Daily Prayer for Tuesday, April 7, 2020- Holy Week

            …now scornfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown…
                                                 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—                           Jeremiah 31
The Lord makes a new covenant with us.  We are God’s people; the Lord is our God.


Prayer                     
God of love,
as in Jesus Christ you gave yourself to us,
so may we give ourselves to you,
living according to your holy will.
Keep our feet firmly in the way
where Christ leads us;
make our mouths speak the truth
that Christ teaches us;
fill our bodies with the life
that is Christ within us.
In his holy name we pray.  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 Willie Nelson.
Listen and pray along with this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-b18DzXH-U


Reading of the Day:  Mark 12: 18-27, 38-40
18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.”
24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”
———————-
38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”


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, and Star Sims’ nephew. Pray for all who are being furloughed or whose wages are greatly reduced. 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.