Daily Prayer for Thursday, April 9, 2020 Holy Week

               …What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend?
                                                      Attr. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)
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--                                                                   John 13:34

​Jesus said:  I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as Christ has loved us, let us love one another.

Prayer                     

O God, your love is embodied in Jesus Christ,
who washed disciples’ feet on the night of his betrayal.
Wash us from the stain of sin,
so that, in hours of danger, we may not fail,
but follow your Son through every trial,
and praise him always as Lord and Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.  Amen.
Hymn of the Day
Were You There?  (Presbyterian Hymnal #102) Each day this week I’ll suggest another interpretation of this song, in the hope that they will provide new insight to us all. Today’s music is provided by the King’s College Cambridge Choir.
Listen and pray along with this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5qUnKC9rPU
Reading of the Day:  Mark 14: 12-25

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
17 When it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”
22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Prayers for self and others
Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19, including Kay and Mark Sabala’s friend, Becky’s friend Scott and his family, Debbi’s daughter Linda’s neighbors, Star Sims’ nephew, and Mary Warwick from TWRC. Pray for those who work in sanitation, infrastructure, plumbing and electrical work— all essential needs. 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.  Amen.