Morning Prayers
March 10-16, 2024
Fourth Week of Lent
Year B of Common Lectionary
Spring Forest Community Rule of Life:
Prayer, Work, Rest, Table, Neighbor
Sunday, Fourth Week of Lent
A Day to rest, be restored, and remember that God is at the Center of all life.
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
Scripture Readings for the day: Numbers 21: 4-9; Psalm 107: 1-3, 1
7-22; Ephesians 2: 1-10; John 3: 14-21
Monday, Fourth Week of Lent
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
Silence
Be still and listen for the Voice of God calling to God’s beloved children.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
We give thanks for our many neighbors. The shining sun and the cloudy sky. The flowers in bud and the sleeping trees. All creatures that move around us. Our kindred people, the beautiful array of skin colors and human faces, the young and the old, the near and the distant. In all these neighbors we see and give thanks for the Holy One who became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. Give thanks for what’s happening in your neighborhood.
The LORD’s Prayer
Scripture Reading
John 3:14-21
Reflect on the gospel, a message of God’s SO love for the world.
Prayers of Intercession
O God, you who created and sustains all life, hear our prayers with your boundless mercy turned toward us. Hear our groaning as your Holy Spirit gives words to our wordless prayers. Help us remember we never pray alone as the LORD Jesus
intercedes for us at your right hand,
Blessing as We Go Our Way
May we live today at the pace of grace.
May we make a space for grace for our neighbors.
May our hearts be a place of grace where there is room for all.
Today’s Lectionary Reading
Psalm 107:1-16; Exodus 15:22-27; Hebrews 3:1-6
Tuesday, Fourth Week of Lent
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18
“Who is my neighbor?” Luke 10: 29
Silence
Be still and listen for the Voice of God calling to God’s beloved children.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
We give thanks for those who have been good neighbors to us. The rain that gives life sustaining water. The sun that causes all plants to grow. The plants that feed our bodies. The animals that leave paw prints on our hearts. The friends and family who bring joy and love to our lives. Our neighbors near and far in need of our hospitality.
The LORD’s Prayer
Scripture Reading
Numbers 20: 1-13
Reflect on God’s Word as the spring of living water that gushes even from dry rocks and in impossible places.
Prayers of Intercession
LORD God, we pray today for our neighbors, near and dear. We pray for our neighbors far away. We pray for those who are different from us as well as those who look like us. We pray for those we love and those we are tempted to hate. Help us be a good neighbor even as you are to us.
Blessing as We Go Our Way
May we live today at the pace of grace.
May we make a space for grace for our neighbors.
May our hearts be a place of grace where there is room for all.
Today’s Lectionary Reading
Psalm 107:1-16; Numbers 20:1-13; 1 Corinthians 10:6-13
Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
“I’m praying not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me because of them. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us.Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.”
John 17: 20, 21 (Message)
Silence
Be still and listen for the Voice of God calling to God’s beloved children.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
How thankful we are to live in God’s vast community of living things! Yes, thankful for our neighbors next door and around the world. Thankful for the knowledge that we need each other. And we thank you, LORD, for the earth that sustains all life. Today we give thanks for our connection to all creation.
The LORD’s Prayer
Scripture Reading
John 8: 12-20
Reflect on the gospel and Jesus Christ who is the Light of the world.
Prayers of Intercession
LORD, we pray today for those who feel completely alone in the world, drowning in their solitary confinement. We pray forgiveness and reconciliation for those, including ourselves, who are separated by hurt and bitterness. May we become an answer to your prayer that all might be one.
Blessing as We Go Our Way
May we live today at the pace of grace.
May we make a space for grace for our neighbors.
May our hearts be a place of grace where there is room for all.
Today’s Lectionary Reading
Psalm 107:1-16; Isaiah 60:15-22; John 8:12-20
Thursday, Fourth Week of Lent
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore God will rise up to show you compassion.”
Isaiah 30: 15, 18
Silence
Be still and listen for the Voice of God calling to God’s beloved children.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
Today we thank you, LORD Jesus, for being our good neighbor who shows compassion and mercy to us with every breath we take. Thank you for people in our lives who accept us without judgment or agendas. Thank you for the opportunity to do likewise for our neighbors.
The LORD’s Prayer
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 4: 1-13
Prayers of Intercession
Loving God in whom we find rest, renew our innermost self so that we might find strength to pray for those in need around us. As you restore us to yourself, may we overflow with your love and forgiveness into the lives of our neighbors.
Blessing as We Go Our Way
May we live today at the pace of grace.
May we make a space for grace for our neighbors.
May our hearts be a place of grace where there is room for all.
Today’s Lectionary Reading
Psalm 51:1-12; Isaiah 30:15-18; Hebrews 4:1-13
Friday, Fourth Week of Lent
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25: 40
Silence
Be still and listen for the Voice of God calling to God’s beloved children.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
We thank you, LORD, for your living presence among us. We are grateful for those around us, for in their faces we see the countenance of Christ. Thank you, LORD Jesus, for the small things done in great love that we have received and given to others.
The LORD’s Prayer
Scripture Reading
Psalm 51:1-12
Prayers of Intercession
May our prayers today empower others, beginning with the least of these. May our prayers empower us to serve those around us who have no power. May our prayers today empower the Church to embrace the world at its places of greatest need.
Blessing as We Go Our Way
May we live today at the pace of grace.
May we make a space for grace for our neighbors.
May our hearts be a place of grace where there is room for all.
Today’s Lectionary Reading
Psalm 51:1-12; Exodus 30:1-10; Hebrews 4:14-5:4
Saturday, Fourth Week of Lent
Neighbor as a Rule of Life
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so
doing some people have shown hospitality to angels,
without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:1-2
Silence
Be still and listen for the Voice of God
calling to God’s beloved children.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
LORD, we are grateful beyond words to know that we are
your beloved children in whom you are well pleased.
Your love is the greatest gift on earth. Thank you for those
who have shared your love with us. Thank you for the opportunity
to share your love with all, especially strangers.
The LORD’s Prayer
Scripture Reading
John 12: 1-11
Reflect on the gospel and God’s calling to lay down
our lives for the sake of Christ.
Prayers of Intercession
May our prayers for others today be a beautiful thing in your sight, merciful God.
LORD, help us remember when our prayers seem small
that you will do great things through prayer.
Blessing as We Go Our Way
May we live today at the pace of grace.
May we make a space for grace for our neighbors.
May our hearts be a place of grace where there is room for all.
Today’s Lectionary Reading
Psalm 51:1-12; Habakkuk 3:2-13; John 12:1-11
Peace be with you.
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