I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere Lord, anytime!
—-African-American Spiritual 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 104 The Spirit of God renews the earth. Bless the name of the Lord! Prayer Based on a prayer of Jerome (c. 342-420) Lord, the gift of your Word is a light for our path. Help us to study your way and follow your teaching until we know the true Light who has come into the world and will come again in glory: Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day Psalm 81- Sing Joyfully to the Lord, by William Byrd, sung by VOCES8. Listen as you pray. Reading of the Day Psalm 81 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob. 2 Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day. 4 For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 5 He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known: 6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. 7 In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah 8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you; O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. 11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their doom would last forever. 16 I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19. Today please pray for medical researchers who are working to find better treatments, and those who are trying to formulate a vaccine for the virus. 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 God has shown you what is good. What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Amen.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorBecky Downs, pastor of John Knox, started writing daily prayers for the congregation at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, to encourage the congregation in their faith during their time of separation from each other. The daily prayers were posted throughout the year. You might want to choose one a day to read, and modify the specific prayers for self and others to fit your life today. Archives
April 2021
Categories |