Week of July 28 - August 3
Focus: Table as a Rule of Life
Sunday July 28
Rest as a Rule of Life
This is a day for rest and renewal of body, mind, and spirit.
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
Lectionary Readings for the Week: 2 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21
Monday, July 29
Table as a Rule of Life
“Better is a little that the righteous person has
than the abundance of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will abide forever;
they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.”
Psalm 37:16-19 NRSVUE
Silence
We lack nothing at the table of grace, feasting on the abundance of God’s love.
Prayers of Gratitude
Rejoice and give thanks for the Lord is good, very good.
We are neither forsaken nor forgotten;
our enemies are not the writers of our eternity,
the author of our salvation is Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
God of abundant life,
our cup overflows with thanksgiving for all your gifts.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Philippians 4:10-20
What gifts do we give to transforming the table of grace into a tangible table of plenty as we support those who serve, work, and suffer doing God’s work in this world?
Intercessions
Protector and provider, we are not alone, for in Jesus, you became God with us, and in the Holy Spirit, the very breath of God is present as comfort, advocate, and empowerment. Even with morsels of faith, we trust in you for great things. Our tables may seem scarce, yet through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, your grace is enough for You to satisfy our hungry hearts and the thirst of our souls.
Sending Forth Prayer
“Contentment is a stabilizing grace -
The godless are gluttons for gain,
Collapsing under the weight of their want,
While You exalt the humble.
In You I lack no good thing.”
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
*From “Psalm 37” Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms. Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt. Brazos Press. 2022.
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 Readings: Psalm 37:12-22; 2 Samuel 11:14-21; Philippians 4:10-20; Psalm 111; Genesis 18:1-15
Tuesday, July 30
Table as a Rule of Life
“Less is more and more is less.
One righteous will outclass fifty wicked,For the wicked are moral weaklings
but the righteous are God-strong.
God keeps track of the decent folk;
what they do won’t soon be forgotten.In hard times, they’ll hold their heads high;
when the shelves are bare, they’ll be full.”Psalm 37:16-19 The Message
Silence
The Lord observes with care and affection all that happens to God’s people,
providing hope for the abundance that will come.
Prayers of Gratitude
Strong tower and giver of strength in our weakness, You raise us up, and in the face of the enemy, You are the image in the clouds for which our heads rise seeing hope. Thank you for teaching us to rely on You. Your grace overflows while our stockpile of self-reliance is depleted. Your portion is sufficient; Your grace is enough.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Romans 15:22-33
Christ’s table expanded from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the earth as the Apostles carried their witness of Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit. The gifts sent from Jerusalem eventually became gifts back to Jerusalem. How are our gifts keeping Christ’s table set for all worldwide to come and feast at the table of grace?
Intercessions
The Lord’s table expands beyond the room, offering a seat to the broken, the weak, the sick, the marginalized, the immigrant, the native, the friends, and the foes. We come to the table releasing our burdens—our own and those we carry on behalf of neighbors. Lord, hear our prayer as we cast our burdens upon you and take on your abundant grace, freeing us for the feast of love set before us.
Sending Forth Prayer
Go in joy, for your faith guides you through the valley of unbelief into the community of saints, where renewal and refreshment prepare you for the next journey into the world for Jesus.
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
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 37:12-22; 2 Samuel 11:22-27; Romans 15:22-33 ; Psalm 111; Exodus 24:1-11
Wednesday, July 31
Table as a Rule of Life
“Better a little for the just
than wicked men’s great profusion.
For the wicked’s arms shall be broken,
but the Lord sustains the just.
The Lord embraces the gate of the blameless,
and their estate shall be forever.
They shall not be shamed in an evil time
and in days of famine they shall eat their fill.”
Psalm 37:16-19 The Hebrew Bible, Robert Alter
Silence
Where we see scarcity, God sees the opportunity to show heaven’s multiplying properties when we release even our crumbs for God’s glory.
Prayers of Gratitude
No more hunger, for you set a feast before us.
No more searching for crumbs, for you are the Bread of Life.
No more famine for you fill the hearts and bellies of those who come to you.
Receive our THANK YOU for you take our unbelief and show us your steadfastness;
You take our little and make it much.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Mark 6:35-44
What shall we release so God can provide a feast for the famished?
Intercessions
Manna-Giver, Your abundance provided more than enough “what is it” to Your people on the journey through the wilderness.
Miraculous Multiplier - Your power took a bag lunch of loaves and fish and showed God’s way of feeding the masses.
Lord, take our whatchamacallits, thingamajigs, doodads, and talents that seem so small in our possession, and let them do wonders for Your glory.
Your Holy Table takes ordinary bread and grapes and turns them into the extraordinary saving gifts of body and blood.
Hear our prayers as we seek extraordinary miracles for ordinary parts of everyday life.
Sending Forth Prayer
Want to soar? Release all who you are unto the wind of the Holy Spirit, who will show you that you can fly with Christ. God can do more than we can see.
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
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 37:12-22; 2 Chronicles 9:29-31; Mark 6:35-44; Psalm 111; Isaiah 25:6-10a
Thursday, August 1
Table as a Rule of Life
“Generous in love—God, give grace!
Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.I know how bad I’ve been;
my sins are staring me down.
You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.”
Psalm 51:1-6, The Message
Silence
We open ourselves, releasing the coiled-up stress of held sin and shame, allowing the Spirit soap to cleanse us. The Spirit of Truth is our way and life as we are made new.
Prayers of Gratitude
The soap may be rough and cause us to feel the burn, yet the refreshing sense of being clean is glorious to our souls. Thank you, Lord, for sin-cleaning baths that make us new with You.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 Corinthians 11:17-22
Where have we reserved seats for our desired vision and excluded the opportunity to welcome who God wants at the table to fulfill God’s vision?
Intercessions
There are empty chairs at the Table, and our heads are down in shame. Let us forgive one another as You forgave us. Let us extend Your grace with invitations to our enemies, the outcasts, and those hard to love. Remove our shame so our eyes can see the Christ in one another instead of the differences. Your grace has been poured out for many. Hear our prayer.
Sending Forth Prayer
We come to the table and receive a feast of grace.
We rise and go to share that grace everywhere with everyone.
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
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 51:1-12; Exodus 32:19-26a; 1 Corinthians 11:17-22; Psalm 78:23-29; Exodus 12:33-42
Friday, August 2
Table as a Rule of Life
“You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.”
Psalm 51:6-9, NRSVUE
Silence
The blood of the lamb and the waters of baptism wash our sins away.
Look up and see the face of your Redeemer.
Prayers of Gratitude
Let the redeemed of the Lord speak out!
Let the cleansed glisten radiantly!
Let the crushed rise from the ashes of the refiner’s fire with joy for Your salvation.
With clean hands and hearts, we share our thanks and praise.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 Corinthians 11:27-34
God’s table manners are not the same as cultural table etiquette. Reflect on God’s expectation of reverence, humility, and sincerity as ways to create tables of grace everywhere we break bread together.
Intercessions
Christ’s body was broken, and Christ’s blood was spilled. Our sins were forgiven, and the great division was healed. Help us, O Lord, fully live into Your desire as we gather round the table of grace, remembering Your sacrifice so that all the world might be saved. Heal our hearts that Your Spirit cleans dirt and filth before we get to the Table so that Your grace abounds as we feast with love neighbor to neighbor.
Sending Forth Prayer
God’s grace is so delightful that we can taste it. Let us prepare for the table by seeking and offering forgiveness so that we can come clean and feast in love.
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
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 51:1-12; Joshua 23:1-16; 1 Corinthians 11:27-34; Psalm 78:23-29; Exodus 12:43-13:2
Saturday, August 3
Table as a Rule of Life
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12, NRSVUE
Silence
God welcomes us into the holy presence, cleansing us before adorning us with Christ’s righteous clothes instead of casting us off into the chasm of nothingness.
Prayers of Gratitude
We enter the gates with thanksgiving and the courts with praise. Oh, how wonderful it is to stand on holy ground, restored and renewed in the presence of the Holy.
Holy are You, Lord of all Creation, maker of Heaven and Earth and everything in them. Gracious are You for giving us life, seeing us fall into pieces, and reshaping us before we breathe in a renewed Spirit. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Matthew 16:5-12
The viral power of the Holy Spirit renews, reconciles, and rehabilitates, while infectious trouble, corruption, and division prevent creation from fulfilling God’s desire for fruitfulness. Reflect on how we can bring Jesus, the Bread of Life, to the world.
Intercessions
Jesus, Bread of Life, Bread of Heaven, nourish us with Your salvation. Make us whole.
Jesus, Bread of Life, Bread of Heaven, save us from brokenness and seat us with Your cornucopia of creation as we feast at Your heavenly banquet.
Jesus, Bread of Life, Bread of Heaven, feed us with goodness and mercy and keep us from wasteful teachings that turn us into gluttons of emptiness.
Jesus, Bread of Life, Bread of Heaven, hear our prayers.
Sending Forth Prayer
Jesus, Bread of Life, Bread of Heaven, rise in us and let the fresh aroma of resurrected life attract others to share Your life together.
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
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 51:1-12; Judges 6:1-10; Matthew 16:5-12; Psalm 78:23-29; Exodus 13:3-10
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