A Partial Order Of Worship For Thanksgiving Day

November 26, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Gratitude, Liturgy, Prayer

God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause his face to shine upon us.
Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
Let us worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Let us pray:

“Most gracious God, by whose appointment
the seasons come and go,
and who makes the fruits of the earth
to minister to the needs of men:
We offer you our thanksgivings
that you have brought us through the year,
according to your promise,
seed and harvest have not failed.
Remembering your bounty,
we offer you the sacrifices of our thanksgiving,
and pray that you will indeed
fill our souls with the Bread of Life;
through Jesus our Lord,
Amen.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Let’s pray together:

O God, we praise you,
we give thanks to you
for your bountiful providence,
for all the blessings
and all the hopes of life.
Above all we praise and adore you
for your unspeakable give
in your only son,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let the memory of your goodness
fill our hearts with joy and thankfulness
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Taken from the 1965 Book of Worship for Church and Home, The Methodist Church

A Prayer of General Thanksgiving (Lutheran Book of Worship)

November 25, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Blessing, Commendation, Liturgical, Liturgy, Prayer, Thanksgiving

“Almighty God,
Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world
by our Lord Jesus Christ,
for the means of grace,
and for the hope of glory.

And we pray,
give us such an awareness of your mercies
that with truly thankful hearts
we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips,
but also in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you in holiness
and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages.

(Taken from Lutheran Book of Worship (Augsburg, 1978)

A Traditional Apache Grief Blessing

November 18, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Blessing, Prayer

May the sun bring you new energy every day,
bringing light into the darkness of your soul.
May the moon softly restore you by night,
bathing you in the glow of restful sleep and peaceful dreams.
May the rain wash away your worries,
and cleanse the hurt that sits in your heart.
May the breeze blow new strength into your being,
and may you believe in the courage of yourself.
May you walk gently through the world,
keeping your loved one with you always.
Knowing you are never parted in the beating of your heart.

Author Unknown

Traditional Irish Blessing

November 12, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Blessing, Prayer

“May you see light on the path ahead,
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
May you always remember,
You do not walk alone."

- Traditional Irish Blessing

A Prayer Of Thomas Aquinas

November 11, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Prayer

“Give me, O Lord,
a steadfast heart,
which no unworthy thought can drag downward;
an unconquered heart,
which no tribulation can wear out;
an upright heart,
which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.

Bestow upon me also, O Lord my God,
understanding to know thee,
diligence to seek thee,
wisdom to find thee,
and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Taken From A Prayer Of Thomas Aquinas from the Book of Worship for Church and Home; The Methodist Church.

Prayer For Those In Affliction

November 10, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Lamentation, mourning, Peace Prayer, Prayer, Prayer For Peace

“Almighty and Everlasting God,
comfort of the sad
and strength to those who suffer:
Let the prayers of your children
who are in any trouble rise to you.
To everyone in distress grant mercy,
grant relief,
grant refreshment;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Amen.

Taken from The 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship

Prayer For Peace Among The Nations

November 09, 2020 by Brent Thomas in weeping, Social Justice, Prayer for Social Justice, Prayer For Peace, Prayer, Peace Prayer

“Almighty God our heavenly Father,
guide the nations of the world
into the way of justice and truth,
and establish among them
that peace which is the fruit of righteousness,
that they may become
the Kingdom of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Amen.

(from the 1990 Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church According to the use of The Episcopal Church)

Prayer After Election Day 2020

November 04, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Litany, Liturgy, Mission, Prayer, Prayer For Peace, Prayer for Social Justice, Social Justice

Creator God,
Three in One.

Creator
Savior
Spirt.

We admit that we don’t know how to pray for a country that is but an afterthought.

We remember that Israel’s “physical” king wasn’t necessarily a blessing.

Yes, you gave them what they asked for. But they lacked imagination and only asked for what they could see.

As do we.

Please forgive our blandness. Please forgive our indifference.

Please forgive us for trusting in fleeting Empire.

Please forgive us for fighting for our liberties rather than laying them down.

Please forgive us for protecting the rich instead of lifting the Lowly.

Creating, Sustaining, Forgiving, and Liberating God,

Please show our country grace. In spite of us and yet for us.

Even though we don’t deserve it.

Please forgive our arrogance. Please forgive “Manifest Destiny.” Please forgive our slaughter of the Innocents for the sake of land, money, and power, both on our own soil and others.

Please forgive the spirit of Systemic Racism which has infected our power structures. Please remind us of our neighbor.

Please fill us with Love.

Please let your face shine rather than ours.

A Responsive Reading About The Life of Love

October 21, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Responsive Reading, Responsive Prayer, Social Justice, Thanksgiving, Prayer For Peace, Prayer for Social Justice, Prayer

“What is the great and first commandment?
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind.

What is the second commandment like it?
Love your neighbor as yourself.

What does this mean?
Love is the fulfilling of the law.

To what does this call us?
To a life of faith working through love.
(Based on Matthew 22:37040)

Hear the teaching of Christ:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you.”

(from John 13:34, SRSV)

Found in The Worship Sourcebook published by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, 2004)

"Christ Has No Body But Yours"

October 19, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Gratitude, justice, Lamentation, Prayer, Peace Prayer, Prayer For Peace, Prayer for Social Justice

“Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks with
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

:: St. Teresa of Avila ::

An Evening Prayer From The Methodist Church

October 15, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Evening Prayer, Prayer

“Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That with thy wonted favor thou
Would’st be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
From nightly fears and fantasies;
Tread under foot our ghostly foe
That no pollution we may know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.
Amen.

Taken from The Book of Worship For Church and Home With Orders for the Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies According to the Use Of The Methodist Church.

A Morning Prayer From The Methodist Church

October 14, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Prayer, Morning Prayer

“Now that the daylight fills the sky,
We make our prayer to God on high,
That he in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm this day;

Would guard our hearts and thoughts from shame,
Our tongues from strife, our lips from blame,
From evil sights defend our eyes,
And turn them from all vanities;

Would keep our inmost conscience pure,
Our souls from folly would secure,
The passion and the pride of sense
Restrain by prayer and abstinence.

So we, when this new day is gone,
And night once more is drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained,
May praise his name for victory gained.

All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son to thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore,
For ever and evermore.
Amen.”

Taken from The Book of Worship For Church and Home With Orders for the Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies According to the Use Of The Methodist Church.

"The Celtic Blessing"

October 07, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Prayer

“May the roads rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

(A traditional Celtic blessing, taken from the Interfaith Ministry Handbook)

Strive

October 05, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Prayer

“Strive that your actions day-by-day may be beautiful prayers.
Turn towards God and seek always to do that which is right and noble:
enrich the poor,
raise the fallen,
comfort the sorrowful,
bring healing to the sick,
reassure the fearful,
rescue the oppressed,
bring hope to the hopeless,
shelter the destitute!
Strive!”

(“Based on a talk given in 1911 by Abdu’l Baha, Baha’u’llah’s eldest son and appointed successor” and taken from the Interfaith Ministry Handbook)

The Buddha's Words on Kindness (Metta Sutta)

October 01, 2020 by Brent Thomas

“This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all things be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all things be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.”

“The Buddha's Words on Kindness (Metta Sutta)” found at Xavier.edu: Jesuit Resource.
“Metta, often translated from the Pali as 'loving kindness', is one of four mental states that Buddhists wish to cultivate. The other three are compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Each of these four states has an easily recognized 'far enemy' and an equally insidious 'near enemy'.

"One Breath"

September 30, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Thanksgiving, Responsive Prayer, Prayer, Morning Prayer, Meditation, Gratitude

“One breath to let go.
One breath to be present.
One breath to ask, “Now what?”

(Credited to Thich Nhat Hanh and found in the Interfaith Ministry Handbook)

A Zen Poem

September 29, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Responsive Reading, Prayer, Meditation, Gratitude, Reflective Reading

“How wonderful!
Quite miraculous!
I am fetching water,
and carrying wood!”

(from Interfaith Ministry Handbook: This 8th Century Chinese Zen master has expressed the wonder and joy found in the here-and-now of life.)

"The Only Moment"

September 28, 2020 by Brent Thomas in Meditation, Thanksgiving, Responsive Prayer, Prayer, Morning Prayer, Gratitude

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind.
Breathing out, I smile with joy.
Dwelling in the present, this is the only moment.”

(Credited to Thich Nhat Hanh and found in the Interfaith Ministry Handbook)

AA's Seventh Step Prayer

September 25, 2020 by Brent Thomas in weeping, Thanksgiving, Prayer

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good & bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you & my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do Your bidding.”

Found at 12 Step.Org