November 10-16, 2024
After Pentecost 26
Sunday Nov 10, 2024
Rest as a Rule of Life
This is a day for rest and renewal of body, mind, and spirit.
Today from work we cease
Choosing stillness long enough to
Release the tension in our shoulders
And allow the clutter of our minds to drift away
Creating ease and space
For our souls to meet with you.
Amen.
Lectionary Readings: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17; Ps 127 or 42; Heb 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44
Monday, Nov 11, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
From sunrise to sunset
Let the LORD’S name be praised!
Psalm 113:3 CEB
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
God, our God,
nothing on earth or in the galaxies of the sky
Compare to you.
You look over all the nations
You are glorious beyond the horizon.
You have knelt down to the dirt of earth
to lift up the poor from the ground,
You have extended your mighty hand
To raise the needy from the discard pile;
These you have seated with esteemed.
In kindness you provide the childless woman a home
Making her joyful with children to love.
God, our God,
nothing on earth or in the galaxies of the sky
Compare to you.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 Timothy 5:1-8
Reflect on the words of scripture and what it means to care for those in our community without family.
Silence
Intercessions
Holy One, we join you in this sacred work
Of kneeling down to the dirt to lift our human siblings
To lives of provision from want
We do this now,
Praying together for the needs of our community
We do this today,
Asking for strength to stoop boldly as we interact with all those you love.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
God of wisdom
Christ our shepherd
Spirit of light
Make us aware of the sacred work before us today.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 113; Genesis 24:1-10; 1 Timothy 5:1-8; Psalm 94; Ruth 1:1-22.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
Who will stand up for me against the wicked?
Who will help me against evildoers?
If the LORD hadn’t helped me,
I would live instantly in total silence.
Whenever I feel my foot slipping,
Your faithful love steadies me, LORD.
When my anxieties multiply,
Your comforting clams me down.
Psalm 94: 16-19, CEB
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
Your faithful love steadies us
Your faithful love steadies us
Your faithful love steadies us
Holy One, we lift to you these thanksgivings
Knowing it is your faithful love that provides for us
All that we need.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Ruth 3:14-4:6.
Reflect on the words of scripture and the risks that come with providing for the poor and needy.
Silence
Intercessions
God of justice
The poor do not cry out in vain
God of justice
The incarcerated do not groan in vain
God of justice
Those grieving violence do not wail in vain
God of hope
Fill our breath with the cries, the groans, the wails
Joining the oppressed and the Spirit
In this chorus of anticipation
For freedom
For the new heaven, the new earth.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
God of wisdom
Christ our shepherd
Spirit of light
Guide our mouths to speak up for our neighbor today.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 113; Genesis 24:11-27; 1 Timothy 5:9-16; Psalm 94; Ruth 3:14-4:6.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
God lifts up the poor from the dirt
and raises up the needy from the garbage pile
to seat them with leaders—
with the leaders of God’s own people!
God nests the one barren woman at home—
now a joyful mother with children!
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 113: 5-9, CEB, adapted
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
For the first light we glimpsed this day
For the warm drink or food we’ve eaten
For the love we receive from these, our siblings
For the work we will turn to at the close of our prayers
We give thanks.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Luke 4:16-30
Reflect on the words of scripture and the Christ that preaches, releases, recovers, liberates, and proclaims with good news.
Silence
Intercessions
Spirit of Christ
Dwell within us
And in our communities
During these troubled times.
Our hearts are heavy with disappointment
Fix them, Spirit, on the Kin-dom
that you initiate within and around us.
Fix our hearts on loving you
and loving neighbor
this day.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
God of wisdom
Christ our shepherd
Spirit of light
Reveal to us the good news to proclaim this day.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 113; Genesis 24:28-42; Luke 4:16-30; Psalm 94; Ruth 4:7-22
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thursday, Nov 14, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
You teach me the way of life.
In your presence is total celebration.
Beautiful things are always in your right hand.
Proverbs 16:11, CEB
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
We agree with the Psalmist at the start of this new day
“In your presence is total celebration”
This morning, we celebrate your presence, Holy One
By sharing together our thanksgivings.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 Timothy 6:11-21
Reflect on the words of scripture and where you place your hope.
Silence
Intercessions
Holy One, we come to you desiring
to take hold of what is truly life.
We open our hands to release
Fear
Control
Desperateness
We withdraw our hope from
Intellect
Wealth
Political leaders
And extend our hands to embrace
the hope and rest
you offer.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
God of wisdom
Christ our shepherd
Spirit of light
Remind us to celebrate in your presence today.
Daily Lectionary Readings: 1 Samuel 2:1-10; 1 Samuel 1:21-28; 1 Timothy 6:11-21; Psalm 16; Daniel 4:4-18
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Friday, Nov 15, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor.
Don’t oppress the needy in the gate.
The Lord will take up their case
And press the life out of those who oppress them.
Proverbs 22:22-23, CEB
Silence
Be still and aware of God
in the presence of this community.
Prayers of Gratitude
Holy One, as we reflect on this week
And anticipate the activities and rhythms of the weekend
We praise you for these mornings of prayer
For this sacred space of growing together,
Of welcoming the Spirit and each other into our stories and pain
Of pursuing harmony with each other as we pursue Christ
Thank You, Holy One for this community from which we draw strength.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Daniel 4:19-27
Reflect on the words of scripture and God’s concern for leaders to remember the poor.
Silence
Intercessions
Living Christ, we draw from the strength of our community
And look outward to our world
We join those early Christ followers in asking
For Your strong hand of healing to stretch out in power
We pray for acts of reconciliation and goodness to be done in this world
Miraculous restoration we cannot yet imagine
Acts that can only be done through Your power,
And our faithfulness in joining Your work of love.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
As we enter this new day may our eyes be open and our spirits filled with boldness to join God’s work of transforming love in our world.
Daily Lectionary Readings: 1 Samuel 2:1-10; 1 Samuel 2:18-21; Colossians 2:6-15; Psalm 16; Daniel 4:19-27
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Work as a Rule of Life
I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for God is right beside me.
Psalm 16:7-8; NLT, adapted
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
God, we begin this day in gratitude
Not because our world is at peaceOr our hearts are free of cares
God, we begin this day in gratitude
Not because our stories are free of pain
Or our work for peace and justice is done.
God, we begin this day in gratitude
To remember you are with us
Spirit, you are present in our rising and our living.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Daniel 4:28-37
Reflect on the words of scripture and what we learn of God.
Silence
Intercessions
With open hands
With quieted hearts
With honest questions
Spirit, we ask you to take these prayers
Lifting the essence of what we ask
Forming words for what we cannot speak
And placing them
In God’s hands.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
God be in your head,
And in your understanding;
God be in your eyes,
And in your looking;
God be in your mouth,
And in your speaking;
God be in your heart,
And in your thinking;
God be at our end,
And at our departing.
Adapted from God Be In My Head, Davies
Daily Lectionary Readings: 1 Samuel 2:1-10; 1 Samuel 3:1-18; Mark 12:1-12; Psalm 16; Daniel 4:28-37
Comments