Daily Prayer for Wednesday, March 24, 2021

“Ride on! Ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die…”     
                                                          Henry Hart Milman, 1827

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                                                            Philippians 3:14
Keep pressing on toward the goal:
the heavenly call of God in Jesus Christ.

Prayer                                                          Wild Goose Worship Group, 2000
Humble and riding on a donkey,
We greet you.
Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children,
We cheer you.
Moving from the peace of the countryside
to the corridors of power,
We salute you, Christ our Lord.
You are giving the beasts of burden
a new dignity;
you are giving majesty
a new face;
you are giving those who long for redemption
a new song to sing.
With them, with heart and voice,
we shout “Hosanna!”

Hymn of the Day                            
Sweet Bye and Bye, by Willie Nelson.  Listen and pray.  

Reading of the Day                                                               Mark 11:1–11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
                 “Hosanna!
                 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10             Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
                 Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

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, and of course for all those who have been affected by the devastating winter storms.   Please continue to pray for Marcy Szeliga and for Mark Sabala, both working as nurses with Covid patients.  Pray for those in leadership at John Knox, that they would listen for God’s direction in the way of the church.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ,
of Christ the light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you.