NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 1/14

 

This evening, Lord,

I want to thank you
for your always being there,
every time I come to pray...

 

I believe that when I pray

you listen to me,

  your heart hears my heart
even when my heart is mute...

I believe you love the prayer of
   of just my "showing up,”
   of every time my heart,
    my imagination and my attention turn
       - if only for a few seconds -
    toward you, always there, at my side...

Especially then,

I'm grateful for the ways

you catch my glance,
my momentary nod in your direction,

my heart's secret “wink” to let you know
    you're on my mind;

    you’re in my heart;
    I'm glad you're near;

    I need you

        and I want you by my side...

It's not a bell, Lord,

   nor the time of day,

   nor my need, much less my idea,
no - it’s only and always

   the power of your Spirit

   that calls and draws me to prayer...

 

Every prayer of mine
   comes at your Spirit's prompting,
your grace stirring, prodding,

   nudging, urging me

        to come to you in prayer... 

 

There's not a moment, night or day,

when your Spirit isn't moving me
   to make some time,
   to find a quiet place,
   to sit with you in prayer...

I'm so grateful, Lord:

you never tire of my tales of woe,
    of drying all my tears,

listening with such patience,
hearing me out, again and again,
even when I fail to find the words

    to speak what’s really on my mind

        and in my heart,
    what I really need to speak to you in prayer...

No thought of mine, Lord,
   comes as news to you...

 

Not a word of my prayer

   takes you by surprise…

 

You hear my every plea,

   ever stumbling, awkward, mindless, rote

        distracted, selfish prayer…

 

And most of all you hear the prayer

   that echoes in my heart

        but never makes it to my lips…

 

You never turn away from me
   in boredom or frustration,
but rather do you bend, Lord,

   always, ever nearer, closer,

        to hear my every word...

 

Help me never be afraid, Lord,

to share with you in prayer
    what’s precisely on my mind

        and rooted deep within my heart...

 

This evening, Lord, I thank you
    for your always being there,

for your open ears and heart
    every time I come to pray...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I’m awake,

    watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace…

Amen.

When I Pray by Doe Jones

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Carrying all of the world on my shoulders 

And it’s gotten too heavy for me 

You know I ain’t no Hercules 

Life moves on 

Stuff breaks down 

People fall off 

 

Gotta find a way to get over 

Gotta find a way to get through 

Breakthrough 

Hear You 

Struggles they last 

But as time pass 

It’s been one thing after the other 

 

Oh I don’t always know the right way 

No I don’t always know what to say 

But all I know is something happens 

When I pray 

 

I know I can get through when I pray 

I know I can reach You when I call Your name 

You’re never too busy for me 

You’re never too busy for me 

 

When I oh I found myself at the end of the road 

Looking for it and I see a fork in the road 

Hell, if I know 

Which way to go 

I feel so alone 

Life is so, so cold 

 

Oh I’m not very eloquent in speech 

I don’t always sound holy when I speak 

Papa told me something happens 

When I pray 

 

I know I can get through when I pray 

I know I can reach You when I call Your name 

You’re never too busy for me 

You’re never too busy for me 

When I pray 

I know I can get through when I pray 

I know I can reach You when I call Your name 

You’re never too busy for me 

You’re never too busy for me 

When I pray 

 

I know You will never leave me dry 

It’s not in Your nature to turn away 

When the humble pray 

When I cry I know 

You will never leave me empty 

It’s not in Your nature to turn away 

From the humble

When I pray 

 

 I know I can get through when I pray 

I know I can reach You when I call Your name 

You’re never too busy for me 

You’re never too busy for me 

When I pray 

 

I know I can get through when I pray 

I know I can reach You when I call Your name 

You’re never too busy for me 

You’re never too busy for me 

When I pray 

 

I know I can get through when I pray 

I know I can reach You when I call Your name 

You’re never too busy for me You’re never too busy for me 

When I pray I know I can get through when I pray 

I know I can reach You when I call Your name 

You’re never too busy for me 

You’re never too busy for me 

When I pray

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 1/13

Since the eve of Christmas Eve I've been sitting each evening by the light and warmth of this wood stove in my family's living room here in Georgetown, Colorado.  Only two more nights after this evening and I'll be back in my recliner in Wayland, Massachusetts...

 

 

How much we need your warmth, Lord,

in this cold-blooded world 

where chill of pride

and frost of self-protection nip

and numb our souls in frigid isolation...

 

How much we need your Spirit's spark

to light the splintered kindling 

of our dwindling hopes and dreams,

to fan to life the light and warmth

our shivering hearts desire...

The gentle warmth of your heart, Lord,

a stream of mercy growing, flowing,

glowing bright with promise 

and assurance of a love to melt

and thaw this winter's discontent...

 

While sitting by a wood stove, Lord,

I dream and pray for warmth divine

to wrap the world in fervor 

for a light to shine upon the path

that leads us to your hearth...

 

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.

 

Melt Our Hearts by Faith Alive Band

 

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The Lord of Ages is standing at my door

What will I do

The King of kings and Lord of lords

Is reaching out His hand

Will I stand there and be silent

Will I call on His name

Or will I fall down and humbly proclaim

 

Melt my heart into Yours Lord

Take my will and use it only for You

My life is not my own

I was made to worship You

Jesus change my world around

Jesus turn my life upside down

 

Consuming Fire

Consume my heart

Burn away my impurities

You spent Your days with sinners and saints

Now You’ve come to me

How can I stand there and be silent

How can I call on Your name

Lord now I fall down and humbly proclaim

 

Melt my heart into Yours Lord

Take my will and use it only for You

My life is not my own

I was made to worship You

Jesus change my world around

Jesus turn my life upside down

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Monday Morning Offering: 1/13

Image: George Mendoza


Good morning, good God!

I know so many folks, Lord, 
    who are trying:  

- people trying to stay on the right path,
    trying to take a step in a new direction…

- people trying to begin, 
        or begin again, 
    trying to do things that seem so simple
        but are so very hard to do…

- people trying to make the right decision,
    trying to make the wise choice,
        trying to do the right thing…

- people trying to believe, to trust:
    in themselves,
    in others,
    in you…

- people trying again and again
    when they’ve tried so many times before
        (and perhaps are tired now of trying)
    and yet - are trying to try again…

So many folks who are trying, Lord...

So, I offer you this morning
the efforts of all of us who try:
    who try to know, to love and to serve you
        in all we do;
    who try to be and become the persons
        you created us to be;
    who try to find the truth
        and to live by it...

I offer you our good intentions, Lord, 

as we try and try again:
    forgive our false starts,
        give us fresh starts
    and the hope and courage we need 
        - to try again…

I offer you our earnest desires
and ask that you keep us honest:
    show us how easily we con ourselves,
        thinking that we're trying
    when, in truth, we're not trying at all;
keep us honest with you,
    honest with others
        and honest with ourselves...

I offer you all our redoubled efforts, Lord,
and pray you redouble 
    the strength that's yours to give,
    the help we so much need,
    the grace I know is ours for the asking…

I offer you our desire, Lord,
    to choose what's true, good, healthy and pure
- and when we settle for less -
    give us the desire to desire more,
        more of what's good 
    for our relationship with you
        and with our neighbors...

I offer you our need, Lord, for you to
    deepen our trust,
    refresh our hope,
    renew our strength
    and give us the will
        to try, one day at a time
    and to live, 

        one day at a time...

Be patient with us, Lord,
    and give us patience with each other
as each of us tries 

    and tries again 

to live according to your Word and will 

    this morning, this evening  

        and through the week head...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 1/12

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Tonight we'll riff on a line from the gospel: "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son...'"

Lord, the heavens opened

and your Father's voice spoke:

    You are my beloved Son...

 

Now my heart opens up

and my voice prays:

    Lord, you are my beloved...

    You're my beloved best friend,

    my cherished companion,

    my trusted big brother...

    my beloved good shepherd,

    my pilot, my captain,

    my guardian, my guide...

 

    my beloved wise teacher,

    my comrade, my confidant,

    my standby and backup...

    my beloved gentle healer,

    my instructor, my coach,

    my partner, my helper...

    my beloved selfless backer,

    my consoler, my counselor,

    my advocate and mentor...

 

    my beloved faithful sidekick,

    my protector, my defender,

    my savior and redeemer...

 

    my beloved abiding ally,

    mi amigo, mon ami,

    my lookout and shadow...

 

You are my beloved, 

    my Lord and my God

and by mercy and grace,

    I am yours evermore...

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. 

Tonight's song is slow paced and reflective:

    give it time and let in draw you into prayer...

 

Jesus My Beloved by Jonathan Ogden

 

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Homily: Who Am I In The Eyes of God?

Here's my homily for January 11, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

 

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Baptism of the Lord

                   Detail from "The River"

                            by John August Swanson

                      St. Matthew's Lutheran Church

                                     Glendale, CA

Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the celebration that closes the Christmas season on the liturgical calendar.

 

Beginning here we glimpse the Three-in-one;

The river runs, the clouds are torn apart,

The Father speaks, the Sprit and the Son

Reveal to us the single loving heart

That beats behind the being of all things

And calls and keeps and kindles us to light.

The dove descends, the spirit soars and sings

‘You are belovèd, you are my delight!’

In that quick light and life, as water spills

And streams around the Man like quickening rain,

The voice that made the universe reveals

The God in Man who makes it new again.

He calls us too, to step into that river

To die and rise and live and love forever.

 

~ Malcolm Guite

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 1/12

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Let my doubt be as a gift, Lord,
   leading me to faith...
   
Let my doubt remind and help me
   to take nothing at all for granted...

Let my doubt prod and push me
    to probe 'til I find the truth....

Let doubt stir my imagination

    to curiosity, questions and surprise...

 

Let doubt renew my gratitude

    for confidence, conviction and faith...

Let doubt be a keen and two-edged sword,
   piercing deep into wisdom's heart...

Let all my doubt be resolved, O Lord:
   in belief, in trust - and most all in you...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 1/10

To quote The Bard,
"What's past is prologue..."

Then let me see with your eye, Lord,
    the woof and warp, 

        the web of words and deeds

    converging in this moment,     

    connecting here with all that's been,     

    meshing now with all I've known:
        the good, the bad, the bland,

        the cherished and regretted,    
        the remembered and forgotten...

 

Help me see my whole existence,

    all I've known and all I've missed,

now woven into whole cloth

    under your protective gaze:

        a bolt of homespun fibers shuttled
            from your tapping loom,

        a patchwork quilt of sin and grace, 

        a tapestry of mystery,

            spun human and divine...

Then give me hope, good Weaver, 

    that my present, close at hand, 

is knit as one with all that's been
    and all that's yet to be

        - and all in your sure plan...

 

And mindful of the moment
    help me find my hope in you,
(you who see so clearly all I've missed)

    'til looking back at last I see

        your fingerprints appear

    on all I've known and loved and lived

        and all I've yet to see... 

 

As you have brought me safe thus far,

    so lead me safely home:

for this, I pray and trust is all

    your will, your way for me...

 

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.

 

Future/Past by John Mark McMillan 

    featuring Kim Walker-Smith

 

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You hold the reigns on the sun and the moon 

Like horses driven by kings 

You cover the mountains, the valleys below 

With the breadth of your mighty wings 

 

All treasures of wisdom 

And things to be known 

Are hidden inside your hand

And in this fortunate turn of events 

You ask me to be your friend 

Ask me to be your friend 

 

And you, You are my first 

You are my last 

You are my future and my past 

 

The constellations are swimming inside 

The breadth of your desire 

So where could I run, where could I hide 

From your heart’s jealous fire 

 

All treasures of wisdom 

And things to be known 

Are hidden inside your hand 

And in this fortunate turn of events 

You ask me to be your friend 

Ask me to be your friend 

 

And you, You are my first 

You are my last 

You are my future and my past 

 

You are the beginning and the end

You are the beginning and the end

You are the beginning and the end

You are the beginning and the end

 

You are my future and my past

You are my first, you are my last

You are my future and my past

 

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