A Concord Pastor Comments

5/26/20

A new episcopal vicar in a Roman Catholic diocese

This will be an interesting story to follow...

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A reminder of this past Sunday, and an invitation...

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5/25/20

Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 5/26

Go deep, Lord!
Go deep into my heart
and at its very core
prepare the soil of my soul
for planting seeds of peace...

Go deep, Lord!
Go deep into my soul
and there weed out
whatever stunts my growth
in faith in you...

Go deep, Lord!
Go deep into my darkness
and in every shadowed corner
shine the light of simple wisdom
that I might find your truth...

Go deep, Lord!
Go deep into the desert
of my parched and barren hope
and unleash a river flowing
with the waters of your life...

Go deep, Lord!
Go deep into my thoughts
and with your Spirit's holy power
lead me from my doubt and fear
back to hope and trust in you...

Go deep, Lord!
Go deep into my heart and mind
and make of me, at last,
the person you created
and are shaping me to be...

Amen.

Dutchville Exhibition at the Netherlands Architecture Institute

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 5/25

Sometimes it's at night, Lord, when I feel closest to you
and sometimes it's at night when I wonder if I've lost you
- or if you've lost sight of me...

But regardless of how I feel, any night or day,
you are there, Lord, you're there with me and beside me,
before me and behind me, within me, all around me...

And should I try to flee your presence,
there's no place I might go, Lord,
but that you'd be there to meet me...

And should I try to slip beyond your grasp,
with you there'd be no letting go...

Though I close my eyes and turn my back
on every side you'd be there:
there's no place, Lord, where I might hide
- your gaze would find me out...

Sometimes, at night, I'm close to you,
sometimes I cannot find you, but
   wherever I find myself tonight,
   however lost I feel,
   remind me of your presence, Lord,
   your strong, relentless love
   pursuing, seeking, finding me
   and never letting go...

Wherever I go, you're there, Lord:
   however fast I run away - you outpace me;
   however foolish my ways - you guide me;
   however lost I am - you find me;
   however alone I may be -
      you hold me in your arms,
      carry me in your heart,
      you embrace me in your love...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm still awake
and watch over me when I fall asleep,
that awake, I keep night watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

If You Find Me By The Ocean by Steve Warner

If you find me by the ocean,
at the sea's farthest end,
even there, Lord, you watch over me,
even there you place your hand.

1) O Lord you search and you know me,
my rising and my rest,
you discern my journey from afar,
when I wander or lie down.

2) And from your Spirit, where can I go?
Where might I flee from your face?
If I climb the heavens, you are there
and at my final rest.

3) And if I fly on the wings of dawn,
to ocean's farthest end,
ever leading you are at my side,
your mighty hand upon me.

4) Your hand, O Lord, created me
within my mother's womb,
I thank you for the wonder of my life,
your marvels of creation.

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Monday Morning Offering: Memorial Day 2020

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

We pray today, Lord,
remembering those who died,
who’ve passed from this life to the next
to meet, at last, their Maker,
you, the lover of their souls...

We pray today, Lord,
remembering those gone long before,
marked with signs of faith,
marked as yours in ways unknown
to us and others' grief...

We pray today, Lord,
remembering those who gave their lives
without a thought of self,
who laid down all that we might stand
in freedom dearly won...

We pray today, Lord,
remembering selfless souls
who marched with courage sure and brave
down roads we’d dare not tread...

We pray today, Lord,
remembering love and sacrifice
so fully, freely given but easily forgotten
by just the ones
for whom the gift was made...

We pray on this Memorial day,
we offer you our thanks and praise
for those who served and gave their lives
that all of us might live secure in peace,
with liberty and justice for us all...

Amen.

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5/24/20

NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 5/24

Sometimes at night, Lord, I look back and wonder:
   how did I spend my time today - wisely or foolishly?
   did I do enough? did I do too much?
   did I do what was mine to do today
and did I do it generously and graciously?
   did I waste any precious time today?
   did I lose today's time for being stuck in yesterday?
   did I forfeit today's time, worrying about tomorrow?
   did I spend at least some of my time for others?
   did I spend at least a part of my time with you, Lord?
   did I thank you for all the time you spent with me today?

Scripture tells me there's a time for everything, Lord,
   and a time for every purpose under heaven...

If I wasted my today,
   forgive me, Lord;
if I was selfish with my time today,
   forgive me, Lord;
if I was foolish with my time today,
   forgive me, Lord;
if I gave in to purposes not worth my time today,
   forgive me, Lord;
if I took today's time for granted,
   forgive me, Lord;
and if I failed to thank you for the gift of this day's time,
   forgive me, Lord...

Day is done, Lord, and so I pray
   you'll bless my time this night
   with good rest, deep sleep and peaceful dreams...

May the time I spend asleep tonight, Lord,
   restore, refresh and ready me
   for the time I'll have tomorrow
   to grow in love and serve you
   in loving and serving others...

Protect me, Lord, as I lie awake
   and watch over me when I'm fast asleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
   and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Turn, Turn, Turn sung by Judy Collins

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

A time to build up, a time to break down

A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones,
A time to gather stones together

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace,
A time to refrain from embracing

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

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Mass - with help from Rodgers and Hammerstein!

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 5/24

Image source

A prayer for Memorial Day weekend

In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts,
let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us
is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing...

You who created us,
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer today.

Hear our prayer for all who have died,
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone…

Hear our prayer
for those who put the welfare of others ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs…

Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice…

Help us to shape and make a world
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace…

Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts...

Hear our prayer today
and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy...

Amen.

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5/23/20

NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 5/23

For many, Lord, the shades of nighttime
open a stream of tears,
a river of grief, a flood of anxious fears...

So many cry themselves to sleep at night
or pray to find the tears that might relieve
the pressures of the day or of a lifetime...

But you come to wipe our tears away, Lord,
to gently dry our faces
moist with sadness and distress...

You come to sing us to sleep:
to sing your love song softly,
again and again, 'til its simple tune
absorbs our sobbing,
calms our fears
and soothes our troubled souls...

Help us hear you singing in the night, Lord,
compose us with your grace,
hush us with your word of peace,
wipe our tears away
and bid us join you in your song,
singing our songs in the night...

Amen.

Songs in the Night by Lauren Talley

Tough times are right before my eyes
So close they make it hard to see
Much beyond myself and where you're leading me

Dark skies as I lie awake in silence once again I find
The battle’s all about where I set my mind
So 'til a new day finally comes
I'll think on all the mighty things you've done.

And I will sing songs in the night
While in a time of so little light

I'll recall your goodness, your faithfulness
And the great things in my life
These will be my songs in the night

Each time life brings me to my knees
I will pour out my heart to You
And run into Your Word
For Your promises are true
And even though it doesn't feel you're close
I'll trust You with me still.

And I will sing songs in the night
While in a time of so little light

I'll recall your goodness, your faithfulness
And the great things in my life
These will be my songs in the night

This will be my song in my darkest hour
more than my own strength
I'll trust in your power.

And I will sing songs in the night
While in a time of so little light

I'll recall your goodness, your faithfulness
And the great things in my life
These will be my songs in the night