Daily Prayer for Thursday, March 11, 2021

“To God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am, while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing…”        
                                           —American folk hymn, c. 1811

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                                                             Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Prayer                                                                          Sarum Primer, 11th C.
Maker of the world, King eternal, have mercy on us.
Fount of boundless pity, have mercy on us.
Drive away from us all that is harmful, have mercy on us.
Christ, the Light of the world, giver of life, have mercy on us.
Look on those wounded by the craft of the devil; have mercy on us.
You preserve those who believe on you, and you strengthen them, have mercy on us.
Your Father, you, and the Spirit proceeding from both, have mercy on us.
We know you to be one God, and three persons, have mercy on us.
Be present with us, O Counselor, that we may live in you, have mercy on us.

Hymn of the Day                            
Ah, Holy Jesus, with reed organ, by Sufjan Stevens.  Listen and pray.  

Reading of the Day                                                                  John 2:13-22
13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the devastating winter storms.   Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients. Pray for children whose mental health has suffered as a result of the shut downs and school changes, that they would receive the help they need and be at peace.  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
Walk before God in faithfulness
and humbleness of heart,
and may the Lord God, in steadfast love,
keep covenant with you forever.