Listen to or read a service of Prayer for Thursday 9 July 2020, the Thursday after the Fourth Sunday of Trinity.
Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Praise
Gracious Father,
by the obedience of Jesus
you brought salvation to our wayward world:
draw us into harmony with your will,
that we may find all things restored in him,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Psalm 105.1-7
O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises,
and tell of all his marvellous works.
Rejoice in the praise of his holy name;
let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his face continually.
Remember the marvels he has done,
his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,
O seed of Abraham his servant,
O children of Jacob his chosen.
He is the Lord our God;
his judgements are in all the earth.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 10.7-15
Jesus said to the twelve: ‘As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.’
This is the word of the Lord.
Prayers
Let us pray to God for strength and perseverance in his service.
Bless the Church with the spirit of holy poverty, not to trust in wealth or power but only in the enabling of her Lord. Make her ministers faithful heirs of the disciples who were first called to perform great works in a strength not their own.
Have mercy on a world where many are so anxious for material things that they do not recognize the better way that is open before them. Give to those who hold authority the grace not to be imprisoned in their own power but to see and learn where there is true wisdom.
Give us light to see the gifts of God in all around us, to honour his presence in our families and friends and neighbours. Open our hearts and our homes to receive those who are sent to be among us.
Have mercy on all who are sick and bless those who care for them. Give them comfort and hope in their affliction. Release those who are in the power of evil and restore them to wholeness of life.
We pray for those who have walked in the way of the Lord through this world and have come to their journey’s end. May they be at peace in the great family of the faithful departed.
We pray in the name of Christ, our Brother and our Redeemer.
Into the hands of your love and mercy,
O God our Father,
we commit our lives this day:
the tasks that await us;
our homes and the members of our families;
our loved ones, and especially those in need.
Give to us your guidance, your strength,
and your protection, according to our needs,
and throughout this day
keep us abiding in your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Conclusion
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:47 — 8.0MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More