Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 6/30

It's not Christmas and it's not my birthday, Lord,
but I've got a wish list for you,
(things I want, things I need)
and so today I'm asking for,
I'm praying for:

   hope when I'm discouraged,

   patience in my haste,
   faith when I'm in doubt,
   consolation in my loss
   courage when I'm fearful,
   truth in all I say,
   strength when mine is waning,
   mercy when I sin,
   healing when I'm broken,
   comfort when I'm sad,
   perseverance when I'm weak,
   counsel in confusion,
   purity in passion,
   wisdom in my choices, 
   good will when I'm resentful,
   compassion when I'm spiteful,
   prudence when I'm foolish,
   fairness when I'm biased,
   integrity in all I do,
   love when I'm indifferent
and peace of mind and heart, Lord,
the peace I really need today,
the peace that only you can give...

(Yes, I know I'm asking for a lot here, Lord,
and if it's too much - then I'll leave it to you
to pick out the three things I need the most!)

Amen.


 

   
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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 6/29

Last night, Lord, 
I prayed about the thunder and lightening 
and all the rain it brought...

I was waiting for the calm after the storm but it turns out there was no calm after the storm
but rather - jut another storm!

This turns my heart to folks I know, Lord,
who've weathered far too many storms
and who know that often, the calm after the storm 
isn't calm at all -- it's just another storm...

So I want to pray tonight, Lord, 
for all whose plates are piled high with cares,
whose hearts are burdened more than most,
whose problems come in bunches,
who try so hard but just can't seem to catch a break
- through no fault of their own...

I pray for folks who wait their turn that never seems to come,
who try and try again, refusing to give up,
who seek another chance, a new beginning,
who wait in hope - whatever comes their way,
who long to hear good news, a word of comfort,
who wait to find the calm,
once another storm has passed them by...

It's been a spring and summer, Lord, when, in so many ways, 
storm has followed storm after storm:
now all of us are waiting for the calm to finally come
and some have waited much longer than have others,
they've been waiting for years and years...

We've learned to weather the tempests, Lord,
now deepen our trust that peace will come:
let no storm shake our inmost calm
while in our hope to you we cling...

Protect us, Lord, as we lie awake
and watch over us as we sleep
that awake, we may keep watch with you
and asleep, rest calmly in your peace...

Amen.

How Can I Keep From Singing sung by James Loynes
 

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth's lamentation,

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation;

Thro' all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul—

How can I keep from singing?

What tho' my joys and comforts die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

What tho' the darkness gather round?

Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths,

Since first I learned to love it,

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All things are mine since I am his—

How can I keep from singing!

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MONDAY MORNING OFFERING: 6/29

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God...

The virus has taken so many lives, Lord,
far too many lives,
but also the livelihoods of many,
depriving them of their job, their income,
a way and place to ply their trade,
hone their skills, help their neighbor,
and share so many gifts and talents, theirs,
from your own hand...

There's no good time to lose a job, Lord,
but in this season of this year
the loss is so much greater,
so much more to bear, surpass and survive...

So I offer you this morning
all the disappointment, heartbreak and pain,
all the anxiety (emotional and financial),
all the fear, distress and panic
all the helplessness so many are feeling and facing
as they take stock of their circumstances
and begin to look for work
just when jobs are so hard to find...

What I pray this morning, Lord,
is for your Spirit's wings to open wide
and gather in all those who've lost their job
and now feel lost themselves:
lift them up, quicken their faith in you
and strengthen their hope
that all's not lost, that this will pass,
a new day come and new work, too...

Give all of us the grace, Lord, to be there for each other:
to listen, to encourage and to offer our assistance,
when and as we're be able, but most of all to be there,
to be there for each other...

Amen.


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NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 6/28

We've had something of a dry spell, Lord,
but you certainly made up for it this afternoon!
Talk about opening the flood gates!
I'm sure it was good for the farmers
and I'll bet the local gardeners were happy, too
- not so much my bride and groom
but I reminded them: a wet knot stays tied!

This afternoon's torrent was powerful, Lord:
driving, refreshing, cleansing, cooling
and were I a little younger
I might have stepped outside to enjoy it,
to let your healing soak me,
your mercy like a downpour,
your reign, a summer shower...

Sometimes that's just what I need, Lord,
for you to soak me,
drench me,
all but drown me,
leave me dripping wet with moist anointings
of your freely given grace:
every inch of me from head to toes washed
in showers bracing and redeeming...

Refresh me with your reign of grace:
let me drink it in and drink it down, deep,
until my thirst for you is quenched...

Rain, rain, don't go away!
Rain down on me,
reign over me
and never, ever, go away....

With a lullaby of rain drops, Lord,
protect me as I lie awake
and help me fall asleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Rain Down by Jaime Cortez


Rain down Rain down
Rain down your love on your people
Rain down Rain down
Rain down your love, God of life

Faithful and true is the Word of our God
All of God's works are so worthy of trust
God's mercy falls on the just and the right
Full of God's love is the earth

We who revere and find hope in our God
Live in the kindness and joy of God's wing
God will protect us from darkness and death
God will not leave us to starve

God of creation, we long for Your truth
You are the water of life that we thirst
Grant that Your love and peace touch our hearts
All of our hope lies in You.


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Mass today at St. Luke's in Belmont

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 6/28

Let there be peace on earth, Lord,

   the peace that begins with you...

Let there be peace

   among all the world's nations...

Let there be peace

   between us and your creation...

Let there be peace

   in our homeland...

Let there be peace

   between blacks and whites....

 Let there be peace

   between Dems and Repubs...

Let there be peace

   between L, G, B, T, Q and S...

Let there be peace

   at our borders...

Let there be peace

   between natives and immigrants...

Let there be peace

   in the service of justice...

Let there be peace

   in the halls of government…

Let there be peace

   in the streets of our cities...

Let there be peace

   between neighbors and friends...

Let there be peace

   in our families…

Let there be peace

   between husbands and wives...

Let there be peace

   between parents and children...

Let there be peace

   between sisters and brothers.. 

Let there be peace

   when we speak out of faith...

Let there be peace

   in the Church, left and right... 

Let there be peace

   among all Christian people…

Let there be peace

   between faiths of all kinds…

Let there be peace

   when we're tired and angry...

Let there be peace

   when patience is scarce...

Let there be peace

   in times of confusion...

And let there be peace

   in me, Lord...

Let there be peace

   in my thoughts, words and deeds...

Let there be peace

   between me and my neighbor...

Let there be peace

   within my own being...

Let there be peace

   in my dreams and my schemes...

Let there be peace

   in my heart, mind and soul...

Let there be peace, Lord,

   between you and me...

Let there be peace on earth, Lord,

   the peace that was meant to be...

Let there be peace on earth, Lord,

   and let it begin with you...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 6/27

Howdaya like that, Lord?
June is nearly history!
 
Mostly, the days seem to be dragging by
- but how can that be if June's almost gone? 

June, July and August are my favaorite months
and now it's one down, two to go, Lord
- and that's a count I don't want to hear...

Gotta focus on the plus side, Lord:
still two months of summer left before it's ---
and there I go again!

Gotta focus on the positive:
60 days of summer,
8 great weeks to revel in,
two full months of balmy peace...

Give me all the help I need, then, Lord,
to live each day as gift from you,
each day a chapter in the story 
of how the two of us will make our way
through summer 2020...

Help me savor and delight in each day's difference,
help me soak in all sun the sky may share,
help me walk through summer rain
as through a shower of your grace:
refreshing and bracing me for joy!

And for those who hate the heat, Lord,
the humidity and haze,
just remind them: in a couple months -
the fall will come again...

Amen. 

Summer (flute/piano instrumental) by Herman Beeftink 



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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 6/27

Yesterday, Lord, 
was a day of
unanticipated,
unexpected,
unforeseen,
unpredicted,
unplanned for
peace...

Didn't see it coming, Lord 
- you took me by surprise:
no clue, no cue, not an inkling,
no tip-off, no sign
not even so much as a knowing wink!

Just peace...
   a simple peace,
   a calming peace,
   a restful peace, 
   a deep peace,
   a peace from  - - -  

Wow!  I almost said, 
"a peace from out of nowhere"
but it didn't come from nowhere, Lord,
it came from somewhere
and I know such peace
could only come from you:
   a peace that lifts a spirit
     still burdened with uncertainty;
   a peace that fills with hope
      a heart in need of answers;
   a peace that calms the soul
     while problems still remain.
A simple peace,
   a calming peace,
   a restful peace, 
   a healing peace,
   a deep peace,
   a peace that only you might give...

Because I don't know, 
because I can't know, Lord,
just how long this peace will stay with me:
embed the gift of this moment
in my mind and in my memory,
in my heart and in my soul
as a blessing I can turn to and return to 
   when my spirit needs a lift,
   when my heart's in need of hope
   and my soul's in need of peace:
      the peace that only you can give... 

A simple peace, Lord,
   a calming peace,
   a restful peace, 
   a healing peace,
   a deep peace,
   a peace that only you might give...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 6/26

Photo by CP

(Be sure to view the video before praying today's Night Prayer)

Took another wonderful walk today, Lord, 
through your own Great Meadows,
a natural garden of your beauty and blessings...

Stopping at a small jut of land,
hard by a bend in the Concord River,
I was taken by the gentle persistence of soft ripples,
guiding the water downstream...

And I wondered...

Were  those ripples stirred by a gentle summer breeze
or quickened by an undercurrent hidden,
yet at work, beneath the Concord's surface,
moving things along, just as you desire? 

Most likely, not a case of either - or
but rather, Lord, both - and...

And so your Spirit moves me:
with soft, persistent ripples, stirring me to life
and rolling deep within me, 
'neath my surface tears and smiles,
moving things along, just as you intend...

Bless me, Lord, 
with breezes, ripples and undertows,
moving me, pushing me, drawing me downstream 
to where the river of my life
meets the ocean of your love,
just as you desire...

Protect me, Lord, on the river's bank,
awake or asleep as I may be
that awake I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Peace Is Flowing Like A River by Carey Landry



Peace is flowing like a river,  
Flowing out of you and me.  
Flowing out into the desert,  
Setting all the captives free.  

God's love is flowing like a river,  
Flowing out of you and me.  
Flowing out into the desert,  
Setting all the captives free.  

Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.  
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.  

God's peace is flowing like a river,  
Flowing out of you and me.  
Flowing out into the desert,  
Setting all the captives free.  
Setting all the captives free.

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 6/26

 No, it's not "just another day," Lord...

It's a new day, a different day, 
a day that's never dawned before
in all of human history
- and will never come again...

It's a new day challenging me
to do what is just,
to love what is good
and to walk humbly right by your side...

Today offers me a fresh start,
a second chance,
a clean slate,
a new beginning!

This brand new day is:
a present to be opened,
a story to be written,
an opportunity to be taken,
a mystery to be lived...

Open me up, Lord,
to all the peace and happiness
you might offer me today...

Be my strength 
if this day brings its share of 
troubles, trials and tears...

Give me a heart 
to spend this day in serving others
and in serving others 
to serve you, my Lord and God...

Help me remember, Lord:
this isn't "just another day,"
that it's ANOTHER DAY,
a day that you have made,
a brand new day, indeed! 

Amen.


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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 6/25

It's at the end of day, Lord,
when many folks most feel the weight
of all that's hanging over them,
so I pray tonight for those who are feeling:

overburdened with worries and cares,
overextended and just exhausted,
overindulgent and yet still empty,
overworked and underpaid,
overruled with no appeal,
overinvolved and burning out,
overboard without a line,
overthinking to anxious thoughts,
overshadowed, in the dark,
overcome by grief and sorrow,
overlooked and left alone,
overturned by other voices,
overcautious, stuck in fear,
0verprotected, smothered, stifled, 
overpowered, trapped and cornered,
over scrupulous, plagued by doubt,
overtired and worn out,
overwhelmed by daily life...

All these folks I lift in prayer, Lord:
with the power of your Spirit, 
raise them up and out from under
what oversteps their freedom,
what overrides their will,
what overrules their right to share
   the hope and grace and joy
      you offer all each day...

Raise them up, Lord, 
so they can stand on mountains, 
raise them up to walk on stormy seas,
raise them up from all that overburdens,
raise them up and be the strength they need...

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake
and watch over us as we sleep
that awake, we may keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

You Raise Me Up performed by Josh Groban

When I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary
When troubles come, and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

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