your love that connects us all
There are joys and there are sorrows in the
ordinary and extraordinary experiences of life
In all, we choose to offer our prayers
to the One who holds all.
We bring our prayers for others, the world, and ourselves.
Spoken aloud in community or held silently in our hearts,
we believe you hear us.
Sending Forth
Go forth in bold awareness
That no matter the circumstances,
Christ goes before you,
Spirit dwells within you,
and you are held in the heart of God.
Daily Lectionary Readings : Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:1-6; Romans 4:1-12
Saturday, First Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life.And I’ll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers.Down-and-outers sit at God’s table and eat their fill.
Psalm 22:25 (Message)
Silence
Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising God.“Live it up, from head to toe. Don’t ever quit!”
Psalm 22:26 (Message)
Prayer of Gratitude
We come this day to offer our grateful praise
for the wonder and beauty of your creation,
for the many blessings of family, friends, and neighbors.
Most of all we give you thanks
for Your abundant love and forgiving grace.
A Reading
Mark 8:27-30
Reflect on the Mark passage and how you
answer when Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”
Silence
Intercessions
Open our hearts and minds
to the cries of those around us,
as well as to our own struggles.
There is so much in our world
That is broken and in need of your merciful Love.
May we be open to being instruments
of your soothing, healing grace,
bearing witness to your justice, peace,
and deep abiding joy.
O Lord, hear our Prayers.
Sending Forth
May compassion be our companion
in the everyday experiences of life.
May we bear witness to wonder.
May we listen with Christ ears,
see with Christ eyes,
and, respond with bold hope,
rooted and grounded in Christ love.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:7-15; Mark 8:27-30
Peace be with you.