Morning Prayers
April 14-20, 2024
Third Week of Easter
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Sunday
Rest as a Rule of Life
Today is a sacred day for rest and renewal of body, mind, and spirit.
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
Lectionary Readings: Acts 3:12-19; Ps 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
Monday, April 15, 2024
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Hallelujah!Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies;Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness;Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings;Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute;Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin.Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!
Psalm 150 (MSG)
Silence
Be still and stand in awe
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
God of history, you go before us
revealed in the stories of the people who followed you.
God of present day, you walk with us
In the midst of all that happens throughout the day.
God of the Future, you call us
To follow the path you lay before us in faith
that we more fully participate in your kin-dom on earth
For all your creation, the earth, the waters, the sky,
Floral and fauna, animals and humankind
God who centers our relationships
With gratitude we pray this day…
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 John 3:10-16
Reflect on the nature of God’s family.
Intercessions
We pray, seeking straightforward answers, often crying out for you to fix whatever it is we think needs fixing. Yet, in all honesty, so often we miss the reason we pray.
We feel helpless and overwhelmed by the multitude of sorrows in the world. We are afraid that we will be asked to step out in faith to “Do justice, Love Mercy, and Walk humbly with You.” As our confidant, we continue to pray, knowing deep within that you walk with us and call us simply to love as we are loved. In those times we are about to lose hope and our efforts seem futile, grant that we may walk in faith holding in our hearts and minds the image of Love that was, and is still, greater than the evil we confront. O Christ, our source of courage and strength, hear the pleas of our hearts this day…
Sending Forth Prayer
God of mercy, lead us out into this day as visible signs of your active hope and merciful incarnate Love. When we need it most, let us feel the strength of your hand in ours giving us courage to do what you ask us to do.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 150; Jeremiah 30:1-11a; 1 John 3:10-16
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Praise the Eternal!Praise the True God inside His temple. Praise Him beneath massive skies, under moonlit stars and rising sun. Praise Him for His powerful acts, redeeming His people. Praise Him for His greatness that surpasses our time and understanding.
Praise Him with the blast of trumpets high into the heavens, and praise Him with harps and lyres and the rhythm of the tambourines skillfully
played by those who love and fear the Eternal.Praise Him with singing and dancing; praise Him with flutes and strings of all kinds! Praise Him with crashing cymbals, loud clashing cymbals!
Psalm 150:1 (Voice)
Silence
Stand in awe of God’s presence,
No one should be left out; Let every being— every creature that has the breath of the Lord—praise the Eternal!Praise the Eternal!
Prayers of Gratitude
We are ever grateful that we can join in community to lift our prayers of thanksgiving as well as our concerns. We come as the early believers,
eager to learn the integrity and power of your Love. Awaken us to the ordinary
wonder and awe of each day and the many blessings that come our way,
as together we celebrate the joys that we share this morning…
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
2 John 1:1-6
Reflect on the command to walk in truth and love.
Intercessions
We come in need of community as we try each day to walk in love and truth. It’s not always easy when there are so many needs, conflicts, and struggles that call for our attention. Today, we lift the concerns on our hearts, knowing that we are in loving relationship with you and compassionate friends who pray with us for healing, wisdom, and discernment. We thank you.
Sending Forth Prayer
What are you waiting for? Go! Walk in truth and love.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 150; Hosea 5:15-6:6; 2 John 1:1-6
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise God in his fortress, the sky!Praise God in his mighty acts! Praise God as suits his incredible greatness!Praise God with the blast of the ram’s horn! Praise God with lute and lyre!
Praise God with drum and dance! Praise God with strings and pipe!
Praise God with loud cymbals! Praise God with clashing cymbals!
Psalm 150 (CEB)
Silence
Let every living thing praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Prayers of Gratitude
“Peace be with you!” Jesus appeared to the disciples and showed them the wounds of his life-giving love. Each day we are given the gift of seeing Christ’s love-giving life sometimes in the form of simple blessings, sometimes in amazing miracles. Each new day is a gift of grace from the rising of the sun, the birds’ songs, the breath of air that flows through and around us until we lay our heads to rest when day is done. We bring our grateful praise this day for these and so many more gifts of grace we name now…
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Luke 24:36b-48
When Jesus appeared to the disciples, they were filled with mixed emotions such as joy, disbelief, wonder. Reflect on what it must have been like and how you might have responded.
Intercessions
“Peace be with you.” Simply words spoken to frightened disciples.
“Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.” How we so often need to hear these words in an anxious world. We lift our concerns to you, Giver of Peace.
O, Christ calm our fears, grant wisdom, strength, and courage.
What prayers of intercession do you bring today?
Sending Forth Prayer
Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.
The Christ of peace walks with you.
You are held in Love.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024: Psalm 150; Proverbs 9:1-6; Mark 16:9-18
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Prayer as a Rule of Life
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Psalm 23 (NKJV)
Silence
Be still and stand in awe
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Love Incarnate, you are ever before us, our cups overflow with your goodness. We are grateful for your loving mercy and lift our prayers of thanksgiving, naming just a few of the ways you restore our souls and continue to bless us….
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death
God is there.
God has not promised there will be no valleys, no suffering, no pain.
God has not promised a clear path, a free pass to life on easy street.
God has not promised we will not encounter enemies along the way.
What God has promised…
Is God.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you.
Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden,
I will give you rest.
What God has promised is God.
Fully present in the midst of all of the both/ands of life.
Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.
Intercessions
Sometimes the valleys of fear and despair are deep, and we have a hard time simply moving one foot in front of the other. We care deeply about the world in which we live and grieve the injustice and pain we see. We care deeply about the fears and pain facing our friends, and family. So, today we come to ask for strength, courage, and wisdom. We lift our prayers for the world, others, and ourselves to be restored, comforted, and strengthened…
Sending Forth Prayer
Go forth as people of the Way of Truth and Love,
confident in God’s abiding presence.
Daily Lectionary Reading: Psalm 23; Genesis 30:25-43; Acts 3:17-26
Friday, April 19, 2024
Prayer as a Rule of Life
You, The Eternal is our shepherd, You care for us always.
You provide us rest in rich, green fields
beside streams of refreshing water.
You soothe our fears;
You make us whole again,
steering us off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo Your name.
Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness,
We are not overcome by fear.
Because You are with us in those dark moments,
near with Your protection and guidance,
We are comforted.
You spread out a table before us,
provisions in the midst of attack from our enemies;
You care for all our needs, anointing our heads with soothing, fragrant oil,
filling our cups again and again with Your grace.
Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue us
where we go, always, everywhere.
we will always be with the Eternal,
in Your house forever.
Psalm 23 (Voice, adapted)
Silence
Be still and stand in awe
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Reading the 23rd Psalm can bring comfort and assurance to us. We are blessed in so many ways when we stop to look around at the ever-present signs of your Presence in the beauty of creation and the kindness of others. We lift the ways we experience your love and mercy and give you Thanks! …
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Genesis 46:28-47:6
Reflect on the unexpected ways prayers are answered.
Intercessions
We bow our heads in prayer seeking answers, answers we want that we think will lead to the “right” outcomes. How patient you are with us, God. We come because we seek a deeper relationship with you, confidant and friend, mentor and guide. Grant us wisdom to release our fears and concerns and trust you to lead us in the right paths toward healing, wholeness, a just truth, and love. We pray for ourselves, others, and our world, that all may come to fully experience your healing love and mercy…
Sending Forth Prayer
On this and every day, Steer us off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo Your name.
Friday, April 19, 2024: Psalm 23; Genesis 46:28-47:6; Acts 4:1-4
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Prayer as a Rule of Life
O my Beloved, You are my shepherd, I shall not want.
You bring me to green pastures for rest and
lead me beside still waters renewing my spirit;
You restore my soul.
You lead me in the path of goodness to follow Love’s way.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I am not afraid; for you are ever with me;
Your rod and your staff they guide me,
They give me strength and comfort.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of all my fears;
You bless me with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the heart of the Beloved forever. Amen.
Psalm 23 “Psalms for Praying” by Nan Merrill
Silence
Be still and stand in awe
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
We come to the end of another week and look back at the multitude of ways we have witnessed you in simple acts of kindness, the beauty and wonder of the colors and warmth of Spring, new life, and new beginnings each new day. For these things and so much more we say,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Mark 6:30-34
Reflect on the gift of compassion balanced with the need to rest.
Silence
Intercessions
There are so many heartbreaks and pressing needs of the world it can be overwhelming. Help us to find the right balance between giving of ourselves and giving to, serving with, and working toward justice, equity, and healing in the world in which we live. Christ, we lift our prayers this day for your healing touch, your guidance, courage, strength, and wisdom in following your example.
Sending Forth Prayer
Inhale, exhale, Pray always, pause… Repeat.
Saturday, April 20, 2024: Psalm 23; Genesis 48:8-19; Mark 6:30-34
Peace be with you.