NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 8/9

On Sundays, Night Prayer takes its lead from some element of the day's liturgy.  Tonight we begin with the words of Jesus in today's gospel: Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid...

 

Lord, I can't count the number of time
    when you tell me to have no fear,
        to fear not, to be not afraid... 

I'm grateful for all that encouragement 

    but the truth is,

        I still have fears...  I'm often afraid...

And still you tell me,  

    Be not afraid...

Sometimes, Lord, 

    I'm not even sure what it is I fear
but I know when I'm afraid
    because I know how it feels
         - and I know when I feel it...

And yet you tell me,

    Be not afraid...

Sometimes I'm afraid 

    of things in my past,
things that no longer exist,
    the old, familiar ghosts of things long gone...

And again you tell me, 

    Be not afraid...

And sometimes I fear 

    what doesn't yet exist: 

I fear what's next

    or what might be,

        or what could be

    or things I dream up

        that will never be...

And once more you tell me,  

    Be not afraid...  

Sometimes, Lord,
    I'm afraid of people,

        afraid of folks I've no reason to fear 

 and sometimes I fear

    those who love me

        and that makes no sense at all...

 

And still you tell me,  

    Be not afraid... 

 

And sometimes, Lord, 

    I know it's my fear

that blinds my heart 

    to the grace and strength

you give me

    - when I am afraid! 

       
And yet you tell me,

    Be not afraid...

And sometimes, Lord, I'm afraid of myself:

    of who I am, 

        of what I've done -or not yet done-

            of what I might yet do

     and then begins the vicious circle 

        of fearing the fear within me,

            the fear that makes me afraid... 

 

And again you tell me,

    Be not afraid...

And sometimes, Lord, 

    I'm afraid of you 

who never tire of telling me:

    Take heart and be not afraid,

        I'm here, I'm with you,

    I'm your courage and strength,

        I will not leave your side... 

What will it take, Lord, what must I do, 
   to take a step outside my fear, beyond my fear,
to trust in you, to walk with you:

        my shield, my safety,

        my refuge from danger

        and my hope that all shall be well...

Fill my heart with your Spirit, Lord,
   with the grace I need - day after day -
to take but one small step in faith

     beyond my doubt, beyond my fear...

I need to hear your words again, Lord,

    again and again and again,
'til my faith is strong beyond my dread,
    and secure beyond my fear...

 

So before I go to sleep tonight,

    let me hear you whisper again:

        Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid,

            I am here, I am with you

                and all shall be well... 

 

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...

Be Not Afraid by Taylor Davis

    performed by Stonebriar Music

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Be not afraid for I have redeemed you 

Be not afraid I've called you my name 

My love for you is everlasting 

My love for you shall have no end 

When you pass through the waters 

I will surround you 

When you pass through the floods 

They will not sweep o'er 

When you walk through the fire 

You will not be consumed 

You are my child You are my child 

You are so precious to me 

 

Be not afraid for I have redeemed you 

Be not afraid for I've called you my name 

My love for you is everlasting 

My love for you will have no end 

When you pass through the waters 

I will surround you 

When you pass through the floods 

They will not sweep o'er 

When you walk through the fire 

You will not be consumed 

You are my child You are my child 

You are so precious to me 

 

You are my child 

And I'll love you always 

Just hold my hand and I'll lead you on 

When you feel lost always remember 

I am right here Just call out my name 

When you pass through the waters 

I will surround you 

When you pass through the floods 

They will not sweep o'er 

When you walk through the fire 

You will not be consumed 

You are my child 

You are so precious to me 

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 8/9

Photo by Greg Mara, Wells Beach  8/6/14 

Clouds are clouds are clouds...

 

No matter how thick, how dark, how foreboding,
no matter how gray, how gloomy and grim,
no matter the wind and the rain they portend:
   clouds are clouds are clouds...

No matter the thunderhead shrouding the heavens,
no matter the rumbling rolling within,
no matter the lightning piercing their veil:
   clouds are clouds are clouds...

And clouds will break and clouds will clear
and clouds will pass and soon reveal
what clouds will never wipe away:
    the sun, the moon, 

    the stars, the sky,
    the new day's dawn,
    the hope it brings...

 

Lord

let nothing shield me from your light, 

let nothing hide your face from me,
let nothing overscast my hope 

of what I trust I'll see once more

when clear skies reign again...

 

For clouds are only clouds, Lord,

    but you're the rising sun,

    you're the light that never fades,

    you're the day that never ends,

    you're the radiance of wisdom,

    you're the dawn that comes each morning

    though the skies be clear or gray...

 

For clouds are clouds are clouds, Lord:

    clouds are only clouds... 

 

Amen. 

     

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 8/7

Why are you far away, Lord?
Why do you hide yourself when I am in trouble?
- Psalm 10

 

Sometimes, that’s just how I feel, Lord!

I feel like you are far, far away

   when I’m in trouble

   and when I need you the most…

Of course, I know that part of the problem

   is my praying, hoping, wanting and wishing
that you'd solve all my problems

   and give me peace – right now –

or at least sooner than later

   and the truth is, Lord:

      it's already later than sooner...

So that's why you hear me pray,
   Where are you, Lord? 

   Have you forgotten me?

   Why, Lord, do you stand far away

   when I’m in trouble and I need you?

Why do I wait so long for you to do
   what I know you can do?
Why do you wait so long to do
   what you can do?

I know you hear my prayer,

   that you know my every problem.
But I have to wonder

   what keeps your arm from reaching out,

   your hand from helping and healing me

- or have I somehow missed

      your reach, your touch, your care?

Why do you leave me locked in chains of fear,
   shackled in confusion,

      imprisoned by my hopelessness?

 

I don't think I’m asking for too much, Lord.
I ask only for a share

   of what some seem to have in abundance:

I ask for the peace of mind and heart

   that opens to the joy

      that's only yours to give...

 

And I know, Lord: 

   your love for all your people is mysterious,

   sometimes confusing and confounding,

   always mystifying - and yet inviting -

   and ever faithful, true, abiding...

 

And I know, Lord,

   that even when I don’t understand,

   when I feel like you’ve forgotten me,

   when I can’t seem to find you,

      - even and especially then -

I need to put my hope and trust in you

   because you’re my safe place while I wait…  

   you’re my fortress when I feel attacked…  

   you’re my refuge in my fear…  

   you’re my haven in my hopelessness…  

      my safe harbor when my heavy heart

         is storm-tossed and alone...

So tonight I pray and trust, Lord, that you’ll be

   my strength when I'm weak,
   my confidence when I'm tempted to give up,

   my wisdom when I just don’t understand,
   my light in the depths of darkness,

   my joy in the midst of grief,

   and my hope when I wonder

      why when I’m in trouble

         you seem so far away…
  
And I pray for others who are troubled, Lord,
   those who know so well 

      the prayer I pray tonight,

         the plea that lives in their hearts, too…

And… if in fear and pain I've somehow missed
   how your healing hand has

      touched my deepest wounds,
let me see and know

   how you’ve reached out,

   how close you’ve been

   how much you’ve done

in mercy and with kindness

   to touch my troubled heart

      with the peace for which I pray…

     

In the quiet of my prayer, Lord,

   help me know you’re by my side,

that you’re never far away,

   but always close at hand…

 

Help me trust that your heart holds, Lord,

   a place for mine to rest

and that in your heart I’ll find the peace

   I long to know and pray for…        

 

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. 

 

Lord, I Need You by Chris Tomlin

 

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Lord I come, I confess 

Bowing here I find my rest 

Without You I fall apart 

You're the one that guides my heart 

 

Lord, I need You, oh I need You 

Every hour I need You 

My one defense, my righteousness 

Oh God, how I need You 

 

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more 

Where grace is found is where You are 

And where You are Lord I am free 

Holiness is Christ in me 

Yes, where you are, Lord, I am free

Holiness is Christ in me 

 

So teach my song to rise to You 

When temptation comes my way 

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You 

Jesus You're my hope and stay 

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 8/7

 

Without a single exception, Lord,

every good gift in the whole of my life

comes from your loving and generous hand... 

My family and friends who love and care for me,
who listen to me and accept me,
who guide me and challenge and comfort me:
   each of them is your gift to me...

Every step I take in the right direction,
every decision I make that's honest and fair,
every change I make to be true to myself,
every thought I have that leads to peace,
every deed I do to help another:
   each one of these is a gift of your prompting...

Every time I stop to look within,
every moment I pause to ask your pardon,
every prayer I whisper to ask for help,
every time I thank you for all my gifts,
every thought I have that leads to you:
   each one of these is your gift to me, 

      a gift of your Spirit stirring within me...

Without a single exception, Lord,
every good gift in the whole of my life
comes from you, from your mercy and love...

And here are the gifts I'm grateful for today: 

 

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________
 

And for all of these, Lord, 

I give you thanks

for your kind and generous love...

Amen.

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