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An order for morning prayer using material from the Methodist Worship Book
and this year’s Methodist Prayer Handbook. The Prayer Handbook is based on
a monthly cycle with different countries and different districts of this country
featuring each day. Here we use the material for day 26.
Opening prayer
O Lord, open our lips
and we shall praise your name.
Send out your light and truth to be my guide;
let them lead me to your holy hill, to your dwelling place.
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.
A prayer of penitence
Lord of all life,
I use thousands of words each day
yet so few of them are about you.
Forgive me.
I see and meet many people
but forget that in them I could be meeting you.
I busy myself in so much rushed activity
that I blank out the silence within.
Forgive me.
Help me to retune our lives
to the silent music of your beckoning presence.
Amen.1
Hymn (Tune: Praise my Soul)
Praise with joy the world’s Creator,
God of justice, love and peace,
Source and end of human knowledge,
Force of greatness without cease.
Celebrate the Maker’s glory -
Power to rescue and release.
Praise the Son who feeds the hungry,
Frees the captive, finds the lost,
Heals the sick, upsets religion,
Fearless both of fate and cost.
Celebrate Christ’s constant presence -
Friend and Stranger, Guest and Host.
Praise the Spirit sent among us,
Liberating truth from pride,
Forging bonds where race or gender,
Age or nation dare divide.
Celebrate the Spirit’s treasure -
Foolishness none dare deride.
Praise the Maker, son and Spirit,
One God in community,
Calling us to leave behind faith’s
Ghettoes and obscurity.
Thus the world shall yet believe
When shown Christ’s vibrant unity.
Copyright: Iona Community, 1987
Prayer of the Morning
Blessed are you, Lord our God,
Giver of life,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
At the opening of this day
you call us out of darkness
into your marvellous light.
Blessed are you for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 8
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Gospel Reading: John 13:34-35
Jesus said: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Silent reflection
Prayers for others
We pray for the church across the world, particularly today remembering the churches in Northern Europe. We think of the peoples of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. We remember those bereaved, wounded and traumatised in the horrific siege in Beslan as they continue to come to terms with this tragedy. We pray for those with HIV/AIDS who are fearful and in despair, isolated by their family and community but needing love and hope.
A parent’s sacrifice - a prayer by Mollie Priest, mother of Nicola Vidamour, Mission Partner in Russia.
Generous God, my daughter responded to an invitation,
in your name, to journey to Russia.
This fills me with pride at her deep faith,
boundless courage and linguistic skill.
Yet, her absence, Lord, is a thief to my joy.
I am wrapped in moments of emptiness
as I miss her laughter, visits and shared outings.
Her journey has a purpose.
Fill her with an attitude of mission.
Fill me with gentleness of spirit.
Her journey has obstacles.
Fill her with strength and patience for each crisis.
Fill her with grace to support her in the struggle.
She journeys with the greatest friend of all.
Fill all families separated by barriers of distance
with your calming, constant presence in our lives. Amen.
We pray for the church in this country, thinking especially of the churches in the Southampton District. We give thanks for churches and groups that are discovering fresh ways of “being church”; for those developing ecumenical relationships at all levels; for tangible signs of growth in new members, local preachers and worship leaders.
Father and Mother God,
enfold us with your gracious presence
so that our praying and living become one.
Jesus, Son of God, as living witnesses,
help us to speak with confidence
and in ways which make sense to people outside the Church.
Holy Spirit of God, as your obedient people,
enable us to see your activity in the world
and inspire us to join with you in that work. Amen.2
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Closing prayer
Lord our God,
as with all creation
we offer you the life of this new day,
give us grace to love and serve you
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Acknowledgments: Tom Stuckey(1,2), Methodist Worship Book, Methodist Prayer Handbook 2005/6
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