Author Archives: Office Manager

Psalm and Prayer of the Day

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Psalm 116

I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
2
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, save my life!”
5
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6
The Lord protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
9
I walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
10
I kept my faith, even when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11
I said in my consternation,
“Everyone is a liar.”
12
What shall I return to the Lord
for all his bounty to me?
13
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15
Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful ones.
16
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
17
I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the Lord.
18
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

 

Prayer:
Attentive God, you hear our prayers when we offer them with joy and when we are lost in despair.  You hear our prayers when we are confused and angered and when we are strong and at peace.  Hear us today as we offer thanks for your attentiveness and for your understanding.  Hear us today as we lift up our world in all its turmoil.  We have so many questions, concerns, hopes, and fears.  You are with us through all of life, even when life is uncomfortable, inconvenient, dangerous, and unsure.  We cling to your presence in this time.  May your gift of faith anchor us, your gift of grace temper us, and your gift of peace accompany us.  In Christ we pray, Amen.

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day 5/8/20

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Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
    give ear to my voice when I call to you.
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
    and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not turn my heart to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
    do not let me eat of their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous strike me;
    let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,[a]
    for my prayer is continually[b]against their wicked deeds.
6 When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
    then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
7 Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
    so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.[c]

8 But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,
and from the snares of evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I alone escape.

Prayer:

This world can be troubling in so many ways. We lament and confess  the racism which leads to murder.  We lament and confess  the greed which leads to income disparity and abject poverty. We lament and confess selfishness which leads to self-righteous disregard for our fellow human beings.  We lament and confess our anxiety and fear which leads to ideologies affirming hatred and violence. Transform us. Change us. Reform us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

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Prayer and Psalm of the Day 5/7/20

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Psalm 113

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
    praise the name of the Lord.

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time on and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust,
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer

To you, O God, we give up the burdens of this day, trusting in your love and mercy. To you, O God, we surrender ourselves, trusting our risen Lord to lead us always in the way of peace, today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day 5/6/20

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Psalm 9

God’s Power and Justice

To the leader: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turned back,
    they stumbled and perished before you.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
    you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.

5 You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;
    their cities you have rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever,
    he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with equity.

9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion.
    Declare his deeds among the peoples.
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 Be gracious to me, O Lord.
    See what I suffer from those who hate me;
    you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,
14 so that I may recount all your praises,
    and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
    rejoice in your deliverance.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
    all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
    nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

19 Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord;
    let the nations know that they are only human.Selah

Prayer

Give is 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. We thank you for surprises that have blessed us, people who share their gifts, who offer hospitality, who are true to you and your goodness. We pray for those who suffer from other’s selfishness, who feel defeated and hopeless, who are sick and discouraged. May we be confident in your care for us and all your children. May we know your peace in all times and in every way. Amen.

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day 5/5/2020

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Psalm 116

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “O Lord, I pray, save my life!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
6 The Lord protects the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest,
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.
9 I walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living.
10 I kept my faith, even when I said,
    “I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my consternation,
    “Everyone is a liar.”

12 What shall I return to the Lord
for all his bounty to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful ones.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer:

Eternal God, we thank you for being with us today, and for every sign of your truth and love in Jesus Christ. Especially we thank you for

the gift of peace in Christ…

reconciliation in our relationships…

each new insight into your love…

ministries of the church…

(additional prayers of thanksgiving)

Gracious God, we remember in our own hearts the needs of others that we may reach up to claim your love for them, and reach out to give your love in the name of Christ.  Especially we pray for

racial harmony and justice…

people suffering from the Coronavirus and other illnesses…

healthcare workers who feel overwhelming strain…

those who are bereaved…

our nation’s leaders and citizens as we navigate through this time…

(additional prayers of intercession)

Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.  Amen

 

 

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day 5/4/2020

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Psalm 115

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
2 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in the heavens;
    he does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    they make no sound in their throats.
8 Those who make them are like them;
    so are all who trust in them.

9 O Israel, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.

12 The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us;
    he will bless the house of Israel;
    he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord,
    both small and great.

14 May the Lord give you increase,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
    but the earth he has given to human beings.

17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
    nor do any that go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord
    from this time on and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!

Geeat God, You are the one who brings people together and makes us one in you. Bind up our wounds, heal our hearts, cure our ills. Bring hope and healing to the world as it struggles to contain a pandemic. Give wisdom to leaders who make decisions that affect us all. May we be the disciples you have called us to be even when we adapt to a changing world. In Christ we pray, Amen.

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day May 1

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Psalm 148

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his host!

3 Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
    he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.[a]

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
    stormy wind fulfilling his command!

9 Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
    old and young together!

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

Keep us in your love, gracious God. Guide us to be wise, compassionate, and humble. Give us what we need for today, and help us to recognize the blessing in having enough. Bring healing to those whom we love. Bring wholeness to those we have not met. Bring peace to this world, and prepare us to meet your expectations for this day. In Christ we pray, Amen.

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day April 30, 2020

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Psalm 147:12-20

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
    he blesses your children within you.
14 He grants peace[a] within your borders;
    he fills you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
    he scatters frost like ashes.

 

17 He hurls down hail like crumbs—
    who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
    his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!

The link below is to a hymn based on this psalm, and it happens to be in our Glory to God hymnal.  The chorus is “Sing to God with joy and gladness, hymns and psalms of gratitude.”  Our psalm today outlines the greatness and power of God over all creation, from the peacemaking and strength, to nature and nations.  If you struggle to know joy and gladness today, may this song and psalm remind you and minister to your spirit.  If you know joy and gladness in God today, may you be a blessing to those who don’t.
(Simply copy and paste the link to your web browser.)
https://youtu.be/3Y2luvB6CNU
Chorus:
Sing to God with joy and gladness, hymns and psalms of gratitude; with the voice of praise discover that to worship God is good.
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