Day 149 | Saturday, 15 August 2020

Day 149 - Audio Version

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Day 149  |  Saturday, 15 August 2020 

COVID – 8/14/20 2:30pm  cases 263, battalion 3 – 106 no change

 A Beginning:
“Woven in the depths of our lives: Joy and sadness, Hope and disappointment, Rest and action, the experience of being loved and ignored, Words and silence, Laughter and tears, Praise and criticism.  All of life under the grace of God, all of our days never alone, always some way to praise.”

 A Prayer of Invocation:
“Gracious God, you alone have the power to transform us and the situations in which we find ourselves. May we be as eager as Bartimaeus to call out for your help and run to you. Help us to find healing, through our faith in you, that we may continue to follow you on the way. In Christ's name we pray. Amen”

 A Prayer of Confession:
“Smiling God, you delight in your creation. You spread your palette of reds and golds, purples and greens for all to see. But we get caught up in speeding through life, intent on accomplishing more, yet somehow enjoying it less.  Open our eyes to the wonder all around. Spin us around to see and appreciate.  Let music touch our hearts and laughter fill our souls. Slow us down enough to marvel at the splendor around us and to let loose a prayer of thanks. Stir us to be a community of joy, a people of praise, a center of healing. Amen.”

 An Affirmation of Faith: Humility
(Proverbs 15:33; Psalm 25:9; Isaiah 57:15; Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:12-13; Matthew 18:4)
“We believe that the fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and that humility goes before honor.

We believe God leads the humble in what is right.

We believe God dwells in the high and holy place, and also with those who are humble in spirit.

We believe that, in humility, we should regard others as better than ourselves.

We believe we should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience; bearing with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; just as the Lord has forgiven us.

We believe in the words of Jesus, "Whoever becomes humble like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

 A Prayer for Surprises:
“Surprising One, when you move in mysterious ways, we do not always know what lies before us. Help our spirits be open to your Spirit of adventure. May we know surprises as doors that open to new ways of thinking and seeing and hearing.  Keep our senses alive to possibilities we have never noticed before. Grant us a new kind of spirit that looks for surprises and blessings every day, for we believe this way of being transforms our very lives. In your holy name. Amen!”
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 A Blessing:
“May the Christ who loves us and freed us from our sins, grant us grace, mercy and peace. And may the joy of Christ's sustaining presence be with us this day. Amen.”

 Quotation:
“In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” -John Bunyan
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 Today: prayers for postal workers who are caught in the middle of politics.