Daily Prayer for Monday, January 11, 2021

“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.