Saturday Evening

Season:

Ordinary Time

Saturday, September 26

Evening

Read/Sing:

Psalm 100; 63

Read:

Esther 9:1-32

Acts 20:1-16

Luke 4:38-44

Pray:

God of glory, we praise you for your presence in our lives, and for all goodness that you shower upon your children in Jesus Christ.  Especially we thank you for

    promises kept and hope for tomorrow...

    the enjoyment of friends...

    the wonders of your creation...

    love from our parents, our sisters and brothers, our spouses and children...

    pleasures of living...

God of grace, we are one with all your children, for we are sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ, and we offer our prayers for all whom we love.  Especially we pray for

    those we too often forget...

    people who have lost hope...

    victims of tragedy and disaster...

    those who suffer mental anguish...

    ecumenical councils and church agencies...

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Examen

I thank you for Resurrection Vigil.  For Jesus' resurrection (Mark 16:1-7), for Psalm 150, Psalm 118, for Miriam and the horse and rider thrown into the sea (Exodus 15), for the darkness of sin and death giving way to light that we celebrate every time Saturday turns to Sunday, for baptism and the water that went over my head one lovely June day so long ago.  May I thank you above all that this is not a novelty.  Thank you for being freed from novelty in my walk with you.  Maybe others can do the novelty thing better than me, but when I do it, its just a big monologue, talking-to-myself thing.  I want to be nourished by you and I don't want to be fooled into thinking that the form the nourishment comes in could ever be emaciated or dried up.  Bring my dry, emaciated soul to these nourishing moves each day.

Friday Morning

Season:

Ordinary Time

Friday, September 25

Morning

Read/Sing:

Esther 8:1-8, 15-17

Acts 19:21-41

Luke 4:31-37

Pray:

Eternal God, we praise you for your mighty love given in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and the new life we have received by his resurrection.  Especially we thank you for

    the presence of Christ in our weakness and suffering...

    the ministry of Word and Sacrament...

    all who work to help and heal...

    sacrifices made for our benefit...

    opportunities for our generous giving...

God of grace, let our concern for others reflect Christ's self-giving love, not only in our prayers, but also in our practice.  Especially we pray for

    those subjected to tyranny and oppression...

    wounded and injured people...

    those who face death...

    those who may be our enemies...

    the church in Latin America...

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever

Kyrie ("Lord have mercy")

Lord have mercy.  

Even the few people I do see in pandemic-land are getting their feet kicked out from under them.

Lord have mercy.

Have we all retreated into our own inner sanctum, chanting "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" to no avail, to counter no threat, and to our city's peril? (Acts 19)

Lord have mercy.

You tell the demons to be quiet but when you turn your head they just keep talking. (Luke 4)

Lord have mercy.

Did you not give the most that anyone can give?  Why does spilt blood count for so little?  Such thick darkness.  Such deep pits.

Lord have mercy.

I try to take the temperature out there.  The thermometers don't work.  Am I here at the wrong time?  Is the clock broken too?

Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  Lord have mercy.

Thursday Evening

Season:

Ordinary Time

Thursday, September 24

Evening

Read/Sing:

Psalm 81; 116

Read:

Esther 7:1-10

Acts 19:11-20

Luke 4:14-30

Pray:

We give you our praise and thanks, O God, for all gifts of love we have received from you, and for your persistent mercy in Jesus Christ.  Especially we thank you for

    work we have accomplished pleasing to you...

    the faithful witness of Christian people...

    the example of righteousness we see in parents and teachers...

    the innocence and openness we see in children...

    all works of Christian compassion...

We give you all our cares and concerns, O God, because we know you are kind and care for your children in every circumstance.  Especially we pray for

    those who struggle with doubt and despair...

    people afflicted with disease...

    those called to special ministries...

    people neglected or abused...

    Baptist, Disciples of Christ, and other free churches...

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Responsory

Lord, the whole world may take everything from me that I ever cared about.  Grant that I may yet feast on the riches of your presence alone on a thousand evenings like this.

Thursday Morning

Season:

Ordinary Time

Thursday, September 24

Morning

Read/Sing:

Psalm 143; 147:12-20

Read:

Esther 7:1-10

Acts 19:11-20

Luke 4:14-30

Pray:

Loving God, as the rising sun chases away the night, so you have scattered the power of death in the rising of Jesus Christ, and you bring us all blessings in him.  Especially we thank you for

    the community of faith in our church...

    those with whom we work or share common concerns...

    the diversity of your children...

    indications of your love at work in the world...

    those who work for reconciliation...

Mighty God, with the dawn of your love you reveal your victory over all that would destroy or harm, and you brighten the lives of all who need you.  Especially we pray for

    families suffering separation...

    people different from ourselves...

    those isolated by sickness or sorrow...

    the victims of violence or warfare...

    the church in the Pacific region...

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Exhortation:

The outside world encroaches on my discipleship.

    Let it come.

The outside world troubles my waters

    Amen.  Amen.

I don't expect to turn any of these voices away at the door.

I'd sooner go out to fetch them myself.

Enter my soul, brother.  Sister, you are welcome.

Where's your note, your pitch, your key, your song, the banner you wave?

Then tell me the story, the main characters

take me tragic till it turns

till we see the hidden alliances

the source material

the grand saga condensed to you

and all the grander for the condensing

intensified, enlivened, again

we begin

Wednesday Evening

Season:

Ordinary Time

Wednesday, September 23

Evening

Read/Sing:

Psalm 125; 91

Read:

Esther 6:1-14

Acts 19:1-10

Luke 4:1-13

Pray:

Give us your peace, O God, that we may rejoice in your goodness to us and to all your children, and be thankful for your love revealed in Jesus Christ.  Especially we thank you for

    people who reveal your truth and righteousness...

    courage to be bold disciples...

    those who show hospitality...

    surprises that have blessed us...

    the unity of the church of Jesus Christ...

Give us your peace, O God, that we may be confident of your care for us and all your children, as we remember the needs of others.  Especially we pray for

    friends and relatives who are far away...

    neighbors in special need...

    those who suffer hunger and thirst...

    those who work at night while others sleep...

    Episcopal and Methodist churches...

Hymn:

I praise you for the season that come around again.  That I can more attentively do things I've always done.  I've been receiving gifts from your church for years before I was quite conscious of it.

I praise you also because its easier to attend to you moment by moment knowing that this fall day in ordinary time has never occurred before, nor will it ever come again. 

Wednesday Morning

Season:

Ordinary Time

Wednesday, September 23

Morning

Read/Pray:

Psalm 65; 147:1-11

Read:

Esther 6:1-14

Acts 19:1-10

Luke 4:1-13

Pray: 

God of all mercies, we praise you that you have brought us to this new day, brightening our lives with the dawn of promise and hope in Jesus Christ.  Especially we thank you for

    the warmth of sunlight, the wetness of rain and snow, and all that nourishes the earth...

    the presence and power of your Spirit...

    the support and encouragement we receive from others...

    those who provide for public safety and well-being...

    the mission of the church around the world...

Merciful God, strengthen us in prayer that we may lift up the brokenness of this world for your healing, and share in the saving love of Jesus Christ.  Especially we pray for

    those in positions of authority over others...

    the lonely and forgotten...

    children without families or homes...

    agents of caring and relief...

    the church in Asia and the Middle East...

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Antiphon (prelude to prayer)

Enter his courts with prayer.  Note who is honored there.  What will the king do for the one he wishes to honor?

Tuesday Morning

Season:

Ordinary Time

Tuesday, September 22

Morning

Read/Sing:

Psalm 54; 146

Read:

Esther 5:1-14

Acts 18:12-28

Luke 3:15-22

Pray:

Eternal God, we rejoice this morning in the gift of life, which we have received by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ.  Especially we thank you for

    the love of our families...

    the affection of our friends...

    strength and abilities to serve your purposes today...

    this community in which we live...

    opportunities to give as we have received...

God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others and commit ourselves to serve them even as we have been served in Jesus Christ.  Especially we pray for

    those closest to us, families, friends, neighbors...

    refugees and homeless men, women, and children...

    the outcast and persecuted...

    those from whom we are estranged...

    the church in Africa...

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen

Examen ("the ancient practice of examen challenges us to intentionally witness the state and quality of our consciousness and conscience..."  -Kathleen Deignan)

I awake with joy to your Word.  Last night I cast about for something solid to put my feet on.  The things that satisfied me as a child don't work anymore.  Last night, I asked for you to meet me.  Today, you meet me with your Word.  I don't want to be satisfied with any other blessing or baptism than yours.  Scorch the earth of all I've been.  Drown that sucker in the Red Sea of the cross of Jesus Christ.