Daily Prayer for Wednesday, July 22, 2020

“Let earth’s wide circle round in joyful notes resound:  May Jesus Christ be praised!”                
                                                    —-German hymn, c. 1800

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                                                         Gal. 3:27, Eph. 4:4
As many of you as were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourself with Christ.
There is one body and one Spirit,
just as we were called to the one hope of our calling.

Prayer                                   
Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy;

Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy;

Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Hymn of the Day
Peace in the Valley, sung by Willie Nelson.  Listen and pray. 

Reading of the Day                                                         Romans 14: 13-23
    13 Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. 19 Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; 21 it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. 22 The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. 23 But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

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 Howell family, Mario’s friend Leah, her mother and her daughter, Carolyn Feigh, and for all others who have been recently diagnosed with- or are recovering from- the virus.  Today pray for governors in the hard-hit states, that they would make wise decisions for their states.  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.  Amen.