Monday, June 21

From “Common Prayer: A Liturgy For Ordinary Radicals” (June 21st p.328-329)

In 1964, civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were murdered as they participated in the Freedom Summer campaign to register black voters in Mississippi.

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 bow down and bend the knee: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Have mercy, Lord, have mercy: the violent are raging against us.

Psalm 106:8-12
The Most High saved them for his name’s sake: to make his power known.
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up: and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
He saved them from the hand of those who hated them: and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
The waters covered their oppressors: not one of them was left.
Then they believed his words: and sang him songs of praise.

Have mercy, Lord, have mercy: the violent are raging against us.

Ruth 3:1-18        Acts 10:1-16

Have mercy, Lord, have mercy: the violent are raging against us.

Cyprian of Carthage taught in the early church, saying, “My friends, anyone who worships should remember the way in which the tax collector prayed in the temple alongside the Pharisee.  He did not raise his eyes immodestly to heaven or lift up his hands arrogantly.  Instead he struck his breast, and confessing the sins hidden within his heart, he implored the assistance of God’s mercy.  While the Pharisee was pleased with himself, the tax collector deserved to be cleansed much more because of the manner in which he prayed.  For he did not place his hope of salvation in the certainty of his own innocence - indeed no one is innocent.  Rather he prayed humbly, confessing his sins.  And the Lord who forgives the lowly heard his prayer.”

Prayers for Others

Lord, you have brought us safely out of Egypt and prepared a table before us in the presence of our enemies.  Have mercy on us today that we might not be overwhelmed by evil attacks or distracted by bad thoughts, but humbly trust in your power to save.  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, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

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.  Amen

Photo by Elijah Hiett on Unsplash