A Concord Pastor Comments

9/16/26

Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 9/17

Refresh me when I'm tired, Lord:

rouse me when I'm drowsy,

replenish my zest for life,

sharpen my fading focus,

rekindle my sense of purpose,

revive my imagination,

rejuvenate my soul,

lift my drooping spirit,

bring back my sense of humor,

quicken my get-up-and-go,

restore my drive to do what's right,

renew my faith and trust in you...

Give me peace with what's now past, Lord

joy in the day at hand,

and hope enough to see me through tomorrow...

Refresh, rouse and replenish me,

sharpen, revive and rekindle me,

rejuvenate, uplift and quicken me,

restore and renew me, I pray, O Lord!

That's what I need and all I ask,

be generous, Lord, I pray

and fill my heart with grace...

Amen.

Refresh Me by Leeland

If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!

You are my shelter from the hurricaneYou are my rock, You are my shadeNever changing always the sameGod refresh me

And when my burdens are breaking me downAnd the enemy's cries shake the groundI hear Your voice pierce the soundSaying "I am with you."

So I lift my hands to You; I lift my heart to YouRefresh me, O God refresh meAnd I raise my weakness high, in it You're glorifiedRefresh me, O God Refresh me

You are my shelter from the hurricaneYou are my rock, You are my shadeNever changing, always the sameGod refresh me

And when my burdens are breaking me downAnd the enemy's cries shake the groundI hear Your voice pierce the soundSaying "I am with you, Yes I am!"

So I lift my hands to You; I raise my heart to YouRefresh me, Oh God refresh meAnd I raise my weakness high, in it You're glorifiedRefresh me, Oh God Refresh me

Let the river run down from your thrownLet it wash me now and make me wholeLord, fill my heart, flood my soulOh refresh me, Oh God refresh me

I loose my hands, Take controlGod let your purposes unfoldThere's a greater story to be toldOh refresh me, oh God refresh me

So I lift my hands to You; I lift my heart to YouRefresh me, Oh God refresh meI raise my weakness high, in it You're glorifiedRefresh me, Oh God Refresh me

Tweet

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 9/16

Today's first reading at mass was Saint Paul's familiar hymn to love from 1 Corinthians:

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...
Perhaps we can use these words to reflect back on the day we just lived...

Am I a lover, Lord?

Help me look back on today, Lord,
on the people I met and interacted with,
the circumstances I found myself in,
what I did,

   what I failed to do,
   what I shared and what I hid,
   the choices I made

   and the words I spoke...

Was I a lover today, Lord?

When and how
   was I patient today?

When and how
   was I kind?

Was I jealous today?
   was I envious?

Were there times today, Lord,
   when I was haughty and rude?

Did I see to my own interests all day long
   or did I take time out

to serve the needs of others?

Was I quick-tempered?

grouchy? harsh? angry?

Did I spend time today
brooding over old hurts,

disappointments and resentments?

Did I take any pleasure today
in things I know to be wrong?

Did I seek out and rejoice

in what I know to be

       true and good and just?

Did I bear my burdens gladly
   or sulk in complaint and self-pity?

Did I strive to be trusting
   and to grow in what I believe in?

Did I make an effort to be hopeful
   - especially when I felt defeated?

Did I face the day's problems
   and make an honest effort

to resolve them?

Was I a lover today, Lord?
Did I succeed in being a loving person?
And if I didn't, where did I fail?
and what do I need to do

to grow in love tomorrow?

Help me remember

how much you love me, Lord,
and how much you love all your people;

help me to love as you love:
freely, fully and with forgiveness...

Help me to see

where my heart is true and self-giving

and help me see

where I'm selfish

       and less than loving...

Strengthen the love already in my heart
  and deepen my heart to grow in love that
        bears all things, believes all things,
          hopes all things and endures all things...

Fill my heart

with the love that doesn't fail, Lord,

so that I not fail in loving you

and loving those whose paths cross mine each day...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen.

The Greatest of These
by Tina English

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

If I speak with the tongues of men and angels,
but have not love, I am just noise.
And if I have the gift of prophecy,
and know all knowledge, have all faith,
understand all mysteries,
or remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I have to feed the poor,
but have not love,

nothing is gained.

Love is patient, love is kind,

Love is patient, love is kind,
love does not brag; and is not arrogant.
Love is not proud, boastful or rude.
Love does not seek its own.

Love rejoices in the truth.

Love rejoices in the truth.
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love bears all things, bears all things,
believes all things, believes all things,
Love hopes all things, Love hopes all things,
endures all things.

These three remain; faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
The greatest of these is love.
The greatest of these is love.

Tweet

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 9/16

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

9/15/26

NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 9/15

I know that many mothers (and fathers) who read my page carry sorrow and sadness in their hearts out of love for their children - I hope and pray they find some solace and comfort in this prayer...

September 15 is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in the temple, an old man, Simeon, told Mary: Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Tradition holds that seven sorrows pierced Mary's heart in the course of her life with her Son: 1) Simeon's prophecy in the temple (Luke 2:34). 2) the Holy Family's flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13). 3) Joseph and Mary losing the young Jesus for three days (Luke 2:43). 4) Mary meeting Jesus as he carried his Cross (Luke 23:26). 5) Mary standing at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25). 6) Jesus being taken down from the cross and placed in Mary's arms (Matthew 27:58). 7: the burial of Jesus in the tomb (John 19:4).

Sorrowful Mother

Does any heart know sorrow, Lord,

more deeply and more keenly,

than a mother's heart aching

with sorrow for her child?

What they say is true, Lord:

to give birth is to forever have your heart

walk around outside your body...

Just after the joy of your birth, Lord,

your mother learned, was told,

that her pure heart would be pierced

by sorrow's bitter arrow...

All mothers, Lord, anticipate

what sadness might be theirs

when their child is in pain,

in trouble or distress,

lost, or in harm's way...

So tonight we pray for mothers,

whose souls are pierced with sorrow

for that part of their heart,

long absent from their womb...

With your Mother right beside you,

come with comfort, Lord, and healing;

come with blessing

strength and grace;

come and ease the hearts of mothers

heavy burdened in their sorrow;

anoint them with your mercy

and heal them with your peace...

Mother of Jesus, Lady of sorrows,

'neath your mantle of compassion

hold these mothers in your arms,

deep within your heart,

'til they come to know again

the promise of the healing joy

your Son has pledged and promised

to all who walk in faith...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen.

In tonight's song, the composer names Mary's seven sorrows as known in tradition - and adds an extra one (the third)...

Mother of Sorrows by Greg Mailloux

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

Mother of sorrows, you know our tears;
Comfort us in our need.
Mother of Hope, pray for us,
Now and at the hour of our death.

1.Your Son's life was in danger as a new born babe.

But you fled to Egypt. His life was saved.

2. Lost in the temple, your Son was hid.
You searched for three days until he was revealed.

3. Your spouse Joseph, chosen of God, was chaste, loyal, and true.
His death brought tears and loss to you.

4. Your Son was the innocent and spotless Lamb
Guilty and condemned to death at Pilate's hand.

5. Via Dolorosa, the sorrowful and saddest way,
Is where you met your Son on that mournful day.

6. The pounding of the nails into your Son's feet and hands
Was the sword of sorrow that you'd never planned.

7. Jesus died upon the cross as you mourned.
His life of love, by them was scorned.

8. His lifeless body was placed in the stone-cold tomb
She laid him there, the child of her womb.

Tweet

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 9/15

This morning's prayer is more personal than what I usually write, but it's really intended for all of us who are getting older - and of course, that's all of us!

Through all my life, Lord, I've always been younger than the pope - until now! Just yesterday Leo turned 71 - while I'm in my 80th year...

I'm older than the pope himself!

In so many times and places now when I look around and survey the crowd: I'm the eldest in the conversation, at the table or in the room...

And I wonder, Lord: do I seem as old to them as they seem young to me?

Now, none of this comes as a gripe or complaint: I'm grateful and pleased to be 79 especially when I consider - as I do with increasing frequency - the impending and only alternative...

But because of all I've loved and learned and lived - I look forward, Lord: to all the beauty my eyes have not yet seen.. and all the music my ears have not yet heard... and all the wonders, blessings, glory and joy - more than mind and heart might imagine - that you have readied for me as one who has tried, wanted and desired to know you and love you and serve you - even if only in my own halting, stumbling, bumbling, too often weak and unfaithful ways...

You see, Lord, it's just that I didn't expect this time to come, well... so quickly...

so unexpectedly... so suddenly... so involuntarily... so frankly... so appreciably... so plainly... so unavoidably... so perceptibly... so physically... so publicly... so candidly... so mentally... so personally... so openly... so spiritually... so actually... so naturally... so bluntly... so really... so undeniably and beautifully...

But the time has come, Lord, this time when more and more - it's you and me... when day by day and night by night - it's you and me... when with deeper faith and increasing trust I know - it's you and me... when with growing clarity and greater comfort I understand - it's you and me... when I've come to see, and I pray to accept, and I do believe that in the end, as in the beginning and as it always shall be: Lord, it's you and me...

And that, Lord, brings me peace...

So, this is a day that you've made, Lord - a day filled with promise, mercy and grace in the 80th year of my life. I pray for many more years of days to spend with you and with those I love: years of days before the day when you call me home to rest in your heart, where days are no longer counted, time no longer measured and it's always you and me, Lord... always you and me...

Amen.

Tweet

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

9/14/26

Night Prayer: MONDAY 9/14

On the Church calendar, today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Tonight's prayer is a "prayer in action." It's an elaboration of a beautiful moment in the rites of initiation when those preparing for baptism are signed with the mark of the Cross on different parts of their bodies. As you pray these words tonight use your thumb to trace the sign of the cross (+) on the different parts of your own body. Actually doing this will make a significant difference in your prayer! If you are praying with another person or persons, you might sign each other.

Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your forehead…

It is Jesus himself who strengthens you

with this sign of his love.

Learn to know him more deeply

and to follow him more faithfully.

- Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your eyes…

Day by day,

may you see the glory of God

all around you.

May you see the face of Jesus

in everyone you know and meet.

- Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your ears…

Listen for the Lord's voice

in the whisper of the Holy Spirit,

in the scriptures, in your prayer,

and in the words those

who speak to you…

- Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your lips…

May you respond to God’s grace

in the words you pray,

may you speak the name of Jesus

with love and reverence,

may all your speech

be charitable and true,

may no harsh or unkind words

pass your lips

and may you always speak the truth.

- Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your shoulders…

May you take up the cross

that is yours in this life

and bear it with grace and patience;

may you always remember and trust

that Jesus who carried his own cross,

will always help you carry yours.

- Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your over your heart…

When you rise each morning

and before you go to bed each night,

invite the Lord to dwell

ever more deeply within you.

Welcome Jesus into your heart of hearts

to make his home in your soul.

- Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your hands…

May Christ be known in all you do.

May you never lift your hand

to harm or threaten anyone.

May your hands be always ready

to lift up, support

and carry your neighbor.

- Receive the sign of the Cross

+ on your feet…

Walk in the footsteps of Jesus today.

May your steps always lead you

closer to Christ.

May you never stray

from the path of Jesus

and his Word, his truth and his grace.

We make our prayer as we always do:

In the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Cross Has the Final Word

by Cody Carnes

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
But the cross has the final word

There's nothing stronger
Nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor All the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Evil may put up it's strongest fight
But the cross has the final word

There's nothing stronger
Nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor All the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word
Oh... Oh... All glory and honor is yours
Oh... Oh...All glory and honor is yours
Is yours

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
He traded death for eternal life
The cross has the final word

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The savior has come with the morning light