Daily Prayer for Wednesday, July 1, 2020

“Here let us feast and, feasting, still prolong the fellowship of living wine and bread.”                        
                                                     —-Horatio Bonar, 1855

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 Sentence                                                            Romans 3: 23-24
All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory,
but by the grace of God we are redeemed.

Prayer                                                               Liturgy of St. Basil (4th century)
Lord, our God--
whose power is beyond compare,
and glory is beyond understanding;
whose mercy is boundless,
and love for us is ineffable--
look upon us with your compassion
and grant us your abundant mercy;
for to you belong all glory, honor and worship
to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
now and forever and to the ages of ages.  Amen.

Hymn of the Day
“Let Us Break Bread Together on our Knees,” a song to prepare us for this Sunday’s worship service. Arranged by Patti Drennan.

Reading of the Day:                                                      Psalm 65: 1-2, 8-13
1 Praise is due to you,
    O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
2     O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.

8 Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and water it,
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide the people with grain,
    for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
    settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
    and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
    your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
    the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
    the valleys deck themselves with grain,
    they shout and sing together for joy.

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, for the Howell family, and for all others who have been recently diagnosed with- or are recovering from- the virus.  As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here.  Please pray for those in need of food, and for those who are able to provide it.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction:
As God’s own,
clothe yourself with compassion,
kindness, and patience,
forgiving each other
as the Lord has forgiven you,
and crown all these things with love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.