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“Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!”
—Katharine Lee Bates, 1893 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Isaiah 6:8 The Lord said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 Almighty God, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world. May your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshiped and obeyed to the ends of the earth; for he lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day Praise You in the Storm, by Natalie Grant. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Psalm 121 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, and for the thousands who are dying. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga, working as a nurse in a COVID ICU unit; for Frances Gutierrez and her daughters, all recovering from the virus at home; and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Please pray that everyone in our own country would have access to the best possible health care. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Brothers and sisters, your dreams should not go unnoticed. God knows your dreams. Now dare to dream out loud So the world may discover what you and God can do. Release every God-given dream, So that others may be inspired to do likewise. To the author of every good and noble dream, we give all honor and praise. Amen.
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“America! America! God mend thine every flaw!”
—Katharine Lee Bates, 1893 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are varieties of gifts, services, and activities, but there is one Spirit, one Lord, and one God. Prayer Prayer for Ordination, 2nd C. Hear, O Lord, our petition and send down on this your servant the Spirit of your ordination so that, since you have conferred on her your heavenly office, she may obtain favor with your majesty and may present to others the example of a good life. (This prayer was prayed at the ordination of priests and deacons from the earliest days of the church, with pronouns changed as needed.) Hymn of the Day Where Could I Go But to the Lord, by Emmylou Harris. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day John 2:1-11 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, and for the thousands who are dying. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga, working as a nurse in a COVID ICU unit; for Frances Gutierrez and her daughters, all recovering from the virus at home; and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Please pray for those in danger of eviction. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Brothers and sisters, your dreams should not go unnoticed. God knows your dreams. Now dare to dream out loud So the world may discover what you and God can do. Release every God-given dream, So that others may be inspired to do likewise. To the author of every good and noble dream, we give all honor and praise. Amen. “America! America! God shed His grace on thee!”
—Katharine Lee Bates, 1893 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences 1 Samuel 3:10-11 The Lord is about to do a new thing. Speak, O God, for your servants are listening. Prayer Worship Sourcebook (CRC), 2013 Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Help us always to remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, sound learning, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. We ask all this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day America the Beautiful, by Ray Charles. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, and for the thousands who are dying. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga, working as a nurse in a COVID ICU unit, for Frances Gutierrez and her daughters, all recovering from the virus at home, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Please pray for President Biden as he takes office today, that his administration would address the needs of the people with wisdom and courage. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Brothers and sisters, your dreams should not go unnoticed. God knows your dreams. Now dare to dream out loud So the world may discover what you and God can do. Release every God-given dream, So that others may be inspired to do likewise. To the author of every good and noble dream, we give all honor and praise. Amen. “For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!”
—Katharine Lee Bates, 1893 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences John 1:36, 39 Look, here is the Lamb of God! Jesus calls us: Come and see. Prayer Sarum Primer (c. 1514) God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in my eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at my end, and at my departing. Amen. Hymn of the Day 40, by U2. This is a musical setting of Psalm 40. Listen and pray. https://youtu.be/0sd5di1vgTM Reading of the Day Psalm 40:1-11 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. 4 Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted. 6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, and for the thousands who are dying. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga, working as a nurse in a COVID ICU unit, for Frances Gutierrez and her daughters, all with the virus, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Please pray for our new elders who will be installed this week, coming on Session at a time unlike any other, that they would face our new challenges with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Brothers and sisters, your dreams should not go unnoticed. God knows your dreams. Now dare to dream out loud So the world may discover what you and God can do. Release every God-given dream, So that others may be inspired to do likewise. To the author of every good and noble dream, we give all honor and praise. Amen. “O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain…”
—Katharine Lee Bates, 1893 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Psalm 130:1-2 Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord: Hear our voice and answer our prayers! Prayer Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lord… We thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you. Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace. Help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children - Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow - will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen. Hymn of the Day We Shall Overcome, by Louis Armstrong. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Amos 5:21-24 21 I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, and for the thousands who are dying. Please continue to pray for Frances Gutierez and her daughters, all with the virus, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Please pray for the families of the 397,000 who have died in the United States, as well as of the more than 2 million worldwide. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Brothers and sisters, your dreams should not go unnoticed. God knows your dreams. Now dare to dream out loud So the world may discover what you and God can do. Release every God-given dream, So that others may be inspired to do likewise. To the author of every good and noble dream, we give all honor and praise. Amen. “Born of the Spirit, we are God’s children, joyfully now God’s praises we sing.”
—Michael A. Saward, 1981 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Galatians 3:27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 O Lord, uphold your children by your Holy Spirit. Give them your gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day This Train, sung by Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Acts 19:1-7 1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— 7 altogether there were about twelve of them. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day. Please pray especially for Susan Smith's family upon the death of her brother-in-law John Krueger, after a long battle with the Covid virus. Please pray for “non-essential” workers— those most likely to still be out of work. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of hope fill you with all peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “One with his rising, freed and forgiven, thankfully now God’s praises we sing.”
—Michael A. Saward, 1981 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Psalm 96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Prayer St. Ephraim’s Prayer at Midnight (c. 305-373) O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, vain curiosity, lust for power and idle talk. But give to me, your servant, a spirit of soberness, humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not to condemn my brother; for blessed are you to the age of ages. Amen. Hymn of the Day Family of Love, by Take 6. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Matthew 3: 13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day. Please pray especially for Susan Smith's family upon the death of her brother-in-law John Krueger, after a long battle with the Covid virus. Please pray for our nation, as we struggle with fear, division, violence, and sickness. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of hope fill you with all peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, dead in the tomb with Christ, our King…”
—Michael A. Saward, 1981 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Isaiah 43:1 Do not fear, for the Lord has spoken: I have called you by name; you are mine. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 Holy God, you sent your Son to be baptized among sinners, to seek and save the lost. May we, who have been baptized in his name, never turn away from the world, but reach out in love to rescue the wayward; by the mercy of Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day People Get Ready, written by Curtis Mayfield, performed by Eva Cassidy. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Isaiah 43:1- 7 1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; 6 I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth-- 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day. Please pray especially for Susan Smith's family upon the death of her brother-in-law John Krueger, after a long battle with the Covid virus. Please pray for nurses and aides who are treating Covid patients in hospitals, including Becky's cousin Marcy Szeliga. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of hope fill you with all peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Heirs of salvation, trusting the promise, faithfully now God’s praises we sing.”
—Michael A. Saward, 1981 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Mark 1:10-11 The heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and a voice sounded: This is my Beloved Son. Prayer St. Hildegarde, 12th C. Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives of creatures, spiral of sanctity, bond of all natures, glow of charity, lights of clarity, taste of sweetness to sinners, be with us and hear us… Composer of all things, light of all the risen, key of salvation, release from the dark prison, hope of all unions, scope of all chastities, joy in the glory, strong honor, be with us and hear us. Hymn of the Day Holy, Holy, Holy, by Sufjan Stevens. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Acts 10:34-43 34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day. Please pray especially for Susan Smith's family upon the death of her brother-in-law John Krueger, after a long battle with the Covid virus. Please pray for people in the air travel industry who remain furloughed, and for the pilots and flight attendants who work in such a risky environment. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of hope fill you with all peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, cleansed by the blood of Christ, our King…”
—Michael A. Saward, 1981 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Psalm 29:3, 9 The voice of the Lord is over the waters, and in the temple God’s people say: Glory! Prayer Baptism, Eastern Orthodox Blessed is God, who desires that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Blessed is God, who gives light and sanctification to every man that comes into the world. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered: blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no sin, and in whose mouth there is no deceit. O Christ our God, rich in mercy, who clothest thyself with light as with a garment, grant unto me a robe that is radiant with light. Amen. Hymn of the Day Song Without Words, Op. 30, No. 1, by Mendellsohn; performed by the Streeton Trio. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Psalm 29 1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor. 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!” 10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day. Please pray especially for Susan Smith's family upon the death of her brother-in-law John Krueger, after a long battle with the Covid virus. Please pray for those officials charged with organizing vaccine distribution, that they would work with wisdom and efficiency. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of hope fill you with all peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
AuthorBecky Downs, pastor of John Knox, started writing daily prayers for the congregation at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, to encourage the congregation in their faith during their time of separation from each other. The daily prayers were posted throughout the year. You might want to choose one a day to read, and modify the specific prayers for self and others to fit your life today. Archives
April 2021
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