Morning Prayers
Date: September 8-14 (Sunday through Saturday), 2024
Rule of Life focus for this Week is Prayer
Sunday, September 8
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Today is a sacred day for rest and renewal of body, mind, and spirit.
Daily Prayer for a 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
Lectionary Readings today: Proper 18 (23) Prov 22:1-2, 8-9,22-23; Ps 125 or 124;
James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17; Mark 7:24-37
Monday, September 9, 2024
Prayer as a Rule of Life
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world
(Psalms 19: 1-4 NRSVUE)
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
This day, a reintroduction of sorts is fitting, though silly
because You are our Maker, and You have always known us
and in the soul, we know you
But since we are various degrees of distracted, scared, and lonely
would you tell us again who You are? We would like to know You more.
Thank You for being with us today.
Teach us Your Name, so we can pronounce it with our lives
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Proverbs 8:22-9:6
Reflect on finding life through Wisdom
Intercessions
Christ, You are before all things, and in You all things hold together
We ask today for contact with the fabric of Life
as each one comes to us, each wind, stone, handhold, leaf, neighbor, enemy
Help us to keep in touch with all that You Love
at the distance that love requires
with the wisdom that You give
Sending Forth Prayer
Open unto me-light for my darkness.Open unto me-courage for my fear.Open unto me-hope for my despair.Open unto me-peace for my turmoil.Open unto me-joy for my sorrow.Open unto me-strength for my weakness.Open unto me-wisdom for my confusion.Open unto me-forgiveness for my sins.Open unto me-love for my hates.Open unto me-thy Self for my self.Lord, Lord, open unto me. Amen.
– Howard Thurman, (1899-1981)
Daily Lectionary Readings: Monday, September 9, 2024:
Psalm 73:1-20; Proverbs 8:32-9:6; Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Isaiah 38:10-20; Joshua 6:1-21
Tuesday, September 10
Prayer as a Rule of Life
In the heavens God has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens
and its circuit to the end of them,
and nothing is hid from its heat.
(Psalm 19:4-6 NRSVUE)
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
The morning is ringing and clambering with the song of its Maker
We are the last to join the symphony, and we need some practice
Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty!
Help us, Teacher, to make something beautiful of this rag-tag band we are,
Gathered here in our buttons, schedules, eagerness, and fragilities
Help us sing the song of the world
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD God Almighty
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Proverbs 11:1-12
Reflect on the Word that needs realizing in our community
Intercessions
All around us it is so desperately noisy
Send a clear Word, O God our help in times of trouble
save Your People
keep us on your sure path
between walls of raging sea
Sending Forth Prayer
Open unto me-light for my darkness.Open unto me-courage for my fear.Open unto me-hope for my despair.Open unto me-peace for my turmoil.Open unto me-joy for my sorrow.Open unto me-strength for my weakness.Open unto me-wisdom for my confusion.Open unto me-forgiveness for my sins.Open unto me-love for my hates.Open unto me-thy Self for my self.Lord, Lord, open unto me. Amen.
– Howard Thurman, (1899-1981)
Daily Lectionary Readings: Tuesday, September 10, 2024:
Psalm 73:1-20; Proverbs 11:1-31; Hebrews 12:3-13
Isaiah 38:10-20; Joshua 8:1-23
Wednesday, September 11
Prayer as a Rule of Life
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
(Psalm 19: 8-10 NRSVUE)
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
As the expansive fields live for the sky, and each leaf and petal open upward
So we this day awaken to yearn toward Your Eternal Love
With every sapling, newborn, and soaring wing, we turn to You
We are drawn to You, as You search for us
O Source, O Friend, O Vast Embrace
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Song of Solomon 3:1-5
Reflect on the divine encounter you long for today
Intercessions
Lover of our Souls, You are a seamstress
We linger today at the ragged edge of things
There are dreadful tears in the fabric of creation
We know that You know how to sew, so we wait in Your presence
Son of David, do not pass us by
Sending Forth Prayer
Open unto me-light for my darkness.Open unto me-courage for my fear.Open unto me-hope for my despair.Open unto me-peace for my turmoil.Open unto me-joy for my sorrow.Open unto me-strength for my weakness.Open unto me-wisdom for my confusion.Open unto me-forgiveness for my sins.Open unto me-love for my hates.Open unto me-thy Self for my self.Lord, Lord, open unto me. Amen.
– Howard Thurman, (1899-1981)
Daily Lectionary Readings: Wednesday, September 11, 2024:
Psalm 73:1-20; Proverbs 14:1-9; Matthew 17:14-21
Isaiah 38:10-20; Judges 15:9-20
Thursday, September 12
Prayer as a Rule of Life
By (Your Word) is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect one’s own errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
(Psalm 19:11-12 NRSVUE)
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
O God, make haste to save me, O Lord, make haste to help me
O God, make haste to save me, O Lord, make haste to help me.
O God, make haste to save me, O Lord, make haste to help me.
(Psalms 70)
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Psalms 116:1-9
Reflection statement or question
Reflect on an experience of being heard in prayer
Intercessions
What do you love, O Christ?
Give us a glimpse of how you see them!
By Your mighty breath,
clear the ‘great dust cloud of considerations’ around us
so that we can attend to the one thing needed
Sending Forth Prayer
Open unto me-light for my darkness.Open unto me-courage for my fear.Open unto me-hope for my despair.Open unto me-peace for my turmoil.Open unto me-joy for my sorrow.Open unto me-strength for my weakness.Open unto me-wisdom for my confusion.Open unto me-forgiveness for my sins.Open unto me-love for my hates.Open unto me-thy Self for my self.Lord, Lord, open unto me. Amen.
– Howard Thurman, (1899-1981)
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Thursday, September 12, 2024:
Psalm 19; Proverbs 15:1-17; Hebrews 11:17-22
Psalm 116:1-9; Joshua 2:1-14
Friday, September 13
Prayer as a Rule of Life
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer
(Psalm 19:13-14 NRSVUE)
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
You are bringing us home, by pillar of cloud and pillar of fire
You would not leave us to stay in the place of bondage
By this ache inside, we know we are not home yet
We begin today by meticulously counting the bread from heaven
it is enough
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
Reflection statement or question
Reflect on being in the hands of God
Intercessions
With the hills asking for rain, and the cattle asking for food,
and the lion asking for prey, and the trees asking for light,
and the sun asking to rise,
we ask today for what we need.
We look to you to fill us with good things
and create us anew
Sending Forth Prayer
Open unto me-light for my darkness.Open unto me-courage for my fear.Open unto me-hope for my despair.Open unto me-peace for my turmoil.Open unto me-joy for my sorrow.Open unto me-strength for my weakness.Open unto me-wisdom for my confusion.Open unto me-forgiveness for my sins.Open unto me-love for my hates.Open unto me-thy Self for my self.Lord, Lord, open unto me. Amen.
– Howard Thurman, (1899-1981)
Daily Lectionary Readings: Friday, September 13, 2024:
Psalm 19; Proverbs 19:24-29; James 2:17-26
Psalm 116:1-9; Joshua 2:15-24
Saturday, September 14
Prayer as a Rule of Life
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world
(Psalms 19: 1-4 NRSVUE)
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Today, You created us, Creator God
You assembled us, bags of water, bacteria hotels, arms for holding
You introduced us to our relatives, Brother Wind, Sister Water
You made us out of ancient clay, yesterday’s food, and baptism promises
And now we have risen to greet You back!
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Psalms 19
Reflection statement or question
Reflect on the precepts of God written in Creation
Intercessions
Your glory is painted across the skies, and Elon Musk pasted Starlink as a
bold streak of ego across what You made
Your Words are like pure water, getting harder to find
Your intricate handiwork is reduced to production, distribution, consumption,
units, workers, consumers, waste
Where has praise gone?
We bring our offerings of anger, loss, and resolve
To praise and protect the sacred
Sending Forth Prayer
Open unto me-light for my darkness.Open unto me-courage for my fear.Open unto me-hope for my despair.Open unto me-peace for my turmoil.Open unto me-joy for my sorrow.Open unto me-strength for my weakness.Open unto me-wisdom for my confusion.Open unto me-forgiveness for my sins.Open unto me-love for my hates.Open unto me-thy Self for my self.Lord, Lord, open unto me. Amen.
– Howard Thurman, (1899-1981)
Daily Lectionary Readings: Saturday, September 14, 2024:
Psalm 19; Proverbs 21:1-17; Matthew 21:23-32
Psalm 116:1-9; Joshua 6:22-27
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