A Service of Prayer for the Beginning of Day, (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)

They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.

In all that they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:3             

The more I talk to people, the more I am reminded of the troubling times we are living in and how it is affecting us. Some are dealing with fear and anxiety, others with restlessness and impatience with the restrictions that COVID-19 has thrust upon us.

We know that God is watching over us and is providing tools that one day we will discover. But in the meantime, in this prayer service, let us focus on trust in the Lord and God’s providential care for us.

Pastor Harkness

DIALOGUE

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
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.

Alleluia.

PSALMODY

Give glory to God, our light and our life.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God and a great king above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth; the heights of the hills are also his.
The sea is his, for he made it; and his hands have molded the dry land.
Oh, come, let us bow down and bend the knee, and kneel before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

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

Give glory to God, our light and our life. 
Oh, come, let us worship him.

Psalm 17

A Prayer of David.

Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.

If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
 As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me, hear my words.
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who despoil me,
my deadly enemies who surround me.

They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
They track me down; now they surround me;
they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
They are like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.

Rise up, O LORD, confront them, overthrow them!
By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
  from mortals—by your hand, O LORD—
from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.

May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
may their children have more than enough;
may they leave something over to their little ones.

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

Your testimonies are very sure, and holiness befits your house, O Lord, forever and forevermore.

HYMN
All Creatures, Worship God Most High! 

1. All creatures, worship God most high!
Sound ev'ry voice in earth and sky: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Sing, brother sun, in splendor bright;
sing, sister moon and stars of night:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

2. Sing, brother wind; with clouds and rain
you grow the gifts of fruit and grain: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear sister water, useful, clear,
make music for your Lord to hear:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

3. Sing, brother fire, so mirthful, strong,
drive far the shadows, join the throng: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear mother earth, so rich in care,
praise God in colors bright and rare:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

4. All who for love of God forgive,
all who in pain and sorrow grieve: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ bears your burdens and your fears;
still make your song amid the tears:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

5. And you, most gentle sister death,
waiting to hush our final breath: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom,
fair is the night that leads us home.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

6. O sisters, brothers, take your part,
and worship God with humble heart: Alleluia! Alleluia!
All creatures, bless the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226; tr. composite
Text © 1997 Augsburg Fortress.

Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.

READINGS
Jeremiah 17:5-18

Thus says the LORD:
  Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
and make mere flesh their strength,
whose hearts turn away from the LORD.
  They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
  They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.

The heart is devious above all else;
it is perverse—
who can understand it?
  I the LORD test the mind
and search the heart,
to give to all according to their ways,
according to the fruit of their doings.

Like the partridge hatching what it did not lay,
so are all who amass wealth unjustly;
in mid-life it will leave them,
and at their end they will prove to be fools.

O glorious throne, exalted from the beginning,
shrine of our sanctuary!
O hope of Israel! O LORD!
All who forsake you shall be put to shame;
those who turn away from you shall be recorded in the underworld,
for they have forsaken the fountain of living water, the LORD.

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved;
for you are my praise.
See how they say to me,
“Where is the word of the LORD?
Let it come!”
But I have not run away from being a shepherd in your service,
nor have I desired the fatal day.
You know what came from my lips;
it was before your face.
  Do not become a terror to me;
you are my refuge in the day of disaster;
  Let my persecutors be shamed,
but do not let me be shamed;
let them be dismayed,
but do not let me be dismayed;
bring on them the day of disaster;
destroy them with double destruction!  

Silence for meditation.

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,
but in these last days God has spoken to us by the Son.

GOSPEL
Matthew 12:22-32

Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see.  All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.” He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Silence for meditation.

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,
but in these last days God has spoken to us by the Son.

MESSAGE

So, what stood out for you in these texts?

Here is what I stood out for me. In what or in whom do we place our trust? News channels? Money? Power? People in positions of authority? Jeremiah plainly tells us to trust God for our well-being. He expresses the contrast between the folly of trusting in human wisdom and trusting in God. Trusting in humanity alone leads to the curse of error and illusion (the world of appearances). Whereas, trusting in God is the path of blessedness and security (the world of reality).

So many times we lament, become fearful and anxious when circumstances arise that shake our world. We think we are building lives for ourselves where we will be secure—nest eggs of IRA’S 401Ks, pensions, etc., living in gated neighborhoods or well-run retirement communities. We trust in our politicians to deliver, our news castors to tell the truth, our law enforcement to protect us, and our institutions such as government, schools, and church to provide stability. But what happens when an unpredictable virus appears on the scene and causes a pandemic? 

In this passage the tragic fate of Judah in the preceding verses (1-4) is traced to the errors of human understanding.Those who went astray and pursued the worship of false gods were guilty of trusting merely human wisdom. In contrast, those who are wise enough to trust in God are enabled to avoid the path of error. When I read this passage, the first thing I notice is the connection to Psalm 1. Psalm 1 tells us that the wise delight in the law of the LORD and that they are like trees planted by streams of water. They yield their fruit in its season, and they are steadfast, their leaves do not wither. The understanding here is that the way to life is to be sought through obedient trust in God. Times may become tough, but if we take root in the word of the Lord and follow the ways of Jesus we can weather the storms. For the Lord is our refuge in the day of disaster!

In our passage from Matthew, what sticks out to me is that Jesus heals a mute and blind demoniac so that the one who had been mute can now speak and see.The religious authorities seem to hear but in fact do not correctly perceive what happens around them. The crowds correctly infer from the healing that Jesus is the Son of David, whereas the Pharisees incorrectly conclude that Jesus heals by means of demonic power. Hmm. Interesting! How ironic! The good news is Jesus comes to us and it is Him we are to put our trust.

In Christ, Pastor Harkness

THE GOSPEL CANTICLE

Refrain:

In the tender compassion of our God the Dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel,
you have come to your people and set them free.
You have raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of your servant David. Refrain

Through your holy prophets, you promised of old
to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us;
you promised to show mercy to our forebears
and to remember your holy covenant. Refrain

This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship you without fear,
holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life. Refrain

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give God's people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins. Refrain

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Refrain

PRAYERS

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray,

Mighty God of mercy, we thank you for the resurrection dawn, bringing the glory of our risen Lord who makes every day new. Especially we thank you—

for the sustaining goodness of your creation . . .
for the new creation in Christ and all gifts of healing and forgiveness . . .
for the gifts of relationship with others . . .
for the communion of faith in your church . . .

Merciful God of might, renew this weary world, heal the hurts of all your children, and bring about your peace for all in Christ Jesus, the living Lord. Especially we pray—
for those who govern nations of the world especially our president and governors . . .
for the people of our country, for the restoration of peace, and for justice . . .
for the people in countries ravaged by strife or warfare . . .
for all who work for peace and international harmony . . .
for all who strive to save the earth from carelessness and destruction . . .
for the church of Jesus Christ in every land . . .

Almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us in safety to this new day. Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor be overcome in adversity. In all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. 
Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

BENEDICTION

Almighty God, the Father,  ☩  the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us. Amen.

HYMN
All Depends on Our Possessing

The words in this video slightly vary from our version in the  LBW, but this is a lovely choral arrangement of this hymn. 

1. All depends on our possessing
God’s free grace and constant blessing,
though all earthly wealth depart.
They who trust with faith unshaken
by their God are not forsaken
and will keep a dauntless heart.

2. God, who hitherto has fed me
and to many joys has led me,
is and ever shall be mine.
He who did so gently school me,
he who daily guides and rules me,
will remain my help divine.

3. When with sorrow I am stricken,
hope my heart anew will quicken,
all my longing shall be stilled.
To his lovingkindness tender
soul and body I surrender,
for on God alone I build.

4. Well he knows what best to grant me;
all the longing hopes that haunt me,
joy and sorrow, have their day.
I shall doubt his wisdom never;
as God wills, so be it ever;
to him I commit my way.

5. If on earth my days he lengthen,
God my weary soul will strengthen;
all my trust in him I place.
Earthly wealth is not abiding;
like a stream away it’s gliding;
safe I anchor in his grace.

Text: Gesang-Buch, Nürnberg, 1676; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, alt.

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