Daily Prayer for Thursday, September 10, 2020

“Lord, you show us love’s true measure:  ‘Father, what they do, forgive.’”        
                                    —-Jeffrey W. Rowthorn, 1978

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 30: 5
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes in the morning.

Prayer                                                                  Søren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855
Teach me, O God, not to torture myself, not to make a martyr out of myself through stifling reflection, but rather teach me to breathe deeply in faith.

Hymn of the Day
Rock of Ages, sung by Ella Fitzgerald.  Listen and pray. 

Reading of the Day                                                                  1 Peter 3: 1-7
1 Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; 4 rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. 5 It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands. 6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.
7 Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.
     !
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. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray also for a fair and just society for all African American women and men, as our culture reckons with systemic racism.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
May grace and peace be yours in abundance
in the knowledge and God and Jesus our Lord. Alleluia!