Daily Prayer for Monday, November 16, 2020

“Come, ye thankful people come, raise the song of harvest home…”        
                                        —-Henry Alford, 1844

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 100:3
The Lord is God; we are God’s people.
We are the sheep of God’s pasture.

Prayer                                                                     Church of Scotland (1940)
Everlasting God,
in whom we live and move and have our being:
You have made us for yourself,
so that our hearts are restless
until they rest in you.
Give us purity of heart and strength of purpose,
that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will,
no weakness keep us from doing it;
that in your light we may see light clearly,
and in your service find perfect freedom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Hymn of the Day                            
Cherubic Hymn, sung by the Colorado All-State Tenor and Bass Choir.  Listen and Pray. 

Reading of the Day                                                                   Isaiah 9: 1-7
1 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
    on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

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, especially for Mario Berrios, his son Caleb Berrios, and their family; for the Jantzen family upon the loss of Dave’s uncle from the virus; for Cindy Salias and family, some of whom have tested positive; for Becky’s sister’s coworker and her husband Francisco and Denie, both hospitalized with the virus- Denie is in ICU; for Shelby Ardell’s friend Hannah, in Iowa, who has the virus but doesn’t have health insurance to get treatment.  As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for the medical professionals working for local and national governments around the world. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.