Daily Prayer for Tuesday, October 20, 2020

“Lo!  Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom.”        
                                           —-Edmund Louis Budry, 1864

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 126:3
God has done great things for us;
therefore we rejoice in the Lord.

Prayer                                                                      Westminster Divines (1647)
O God,
you have so greatly loved us,
long sought us,
and mercifully redeemed us.
Give us grace
that in everything we may yield ourselves,
our wills and our works,
a continual thank-offering to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Hymn of the Day
We Are Called, by the St. Paul Young Adult Choir & Ensemble.  Listen and pray. 

Reading of the Day                                                             Judges 4: 17-24
17 Now Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between King Jabin of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite. 18 Jael came out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19 Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. 20 He said to her, “Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anybody comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” 21 But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground—he was lying fast asleep from weariness—and he died. 22 Then, as Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went into her tent; and there was Sisera lying dead, with the tent peg in his temple.
23 So on that day God subdued King Jabin of Canaan before the Israelites. 24 Then the hand of the Israelites bore harder and harder on King Jabin of Canaan, until they destroyed King Jabin of Canaan.

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. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day.  As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for the millions who remain out of work.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
God’s love surround you, God’s Spirit guide you,
God’s whisper cheer you, God’s peace calm you,
God’s shield protect you, God’s wisdom arm you,
wherever God may lead you.