I am off to do a hospital visit with a member who has been suffering with lukemia for years. He has just been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Typically this is the last thing that happens to lukemia patients before they die. It is going to be a sad visit. After the visit, Doug and Carol and I will go to the supervisor's meeting for this whole field ed stuff with Seabury. It will make for an interesting day. I have to say that this whole process is making me draw distinctions between the ABC/USA and the ECUSA that are a mite uncomfortable. Ah well, so it goes.
Here is today's morning liturgy...
Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
O Sun behind all suns
I give you greeting this new day.
Let all creation praise you
Let the daylight
and the shadows praise you
Let the fertile earth
and the swelling sea praise you
Let the winds and the rain,
the lightening and the thunder
praise you
Let all that breathes
bothe male and female, praise you
And I shall praise you.
O God of all life
I give you greeting this day.
Mark 11:25
�Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.�
Matthew 6:12-15
And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(Again, Fosdick p. 18)
Have you ever tried to pray and found that your cherrished bitterness against some unfriendly person made real praying impossible? So when Macbeth tried to pray after his murder of Duncan the prayer "stuck in his throat." Try to-day to pray for the one whom you most dislike. Really desire for them the deepest good. Pray for them so sincerely that, in all honesty, if you had a chance to help them the next moment you would have to do it. Then consider yourself bound to forgive them fully when the opportunity comes, to make it come now if you can, and meanwhile to let no bitterness interrupt your fellowship with God.
Intercessions
There is no plant in the ground
But tells of your beauty, O Christ.
There is no creature on the earth
There is no life in the sea
But proclaims your goodness.
There is no bird on the wing
There is no star in the sky
There is nothing beneath the sun
But is full of your blessing.
Lighten my understanding
of your presense all around, O Christ
Kindle my will
to be caring of all Creation.
pray for the coming day and for the care of the earth
For wisdom for and from our supervisors.
For those suffering from illness this day, that your courage may strengthen them. For those who are dying, that your love my enshroud them. That all may be blessed with your Peace this day, O Lord.
For reconciliation in the church.
Closing Prayer
Bless to me O God
My soul that comes from on high.
Bless to me O God
My body that is of earth.
Bless to me O God
Each thing my eye sees
Each sound my ear hears.
Bless to me O God
Each scent that goes to my nostrils
Each taste that goes to my lips
Each ray that guides my way.