It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Daily Prayer, Saturday, July 9

Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances (Psalm 119:109)

Morning
Invitatory Psalm 67
God, be gracious to us and bless us
and make your face to shine upon you,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere you.


Psalms 81, 82, 85

Daily Lectionary Reading, Psalm 65:1-13
God of Zion,
to you even silence is praise.
Promises made to you are kept—
2 you listen to prayer—
and all living things come to you.

3 When wrongdoings become
too much for me,
you forgive our sins.
4 How happy is the one you choose
to bring close,
the one who lives in your courtyards!
We are filled full
by the goodness of your house,
by the holiness of your temple.


5 In righteousness you answer us,
by your awesome deeds,
God of our salvation—
you, who are the security
of all the far edges of the earth,
even the distant seas;
6 you establish the mountains
by your strength;
you are dressed in raw power;
7 you calm the roaring seas;
calm the roaring waves,
calm the noise of the nations.


8 Those who dwell on the far edges
stand in awe of your acts.
You make the gateways
of morning and evening sing for joy.
9 You visit the earth
and make it abundant,
enriching it greatly
by God’s stream, full of water.
You provide people with grain
because that is what you’ve decided.
10 Drenching the earth’s furrows,
leveling its ridges,
you soften it with rain showers;
you bless its growth.


11 You crown the year
with your goodness;
your paths overflow with rich food.
12 Even the desert pastures drip with it,
and the hills are dressed in pure joy.
13 The meadowlands are covered
with flocks,
the valleys decked out in grain—
they shout for joy;
they break out in song!
[Common English Bible]

Prayer for Today:
Wherever I look I see signs of God’s creative powers.
I see the turbulent sea, with all its mystery and power.
I see the mighty rivers as they slowly reach out to the sea.
I see the land, the mountains and hills, the trees and plants;
I see the ripening crops, the sheep and cattle that feed the hungry;
I see the cultivated lands, whose produce blesses so many people;
I see the barren deserts being transformed into lush pastures
I see the rocky and inaccessible land becoming fertile fields.
Everywhere I look I see God’s handiwork – and I give thanks!
Everywhere, I see something of the majesty and grandeur that is God.

Creative pause: Experiencing God’s creativity is a joy.


I hear the song of the birds and the buzz insects; the sounds of
different animals – large and small, loud and soft; the sounds
different languages from people of other cultures; the whistle of
the wind, the drumming of rain on the roof; and noise of rumbling
thunder - so many wonderful examples of God’s diverse creation.
Every day, I touch, taste and smell the wonders of God’s creativity—
how blest I am to live in a world created and sustained by my God!
I join with all creation in celebrating the wonders and majesty of my God.

Creative pause: I celebrate the wonders of my God.

If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows:
© 2010 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year C, used with permission.

We praise you, O God, who answers our prayers, who forgives. We give thanks to you for the earth you have provided for us, the rain, the meadows, and the valleys. You are our salvation, our hope. Amen.

Evening
Psalm 107

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