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“O sacred head what glory, what bliss till now was thine!”
Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) 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 116:1-2 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. Prayer St. Paul to the Corinthians Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. Amen. Hymn of the Day I Shall Be Released, by Rising Appalachia. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Luke 7:36—50 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in 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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the winter storms. Please continue to pray for Mark Sabala, working as a nurse with Covid patients, and for Amanda Jantzen, diagnosed with the virus. Pray for those who are leading us and guiding us through the pandemic, that we would listen to what is wise in their words, and follow them. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May God guide you through the desert places, may Christ lead you into knowing him more deeply, and the Holy Spirit fill you with faith overflowing: that as you share in Christ’s suffering, you will also trust the power of his resurrection.
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“Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown…”
Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) 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 116:8-9 You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Prayer Feasting on the Word, 2012 Gracious God, as we travel through this Holy Week, strengthen us to move beyond the festive parade of palms and to follow Jesus into the way of the cross, that united with him and all the faithful, we may one day enter through the gates of righteousness into the eternal city, the New Jerusalem, where we may praise you with Christ and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day O Day of Peace, by Josh Garrels. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Matthew 22:23–33 23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” 29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. 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 winter storms. Please continue to pray for Mark Sabala, working as a nurse with Covid patients. Pray for Amanda Jantzen and for all those recently diagnosed with Covid, who remind us that the pandemic is far from over. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May God guide you through the desert places, may Christ lead you into knowing him more deeply, and the Holy Spirit fill you with faith overflowing: that as you share in Christ’s suffering, you will also trust the power of his resurrection. “O Sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down…”
Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) 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 116:12-13 What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord Prayer Wild Goose Worship Group, 2000 On the Monday of Holy Week, the crippled and the blind came to Jesus in the Temple and he healed them. So let us pray for those who are crippled by disease or anxiety; …those who are crippled by a system; …those who are blind to beauty, love, and peace; …those who are blind to what they must do now or do next; …the church in places where it has the possibility of healing the wounds of the nations; …and for ourselves we pray, that we may discern a clear vision of your kingdom; and that we may steadily walk in your path, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day Here I Am, Lord, sung by the choir and orchestra of St. Lillian. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Luke 19: 45-48 45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. 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 winter storms. Please continue to pray for Mark Sabala, working as a nurse with Covid patients. Pray for our natural world, that though our attention has been turned toward the problem of human disease, we would continue to work toward the restoration of the earth. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May God guide you through the desert places, may Christ lead you into knowing him more deeply, and the Holy Spirit fill you with faith overflowing: that as you share in Christ’s suffering, you will also trust the power of his resurrection. “Ride on! Ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; bow thy meek head to mortal pain, then take, O God, Thy power, and reign.”
Henry Hart Milman, 1827 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 46:1—3 God is our refuge and our strength, a present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. Prayer Wild Goose Worship Group, 2000 Lord God, in the world where goodness and evil continue to clash with each other, instill in us, and in all your people, discernment to see what is right, faith to believe what is right, and courage to do what is right. Keep us aware of the subtlety of sin, and preserve us, body, mind and soul, through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen. Hymn of the Day Oh Freedom, by the Golden Gospel Singers. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day John 12:12—19 12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. 17 So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. 18 It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. 19 The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after 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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the winter storms. Please continue to pray for Mark Sabala, working as a nurse with Covid patients. Pray for those who are far away from us— far from us on the map, or far from us in our hearts. Remember our unity as the beloved children of God. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. “Ride on! Ride on in majesty! The winged squadrons of the sky look down with sad and wondering eyes to see the approaching sacrifice…”
Henry Hart Milman, 1827 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 3:14 The Lord of life is lifted up! Let us look to Christ and live. Prayer Wild Goose Worship Group, 2000 From Bethlehem to Nazareth, from Jordan to Jericho, from Bethany to Jerusalem, from then to now, Come, Lord Jesus. To heal the sick, to mend the broken-hearted, to comfort the disturbed, to disturb the comfortable, to cleanse the temple, to liberate faith from convention, Come, Lord Jesus. To carry the cross, to lead the way, to shoulder the sin of the world and take it away, Come, Lord Jesus. Today, to this place, to us, Come, Lord Jesus. Hymn of the Day Let Us Build a House, by the Collegiate Church of St. Mary, Warwick. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Luke 19:29—40 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” 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 people you know who are in deep pain, either mental or physical. Pray that they would find healing and wholeness. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. “Ride on! Ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die…”
Henry Hart Milman, 1827 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 Philippians 3:14 Keep pressing on toward the goal: the heavenly call of God in Jesus Christ. Prayer Wild Goose Worship Group, 2000 Humble and riding on a donkey, We greet you. Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children, We cheer you. Moving from the peace of the countryside to the corridors of power, We salute you, Christ our Lord. You are giving the beasts of burden a new dignity; you are giving majesty a new face; you are giving those who long for redemption a new song to sing. With them, with heart and voice, we shout “Hosanna!” Hymn of the Day Sweet Bye and Bye, by Willie Nelson. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Mark 11:1–11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 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 those in leadership at John Knox, that they would listen for God’s direction in the way of the church. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. “O Savior meek, pursue Thy road with palms and scattered garments strowed.” Henry Hart Milman, 1827
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 Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you. Prayer Pastor Joe Welty, Broadway-First Baptist Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba. O Lord, you rode on. You rode over the cloaks and under the branches, You rode through the shouts and past the praises, Receiving the praise that you deserved, but not confusing our praise in your presence for your purpose in coming. O Lord, you rode on. You rode towards the controversy and the cost, You rode towards the curses and the cross, Receiving the stripes you didn’t deserve, to give us a reward that we couldn’t earn. O Lord, you rode on. You rode through the tomb and the grave, You rode through our time and space, Ascending to a throne that will never decay, A priesthood that will never pass away, A life of love that will always remain, And hearing us even now as we pray. O Lord, you rode on. We remember the journey you have taken as we commit ourselves to walking in the same way. Give us the strength, hope, and joy we need as we follow. In your name we pray, Amen. Hymn of the Day Shout to the Lord, played by Jennifer Jeon, arr. by You Shin Kim. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Matthew 21:1-11 21:1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” 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 those closest to you today— for your friends and family, your co-workers and church members. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. “Ride on! Ride on in majesty! Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry…”
Henry Hart Milman, 1827 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 118:26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 We praise you, O God, for your redemption of the world through Jesus Christ, who entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph and was proclaimed Messiah and king by those who spread garments and blankets along his way. Let these branches be signs of his victory, and grant that we who carry them may follow him in the way of the cross, that, dying and rising with him, we may enter into your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day Shalom, by Dan Forrest, performed by Choral friends of Beckenhorst Press, Greenville, SC. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Zechariah 9: 9-16 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. 13 For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I will arouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior’s sword. 14 Then the Lord will appear over them, and his arrow go forth like lightning; the Lord God will sound the trumpet and march forth in the whirlwinds of the south. 15 The Lord of hosts will protect them, and they shall devour and tread down the slingers; they shall drink their blood like wine, and be full like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar. 16 On that day the Lord their God will save them for they are the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. 17 For what goodness and beauty are his! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women. 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. Give thanks to God for God’s power and love which works powerfully through our minds and hearts to bring goodness to the world. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. “Till we cast our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.”
Charles Wesley, 1747 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 Ephesians 5:8, 14 Live as children of the light. Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Prayer World Council of Churches (1991) Eternal God, creator of the universe, there is no God but you. Great and wonderful are your works, wondrous are your ways. Thank you for the many splendored variety of your creation. Thank you for the many ways we affirm your presence and purpose, and the freedom to do so. Forgive our violation of your creation. Forgive our violence toward each other. We stand in awe and gratitude for your persistent love for each and all of your children: Christian, Jew, Muslim, as well as those of other faiths. Grant to all and our leaders attributes of the strong: mutual respect in words and deed, restraint in the exercise of power, and the will for peace with justice, for all. Eternal God, creator of the universe, there is no God but you. Amen. Hymn of the Day Will the Circle Be Unbroken, by Gregg Allman & Friends. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Numbers 22:36-40 36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at Ir-moab, on the boundary formed by the Arnon, at the farthest point of the boundary. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “I have come to you now, but do I have power to say just anything? The word God puts in my mouth, that is what I must say.” 39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent them to Balaam and to the officials who were with 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, 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 your own needs today, freely sharing your sadness and anger and fear, as well as your hopes and dreams. 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 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you, and give you peace. “Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place…”
Charles Wesley, 1747 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 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. Prayer Book of Common Worship, Pastoral Ed., PC(USA), 2018 To your name, Lord Jesus, help me to bow the knee and all its worshiping, bow the head and all its thinking, bow the will and all its choosing, bow the heart and all its loving. Amen. Hymn of the Day The Great Speckled Bird, sung by Johnny Cash. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Numbers 22:22-35 22 God’s anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn it back onto the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck it again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!” 30 But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, falling on his face. 32 The angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let it live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home.” 35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but speak only what I tell you to speak.” So Balaam went on with the officials of Balak. (story to be continued tomorrow…) 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 people living on the streets, that they would have what they need. 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 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you, and give you peace. |
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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