"This is the hour of banquet and of song; this is the heavenly table for us spread…”
—-Horatio Bonar, 1855 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 Sentence Matthew 9: 37-38 The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Lord, send us out into your harvest. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 Holy God, creator of all, the risen Christ taught from scripture of his death, resurrection, and ascension into your glorious presence. May the living Lord breathe on us his peace, that our eyes may be opened to recognize him in breaking bread, and to follow wherever he leads, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Hymn of the Day “The Lord is My Shepherd,” by Bobby McFerrin. Listen and pray! Reading of the Day: John 6: 25-40 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19. Please pray for Mark Sabala, working with Covid patients as a nurse, for the Howell family, the Pena family, and for all others who have been recently diagnosed with- or are recovering from- the virus. 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: As God’s own, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
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“The bread and wine remove, but you are here, nearer than ever, still our shield and sun.”
—-Horatio Bonar, 1855 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 Sentence Mark 4: 31-32 The kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed; it grows into a great plant with many branches. Prayer A Gaelic Blessing 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. Hymn of the Day I haven’t heard many songs that communicate the basic beliefs of the church this joyfully. This is African Credo— I Believe. Listen and pray. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLxKgBHCIUM Reading of the Day Psalm 147: 12-20 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. 14 He grants peace[b] within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat. 15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down hail like crumbs-- who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the Lord! Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19. Please pray for Mark Sabala, working with Covid patients as a nurse, for the Howell family, and for all others who have been recently diagnosed with- or are recovering from- the virus. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Please pray for the leaders of the Texas Medical Center, with the difficult job of coordinating between hospitals and communicating complicated data to the public. May they have clarity of thought and of speech as they know your support. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction As God’s own, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. “Here let us feast and, feasting, still prolong the fellowship of living wine and bread.”
—-Horatio Bonar, 1855 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 Sentence Romans 3: 23-24 All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but by the grace of God we are redeemed. Prayer Liturgy of St. Basil (4th century) Lord, our God-- whose power is beyond compare, and glory is beyond understanding; whose mercy is boundless, and love for us is ineffable-- look upon us with your compassion and grant us your abundant mercy; for to you belong all glory, honor and worship to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Hymn of the Day “Let Us Break Bread Together on our Knees,” a song to prepare us for this Sunday’s worship service. Arranged by Patti Drennan. Reading of the Day: Psalm 65: 1-2, 8-13 1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed, 2 O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come. 8 Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. 9 You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19. Please pray for Mark Sabala, working with Covid patients as a nurse, for the Howell family, and for all others who have been recently diagnosed with- or are recovering from- the virus. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Please pray for those in need of food, and for those who are able to provide it. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction: As God’s own, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. |
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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