October 27 – November 2, 2024
Focus: Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
This is a day for rest and deep thankfulness for the neighbors with whom we dwell.
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 Sunday: Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Ps 34:1-9 (19-22); Heb 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52
Monday, October 28, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
God is the strength of God’s people; God is the saving refuge of God’s anointed. O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them forever.
(Psalm 28:8-9)
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Holy One, you breathe, and we are created. Your heart beats and we are filled with life. Your Spirit flows, and we are connected in all things –
in beauty, in wonder, in earth, in waters and breezes and oceans and the beating, pulsing, yearning, exploding, radiating, that is creation.
In this moment and forever, we join together in praise.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Isaiah 59:9-19
Reflect on the scripture and remember that God is with those who are violated and betrayed.
Intercessions
Broken is your heart, Oh God, for the horrors we birth and call them good.
Break us Loving Potter, so that the sharp edges
might pierce our hearts to the pain of others.
Shatter us that our small bits might lose the stains of arrogance.
Mix the dust of our selfishness with the sacred water of your tears,
Reform us anew as receptacles of living justice,
That we might pour your healing Spirit into all the shattered spaces.
Pray for our neighbors who, on this day, are the bringers of violence.
Pray for our neighbors who, on this day, will know no peace.
Sending Forth
Generous God,Open our alien hearts like a window to the world,so though the veil of chaos, we may see our neighbor’s need.May your Living Word flow through our lives onto parched realities,and let our words be a shelter, a cocoon of kindness for the other. Lead us in unity until your peace blooms between us,and our lives become a shared song of grace.
(from Psalm 119:17-24 – a response)
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 Monday:
Psalm 28; Isaiah 59:9-19; 1 Peter 2:1-10; Psalm 119:17-24; Exodus 4:1-17
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
(Psalm 28:1-2)
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
In the earth, Blessed Sustainer,
your holy sustenance is born from the richness of that which has been before.
Nothing is wasted. Nothing is lost. All is connected.
The flowers wither and fade.
In the desolation of beauty, the seeds of promise are sprinkled
and await your waters of sacred restoration.
In the holy font of your love,
mix our tears with those of our neighbor that we too,
might birth a new communion.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
2 Kings 6:8-23
Reflect on the scripture and on God’s call to wage peace.
Intercessions
God of Grace, who is it that we name “the other?”
God of Grace, who is it that we must hate?
God of Grace, who is your enemy?
God of Grace, who is it that you seek to destroy?
Father, forgive us for we know not what we do – Oh, God of Grace.
Pray for one another, that we may never act as the enemy to our neighbor.
Sending Forth
God of Cosmic Surprises, in places paralyzed by doubt,
Breath into us the holy foolishness to believe beyond disbelief.
(from Acts 9:32-35 – a response)
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 Tuesday:
Psalm 28; Ezekiel 18:1-32; Acts 9:32-35; Psalm 119:17-24; 2 Kings 6:8-23
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.
(Psalm 119:17)
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Restoring God, we are wounded – we pray, wounds become the scars of hope,
We are hollowed out by pride – we pray, empty holes become receptacles of grace,
We are confused - we pray, unknowing holds the beauty of holy mystery,
We struggle in doubt – we pray, churning creates the humus where faith grows,
We strive for comfort – we pray, you bust us up to birth compassion for our neighbor.
Disrupting God – we pray, you turn us over in love.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Ezekial 14:12-23
Reflect on the scripture and on the ramifications of corporate sin and sustaining hope.
Intercessions
Holy Yahweh,
You created your good earth --
We created the ruins of earth forsaken.
You created a garden of plenty --
We created the scars of unfaithful hands upon the earth.
You created unity --
We created a grave for Abel and cross where you would be crucified.
We possess no prayers large enough.
Today, we do not pray for justice. We do not pray for mercy.
We pray for grace.
Sending Forth
“Lord of Mercy, Son of David, Let our eyes be opened!”
Your world, and our neighbor, desperately need us to see.
(from Matthew 20:29-34 – a response)
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 Wednesday:
Psalm 28; Ezekiel 14:12-23; Matthew 20:29-34; Psalm 119:17-24; Jeremiah 33:1-11
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
The LORD watches over the strangers; she upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked she brings to ruin.
(Psalm 146:9)
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
God of the Margins,
Grandmamas raise grandchildren,
and make a way out of no way.
Neglected children seem lost to the world,
and an underpaid teacher refuses to look away.
Elderly people waste away in silence,
and Hospice angels offer gentle touches of love.
A four-legged friend bounds into our life with a goofy-droopy tongue
and a wild-eyed zoomie face,
and we suddenly realize we are the ones who needed a home.
A neighbor makes a stop into our lives, shares our tears,
and heaven descends.
God of grace, hear our prayers. Here, our prayers.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Ruth 1:16-22
Reflect on the scripture and on neighbor as a rule of life.
Intercessions
Generous God, I didn’t realize I was hungry,
but you sent a pastor who fed my soul.
I didn’t realize I was thirsty,
but you offered incredible music that over-washed me in wonder.
I didn’t realize I was naked,
but you clothed me in the dazzling colors of nature.
I didn’t realize I was sick,
but you offered me your Word that made me whole.
I didn’t realize I was a stranger,
but you sent a neighbor who welcomed me with laughter.
I didn’t realize I was in prison,
but you liberated my heart and set me free.
Pray, knowing that the Spirit prays with us.
Sending Forth
Holy One, in my stumbling, bumbling, questioning self,
you hold me and bid me to go without shame, for your love holds it all.
((from Psalm 119:1-8, a response)
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 Thursday:
Psalm 146; Ruth 1:16-22; Hebrews 9:1-12; Psalm 119:1-8; Exodus 22:1-15
Friday, November 1, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
(Psalm 24:10)
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
Thank you, Oh God, for those who teach wonder,
when we want certainty.
Thank you, Oh God, for those who move slowly,
when we demand speed.
Thank you, Oh God, for those who study the flower,
when we’re too busy searching the trees.
Thank you, Oh God, for those who sing off key,
when we seek to be perfect.
Thank you, Oh God, that you love us in the mirror when you boom true,
“You are not all that!”
And then you whisper, “You – my other self – you are far more.”
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Isaiah 25:6-9
Reflect on the scripture and the neighboring of God.
Intercessions
In between the silence, you whisper,
In the thundering of the storm, you proclaim,
In the laughter of the child, you sing,
In the brokenness of the neighbor, you beckon,
In the finalities of life, you promise,
In the midst of our loneliness, you are.
And in this space, you weave us together and call us Beloved.
Sending Forth
Breath of Life, you weep with us in forgotten corners.
Unbind our imaginations,
that we might always see you in your most distressing disguise.
((from John 11:32-44, a response)
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 Friday:
All Saints Day: Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
Opening
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
(Psalm 146:1-2)
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
Prayers of Gratitude
How is it with your soul ...
Through the word ... made flesh ... holding ... carrying ... moving us to the edge ...
into relationship with those who are spilled upon, put down, shut up,
shoved aside ...
into relationship, into connection, into solidarity,
with the ones he calls "the least of these,"
which includes, of course,
that little busted up part of my own self …
And in their liberation
... my liberation
... our liberation.
It is, you see, the movement to justice,
It is, you see, the reality of transformation,
It is, you see, simply ... Jesus.
It is … how it is … with my, with our ... soul.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Luke 10:25-37
Reflect on the scripture and the scandalous nature of neighbor.
Intercessions
Why are we afraid?
When our neighbor is someone else.
Why are we offended?
When our neighbor prays prayers we do not know.
Why are we angry?
When our neighbor speaks in another tongue.
Why are we silenced?
When suddenly we discover, we are the neighbor.
Who is our neighbor?
Jesus says, “It is only me, showing you all of the faces that are you.”
Pray for the many ways we stumble at neighboring.
Sending Forth
May we welcome all who wonder, unseen and weary,
Our hands full of Holy Abundance.
(from Ruth 2:10-14, a response)
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 Saturday:
Psalm 146; Ruth 2:10-14; Luke 10:25-37; Psalm 119:1-8; Numbers 9:9-14
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