Daily Prayer for Monday, October 5, 2020

“Thou fire so masterful and bright, that gives us both warmth and light,  Alleluia! Alleluia!”        
                                               —-Francis of Assisi, 1225

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                                                                  Isaiah 25:6-7
The Lord will make a feast for all people
and destroy the power of death forever.

Prayer                                                      Mechtild of Magdeburg (c. 1210-1297)
I, God, am your playmate!
I will lead the child in you in wonderful ways
for I have chosen you.
Beloved child, come swiftly to Me
for I am truly in you.

Hymn of the Day
O Lord, I Want You to Help Me, by the Classical Roots Community Mass Choir, Cleveland, Ohio.  Listen and Pray. 

Reading of the Day                                                            Exodus 13: 17-22
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, “If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle. 19 And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph who had required a solemn oath of the Israelites, saying, “God will surely take notice of you, and then you must carry my bones with you from here.” 20 They set out from Succoth, and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

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 Dr. Marshall Cash, working directly with COVID patients in Shreveport, LA.  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 President and all his colleagues who have been diagnosed with the virus, that they would receive full healing.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God,
serve one another
with whatever gift each of you has received.
To God be the glory and the power
forever and ever.  Amen.