10.31.08
Psalm 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation —
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life —
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
(TNIV)
10.29.08
Justice & Peace
O Lord,
you love justice and you establish peace on earth.
We bring before you the disunity of today’s world;
the absurd violence, and the many wars,
which are breaking the courage of the peoples of the world;
human greed and injustice,
which breed hatred and strife.
Send your spirit and renew the face of the earth;
teach us to be compassionate towards the whole human family;
strengthen the will of all those
who fight for justice and for peace,
and give us that peace which the world cannot give.
All: Amen.
Taken from the World Council of Churches (http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqprayers-e.html)
10.28.08
Station 4
As we thank God for the love Mary had for Jesus, let us pray that parents may love and care for their children and that children may honour and respect their parents. Let us also pray that all Christians may express their love of Christ as members of his body, the Church. We pray for children abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents and also for parents grieved by their children, especially those who run away from home or turn to crime. We pray for a change of heart in those who inflict pain on those who love them.
Holy Father, you caused Simeon to foretell that a sword would pierce the heart of the blessed Virgin Mary: Grant to all who witness the suffering of their children courage to endure and faith in your unfailing love; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Holy God
Holy and strong
Holy and immortal
Have mercy on us all.
10.27.08
The Priestly Blessing
God bless you
and keep you
God smile on you
and gift you
God look you full in the face
and make you prosper
Amen.
God instructed Moses to have the priest Aaron and his sons bless His people by saying these words to them. These words place God’s blessing on you today. May you also speak this blessing to others.
10.24.08
Expression of Faith
Celtic Evening Prayer Expression of Faith
Lord, You have always given
bread for the coming day;
and though I am poor,
today I believe.
Lord, You have always given
strength for the coming days;
and though I am weak,
today I believe.
Lord, You have always given
peace for the coming day;
and though of anxious heart,
today I believe.
Lord, You have always kept me
safe in trials;
and now, tired as I am,
today I believe.
Lord, You have always marked
the road for the coming day;
and though it may be hidden,
today I believe.
Lord, You have always lightened
the darkness of mine;
and though the night is here,
today I believe.
Lord, You have always spoken
when the time was ripe;
and though you be silent now,
today I believe
Taken from Northumbria Community Celtic Evening Prayer Liturgy
http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/PraytheOffice/eveningprayer.html
10.22.08
Sea of Love
The following text is taken from the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle on the Gulf region:
O God, who art the unsearchable abyss of peace,
the ineffable sea of love, the fountain of blessings
and the bestower of affection,
who sendest peace to those that receive it;
Open to us this day the sea of thy love
and water us with plenteous streams
from the riches of thy grace
and from the most sweet springs of thy kindness.
Make us children of quietness and heirs of peace,
enkindle in us the fire of thy love;
sow in us thy fear;
strengthen our weakness by thy power;
bind us closely to thee and to each other
in our firm and indissoluble bond of unity:
Syrian Clementine Liturgy (in: For all God’s people; p. 73)
10.21.08
Station 3
The act of falling reminds us of our failure to keep the promises we have made to Christ Jesus. It clearly demonstrates the weakness of our human nature and our need for the saving grace of God. In our Christian life we often make promises to God and to his Church. But we falter along the way. Let us tell God that we need him. Let us pray also for those who want to follow Jesus but because of other interests and priorities shrink away from obedience to this calling.
Merciful Father, Your Son was tempted as we are yet without sin: Be with us in our weakness that we may know your power to save; help others Lord to know and trust in your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy God
Holy and strong
Holy and immortal
Have mercy on us all.
10.20.08
The Kenosis (emptying)
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
10.17.08
Prayer in the Face of Economic Downturn
A portion of a contemporary liturgy by Christine Sine
God of Hagar and Ischmael,
God of the woman at the well,
God, who draws close to those who are outcast and abandoned,
We cry out to you, the One who gives water in the desert,
We trust in you, the One who made a nation from a band of slaves
We are embraced by you, the One who welcomes us all into the eternal family.
God of the despised and rejected ones,
God, who gives sons and daughters to those who are alone,
God, whose body was broken to bear all grief and carry all sorrow,
We cry out to you, the One who leads us through death into resurrection,
We trust in you, the One who invites us to drink deeply of the water of life,
We are embraced by you, the One who welcomes us all into the eternal family.
God of mercy and compassion,
God of love and faithfulness,
God, who asks us to take up our Cross and follow,
We cry out to you, the One who unveils abundance where we see only scarcity,
We trust in you, the One who makes life flourish in place of death and destruction,
We are embraced by you, the One who welcomes us all into the eternal family.
The entire liturgy can be found at Mustard Seeds Associates:
http://msainfo.org/articles/prayer-in-the-face-of-economic-downturn
Or Godspace blog:
http://godspace.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/faith-in-turbulent-times/
10.15.08
Litany for Iraq
In light of the hectic persecution of Christians going on in Iraq (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.violence/index.html), as well as the ongoing war, unrest & violence, we invite you to join in prayer for the people & land:
Litany for Iraq
For lasting peace in this ancient land – From you, O Lord.
For wisdom and compassion for all in authority – From you, O Lord.
For comfort for families separated or bereaved – From you, O Lord.
For the release of captives – From you, O Lord.
For safety and security for minority communities.
For refreshment for the weary and healing for the sick – From you, O Lord.
For continuing faithfulness of the ancient churches of this land – From you, O Lord.
For tenacity of spirit for small Christian groups – From you, O Lord.
For the mutual enrichment and support of those of different Christian traditions – From you, O Lord.
You, Lord of all, we confess;
You, Lord Jesus, we glorify;
For you are the life of our bodies
And you are the Saviour of our souls.
(taken from http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqprayers-e.html)
