“Oh my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!”
—-Joachim Neander, 1680 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 145: 15-16 The Lord gives food in due season; God satisfies the desire of every living thing. Prayer Compline, Sarum Breviary [Compline is the night prayer, or prayer at bedtime, for Christians who practice ritual prayers multiple times a day. The Sarum Breviary is a collection of these prayers written at the Salisbury Cathedral in the 1100’s] Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping: that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Hymn of the Day In Christ Alone, sung a capella by the NCrew. Listen and pray with thanksgiving. Reading of the Day 2 Corinthians 7: 2-13 2 Make room in your hearts for us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I often boast about you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—disputes without and fears within. 6 But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). 9 Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God. 13 In this we find comfort. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19. Please pray for Mark Sabala, working with Covid patients as a nurse, Marcy Szeliga, working as a case investigator and contact tracer, for the Zumwalt's daughter Sherri Salley, Connie Powell's niece Krystal Powell, and all others who have been recently diagnosed with- or are recovering from- the virus. Today pray for adults who care for their elderly parents as well as their own children, that they would be able to balance the needs for safety and socialization. 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 God of glory, the Lord of life, and the Spirit of truth be with you all. Alleluia!
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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
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