Morning Prayers
March 14-30
Sixth Week of Lent, Holy Week
Year B
Work as a Rule of Life
Sunday, Passion/Palm Sunday
Sabbath is a day to pray, to play,
and to enjoy the creative goodness of God.
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
Psalm 31:1-2 (NRSVUE)
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: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16,
Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1-15:47
Monday of Holy Week
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.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
~Psalm 36:5-8
Silence
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
~Psalm 36:9
Prayers of Gratitude
With each breath
Our bodies, our minds, our spirits
rejoice in knowing you, our Beloved.
So, we begin this day
offering our gratitude, our delight
for all the ways, great and small
that we experience your life,
your love, your kindness.
What prayers of gratitude do we offer this day?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Scripture: John 12:1-11
Reflect on the gospel and the work of Christ, which is to make all things new.
Silence
Intercessions
We bring to you our alabaster jars,
The precious nard of all living things.
We pour out upon your feet,
the love, the longing, the suffering of the world.
The groaning of the earth.
The fragrance of prayer fills the room,
fills heaven.
Sending Forth Prayer
May we go forth in grace and peace this day.
May we become the answer to your prayer, Jesus,
That God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11
Tuesday of Holy Week
Work as a Rule of Life
In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
Psalm 71:1-3
Silence
For you, O Lord, are my hope.
Psalm 71:5a
Prayers of Gratitude
We scarcely can take it in,
How much you give yourself to us,
to all of creation,
Our Beloved.
We bow to you in deepest thanks,
opening our hearts,
opening our minds,
opening our hands.
Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
John 12:20-26
Reflect on the gospel, remembering the humility of Christ.
Silence
Intercessions
The forest breathes in
the toxins of our existence
and gives us oxygen
that we may live.
And you, our Beloved, our towering redwood,
absorb our sorrows and our suffering,
all our shame,
and breathe into us your very breath
that we may live.
Sending Forth
Wherever we go this day,
Whatever our work may be,
May your love flow through us to our neighbors.
Amen.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; I Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36
Wednesday of Holy Week
Work as a Rule of Life
The Lord God has given me a trained tongue, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.Morning by morning he wakens, wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
Isaiah 50:4
Silence
The Lord God has opened my ear.
Isaiah 50:5a
Prayer of Gratitude
You open our eyes, our ears, our hearts
to experience your goodness, O God.
In the morning light that slants across the table,
in the fragrance of coffee and toast,
in the laughter of children,
in the warmth of eyes glad to see us.
For all these gifts, great and small,
we give our heartfelt thanks.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Hebrews 12:1-3
Silence
Reflect on the scripture, remembering that Christ is with us.
Intercessions
Sometimes our hearts grow weary
with the magnitude of need.
Everywhere we look, there is trouble.
“What can we possibly do?” we ask ourselves.
“We are helpless in the face of such need.”
Then you come to us, you whose yoke for us is easy
and whose burden for us is light,
and you carry us
and our burden.
You show us our path.
Sending Forth
Let us go forth in the joy of the Lord
that is our strength.
Let us be the joy of the Lord;
with our faces
with our hands
with our work
with our lives.
Amen
Daily Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32
Maundy Thursday
Work as a Rule of Life
I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my supplications.Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:1-2
Silence
Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalm 116:7
Prayer of Gratitude
We breathe in your love.
We breathe out your love.
We breathe in your mercy.
We breathe out your mercy.
We breathe in your compassion.
We breathe out your compassion.
For the gift of holy breath
we give thanks.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
John 13:1-11
Reflect on these words of scripture in the light of the basin and towel.
Silence
Intercessions
We come to you, dear Jesus,
our feet soiled from the work and from the world,
our backs tired,
our thoughts scattered and torn.
We come to you for ourselves and our neighbors,
and yes, for those we think of as our enemies.
We need your basin and towel,
your warm water and healing balm.
We need you.
Sending Forth
May we go forth
as people of the basin and towel.
People of warm water,
gentle hands,
fragrant oil,
a soft towel,
for all who cross our paths today.
Amen
Daily Lectionary Readings: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
I Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Good Friday
Work as a Rule of Life
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Isaiah 52:7
Silence
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Prayer of Gratitude
With the rising of the sun
we rise this day
to offer our thanks for all gifts
you so freely give,
Our Beloved.
Our hearts are open to you.
Our eyes watch for you.
Our ears listen for you.
Gratefully, expectantly, lovingly.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Isaiah 53:1-9
Reflect on the Scripture and remember those who cry out this day, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Silence
Intercessions
So many people long for good news,
Long for the “beautiful feet” of your messengers
Who will announce the advent of justice and peace.
The earth groans, longing for release from captivity
to human greed.
Creation is there, gathered into Christ at Golgotha.
Christ is in creation, suffering with us, wherever we are.
Deliver us, we pray.
Forgive us.
Help us become the good news the world needs.
With all of creation we cry out to you,
our God, our true home, our salvation.
Sending Forth
As we join God in the healing work of salvation,
as we go about our homely work this day,
may the love of God be our compass.
May the compassion of Christ fill our hearts.
May the wisdom of the Spirit guide our thinking,
may the peace of The Three be our peace.
Amen
Daily Lectionary Readings : Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42
Holy Saturday
Work as a Rule of Life
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me;take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
Psalm 31:1-5
Silence
Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands to God in heaven.
Lamentations 3:41
Prayer of Gratitude
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Lamentations 3:21-24
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
John 19:38-42
Reflect on the burial of Jesus in the tomb. Enter the narrative in your imagination. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch? What are your emotions and thoughts?
Silence
Intercessions
I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit;you heard my plea, “Do not close your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!”You came near when I called on you; you said, “Do not fear!”
Lamentations 3:55-57
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: Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24; Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; I Peter 4:1-8; John 19:38-42
Peace be with you.