Morning prayer for Sunday, January 3, 2010

MORNING PRAYER
Sunday, January 3, 2010

*OPENING SENTENCES:
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy;
For to you is born in the city of David
A Savior who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10,11)

MORNING PSALM OR HYMN “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright PH#69” or “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly light PH 26

PSALMS 111; 150
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Kings 19:9-18
Ephesians 4:17-32
John 6:15-27

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SILENT REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURE
READING

CANTICLE
We praise you, O God,
We acclaim you as Lord,
All creation worships you,
Father everlasting.

To you, all angels, all the powers of heaven,
The cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
Your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
The Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,
The eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free
You humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death
And opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,
Bought with the price of your own blood,
And bring us with your saints
To glory everlasting.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
Satisfy us with your love in the morning,
And we will live this day in joy and praise.

Sunday
Mighty God of mercy, we thank you for the resurrection dawn bringing the glory of our risen Lord who makes every day new. Especially we thank you for
The beauty of your creation …
The new creation in Christ and all gifts of healing
and forgiveness …
The sustaining love of family and friends …
The fellowship of faith in your church. …
Merciful God of might, renew this weary world, heal the hurts of all your children, and bring about your peace for all in Christ Jesus, the living Lord. Especially we pray for
Those who govern nations of the world …
The people in countries ravaged by strife or warfare …
All who work for peace and international harmony …
All who strive to save the earth from destruction …
The church of Jesus Christ in every land. …

Individual prayers of thanksgiving and intercession…
Silent prayer

All powerful and unseen God,
The coming of your light into the world
Has brightened weary hearts with peace.
Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever.
Amen.

SING OR SAY THE LORD’S PRAYER

[HYMN In the Bleak Midwinter
DISMISSAL
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Amen.

Bless the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.

Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, @ 1993 Westminster John Knox Press

In Bethlehem a Babe was Born

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJY30RaR4O8

PH #34 is not very well known. The words are lovely, and this is how the tune goes.

1.  In Bethlehem a Babe was born with love enough for all.

While kingdoms slept, the Lord came down to grace a manger stall.

And with a glorious light angels appeared that night

refrain:  singing, “Come, come, Christ is born!  Come, come, world forlorn.

the Child of peace and sacrifie is waiting to be found.”

2.  Royalty and shepherds came to worship from afar, guided throught he long cold night by one persistent star.

As each beheld the Son, strangers became as one, singing…

3.  The mystery of Bethlehem was long ago, they say, but, miracle of miracles, the baby lives today

in each new heart that hears love coming through the years, singing…

Morning prayer for Christmas Eve

MORNING PRAYER
Christmas Eve

*OPENING SENTENCES:
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing,
And all the trees of the forest shall clap their hands.
For behold, our Lord and Ruler is coming to reign forever.
Alleluia! (See Isaiah 55:12)

MORNING PSALM OR HYMN “Sleepers, Wake!” A Voice Astounds us PH17 is a good choice for Advent

PSALMS 90; 149
SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 35:1-10
Revelation 22:12-17, 21
Luke 1:67-80

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SILENT REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURE
READING

CANTICLE The Desert Shall Blossom Isaiah 35:1,2,5,6,10
#18 in the Presbyterian Hymnal

The desert shall rejoice and blossom, *
It shall rejoice with gladness and singing.
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,*
And the majesty of our God.

Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened,*
And the ears of the deaf unstopped,
Then shall the lame leap like the deer, *
And the tongue of the speechless shall sing for joy.

For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,*
And streams in the desert.
The ransomed of the Lord shall return,*
And come with singing, with everlasting joy upon their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,*
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
Satisfy us with your love in the morning,
And we will live this day in joy and praise.

Thursday
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. …

Individual prayers of thanksgiving and intercession…
Silent prayer

O Christ, splendor of the glory of God,
And perfect image of the Eternal One who begot you,
We praise you for the infinite love which sent you among us;
We confess you as the light and life of the world;
And we adore you as our Lord and our God,
Now and forever.
Amen.

SING OR SAY THE LORD’S PRAYER

[HYMN Angels We Have Heard on High
DISMISSAL
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Amen.

Bless the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.

Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, @ 1993 Westminster John Knox Press

Morning Prayer for Wednesday, December 9, 2009

MORNING PRAYER

December 9, 2009

Wednesday

*OPENING SENTENCES:

O Lord, open my lips.

And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

The Lord shall come when morning dawns,

And earth’s dark night is past.

As the sentry waits for daybreak,

So my soul hopes for the Lord.

MORNING PSALM OR HYMN

PSALMS 50; 147:1-11

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 6:1-13

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

John 7:53-8:11

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SILENT REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURE

READING

CANTICLE

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

Satisfy us with your love in the morning,

And we will live this day in joy and praise.

Wednesday

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. …

Individual prayers of thanksgiving and intercession…

Silent prayer

1

Eternal God,

Our beginning and our end,

Be our starting point and our haven,

And accompany us in this day’s journey.

Use our hands to do the work of your creation,

And use our lives to bring others the new life you give this world

In Jesus Christ, Redeemer of all.

Amen.

SING OR SAY THE LORD’S PRAYER

[HYMN OR SPIRITUAL]

DISMISSAL

The grace of God be with us all, now and always.     1 Timothy 6:21

Amen.

Bless the Lord.

The Lord’s name be praised.

Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, @ 1993 Westminster John Knox Press