A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 6/12

I first posted this prayer a couple years ago on day very much like today!

The first real scorcher, Lord:

the kind of heat that drains our strength,

strains the grid, humbling us as powerless,
bent as wilted blossoms, parched

and thirsting in the noon day sun...

But summer's warmth's no more a curse

than heat that bakes the loaf of bread,

or fires clay pots in the kiln,

or presses sweat from honest toil,

or burns with beauty on the hearth...

Heat and cold, sun and rain,

   summer, fall, winter, spring:
       all ways for you to touch us, Lord,
       and make your presence felt

deep, down
in the marrow of our bones...

Not long ago we cursed the cold

and prayed for warmth,

for spring and summer days

but now our temperamental tastes

seek gentle onshore breezes

'til autumn comes and once again

we'll mourn the loss of summer's heat

and sunshine's healing warmth...

Be patient with us, Lord of light,
when summer's heat's upon us:

bake us as a loaf of bread,

ready for the breaking;

fire us as vessels strong

and fill us with your grace;

press the sweat of justice

from the gospel work we do;

and let us burn as flames

of wisdom kindled in your heart...

Warm your way within us, Lord,

deep, down and into

the marrow of our souls...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake
and guard us while we sleep:
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace..

Amen.

Two possibilities for music this evening. First, Delius' tone poem, "Summer Night on the River"- a piece well suited to accompany our prayer and quiet reflection at the end of this very warm day. And second, "Heat," an uptempo piece by Stephen Stanley which sings the cry of one who finds the heat near unbearable and who thirsts for the Spirit's cool refreshment...

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Summer Night on the River by
Frederick Delius

Heat by Stephen Stanley

Sometimes I feel like a desert stormLike I'm praying for rain, but the sky never opensSometimes I can feel it in my bonesLike I could burst into flames at about any moment

I need something holySomebody to hold meA strong back to stand my groundI've been feeling lonelyNobody understands mePlease, Heaven, can you help me out?I just can't take the heat right nowI just can't take the heat right now

Sometimes fear can get the best of meI get so hyperfocused on what keeps me broken

They say You can fix meI hope You can fix me

I need something holySomebody to hold meA strong back to stand my groundI've been feeling lonelyNobody understands mePlease, Heaven, can you help me out?

'Cause I need something holySomebody to hold meSomeone to tell me I ain't too far goneI need you to shield meI need you to heal mePlease, Heaven, can you help me out?

I just can't take the heat right nowI just can't take the heat right now

Sometimes I feel like I can breathe againI could fall, I could rise, but I'm still aliveI could fall, I could rise, but I'm still alive

I need something holySomebody to hold meA strong back to stand my groundI've been feeling lonelyNobody understands mePlease, Heaven, can you help me out?

'Cause I need something holySomebody to hold meSomeone to tell me I ain't too far goneI need you to shield meI need you to heal mePlease, Heaven, can you help me out?

I just can't take the heat right nowI just can't take the heat right nowI just can't take the heat right now

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