A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: 5/18

Ascension Day is almost over, Lord...

We heard the story

of your gathering with your friends

and ascending from their sight

with the comfort of your promise

that your Spirit soon would come...

For nine days, Lord,

your friends waited and prayed

for your Spirit to come in wind and grace and blessing,

anointing their hearts with the fire of your love...

I picture them huddled together, Lord,

in that same upper room

where, on the night before you died,

you broke the Bread of Life

and blessed your saving Cup...

I hear them telling, again and again, the stories of your life:

- the story of your calling them

and naming them your friends;

- the stories in your parables,

the truth you came to share;

- the stories of your healing those
distressed, bent low in body and in spirit;

- the stories of your traveling 'round

          to share your Father's mercy;
   - the story of your passion, your suffering and your death,
         and how they fled in fear and left you all alone;
   - and the story of your rising, your meeting them again,
         greeting them with blessings of pardon and of peace...

Tonight, then, Lord, help me remember

- the story of your calling me,

my coming to know and love you;
- your parables of wisdom

      and how they've touched my heart, my life;
   - the stories of your healing me
          and making whole my brokenness;
   - the story of your following me,
         and how you've never left my side;
   - the story of your saving me,

your life upon the Cross,

in spite of - because of - all the ways I've failed

and betrayed your faithful love;
- the stories of your showing up

along the path I walk
in ways I least expect you

- but when I really need you;
- the story of my life with you,

the story of your love for me,

a story we're still writing,

sharing, living - you and I...

No greater story could I tell, Lord,

than the story of your love,

of your holy Spirit leading, guiding,

blessing me on every day,

in good times and in bad,

in sorrow and in joy...

Protect me, Lord, while I like awake,

remembering your story

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake I might keep watch for you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

(Tonight's song is and old hymn tune from the 1860's,
rendered here acapella, all four parts in Christ Rupp's voice)

I Love To Tell The Story by Chris Rupp

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I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above
Of Jesus and his glory
Of Jesus and his love

I love to tell the story
Because I know 'tis true
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do

I love to tell the story
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love

I love to tell the story,
’Tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time
I tell it more wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
The message of salvation
from God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love

I love to tell the story
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest

And when in scenes of glory
I sing the new, new song
'Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long

I love to tell the story '
Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love