Morning Prayers
August 18-24, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Silence
Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
~Psalm 111:2-3
Prayers of Gratitude
We come to this day of Sabbath, a time to reflect on the beauty of your world, the many gifts of joy and love. We pause simply to give thanks.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Psalm 111
Intercessions
We know the world is not perfect and that there are many things we want to see changed. We also know that we are here to be the body of Christ responding in love. Grant us wisdom and courage to be you who create us to be, to do the things you call us to do and to rely on your strength and courage in the midst of all that is. We pray for your world, our families, friends, strangers, and ourselves. Amen.
Daily Prayer for a Spring Forest Rule of Life
In this journey of life, each day we pray,
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: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
Monday, August 19, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
Psalm 36:7,9
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Gathered as community near and far, we offer the gifts we’ve been given to share in the work of love grounded in the grace of God. We offer our prayers of thanks as we seek to celebrate the many ways we see Christ in our lives, the lives of others, in the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. We are ever grateful!
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Acts 6:1-7
Reflect on the ways we are chosen to participate in kin-dom work.
Intercessions
There is much work to be done to bring the fullness of your kin-dom as you want it to become on earth, here and now. We can get weary from what seems to be overwhelming struggles to share your merciful grace in acts of justice and love. We join in community to share our concerns, our sorrows, and our hopes so that together we are stronger and better equipped for the work to which we have been called.
Sending Forth Prayer
Throughout this and every day,
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: Psalm 101; 1 Kings 3:16-28; Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 36; Genesis 43:1-15
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
My theme song is God’s love and justice, and I’m singing it right to you, God.I’m finding my way down the road of right living, but how long before you show up?I’m doing the very best I can, and I’m doing it at home, where it counts.
Silence
I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people— they’re the ones I want working with me;Men and women on the straight and narrow— these are the ones I want at my side.
~Psalm 101:1-3, 6
Prayers of Gratitude
How good it is to work together in community when the center of the work is grounded in love and justice. We bring our prayers of gratitude this day as we seek to be people who follow the Jesus path of grace and mercy for all.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Genesis 45:1-15
Reflect on the power of story in the work of reconciliation.
Intercessions
Loving God, there is much work to be done in healing the wounds of your children, near and far. We ask for guidance and your wisdom to lead us down paths of mercy and active hope. We offer our prayers this day for strength and courage to do the work to which we are called. We pray for the world, friends and neighbors near and far, our families and ourselves.
Sending Forth Prayer
We are guided by Christ’s Spirit as we pray,
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: Psalm 101; 1 Kings 7:1-12; Acts 7:9-16; Psalm 36; Genesis 45:1-15
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
Silence
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
~Psalm 36:5-7
Prayers of Gratitude
“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!” Your love is the sustaining grace that lightens our load and brings active hope into our lives. We offer our prayers of gratitude for the many blessings in our lives and the ever-present signs of your love within and around us.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Mark 8:14-21
Reflect on the ways our beliefs are shown in our words and actions.
Intercessions
Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts, the work of our hands and the living of our lives be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. We lift our prayers for wisdom, strength, healing and courage for ourselves and others this day.
Sending Forth Prayer
Daily we pray,
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: Psalm 101; 1 Kings 8:1-21; Mark 8:14-21; Psalm 36; Genesis 47:13-26
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord;my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Silence
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
~Psalm 84:1-4
Prayers of Gratitude
We offer ourselves this day to the work of prayer, the work of being in community, the work of discerning those places, people and activities to which you call us. Grant us wisdom and a deep sense of peace as we offer our gratitude for your ever abiding presence in the world today.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings.
Copyright ©1983 by Wendell Berry, from Standing by Words.
How do these words speak to you at this time and place in your life, as well as in the broader world around us.
Intercessions
Sometimes it seems the work is never done and we grow weary at just the thought of taking one more step. We know there is much to be done to bring your kin-dom of justice and peace, mercy and love to the world in need of healing. Continually, we pray prayers of concern for the world, our friends and families, our neighbors near and far, and ourselves. Christ in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Sending Forth Prayer
With intentionality we pray,
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: Psalm 84; 1 Kings 4:20-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Psalm 34:15-22; Joshua 22:1-9
Friday, August 23, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children,
and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us,
a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
~Ephesians 5:1-2
Silence
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
As a holy and living sacrifice,
In union with Christ’s offer for us,
As we proclaim the mystery of faith.
~Holy Communion liturgy
Prayers of Gratitude
We are here because we choose to be part of something far beyond our limited understanding of being in this world. We are ever grateful to be able to participate in caring, loving community who join in the work of Christ in the world wherever we may be. We lift up our prayers of gratitude for the many ways we see God at work in the world and the ways in which we can participate in God’s work.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
~Psalm 8
Reflect on the works of God’s hands, and the ways in which we have been entrusted to be co-workers with God.
Intercessions
Sometimes the best prayer we can offer is a cry for help. So today, we bow our heads and cry for help. Help for our world. Help for our neighbors near and far. Help for our friends and families. Help for ourselves. We pray, knowing you know our needs even before we ask, yet it is in the asking, we come to trust in the wisdom of your Word. Christ, hear our prayers.
Sending Forth Prayer
We seek to live more fully as followers of the Way of Jesus, so we pray,
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: Psalm 84; 1 Kings 4:29-34; Romans 13:11-14; Psalm 34:15-22; Joshua 22:10-20;
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
My child, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare they will give you.
~Proverbs 3:1-2
Silence
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
~Proverbs 3:5-6
Prayers of Gratitude
We end this week with grateful prayers remembering the many ways we have seen you at work within and among us. We stop for a moment to smile and name but a few. We simply say, “Thank You!”
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Luke 11:5-13
Reflect on the ways we are to share in gift giving with God.
Intercessions
Oh Lord, sometimes you know how hard it is to get back up and help someone in need when all we really want to do is stay curled up in bed. Nudge us out of complacency in the example of John Wesley’s prayer,
“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,
At all the times you can, To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
Sending Forth Prayer
We pray this day, and every z day,
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: Psalm 84; 1 Kings 5:1-12; Luke 11:5-13; Psalm 34:15-22; Joshua 22:21-34
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