A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 4/8

As the sun sets and the Paschal moon shines,
I thank you, Lord, for the amazing grace of this day...

Yes, the statistics are still ominous
and difficult days are yet ahead of us
- but this day was, nonetheless,
a day of amazing grace:

- the amazing grace of spring's sweet arrival,
mindless of the virus, unimpeded by pandemic
- the amazing grace of men and women 'round the world,
      in harm's way, caring for the sick and dying
- the amazing grace of social distancing
to return us to the gift of social community
- the amazing grace of choirs of birds, singing your praise,
      when shuttered churches mute our hymns
- the amazing grace that draws us to you:
     through our fear to faith, in our prayers to hope
- the amazing grace of washing hands and wearing masks
      to protect us all from each other...
- the amazing grace prompting simple deeds of
outreach, kindness, compassion and love
- the amazing grace of connecting online
when we cannot touch or hug or kiss
- the amazing grace of your Holy Spirit, lifting us up
      to smile and laugh in moments of joy
- the amazing grace that leads us to trust
      that this too shall pass, that all shall be well...

So, if anxiety keeps me awake tonight, remind me, Lord,
that today has been, in so many ways,
a day of amazing grace...

Amen.

This Night Prayer offers a choice between two versions of
the same closing song: the first is choral and the second,
instrumental. Perhaps you'd like to sing along, perhaps
you'd like to just sit back and hear some beautiful strings
- or perhaps you'd like to do both!

Amzaing Grace - choir with lyrics

Amzaing Grace - Violin: Ayako Ishikawa