July 21-27, 2024
Sunday, July 21, 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
In the midst of the summer, we are reminded of the need
To take a pause.
Catch our breath
Slow down
Rest.
Silence
Come away with me, Jesus says.
We need to rest.
Prayers of Gratitude
We are ever grateful for a day of rest for weary bodies, minds and souls. We come this day to rest in the embrace of your love and just simply be present to you.
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Reflection Suggestions
Where are those places or situations you need to step away from and find rest?
Intercessions
Help us to embrace the peace that passes all understanding and simply rest this day.
Sending Forth
Each day we seek to be grounded in your ways, Creator.
And so we pray,
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
Daily Lectionary: 2 Sam 7:1-14a; Ps 89:20-37; Eph 2:11-12; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Monday, July 22, 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
Opening
Inhale
Exhale
Repeat
Silence
Simply pause often to pay attention to your breath today.
Prayers of Gratitude
Each day, a new beginning.
Each day, a choice.
Each day, a gift.
Each day, opportunities to be grateful.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Reflection Suggestions
Jesus knew the need for rest and often stepped away.
Where are those places, situations, activities from which we need
to step away to find rest?
Intercessions
We come this day to offer our prayers for others, our world and ourselves. This journey we call life is often chaotic, filled with tensions and muchness. We pause today, to seek refuge in your love and forgiving grace. Christ in your mercy, here our prayers.
Sending Forth Prayer
Each day, may we remember to pause and pray:
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
Daily Lectionary: 2 Sam 7:1-14a; Ps 89:20-37; Eph 2:11-12; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Monday, July 22, 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
Opening
Inhale
Exhale
Repeat
Silence
Simply pause often to pay attention to your breath today.
Prayers of Gratitude
Each day, a new beginning.
Each day, a choice.
Each day, a gift.
Each day, opportunities to be grateful.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Reflection Suggestions
Jesus knew the need for rest and often stepped away.
Where are those places, situations, activities from which we need
to step away to find rest?
Intercessions
We come this day to offer our prayers for others, our world and ourselves. This journey we call life is often chaotic, filled with tensions and muchness. We pause today, to seek refuge in your love and forgiving grace. Christ in your mercy, here our prayers.
Sending Forth Prayer
Each day, may we remember to pause and pray:
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.
Daily Lectionary: Psalm 61; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; Hebrews 13:17-25; Psalm 100; Jeremiah 50:1-7
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
Opening
God, listen to me shout,
bend an ear to my prayer.
When I’m far from anywhere,
down to my last gasp, I call out, “Guide me
up High Rock Mountain!”
Silence
You’ve always given me breathing room,
a place to get away from it all,
A lifetime pass to your safe-house,
an open invitation as your guest.
You’ve always taken me seriously, God,
made me welcome among those who know and love you.
Psalm 61:1-5 MSG
Prayers of Gratitude
Thank you for this summer day. Simple as a child at play, we bring our prayers of delight. There are so many things for which we can give thanks.
Like a picnic basket filled with good things, we share our abundant joys today.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Psalm 100
Reflection Suggestions
What are the ways we find rest in the familiar words of Psalm 100?
Intercessions
We know the world around us is not at rest. There is violence and fear, sorrow and devastation, so many things that tear us apart and keep us up at night. We lift our prayers today for the brokenness and pain. We ask pray for the world, others and ourselves to find strength and rest for the journey. Christ, we seek the peace that passes all understanding in the midst of all that is.
Sending Forth
Seeking sustaining guidance and assurance, we pray
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.
Daily Lectionary: Psalm 61; 2 Samuel 8:1-18; Acts 20:17-38; Psalm 100; Zechariah 9:14-10:2
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
Opening
Sometimes we lose perspective about what is most important, May we find patience and wisdom to slow down and wait for guidance.
Silence
Jesus beckons us to step away to catch our breath and be with God in quiet spaces.
Prayers of Gratitude
You, Loving Creator, continually seek to be in relationship with us. Such love is so amazing and we want to share the wonder and joy it brings to our lives. We raise our voices in praise this day for the gifts for your abundant grace and mercy.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Luke 15:1-7
Reflection Suggestions
What are those things that leave us restless? How do we respond?
Intercessions
God grant us the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change;
courage to change the things we can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
Reinhold Niebuhr
Sending Forth Prayer
We go out into this day seeking wisdom.
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.
Daily Lectionary: Psalm 61; 2 Samuel 9:1-13; Luke 15:1-7 ; Psalm 100; 2 Samuel 5:1-12
Thursday, July 25 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
Opening
All creation will stand in awe of You, O Eternal One.
Thanks will pour from the mouths of every one of Your creatures;
Your holy people will bless You.
They will not be silent; they will talk of the grandeur of Your kingdom
and celebrate the wonder of Your power
Silence
Your kingdom will never end;
Your rule will endure forever.
You are faithful to Your promise,
and Your acts are marked with grace.
Psalm 145:10-13 VOICE
Prayers of Gratitude
For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to God, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kin-dom of the beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:9-14
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
The True Rest
Rest for the frequently restless.
Rest for the easily slighted.
Rest for the unjustly treated.
Rest for the inwardly disturbed.
Rest for the innocently harmed.
Rest for the physically pained.
Rest for the harshly betrayed.
Draw us close when we are in need.
Do not let us forget what we can receive.
Meditation from Joyce Rupp
“Fragments of Your Ancient Name”
Reflection Suggestions
What are the diverse things from which we need to find rest in and for our world?
Intercessions
There are many needs in the world in which we live. We come this day to share our concerns, our laments, our cries for the world, others, and ourselves as we seek to be your people, faithful and ever present to your merciful grace and abundant love.
O Christ, hear our prayers…
Sending Forth Prayer
We gain strength by praying and trusting you to guide us as we pray,
The Daily Prayer for Spring Forest 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.
Daily Lectionary: Psalm 14; 2 Samuel 10:1-5; Colossians 1:9-14; Psalm 145:10-18; 1 Kings 19:19-21
Friday, July 26, 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
Opening
They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought, it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:8
Silence
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6
Prayers of Gratitude
We can look around and see signs of your beauty that bring a sense of wonder to our hearts and minds. May we ever be mindful of the abundance of goodness, even in the midst of the troubles of our world. Today we bring a few of those reminders of beauty and joy to share with others. We give you “Thanks!”
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Colossians 3:12-17
Reflection Suggestions
What role does patience play in the sacred act of rest?
Intercessions
God, you know how impatient we can be when we feel so passionate about what we think we need to fix / correct / take care of. We forget that what we really need is to release it all to you in prayer. So, we come today to share with this community the hurts, the fears, the things that are on our hearts. Lord, hear our prayers.
Sending Forth Prayer
Daily Prayer for Spring Forest 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.
Daily Lectionary: Psalm 14; 2 Samuel 10:6-12; Colossians 3:12-17; Psalm 145:10-18; 2 Kings 3:4-20
Saturday, July 27, 2024
REST as a Rule of Life
Opening
“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Silence
Come on. What are we waiting for?
Prayers of Gratitude
Saturday can be a day for chores, time with family and friends, time to play. In all we do today, help us to be ever mindful of the many blessings in our lives and give you thanks.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
John 4:31-38
Reflection Suggestions
Consider the work of faithful people throughout the ages who have continued to share the love and merciful grace of God in Christ’s name.
Intercessions
We pray for those who labor in love to share not only words, but actions of love near and far. We pray for places where there is violence, bring peace. We pray for those who need healing of body, mind and spirit. We pray for others and for ourselves that we may be your presence of transforming merciful grace and unconditional love.
Sending Forth
Daily Prayer for Spring Forest 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.
Daily Lectionary: Psalm 14; 2 Samuel 10:13-19; John 4:31-38; Psalm 145:10-18; 2 Kings 4:38-41
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