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“Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”
—Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, 1864 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 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 God of compassion, through your Son Jesus Christ you reconciled your people to yourself. Following his example of prayer and fasting, may we obey you with willing hearts and serve one another in holy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day I Am a Pilgrim, by Johnny Cash. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Genesis 9:8-17 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” 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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the devastating winter storms. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients. Pray for cities and states that are finally lifting some restrictions, that their people would remain safe while they delight in getting out more. Pray for the family of Mary James, who died of Covid and other health problems; Mary was Mark Downs’ boss and the owner of Essential Hospice. 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 Spirit of the triune God strengthen and sustain you, all throughout these forty days and into the life that is to come. Amen.
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“For Thy church that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love.…”
—Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, 1864 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 Romans 10:8, 13 The word of God is near to us. Call on the Lord and you will be saved. Prayer Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, 450-505 Praise be to him who alone is to be praised. Praise him for his grace and favor. Praise him for his power and goodness. Praise him whose knowledge encompasses all things. O God, grant me light in my heart and light in my tomb, light in my hearing and light in my seeing, light in my flesh, light in my blood and light in my bones. Light before me, light behind me, light to the right of me, light to the left of me, light above me, light beneath me. O God, increase my light and give me the greatest light of all. Of thy mercy grant me light, O thou most merciful. Hymn of the Day Shalom, by Dan Forest, sung by National Avenue Christian Church. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Mark 1:9-15 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the devastating winter storms. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients. Pray for medical examiners, that they would have patience and diligence in working through the backlog of cases. Pray for the family of Mary James, who died of Covid and other health problems; Mary was Mark Downs’ boss and the owner of Essential Hospice. 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 Spirit of the triune God strengthen and sustain you, all throughout these forty days and into the life that is to come. Amen. “For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild.…”
—Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, 1864 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 Genesis 9:12 God’s promise is for all generations; God’s covenant is with every living thing. Prayer Mechtild of Magdeburg, 1210-80 Lord, since thou hast taken from me all that I had of thee, yet of thy grace leave me the gift which every dog has by nature, that of being true to thee in my distress, when I am deprived of all consolation. This I desire more fervently than thy heavenly kingdom. Hymn of the Day Morning Prayer, by Langhorn Slim. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Romans 5:12—19 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the devastating winter storms. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients. Pray for hospitalized patients, that they may heal and be well again. Pray for the family of Mary James, who died of Covid and other health problems; Mary was Mark Downs’ boss and the owner of Essential Hospice. 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 Spirit of the triune God strengthen and sustain you, all throughout these forty days and into the life that is to come. Amen. “For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight.…”
—Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, 1864 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 Matthew 4:10 Tested by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus said: You shall worship the Lord your God alone. Prayer St. Ephrem the Syrian, c. 306-373 O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of laziness, faint-heartedness, desire for power, and idle talk. But give your servant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love. Yes, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to unjustly or hastily judge my brother, for you are blessed, now and forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day What Wondrous Love is This, by Anthony Ferreira, First Presbyterian Church, Bedford, Indiana. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Psalm 32 1Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6 Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. 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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the devastating winter storms. Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients. Pray for hospitalized patients, that they may heal and be well again. 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 Spirit of the triune God strengthen and sustain you, all throughout these forty days and into the life that is to come. Amen. “For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies.…”
—Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, 1864 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 Matthew 17:1-2, 5 On a high mountain, Jesus was transfigured, and God said: This is my Beloved Son. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 O God, in the transfiguration of your Son you confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the witness of Moses and Elijah; and in the voice from the cloud you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us, with Christ, heirs of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fullness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day Since I Laid My Burden Down, by Mississippi John Hurt. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Exodus 24:12-18 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. 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 and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Pray for those who continue to be separated from loved ones due to travel restrictions. 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 glory of Christ, our King, be revealed in your life, may his Spirit surround you in the mystery of God, and may God transform your coming and your going. “Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon; the early dew of morning has passed away at noon.”
—A. Katherine Hankey, 1866 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 15:12, 20 This is the hope that we proclaim: that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Prayer attr. to Mozarabic Psalter, possibly 8th C. May the Lord+ Jesus Christ, who is the splendor of eternal Light, remove from your hearts the darkness of night. Amen. May he drive far from you the snares of the crafty enemy, and always give you his angel of light to guard you. Amen. That you may rise to your morning praises, kept safe in him, in whom is all the fullness of your salvation. Amen. Hymn of the Day I Shall Not Be Moved, by Johnny Cash. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 15 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. 3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe. 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 and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Pray for the Session at John Knox as we lead the congregation through an unfamiliar wilderness. 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 Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Alleluia! “Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in— that wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin.”
—A. Katherine Hankey, 1866 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 1:40-41 To Jesus we cry: Cleanse us, O Lord! By the mercy of Christ we are made clean. Prayer Adapted from Carmina Gadelica Thanks to you, O God, that I have risen today, to the rising of life itself; may it be to your own glory, O God of every gift, and to the glory of my soul likewise. O great God, aid my soul with the aiding of your own mercy; even as I clothe my body with wool, cover my soul with the shadow of your wing. Help me to avoid every sin, and the source of every sin to forsake; and as the mist scatters on the crest of the hills, may each ill haze clear from my soul, O God. Hymn of the Day Be Still My Soul, sung a cappella by Eclipse 6. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 16 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. 19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. 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 and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Pray for your own sense of calling to Christian discipleship; find time to simply listen for God’s voice speaking to you. 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 Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Alleluia! “Tell me the story simply, as to a little child; for I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.”
—A. Katherine Hankey, 1866 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 called out: Whom shall I send? I answered: Here I am; send me. Prayer Worship Sourcebook, CRC, 2018 Great God, King of the universe, dwelling beyond all worlds and stars and yet intimately present to human hearts, you who shine with purity and glory, lighting up ranks of angels and archangels, you give martyrs their comfort and saints their heavenly rest. We praise and thank you. Gracious God, lover of the world, you are the one willing to suffer so that we might be healed, willing to stoop to us in our misery, so that we might stand tall as loved sons and daughters, You have served us even when we were unwilling to serve you, and longed for us even when we had ignored you. Surely you are a surprising God and a God of amazing grace. We praise and thank you. Nothing we do makes you seek us less; nothing we do makes you seek us more. You seek us with all the passion of a lover, and so we praise and thank you. Amen. Hymn of the Day How Can I Keep from Singing, by Eva Cassidy. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? 4 For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. 9 For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. 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 and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Pray for scientists analyzing new strains of the Covid virus around the world, that they would find good and helpful information to help to fight them. 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 Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Alleluia! “Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.”
—A. Katherine Hankey, 1866 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 9:23 Do all things for the sake of the gospel. So we may share in the blessings of God. Prayer Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) As the wind is your symbol, so forward our goings. As the dove, so launch us heavenwards. As water, so purify our spirits. As a cloud, so abate our temptations. As dew, so revive our languor. As fire, so purge out our dross. Amen. Hymn of the Day Baba Yetu (Our Father), sung by the Stellenbosch University Choir, South Africa, 2018. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 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 and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Pray for producers and distributers of the vaccine, that they may work safely and efficiently. 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 Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Alleluia! “You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek, You are my all in all.”
—Dennis L. Jernigan, 1990 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 Matthew 5:14, 16 Jesus said: You are the light of the world. Let our light shine, giving glory to God. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 Faithful God, you have appointed us your witnesses, to be light that shines in the world. Let us not hide the bright hope you have given us, but tell everyone of your love, revealed in Jesus Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Hymn of the Day Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, by John Rutter, sung by the Cambridge Singers. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Matthew 5: 13-20 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 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 and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients, and for Brandon Jantzen and his family— Brandon is experiencing continuing health problems after having Covid. Pray for nurses juggling patients waiting in emergency rooms for lack of hospital beds. 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 Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Alleluia! |
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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