Daily Prayer for Friday, May 29, 2020

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, o Ruler of all.
        —-Ancient Irish Poem, trans. Mary E. Byrne, 1905


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                                                                         Acts 1:8
You shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you shall be my witnesses.


Prayer                                                            Book of Common Worship (2018)
God of grace,
you cause the sun to rise
and chase away the shadows of death.
Each day you promise resurrection,
that we may be born again to new life
and overcome all that would hurt or destroy.
Fill us with the Holy spirit,
that we may be alive again
with the power and the peace of Jesus Christ,
our risen Lord. Amen.


Hymn of the Day
Andrae Crouch sings “He Looked Beyond My Fault.”  Pray as you listen to this song of grace.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfjEO3quF1c


Reading of the Day:                                                                Acts  2: 14-21
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
        and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
        before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’


Prayers for self and others
Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19, including Mark Sabala and Marcy Szeliga in their work as nurses, Linda and Mario Berrios and their family, Debbi’s neighbors and all others who are out of work, Star Sims’ family and Donna Ardell’s family, as they grieve the loss of their loved ones, and for Connie’s Aunt Bonnie and her two cousins— Bonnie is recovering from the virus at her nursing home— thanks be to God! Please pray for yourself today, that God would release you of any anger, fears, or resentments, and that you would be renewed in your commitment to witness to Jesus Christ.  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 Lamb upon the throne
be your shepherd,
guiding you to the water of life,
and wiping away every tear.
Alleluia!  Amen.