September 22 - 29, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Holy Spirit,
Come to us this Sabbath Day reminding us of the importance of rest and letting go of all that keeps us wound up.
Quiet our hearts, give rest to our souls, and stay close to us.
Amen.
Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Don’t do any work on it.
Deuteronomy 5:13 – 14a
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer;
May God work through our prayers;
May our work be an answer;
To God’s will working through us.
May we rest in God’s love;
May God’s rest feed our souls;
May our table be open;
May we welcome friends and foes.
May the poor be our neighbors;
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Prov 31:10-31; Ps 1; James 3:13-4:3; Mark 9:30-37
Monday, September 23, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Opening
God of the morning, as we gather together on this day,
we give thanks for the gift of this day and this gathering.
Ready us to receive your grace this day.
Silence
Be still and rest in the knowledge that God is here with us now and always.
Prayers of Gratitude
We are grateful that you move among us filling us with your love and grace.
Your many gifts are abundant and never-ending. Today we lift prayers to celebrate your goodness in our lives and those of others as well.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our loving God, who is heaven and here among us,We honor your name as sacred and holy.May we work with you to establish your new order of justice,
peace, and love here on earth.Provide for us, day by day, all the things we need. And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgivenessGuide us away from the things that tempt us
so we may receive the grace you offer.For you reign in the power that comes from love,
which is your glory forever and ever.Amen.
Julie Harding
A Reading
James 4:8-17
Reflect on the scripture and how often we recognize the right thing to do but fail to do it and the whys.
Intercessions
Creator and Giving God, in our communities, many hunger for food and others for purpose and meaning. We lift them up to you. Remind us to share our goods and our time and our prayers as we strive to love all your creatures. We seek your guidance and healing for our world.
Sending Forth Prayer
Walk with us today, Loving God, meeting Jesus in all we encounter and opening our table to all of God’s children.
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer;
May God work through our prayers;
May our work be an answer;
To God’s will working through us.
May we rest in God’s love;
May God’s rest feed our souls;
May our table be open;
May we welcome friends and foes.
May the poor be our neighbors;
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Psalm 128; Proverbs 27:1-27; James 4:8-17;
Psalm 139:1-18; 2 Kings 5:1-14
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Opening
We give thanks for this new day – all 24 hours of it – and all the amazing opportunities it affords us. We invite our God to walk with us welcoming each opportunity to share his love, grace and mercy to all.
Silence
Be still as we become alert to God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
We thank you, holy God, for walking with us and for giving us others who also share this journey. Let your spirit move among us today as we strive to open our tables to all your children.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our loving God, who is heaven and here among us,We honor your name as sacred and holy.May we work with you to establish your new order of justice,
peace, and love here on earth.Provide for us, day by day, all the things we need. And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgivenessGuide us away from the things that tempt us
so we may receive the grace you offer.For you reign in the power that comes from love,
which is your glory forever and ever.Amen.
Julie Harding
A Reading
James 5:1-6
Reflect on the scoldings we received in the scripture today.
Intercessions
Spirit of the living God, be present with us, and we ask that you to heal your sick ones, give rest to your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, shield your joyous ones, and all for your love’s sake.
Sending Forth
Go forth reveling in God’s word, being creative as you work for love and justice filling your table with your neighbors.
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer;
May God work through our prayers;
May our work be an answer;
To God’s will working through us.
May we rest in God’s love;
May God’s rest feed our souls;
May our table be open;
May we welcome friends and foes.
May the poor be our neighbors;
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Psalm 128; Ecclesiastes 4:9-16; James 5:1-6:
Psalm 139:1-18; 2 Kings 11:21-12:16
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Opening
As we greet the day together, we rejoice that God made and loves our world giving us one another as we seek a wisdom deeper than our own.
Silence
Let us be still so that we may hear the invitation that Jesus issues to us to follow him making a new beginning in our lives.
Prayers of Gratitude
We give thanks for the knowledge that God is above us in the trees, birds, sunshine, stars and moonlight; beneath us in the earth, rocks, rivers, roots and caverns; all around us in the seas, fields, winds, cities, animals and people; and God dwells within us in hope, tears, laughter, love and wonder.
(adapted from The Iona Abbey Worship Book)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our loving God, who is heaven and here among us,We honor your name as sacred and holy.May we work with you to establish your new order of justice,
peace, and love here on earth.Provide for us, day by day, all the things we need. And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgivenessGuide us away from the things that tempt us
so we may receive the grace you offer.For you reign in the power that comes from love,
which is your glory forever and ever.Amen.
Julie Harding
A Reading
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Reflect on the reading rejoicing that God gives us direction through his word.
Intercessions
Just and merciful Creator, we see your presence in our world, your power and compassion, music, art and poetry, diversity and unity. Yet we recognize that many of your children are in need in so many different ways. We lift them up to you, O Lord!
Sending Forth Prayer
Go forth with the blessing of our sure, strong and kind God within us now and along our journeys.
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer;
May God work through our prayers;
May our work be an answer;
To God’s will working through us.
May we rest in God’s love;
May God’s rest feed our souls;
May our table be open;
May we welcome friends and foes.
May the poor be our neighbors;
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Psalm 128; Ecclesiastes 5:1-20; John 8:21-38;
Psalm 139:1-18; Jeremiah 1:4-10
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Opening
Holy God, your mercies are new each and every morning!
Allow us to receive them and share them with all we encounter
so that we can live more fully for you.
Silence
In the stillness of this moment, may we rejoice in the goodness of our God!!
Prayers of Gratitude
Merciful Creator, we give thanks that you move, speak and show your presence in our lives. We recognize and are thankful for those you send to us to support and guide us, to challenge us which opens our eyes, to fill our lives with love and soften our hearts. For these and all the innumerable blessings you shower on us, we thank you! Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our loving God, who is heaven and here among us,We honor your name as sacred and holy.May we work with you to establish your new order of justice,
peace, and love here on earth.Provide for us, day by day, all the things we need. And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgivenessGuide us away from the things that tempt us
so we may receive the grace you offer.For you reign in the power that comes from love,
which is your glory forever and ever.Amen.
Julie Harding
A Reading
Psalm 19:7-14
Reflect on the reading giving thanks for the many ways
that God chooses to guide us.
Intercessions
Faithful God, you promise to hear us when we pray to you.
With confidence and boldness, we offer up to you:
places in our lives where we need your guidance and direction,
people in our lives who need your healing,
situations in our communities that need transformation,
leaders in our world who need courage and wisdom.
May your kingdom in heaven be made real on earth. Amen
(adapted from The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer)
Sending Forth
Go forth into this day remembering,
“God doesn’t love you because you are good.
God loves you because God is good.”
Richard Rohr
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer;
May God work through our prayers;
May our work be an answer;
To God’s will working through us.
May we rest in God’s love;
May God’s rest feed our souls;
May our table be open;
May we welcome friends and foes.
May the poor be our neighbors;
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Psalm 124; Esther 1:1-21; Acts 4:13-31;
Psalm 19:7-14; Exodus 18:13-27
Friday, September 27, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Opening
God of Creation,
You set the patterns of our world – day and night, summer, fall, winter, and spring – so that all the amazing living things you created can flourish.
Silence
Let us create time and space for silence so that we may stop to consider our lives and how our lives impact others and our earth.
Prayers of Gratitude
Thank you, dear God, for the blessing of things that stay the same: for the people we have known forever and the familiar paths where we walk.
Thank you, dear God, for the blessing of things that change: for newcomers with their new customs, new ways of doing things, new paths to discover.
Thank you, dear God, for the blessing of the old and the blessing of the new.
(from Prayers for a Better World by Sophie Piper)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our loving God, who is heaven and here among us,We honor your name as sacred and holy.May we work with you to establish your new order of justice,
peace, and love here on earth.Provide for us, day by day, all the things we need. And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgivenessGuide us away from the things that tempt us
so we may receive the grace you offer.For you reign in the power that comes from love,
which is your glory forever and ever.Amen.
Julie Harding
A Reading
Psalm 124
Reflect on the scripture and how it might relate to us today.
Intercessions
Holy God, help us to trust in you and your timing. We turn to you asking for patience and hope as you work in our lives and the lives of those for whom we pray today.
Sending Forth
Go forth remembering to “Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer;
May God work through our prayers;
May our work be an answer;
To God’s will working through us.
May we rest in God’s love;
May God’s rest feed our souls;
May our table be open;
May we welcome friends and foes.
May the poor be our neighbors;
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Psalm 124; Esther 2:1-23; Acts 12:20-25;
Psalm 19:7-14; Deuteronomy 1:1-18
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Table as a Rule of Life
Opening
With the rising of the sun, we rise to greet you, Loving Creator. We give thanks for the day ahead knowing you created for us. As we gather together, we invite you to join us sharing your wisdom and love.
Silence
Be still in the knowledge that through silence we can experience God’s love and goodness.
Prayers of Gratitude
We come before you, Compassionate God, singing shouts of joy and thanks! We are abundantly grateful for the many and varied blessings bestowed upon us.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our loving God, who is heaven and here among us,We honor your name as sacred and holy.May we work with you to establish your new order of justice,
peace, and love here on earth.Provide for us, day by day, all the things we need. And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgivenessGuide us away from the things that tempt us
so we may receive the grace you offer.For you reign in the power that comes from love,
which is your glory forever and ever.Amen.
Julie Harding
A Reading
Matthew 5:13-20
Reflect on the gospel remembering that God gives us the tools we need to do his work here on Earth.
Intercessions
God of justice, compassion and mercy, we ask that you hear our prayers for ourselves, our family, our friends, our community and our world today.
Sending Forth
Go forth this day spreading the joy of God.
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer;
May God work through our prayers;
May our work be an answer;
To God’s will working through us.
May we rest in God’s love;
May God’s rest feed our souls;
May our table be open;
May we welcome friends and foes.
May the poor be our neighbors;
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Psalm 124; Esther 3:1-15; Matthew 5:13-20
Psalm 19:7-14; Deuteronomy 27:1-10; Matthew 5:13-20
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