April 19, 2011: Prayer Reading for
Third Tuesdays Call

The following is based on several versions of the book of common prayer, and A Place Apart readings compiled and altered for Third Tuesdays Prayer. Leaders read plain text, group reads response in bold.




Shona stone sculpture

Holy of Holies
Father of order, mother embracing,
Son leading,
Spirit empowering;

Give us this day The bread of the earth for our bodies,
The bread of your body for our Earth.
Help us to enter the hours In reverent worship,
The day in constant prayer
We pray your blessing on our communion,
Upon the bread,
Your body broken for us,
Upon the wine,
Your blood shed for us.
As these elements enter our physical bodies
Dispersing to organs, cells, muscle and bone,
So let your presence
Disperse to touch each aspect of our
Individual spiritual bodies
And our body life within community.
Bless the work of our hands
Open us to the giftedness of our work.
May our work be a blessing to the community
In service to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 96:1 – 4, 11 – 13

Sing to the Lord a new song : sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.

Sing to the Lord and bless his name : proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations : and his wonders among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised : he is more to be feared than all gods.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it : let the field be joyful and all that is therein.

Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord when he comes : when he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness : and the peoples with his truth. Amen.

Meditation

painting by Mark Daniels

Benediction:

Holy God
Holy communion
Holy order
Holy hours
Holy days
Holy seasons
Bless my sisters
Bless my brothers
The rhythms of the day
The work of my hands
My study
My prayer
The stranger you send to my door