Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 9/18

 I will bless you, Lord, at all times,
   your praise ever on my lips...

I will bless your faithful kindness
  when I fear you've let me go...

I will bless your tender mercy
   when I can't forget my sins...

I will bless you in the hard times
   as I do when all is fine... 

I will bless you in my sickness
   as I bless you when I'm well...

I will bless you when I've nothing left
   as when my cup is full... 

I will bless you in my weakness
   as I bless you when I'm strong... 

I will bless you in my sorrow
   as I bless you in my joy...

I will bless you in the darkest storm
   as when the sun shines bright... 

I will bless you in my failures
   as I do when I succeed...

I will bless you when I'm lost, confused,
   as when my thoughts are clear... 

I will bless you when I've lost all trust
   as when I'm filled with hope...

I will bless you, Lord, at all time, 

    your praise ever on my lips... 

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 9/17

I wrote this prayer several years ago but it's been on my mind since recently attending my 60th high school reunion  - so I did some rewriting and offer it for our reflection tonight...

  

Evening's upon us, Lord:

    time to turn another page 

        in this chapter of my life...

 

We all have a story, Lord,

    the story we're writing

        and living and telling...

 

Part of my story's an open book

    - casual observers can take a look;

 but much of my tale is only known

    to those who've shared in its living

who've helped in writing a chapter or two

    now stored in the archives,

         deep in my heart.... 

 

I'm grateful for all who are part of my saga,

    my narrative's characters, major and minor,

its many heroes and occasional villains, 

    who've made of my life the story it is...

 

And then, of course, there's you, my God:

    you know my story, chapter and verse;

you already know how it all will end

    - still an unfolding mystery to me...

 

I'm grateful to you, my Author divine:

    you’ve read my dark chapters

        - but always with mercy

    you know all my plot twists

        - you’ve walked through them with me.

    you know every detail

        - but still love me freely

 

“Like a book” - you read me

    but never lose interest

- to even the dull parts

    you pay full attention...

 

You're my editor, critic,

    mentor and muse,

my biographer, narrator,

    Holy ghostwriter... 

 

And more than all that, Lord,

    you've written, you've woven,

you've threaded your love story,

    one with my own...

 

My book was conceived in your heart, O Lord,

    your fingerprints warm

         every chapter and page…

 

My story is nothing apart from you:

     you are my theme, my plot and its subplot;

the narrative follows me

     following you…

         

I pray for a happy end to my story

    its epilogue - peace, 

        its sequel - pure grace…

 

May my chronicle end with a new beginning:

    a chapter eternal and filled with joy,

my story resolved in your mercy and love,

    finding my place in your Book of Life…

 

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.

 

My Story by Big Daddy Weave

 

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CHANGE at ConcordPastor's blog!

I began writing this blog in July 2007 on Google's free Blogspot platform - still home base for A Concord Pastor Comments.  Back then Google also offered a free subscription service which many of my readers signed up for.

During the pandemic (though unrelated to Covid) Google terminated its subscription service and so I signed on with AWeber.  While subscribing is still free for readers, the blogger (me) pays a monthly fee.

I've carried this service for a number of years now but as my readership has increased (the good news) so has the monthly fee  for the service gone up (the bad news). At this point, the cost of success in  is $180 per month and I'm no longer able to justify that expense on a retired priest's stipend.  So at the end of this month I'll be severing ties with AWeber and subscribers will no longer receive daily emails with links to my posts.

Of course anyone and everyone will still be free to visit my blog simply by going to A Concord Pastor Comments (ConcordPastor.blogspot.com).  And those who friend and follow me on FaceBook (Austin Fleming) will still find my blog posts in their daily FB feed.

I hope I won't lose too many readers when the daily emails stop!  Remember: you can always bookmark me on your computer or friend me on FaceBook!  

I hope you understand - and I thank you in advance for what I hope will be your continued readership! 

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 9/17

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NGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 9/16

I want to pray this evening, Lord,

    for those who struggle with prayer,

        who wonder if prayer's worthwhile,

            who may have forgotten how to pray...

 

I pray for those who don't yet know 

    how prayer's a chapel of your presence,

        a home with open doors,

        a mending place for broken lives,

        a storehouse of encouragement,

        a window to the future,

        an easy chair for grieving,

        a refuge from adversity,

        a hearth of warmth and comfort,

        a harbor safe and calm,

        a clearing in the chaos, 

        a blanket of protection, 

        a library of truth, 

        a healing spa for aching hearts,

        a wellspring of the purest grace,     

        a school for growing firm in faith,

        a meadow for discernment, 

        a nap in God's embrace,

        an ocean of forgiveness, 

        a forest of deep mystery,         

        an open field of hopes and dreams,

        a ladder to the heavens,

        a hideaway for weeping,

        a beacon in the darkness,

        a sanctuary for my thoughts,

        a hideout from the daily grind,

        a garden of tranquility, 

        a corner of compassion, 

        a treasure chest of hidden joy,

        a respite for the weary,  

        a mountaintop for meeting God,  

        a lifeboat in rough waters, 

        a river of compassion,

        a path to good decisions,   

        an oasis of serenity, 

        a fortress for the fearful, 

        a retreat from life's absurdity,

        a treasury of prudence,

        a font of inner freedom,

        a court of tender mercy,

        a safe house for the sinner,

        a source of strength and courage,

        a valley of contentment,

        a shelter from the raging storm,

        a spring of consolation,

        a mooring for the soul... 

 

Hmm...  

 

You know what, Lord?

I think I should pray for myself, too 

in case I've forgotten some - or many -

    of all the ways that prayer's a gift,

    of all the ways that prayer's my path

    to you and to your heart...

         

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, Prepare Me by  Vinesong

 

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PAUSE FOR PRAYER: Tuesday 9/16

 

Lord, not a day goes by 

    without your speaking to me:

        in nature, as I see, touch,

            smell, taste and hear it;

        in all my day's events,

        in my mind and in my thoughts,    

        in my imagination, 

        in my memories and my dreams,

        in my ups and downs,

            my failures and successes,   

                my sorrows and my joys;      

        in my neighbor's words,    

        in the pages of scripture,       

        in the songs I hear,

        in my prayer,

        in my heart,

        in my soul, 

        in every whispered sound I hear,

        and in the silence...

So, I wonder, Lord:

    how often today, will you speak to me?

 

And what, this day, will you say to me?

 

Will I be listening when you speak? 

 

And if I'm listening - will I hear?

 

And if I do - will I believe 

    it's you whose voice I hear?

 

And if I believe:
    - will I respond 

          to the word you speak?     

    - will I do 

          what you might ask?

    - will I go 

          where your Spirit leads?

    - and will I change 

          my ways, my plans,

             to live the word I've heard?

 

Not a single day goes by, Lord, 

    without your speaking in my heart:

        words of comfort,

        words of challenge,

        words of mercy,

        words of pardon, 

        words of peace,

        words of justice,

        words of knowledge,

        words of blessing,

        words of love,

        words of wisdom,

        words of truth,

        words of beauty,

        words of joy...

    all words in prayer where I hear you

        who've made your home deep in my soul...     

 

Open my eyes, my ears and my heart

    to all you speak this day, Lord;

open my mind, my thoughts and my soul,

    - and don't let me miss a word!

 

Amen. 

     

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 9/14

As I noted this morning, September 15 is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in the temple, an old man, Simeon, told Mary:  Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.  Tradition holds that seven sorrows pierced Mary's heart in the course of her life with her Son: 1) Simeon's prophecy in the temple (Luke 2:34).   2) the Holy Family's flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13).   3) Joseph and Mary losing the young Jesus for three days  (Luke 2:43).   4) Mary meeting Jesus as he carried his Cross (Luke 23:26).   5) Mary standing at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25).   6) Jesus being taken down from the cross and placed in Mary's arms (Matthew 27:58).   7: the burial of Jesus in the tomb (John 19:4).

    Sorrowful Mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does any heart know sorrow, Lord,   

   more deeply and more keenly,

than a mother's heart aching

   with sorrow for her child?

What they say is true, Lord:

   to give birth is to forever have your heart

      walk around outside your body...    

Just after the joy of your birth, Lord,

   your mother learned, was told,

that her pure heart would be pierced

   by sorrow's bitter arrow... 

 

All mothers, Lord, anticipate 

   what sadness might be theirs

when their child is in pain, 

   in trouble or distress,

     lost, or in harm's way...

 

So tonight we pray for mothers,

   whose souls are pierced with sorrow

for that part of their heart,

   long absent from their womb...

With your Mother right beside you, 

   come with comfort, Lord, and healing;

come with blessing 

   strength and grace; 

come and ease the hearts of mothers 

   heavy burdened in their sorrow;

anoint them with your mercy

   and heal them with your peace... 

   

Mother of Jesus, Lady of sorrows,

   'neath your mantle of compassion

hold these mothers in your arms,

   deep within your heart,

'til they come to know again 

   the promise of the healing joy

your Son has pledged and promised

   to all who walk in faith... 

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. 

 

In tonight's song, the composer names Mary's seven sorrows as known in tradition - and adds an extra one (the third)...

 

Mother of Sorrows by Greg Mailloux

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Mother of sorrows, you know our tears;
Comfort us in our need.
Mother of Hope, pray for us,
Now and at the hour of our death.

 
1.Your Son's life was in danger as a new born babe.

But you fled to Egypt. His life was saved.

 
2. Lost in the temple, your Son was hid.
You searched for three days until he was revealed.

 
3. Your spouse Joseph, chosen of God, was chaste, loyal, and true.
His death brought tears and loss to you.

 
4. Your Son was the innocent and spotless Lamb
Guilty and condemned to death at Pilate's hand.

 
5. Via Dolorosa, the sorrowful and saddest way,
Is where you met your Son on that mournful day.

 
6. The pounding of the nails into your Son's feet and hands
Was the sword of sorrow that you'd never planned.

 
7. Jesus died upon the cross as you mourned.
His life of love, by them was scorned.

 
8. His lifeless body was placed in the stone-cold tomb
She laid him there, the child of her womb.

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