Morning Prayers
April 28-May 4, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
This day is a gift, to look back at the week before and celebrate every goodness, name and savor every gratitude.
Daily Prayer for a Spring Forest 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
Daily Lectionary Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
Monday, April 29, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:15)
Silence
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23)
Prayers of Gratitude
New every day are your mercies, our Beloved. With the rising of the sun we rise to greet you. We welcome the day ahead because we know you are with us, guiding all our steps. For this reason our hearts are filled with joy.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Galatians 5:16-26
We invite the Spirit to breathe life into the words of Scripture so they become living words for each of us and our community.
Intercessions
May the Spirit be in our minds
And in our hearts
May the Spirit be in our hands
And in our feet
May the Spirit be in our words
And in our singing
May the Spirit be in our prayers
And in our breathing
Sending Forth Prayer
May we keep in step with the Spirit today, full of grace and peace.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Monday, April 29, 2024: Psalm 80; Isaiah 5:1-7; Galatians 5:16-26
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Come to the table,
A feast has been set,
Beauty and goodness aplenty,
Mercy and justice, wonder and joy!
Come to the table of God.
Silence
Come, Wisdom, sit with us today. Show us the path of life.
Prayers of Gratitude
Our hearts are full of the goodness of God
Whose mercies endure forever.
Let us share the gifts we have received,
Giving thanks, saying yes, amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Silence
A Reading
James 3:17-18
Reflect on the gift of wisdom.
Intercessions
Breathe on us, O God.
Breathe through us.
Help us to breathe blessing and peace.
Breathe.
Sending Forth Prayer
May we walk in the wisdom given this day through the reading, the praying,
and our community..
Daily lectionary readings Tuesday, April 30, 2024: Psalm 80; Isaiah 32:9-20; James 3:17-18
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
John 14:27
Silence
Peace is the river, the ocean, the liquid presence of Christ with us,
Washing, washing the everything,
Cool water for parched land
Shade from heat
Come, divine peace.
Prayers of Gratitude
Today we rise with the breath of God, opening our hearts and minds, opening our arms. We are ready to wear our gospel shoes, to walk peace and blessing wherever we go. So let us sing and shout the glad news, that God is with us! God is for us! God will never leave or forsake us!
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
John 14:18-31
----
May the Spirit illumine these words within our minds and hearts.
Intercessions
Around us, O God, there are needs upon needs. May your Spirit breathe and cry within us, with groans too deep for words. May your dreams become our dreams as we listen and watch with you. May we become the answers to others’ weeping prayers. May we gladly join you in your great work of making all things new.
Sending Forth Prayer
Let us go forth this day in the glad knowledge that Christ goes before us, behind us, around us, above us, beneath us, the Christ whose meaning is love.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024: Psalm 80; Isaiah 65:17-25; John 14:18-31
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
The table of God is filled with surprises, words we never wrote, thoughts we never thought, songs we never sang, people we never knew. “Come to the banquet,” cries Jesus! “The table is ready!”
Silence
Are we hungry? Will we feast at the table of God?
Prayers of Gratitude
For all the little things, we thank you, O God. For all the unexpected gifts, for the wonder of this world. For eyeless fish that live in the ocean abyss. For clouds that look like angels. For grandma kisses, for sunflowers, for popcorn, for snow days, for leaping goats, for all the ways you tell us, you are here.
The Lord’s Prayer
Silence
A Reading
Acts 10: 9-16
Who are the strangers knocking at my door? What is the hunger I feel, and how is God bringing a surprise to fill that hunger?
Intercessions
May our hearts beat with your love for this world, O God.
May we think with the mind of Christ.
May our prayer arise from your dream for this world.
May we ask, seek, and knock,
Knowing you are the yes and the amen.
Sending Forth Prayer
May the surprises God brings to us this day, find a ready welcome.
Thursday, May 2, 2024: Psalm 98; Isaiah 49:5-6; Acts 10:1-34
Friday, May 3, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
The Holy Spirit is like the parent who prepares a delicious dinner. She bakes the bread, chops veggies from the garden and makes the soup. He sets the table and puts a little name tag at each place. Then out the Spirit goes, calling the children, calling the family, calling the neighbors. “Come to the table!”
Silence
Listen to the Spirit calling, “Come and dine!”
Prayers of Gratitude
For this new day we give thanks.
For gifts we will receive, for challenges we will face,
For work we will do, for rest we will enjoy,
For loved ones near and far, we give thanks.
The Lord’s Prayer
Silence
A Reading
Isaiah 42:5-9
Let us reflect upon the things that came to pass,
and look forward to the new thing springing forth.
Intercessions
In this world of pain and sorrow, we lift our hearts to you, O God. We lift our loved ones, our neighbors, our enemies. We lift governments and nations and the earth itself, needs so great that we cannot name them. But you know. We place ourselves and our world in your keeping. Come near to us, we pray. Show us the path. Help us to do this day, the part that is ours to become the answer to these prayers.
Sending Forth Prayer
Let us watch with expectancy to see the new thing that God is doing this day.
Friday, May 3, 2024: Psalm 98; Isaiah 42:5-9; Acts 10:34-43
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
In God’s upside down economy, hospitality means becoming the guest
instead of the host.
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
Psalm 98:4-6
The Lord’s Prayer
Silence
A Reading
Mark 10:42-45
Reflect on the words of Jesus about leadership, power, and service.
Intercessions
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 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. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. –1 Thessalonians 5:15-24
Sending Forth Prayer
Let us walk in the light of Christ, breathing a blessing everywhere we go.
Saturday, May 4, 2024: Psalm 98; Deuteronomy 32:44-47; Mark 10:42-45
Peace be with you.