Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 10/9

I'm writing late on Thursday night,

setting my alarm clock

for early Friday morning 

and news from Oslo, Norway 

of this year's Nobel Peace Prize...

 

But it's strange, Lord, is it not,

to think a noble prize for peace

should go to anyone but you:

    to you, the Prince of Peace... 

 

You're the Prince of Peace 

who bridged the gap

dividing earth from heaven...

 

You're the Prince of Peace,

the Lord of grace

who tames our willful pride... 

 

You're the Prince of Peace 

who reunites creation

with her Maker...

 

You're the Prince of Peace 

who heals the wounds

of hearts impaled by sin...

 

You're the Prince of Peace 

who mediates

the human and divine...

 

You're the Prince of Peace 

who offers all

the peace our hearts desire...

 

You're the Prince of Peace

whose reign and rule 

restores, redeems and frees us...

 

Noble, loving Lord 

come fill us

with your prize of lasting peace...

 

Amen. 

 

Prince of Peace by Hillsong

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 10/8

 

For this day's joys and blessings, Lord:

    I offer thanks and praise...

 

On this day's pain and problems:

    I pray your healing touch...

For any good I did today:

   I'm grateful for your help...

And all I've left undone, Lord?

    Help me work on that tomorrow...

For any harm I did today:

    I pray for your forgiveness...

For any hurt I may have caused:

    show me how to make amends...

For the time I spent in prayer, Lord:

    thanks for always being there...

For the gift this day has been, Lord:

    receive my grateful prayer...

 

And to all tomorrow holds

    open my heart, my mind, my soul...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,

    stand vigil while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

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Tonight's song is This Day God Gives Me.  Two versions follow: the first is choral and the second instrumental, a reflective, healing rendition, on the harp.  Not sure which to listen to?  Why not try both!

 

This Day God Gives Me

   by OCP Session Choir

 

 

This day God gives me Strength of high heaven,

Sun and moon shining, Flame in my hearth,  

Flashing of lightning, Wind in its swiftness, 

Deeps of the ocean, Firmness of earth.  

 

This day God sends me Strength as my guardian,  

Might to uphold me, Wisdom as guide.  

Your eyes are watchful, Your ears are list'ning,  

Your lips are speaking, Friend at my side.  

 

Rising I thank you, Mighty and Strong One,  

King of creation, Giver of rest,  

Firmly confessing Threeness of Persons, 

 Oneness of Godhead, Trinity blest.

 

This Day God Gives Me 

   by Noelle Cassandra, harpist

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 10/8

 

For this day's joys and blessings, Lord:

    I offer thanks and praise...

 

On this day's pain and problems:

    I pray your healing touch...

For any good I did today:

   I'm grateful for your help...

And all I've left undone, Lord?

    Help me work on that tomorrow...

For any harm I did today:

    I pray for your forgiveness...

For any hurt I may have caused:

    show me how to make amends...

For the time I spent in prayer, Lord:

    thanks for always being there...

For the gift this day has been, Lord:

    receive my grateful prayer...

 

And to all tomorrow holds

    open my heart, my mind, my soul...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,

    stand vigil while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

If the widget and video don't appear below, click here!

 

Tonight's song is This Day God Gives Me.  Two versions

follow: the first is choral and the second instrumental, 

a reflective, healing rendition, on the harp.  Not sure which

to listen to?  Why not try both!

 

This Day God Gives Me 

   sung by OCP Session Choir

 

 

This day God gives me Strength of high heaven,

Sun and moon shining, Flame in my hearth,  

Flashing of lightning, Wind in its swiftness, 

Deeps of the ocean, Firmness of earth.  

 

This day God sends me Strength as my guardian,  

Might to uphold me, Wisdom as guide.  

Your eyes are watchful, Your ears are list'ning,  

Your lips are speaking, Friend at my side.  

 

Rising I thank you, Mighty and Strong One,  

King of creation, Giver of rest,  

Firmly confessing Threeness of Persons, 

 Oneness of Godhead, Trinity blest.

 

This Day God Gives Me 

   by Noelle Cassandra, harpist

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 10/8

Photo by Timothy Burnett*

I'll meet you, Lord,
down by a bend in the river of my life
where I pray you'll calm my soul
as you slow the water's flow
to a peaceful, even stillness,
shimmering with your presence...

By the stone wall of my troubles, Lord,
we'll get together, you and I,
and sit in sweet communion
in October's chapel, quiet
save for the psalms of a few spare birds...

Under frescoes freshly painted by your hand
we'll speak from heart to heart
in words that fail my lips,
in speech no ear can hear,
in prayers I know you've heard
before they groan within my soul...

Let this be our place, Lord,
be it on the river bank or in my heart
or my imagination: let there be a place
where you and I will meet today,
down by a bend in the river of my life,
where your grace flows and my heart finds
the peace that only you can give...

Amen.

*This spot is at the northwest corner of the yard at the Old Manse in Concord, where the Concord River makes a bend to the west.

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 All's well!  Just taking a breather - see you on Thursday morning!

 

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 10/6

It seems, Lord, that if there's any way

we human beings can make a mess of things

- that's exactly what we'll do... 

It's not that we don't know the right thing to do:

    not that we don't know what justice demands,
    not that our ultimate goals aren't noble,

    not that our hearts aren't in the right place,

    not that we just don't know any better,

    not that we're ignorant of the facts,

    not that we lack the personnel

        to achieve what we know must be done,

    not that we don't have the talent or assets

        to do the best possible job

    - it's none of this, Lord...

We mess things up when we fail to be faithful

    to the path of truth, 

    the law of your word,

    the demanding dictates of conscience,

    the choice of right over wrong,

    the pursuit of the greater good,

    the toll of personal sacrifice,

    the authority of proven facts,

    the search for impartial justice,

    the clarity of unbiased thought,

    and the desire to work together...

 

What was it Saint Paul wrote? 

    For I do not understand my own actions...

    I have the desire to do what is right, 

        but not the ability to carry it out.

    For I do not do the good I want, but rather,

        the evil I do not want 

            is what I keep on doing...

    - Romans 7:18-20 

 

Give us your grace, Lord, 

the heart we need

    to do what is just,

    to love what is good

    and to walk humbly at your side...

 

Give us your grace, Lord, 

the heart we need,

    to accept the things we cannot change,

    to change the things we can

    and the wisdom to know the difference...

 

Give us your grace, Lord, 

the heart we need,

    to do the next right thing

    - before we do what we don't want to do...

 

Lead us, Lord, to make of our world 

    with the help of your grace,

the place you made for us to live

    together, in peace, in joy...

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.

Easier Said Than Done by Tom Defrange

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Los Angeles and San Diego...

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 10/6

Image source

 

What a shame 
when the burdens and sorrows 

and the fears and worries 
of any given day
keep me from seeing, hearing, tasting,
touching, knowing and enjoying
the simple blessings and joys
that same day holds...

 

No doubt, Lord,

this day will have its share of problems
but however troubled and anxious I may be
let nothing keep me from this day's peace,
its refreshment and delights,
from it's sweeter moments and hidden blessings:
from the simple peace 

your presence always  brings...

Amen.  

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 10/5

The gospel at mass today was from Saint Luke, the story of the Good Samaritan...

It was a parable you told, Lord: it wasn't an event you witnessed or and item you read in the Jericho Daily Journal...

 

And the priest and the Levite: we know they passed by the man left for dead on the side of the road - but we don't know that anyone witnessed the way they ignored the poor guy's plight.  And given the victim's situation, it's not likely he had a clue that two had failed to stop and help him - especially since they passed by "on the other side of the road..."

 

I'd like to think that had I been traveling that stretch of road, I'd have stopped to help a man in such dire circumstances.  But I'm not so sure, Lord, that I always stop to help someone whose troubles aren't so severe...

 

How many times a day or a week do I pass by others (be they family, friends or strangers) others with needs, troubles, cares and concerns that I might be able to address, alleviate, resolve, soothe and comfort - but I don't... Instead, I pretend not to notice... or I make a show of being very busy... and I just quietly pass by on the other side of someone's hurt - in favor of my schedule, my comfort, my convenience...

 

Whether my neighbor's needs are large or small, urgent or longstanding, shouted out loud or whispered - you call me to stop, Lord, and tend to the needs of my brother or sister and do what I can to provide for their healing and peace...

 

You never pass by me, Lord, when I'm down and out, hurt and wounded and all by myself on the side of the road... You never pass by on the other side... You lift me up and walk by my side... You ease my pain with your healing touch... You pledge to stay with me until time does its work and heals my soul in its pain....

 

You never pass by me, Lord, so I pray tonight: open my eyes to see others' pain... deepen my love for any in need... help me prevail over my selfishness, my sense of entitlement, my putting myself and my comfort ahead of the needs of whomever I meet on the road I travel each day...

 

And for all the times I've passed by others - times when I've passed by you, O Lord - have mercy, forgive and pardon me... and teach me to stop and attend to my neighbor who waits for my helping hand...

 

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. 

 

Who Is My Neighbor? by David MacGregor 

 

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