Spring Forest Morning Prayers
June 30 – July 6, 2024
Sunday, June 20, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
The clearest representation of God’s presence on Earth is Jesus who came to life among His people. And Jesus had much to say about the Sabbath and the true rest that God intends for all of us. The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word shabbat, which means "to stop working".
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
Bless to us, O God,
The morning sun that is above us,
the good earth that is beneath us,
the friends that are around us,
your image deep within us,
the day which is before us.
Iona Prayer
Daily Lectionary Readings: 2 Sam 17:1:17-27; Ps 130; 2 Cor 6:1-13;
Mark 5:21-43
Monday, July 1, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
As this day begins, we are thankful that the greatest gift
given by God is love.
God is love and with His love we can love Him
by loving our neighbor.
Silence
Reflect on the wonder of the unconditional love given so freely by God
– not just to us but to ALL others.
Prayers of Gratitude
Let us sing His praises and cry out with a loud voice,
“Thanks be to our God.”
As the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is God’s amazing love for us showering us with untold blessings.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Reflect on the blessing that God gives us in others
who share their views and their wisdom.
Intercessions
Lord of All Creation,
You require us to love one another with the love that comes from You.
Today we bring to You prayers for one another and ourselves as well.
We give thanks for Your listening ears and Your loving heart.
Sending Forth Prayer
Thankful for God’s word as the lamp to our feet and our path,
may the wisdom we’ve received today from the scripture and others,
stir us to the action of loving all we encounter with the full love
that we receive from our most loving and gracious God.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 18:1-6, 43-50; 1 Samuel 23:14-18; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 88; Leviticus 21:1-15
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
Welcome, welcome, welcome!
I welcome everything that comes to me today,
because I know it's for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions,
persons, situations, and conditions.
I let go of my desire for power and control.
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval, and pleasure.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person or myself.
I open to the love and presence of God and God's action within.
Amen.
Father Thomas Keating
Silence
When you understand, you love.
And when you love, you naturally act
in a way that can relieve the suffering of people.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Prayers of Gratitude
We come before our God today with grateful hearts which overflow with tremendous blessings – big and small. We are especially thankful for the love and support we receive from one another, for their
guidance, wisdom and prayers.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
2 Corinthians 9:1-5
Reflect on the scripture and the blessings and strength of community.
Intercessions
Loving and Almighty God, we come to you today lifting ourselves and others
who are facing challenges, trials, and difficulties.
Grant Your strength and endurance to persevere
through each and every circumstance.
May all trust in You and rely on Your grace and power. Amen
Sending Forth Prayer
“May the God of peace, who through the blood of our Lord Jesus,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 18:1-6, 43-50; 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 2 Corinthians 9:1-5; Psalm 88; Leviticus 15:19-31
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard,flowing down Aaron’s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
Psalm 133:1-2
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s beautiful presence within ourselves
as well as this beloved community – both near and far.
Prayers of Gratitude
Loving and Almighty Lord,
We give you thanks for your everlasting presence in our lives
guiding us with your Holy Spirit.
and for the blessing of our neighbors.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Mark 9:14-29
Our scripture ends with the statement that this healing was possible only because of Prayer – our first rule of life at Spring Forest. As you reflect on the text, what are your thoughts about why the disciples were unable to cast the boy’s demon out?
Intercessions
Lord of All Creation,
We give you everlasting gratitude for the innumerable blessings
and mercies you bestow us each new day. We recognize that the hurts of yesterday are gone and what lies ahead is an empty slate. We are grateful that you listen to our prayers of intervention for ourselves, our neighbors, our communities, our nation, and our world.
Sending Forth Prayer
Lord, today, we pray that You would grant us
Your peace, boldness, and love.
Help us to walk through this day with You as our guide.
Teach us to seize this day as though it were our last.
Lord, help us build our day around Your presence,
that we might live in constant connection with You.
In Your holy name we pray, Amen.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 18:1-6, 43-50; 1 Chronicles 10:1-14; Mark 9:14-29; Psalm 88; 2 Kings 20:1-11
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
On this special day of celebration, we celebrate YOU so much more!
Your gifts abound with blessings endlessly bestowed.
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within you
and within your neighbors – near and far.
Prayers of Gratitude
Thank God! He deserves our thanks. His love never quits.Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits.Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.
Psalm 136:1-3
The Message
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 Corinthians 4:8-13
Reflect on today’s reading asking if we sometimes become self-reliant?
How does that revelation come to us? How do we correct that?
If we see that in others, what is our responsibility?
Intercessions
Almighty and Merciful God, We acknowledge that You rule the totality of our world. Inspire all those with the responsibility of government and leadership.Lead them to work together towards the vision of Your truth and Your justice. Give to the people of our country Your passion for justice
and love, using our liberty in accordance with Your gracious will.Forgive our many shortcomings as a nation; cleanse our sullied hearts
to see, to seek and to love Your truth.
We ask for Your guidance and intercessions for ourselves,
each other and our neighbors.
Christ in Your mercy, You hear our prayers.
Sending Forth
Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing.Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health.God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Psalm 51:10-12
The Message
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 48; 2 Samuel 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 4:8-13; Psalm 123; Jeremiah 7:1-15
Friday, July 5, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
Morning is God’s way of offering us another chance.
Let us use it to reach out to make a difference,
touch a hurting heart, encourage a sad neighbor,
inspire someone who is struggling.
Make the most of each and every day!!
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s gift of yet another day!
Prayers of Gratitude
“As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
John F. Kennedy
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Reflect on the gospel and its meaning for us today.
Intercessions
Merciful Lord, we come to You humbling asking You to keep us humble.
We give thanks for Your unconditional love. Before You today, we lift up
ourselves, members of our family, our neighbors and strangers
who may be broken in body or spirit. Comfort and heal.
Lead us to be Your hands and feet sharing Your love to all.
In the name of Your precious and holy son we pray. Amen
Sending Forth
Go forth with your daily “to do” list –
Count your endless blessings
Let go of what you can’t control
Practice kindness
Listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit
Know that God is on your side and with you always
Just breathe and live in God’s abundant love.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 48; 2 Samuel 3:1-12; 2 Corinthians 10:7-11; Psalm 123; Jeremiah 7:16-26
Saturday, July 6, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
We greet this day with joy which is so very fundamental to our spiritual life
knowing that without joy, our thoughts and words are hollow and empty.
This joy comes from the assurance that we are loved unconditionally
and nothing can take that love away. We choose this joy each and every day
because we celebrate that we belong to the Creator God.
Silence
Dear God,
Speak gently in my silence.When the loud outer noises of my surroundingsand the loud inner noises of my fearskeep pulling me away from you,help me to trust that you are still thereeven when I am unable to hear you.Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:“Come to me, you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest . . .for I am gentle and humble of heart.”
Let that loving voice be my guide. Amen.
Henri Nouwen
Prayers of Gratitude
As we celebrate God’s love for all His creation,
what prayers might you offer in thanksgiving?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Psalm 123
Reflect on the scripture and apply it to the situation of our nation today.
Intercessions
Creator of Divine Love,
We sometimes need help to constantly keep our eyes on You.
You are goodness, compassion, gentleness, forgiveness, and mercy.
You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
For through you, all things are possible.
We come to You today with many prayers for many people and rest in the assurance that You hear and You act. We give thanks for listening.
We ask in the name of your sweet and holy son, Jesus the Christ. Amen
Sending Forth
Go forth this day in the confidence that you are cradled by the O Holy One, our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Guide, our Comforter, our Hope, our Joy, and our Peace to whom we give our all. Let us live and give generously to all our neighbors – near and far.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 48; 2 Samuel 3:31-38; Matthew 8:18-22; Psalm 123; Jeremiah 7:27-34;
Peace be with you.