Taken from the common book of prayer, http://commonprayer.net Leader reads plain text, group reads the bold text.
O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Sing and rejoice, O daughters of Zion : sing a new song of freedom.
(Psalm 98:6 – 10)
Sing to the Lord with the harp : with the harp and the voice of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn : shout with joy before the King, the Lord.
Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it : the lands and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands : and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord, when he comes to judge the earth.
In righteousness shall he judge the world : and the peoples with equity.
Sing and rejoice, O daughters of Zion : sing a new song of freedom.
Judges 16:15 – 31 Acts 22:17 – 29
Sing and rejoice, O daughters of Zion : sing a new song of freedom.
Meditation
On July 19, 1848, the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, sparking a women’s movement that challenged both the church and the world with the good news that in -Jesus Christ, there is neither male nor female.
African-American abolitionist and women’s rights advocate Sojourner Truth said, “I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns, and no man could head me — and ain’t I a woman? I have born’d five childrun and seen ’em mos’ all sold off into slavery, and when I cried out with mother’s grief, none but -Jesus heard — and ain’t I a woman? . . . Den dat little man is back dar, he say women can’t have as much rights as man, ’cause Christ warn’t a woman. Whar did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with him!”
Prayers for Others
Prayer For Artists
Attributed To: Rev. Karl Ryland
We praise Thee for all those, Thy servants, who have given their life in the service of the true, the pure, and the lovely; for all who work in form and color to increase the joy of life; for all who rejoice in their work and make things well. May life perpetual shine upon them.
Once more a new day lies before us, our Father. As we go out among others to do our work, touching the hands and lives of our fellows,
make us, we pray Thee, friends of all the world. Save us from blighting the fresh flower of any heart by the flare of the sudden anger or secret hate. May we not bruise the rightful self-respect of any by contempt or malice. Help us to cheer the suffering by our sympathy, to freshen the drooping by our hopefulness, and to strengthen in all the wholesome sense of worth and the joy of life. Save us from the deadly poison of class pride. Grant that we may look all in the face with the eyes of a sibling. If anyone needs us, make us ready to yield our help ungrudgingly, unless higher duties claim us, and may we rejoice that we have it in us to be helpful to our fellow travelers in this life.
Almighty God unto Whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts with the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name.
Amen.
Benediction
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.
