A Concord Pastor Comments

6/26/26

NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 6/26

As the sun sets, Lord,
   and evening breezes stir;
when clouds begin to disappear
   and darkness settles in
I'm wondering:
   how'd I spend my day?

What words of mine now echo
   in the hearts of friends and family?

What assistance did I offer
   to others in their need?

What time did I spend
   alone, with you, in prayer?

What comfort did I give
in healing, grace and mercy?

What openness was mine
   to the gifts you sent my way?

What steps did I take
   to reconcile with others?

What silence did I seek
   to listen for your voice?

What effort did I make
   to accept my neighbor's help?

What risk did I take
to be loyal to my faith?

What time did I spend
   just for others, not for me?

What peace might now be mine
   because I walked this day with you?

As the sun sets, Lord,
   and evening breezes stir;
when clouds begin to disappear
   and darkness settles in
I'm wondering:
   how'd I spend my day?

Protect me, Lord, as I lie awake,

and watch over me as I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

There Is No Greater Love

by J. Michael Joncas

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There is no greater love, says the Lord,
than to lay down your life for a friend;
There is no greater love, no greater love,
than to lay down your life for a friend.

1. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.

Live on in my love ...

2. All this I tell you that my joy may be yours

and your joy may be complete ...

3. You are my friends if you keep my commands;

no longer slaves but friends to me ...

4. It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you,

chose you to go forth and bear fruit ...

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6/25/26

Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 6/26

June is a month of special devotion to the Heart of Jesus - as are all Fridays. Today is the last Friday in June. The inscription on this icon translates: Here is the heart which has loved us so much!

Lord, give me a heart

to love as you love...

give me a heart

to see as you see...

give me a heart

to forgive others freely...

give me a heart

as deep as your own...

give me a heart

at peace with your word...

give me a heart

for serving the poor...

give me a heart

both generous and kind...

give me a heart

of strength and conviction...

give me a heart

of gentle compassion...

give me a heart

as pure as fresh snow...

give me a heart

courageous and bold...

give me a heart

both simple and humble...

give me a heart

healed by your mercy...

give me a heart

filled with trust, filled with hope...

give me a heart

to welcome the outcast...

give me a heart

steeped in your wisdom...

give me a heart

that hungers for truth...

give me a heart

to welcome your Spirit...

give me a heart

where you are at home...

give me a heart

at home with your own...

and give me a heart, Lord,

to love as you love...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 6/25

You know every single detail of my life, Lord!
You know things about me
   that totally escape my own attention,
and you hold everything you know of me
   in your mind, your heart, your love...

You take notice and you know, Lord,
   all my joys and sorrows,
   all my ups and downs,
   my hopes and dreams and plans,
   my regrets and disappointments...

As this day ends, Lord,
   you know everything I did
and all the things I meant to do
   but didn't get around to...

You know the good I did, Lord,

and you know the times I failed;

you know when I was generous

and you know when I held back;

you know when I was honest

and you know the lies I told;

you know when I was kind

and you know when I was mean;

you know when I worked hard

and the times when I slacked off;

you know when I was faithful

and you know the times I strayed...

You know when I was hurting, Lord,

alone and feeling sad;

you know what weighed so heavy

on my mind and in my heart;

you know when I felt helpless,

confused, at my wits' end;

you know when I felt hopeless,

and unsure of where to turn...

You know when I was happy, Lord,

when good news came my way;

you known when my heart warmed

to a small and simple gift;

you know when I felt healing

in my secret, wounded place;

and you know when I found hope

to move ahead with trust in you...

There never was a moment, Lord,

throughout this livelong day

when your eye was not upon me,

always watching me with care...

You never turn away from me,

you always have my back;

in your sight, Lord, lies my value:

I'm graced, beloved and blessed...

As your eye is on the sparrow, Lord,

so hold me in your gaze

and turn my eyes to you

to look upon your holy face...

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 only voice in tonight's music belongs to Chris Rupp.

His Eye Is On The Sparrow
by Martin and Gabriel
arranged by Ben Bram,
performed by Chris Rupp

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Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Oh, why should my heart be lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Jesus is my portion

My constant friend is he
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me

His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me…

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6/24/26

Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 6/24

Image source

When I come to pray, Lord, I often bring

a basket full of troubles and tears,

needs and fears
and shouts and cries for help...

But today I come with praise, just praise, and

even if my heart's not yet quite there
I'm thankful still for all my blessings
even if my feelings lag behind...

I praise you for this moment, Lord:
another day to live, to change, to grow,
to make more of all I have

than I did yesterday, last week,
last month, last year...

I praise you for all the gifts you've offered me:
the ones I use, the ones I ignore,
the ones I've wasted, the ones I've put away

the ones I've yet to open...

I praise you for the best

of all the blessings I have known
and for lessons and the healings born

of loss and hurt and pain...

Make me mindful of the present, Lord,
with hope for what's ahead:
I trust you'll guide and show me paths
that lead me, safe, to peace...

I praise you for the people, Lord,
who care for me and love me,

who have my back and never fail

to stand by me through thick and thin
when times are rough and tumble...

I praise you for the ones I love,

whose hearts I tend and hold,

who fill my days with blessings,
many more than I can count...

Image source

I praise you for the joy I miss

when I'm angry, sad and lonely,
when I stubbornly refuse to see

what's there, what's right before me;
when my fear keeps me from finding

the peace that I'd been seeking,

that I'd pleaded, pined and prayed for...

I praise you for your mercy

when you seek me out and pull be back,

pardon me and bring me home

to rest in your strong arms...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 6/24

Praying on the 4th day of summer...

I'm so happy to welcome the summer, Lord,

but sad to remember that even now

the days are growing shorter

- just by 2 minutes a day -

but those minutes add up

'til the day we'll reach sweet summer's end:

summer's very start

is the beginning of its end...

Time moves so slowly, Lord,
- and time moves so quickly -
and so much of the time

I'm not really sure
if it's moving slow or fast...

As in my life, Lord,

change in day's light is gradual,

barely noticeable,

imperceptible

'til I look back and see

how much has changed,

how much is changing

and how quickly and how slowly

come the changes in my life...

Help me take this summer, Lord,

just as it comes,

a day at a time,
each gracious day

a gift from you,

given but once,

and never to come again...

Keep my mind and heart and prayer, Lord,

trained on your gifts of light and life;

and grateful for all that I have,

I entrust to your knowing, gentle care

all that's passed me by...

I accept what I've lost like the setting sun,

slowly, slipping fast away:

the beginning of the end when life

forever will be mine...

Protect me, Lord, while I like awake

and watch over me in my sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Day After Day by Maranatha Singers

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Day after day after day, you have been faithful to me.

Day after day after day I've known your grace...

Day after day, week after week, year after year,
I will declare your glory
I will declare your greatness
I will praise... your... name...

Day after day after day, you are my Savior my friend.
Day after day after day, I'm not alone...
Day after day, week after week, year after year,
You will be right beside me
You'll be here to guide me
I will praise... your... name...

Day after day, day after day... oh...

Day after day after day, you have been faithful to me.
Day after day after day I've known your grace.
Day after day, week after week, year after year,
I will declare your glory
I will declare your greatness
I will praise... your name...

Day after day. after day...

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 6/24

Art by Louis Glanzman in Soul Brothers

The church calendar celebrates only three birthdays: Jesus (December 25), Mary, his mother (September 8) and John the Baptist whose feast is today (June 24). Luke's gospel tells us that Jesus and John shared a relationship even while in utero: Jesus, in Mary's womb and John in Elizabeth's womb. John is called the Forerunner because he announced the coming of Jesus when the Lord began his public ministry.

Lord,

John prepared the way for you,

he lived a simple life in truth,

he did what he was called to do: