Morning Prayers
March 17-23, 2024
Fifth Week of Lent
Rule of Life focus for this Week is Prayer
Sunday
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 for the Week: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33
Monday, March 18, 2024
Fifth Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Bring forth the people who are blind yet have eyes, who are deaf yet have ears! Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble.
Isaiah 43:8-13
Silence
These are the Lord’s days; rest in God’s presence and receive the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Gratitude
We gather together from north and south, east and west, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the sick, and the well. We are the witnesses of your glorious work. We give testimony to your saving acts. We are grateful to do so, for your love is amazing. Your grace is extravagant. No judge on earth can condemn us when you have saved us. O Lord, hear our praise.
Give thanks for God’s glorious work in and around you.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Silence
Reflect on the glorious work of the Lord.
Intercessions
O Lord, have mercy upon me, for your steadfast love and abundant mercy cleanse me. Wash me head to toe. Remove my sin. Irrigate my eyes from the scaly debris left from the healing mud you used to give me sight. Help me see clearly the glory of your face that shines upon me and all your creation. Fix my eyes upon you as I follow you into this day and everyday.
Sending Forth Prayer
Rise up church with broken wings, and fill this place with songs of our God who reigns on high again. By his grace again, we’ll fly. Shouting to the north and the south, singing to the east and the west. Jesus is Savior to all.
Adapted from Martin Smith’s “Shout to the North”
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 119:9-16; Isaiah 43:8-13; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Fifth Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.
Psalm 119:9-10
Silence
These are the Lord’s days; rest in God’s presence and receive the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Gratitude
The Word of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. We awake to you this day, O Lord, seeking the way to stay within and not stray from your commandments. We give thanks for the sun that illumines your way by day and the moon that comes on at night keeping us aware of your ever-present light. Let our lips declare praise, and our bodies gesture with gratitude. We delight in You, the Living Word.
Give thanks thanks for the Word of the Lord.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Acts 2:14-24
Silence
Reflect on the visions, dreams, and prophecies received from the Lord.
Intercessions
Lord, you are our strength and comfort, and you call us not to be afraid. You are our rock that firmly sets the foundation for heaven and earth, who is the living water that nourishes soul and land. You are the stream of grace that transforms deserts into flourishing forests and barren generations into fruitful ancestors of the next generation. Lord, You are our hope. May the word you lay upon be the declaration of our witness in prayer, work, and table as we share life with our neighbors, celebrating the salvation we have in you.
Sending Forth Prayer
From the cowardice that dares not face new truth,
From the laziness that is contended with half-truth,
From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
Good Lord, deliver me.
Amen.
“For the Spirit of Truth” Prayer from Kenya, The United Methodist Hymnal 597
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 119:9-16; Isaiah 44:1-8; Acts 2:14-24
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Fifth Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes.
Psalm 119:11-12
Silence
These are the Lord’s days; rest in God’s presence and receive the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Gratitude
Beautiful and wonderful words of life, you light the way to our day. You comfort us in our fear and affliction. You are our hope from despair. The preciousness of Your Word is more valuable than gold or silver - a treasure beyond measure. Receive our thanks for all you are.
Give thanks for Godly treasure.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Psalm 119:9-16
Reflect on how the Word shapes you in all you do.
Silence
Intercessions *
The life I long for -
life of abundance,
promise,
blessing -
is found in the keeping of Your Word,
the purity of heart and mind.
Your promises
keep me from stumbling;
Your love
saves me from the pull of lesser things.
May I live
humbly,
justly,
mercifully
before You,
filled with new songs
to voice the glories of Your grace.
Sending Forth Prayer *
I will not forget,
The Word,
The Wisdom,
Of God:
Light to My Feet,
Lamp to My Way -
Faithful Guide,
Counsel for the Journey Home.
*A Reading from a portion of “The Word, The Wisdom, of God” in Endless Grace: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms, Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt (based on Psalm 119)
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 119:9-16; Haggai 2:1-9, 20-23; John 12:34-50
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Fifth Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 118:28-29
Silence
These are the Lord’s days; rest in God’s presence and receive the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Gratitude
Prayers of Gratitude
Lord, you are the completer of our joy, and we rejoice.
You gave your life, and we, in thanks, give you ours.
God exalted you, and we worship you.
Our tongues speak and sing our gratitude as we profess
you are Lord and Savior of all.
Give thanks to God, who meets us on earth.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Philippians 2:1-11
Reflect on the gift of Jesus - his life, death, and glory - for you and the world.
Silence
Intercessions
God our creator Christ our comfort,
Spirit our partner in this adventure,
Make our joy complete.
Shape our prayer as a conversation that lets us sit vulnerable as a newborn that lies in the hands of the delivering attendant with examining eyes to search us, caring hands to cradle us, and a compassionate heart to welcome us after a laborious journey. Pour into us this day your life that we be the hands and feet of prayer that offer the grace you gave us and share the glory we found in you.
Sending Forth Prayer
“Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever”
Chris Tomlin © 2001 Rising Springs Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Philippians 2:1-11
Friday, March 22, 2024
Fifth Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
Psalm 118:21
Silence
These are the Lord’s days; rest in God’s presence and receive the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Gratitude
“And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood! Died he for me? Who caused his pain! For me? Who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldn’t de for me?”
- Charles Wesley
Give thanks for your salvation.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Philippians 2:12-18
Reflect on the work of your own salvation.
Silence
Intercessions
“Surely it is God who saves me; I will trust in him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be my Savior.”
“And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood! Died he for me? Who caused his pain! For me? Who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldn’t de for me?”
- Charles Wesley
Give thanks for your salvation.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Philippians 2:12-18
Reflect on the work of your own salvation.
Silence
Intercessions
“Surely it is God who saves me; I will trust in him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be my Savior.”
O Lord, my Savior, Leader, and Friend, salvation is joy. Help us as we work through the mess of life and see the glory of your saving grace that perfects us through repentance, prayer, worship, works of mercy - life with you.
Sending Forth Prayer
He is Lord, he is Lord! He is risen from the dead, and he is Lord! Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Jeremiah 33:1-9; Philippians 2:12-18
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Fifth Week of Lent
Prayer as a Rule of Life
This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:23-24
Silence
These are the Lord’s days; rest in God’s presence and receive the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Gratitude
“This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive!” O Lord, we shout our praise for You who make us whole. We rejoice again and again for nothing nor no one can do what you have done. Thank you!
Give thanks to the Lord, rejoice and be glad.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Mark 10:46-52
Reflect on the faithful sight the Lord gives.
Silence
Intercessions
“We walk by faith and not by sight: No gracious words we hear - of him who spoke as none e’er spoke, but we believe him near.”
Lord, turn our eyes upon you so that with faith, we see the way you lead us to go. Lord, open our eyes to see you among us so that we our neighbors we share in your life.
Lord, focus our eyes on the cross so we never lose sight of your grace. O Lord, hear our prayer.
Sending Forth Prayer
“This is the day the Lord hath made; he calls the hours his own. Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad, and praise surround the throne.”
- Isaac Watts
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Jeremiah 33:10-16; Mark 10:32-34, 46-52 9 of 9
Peace be with you.