Almighty God-
In Your great wisdom, You have placed me here in this time and place. So let me step out, trusting You. With my limited vision, I need Your grace to grasp those things that are not seen. I have no power of my own, but You have all power. Do the work in me that You desire to have done. I know not where You would have me go -please be my companion on the way.

Give me Your strength to face what comes my way today. Help me to be diligent in Your word, as You diligently bless my work. When You lead me to a dark place, don't let go around it. Don't allow me to be lazy when I see a chance to serve another. Let me rise above temptation, and help me to remember the lessons of yesterday.

Timeless God, always with the faithful of ages past, thank You for the memory of those gone before. Thank You for the gift their example.

Thank You too, for the apostles, prophets, and martyrs, and most of all for Jesus, Your dear Son, in whose name I pray, Amen.


Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life. Psalm 42:8

Paraphrase of a prayer by John Baillie in "A Diary of Private Prayer"

Epiphany

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
I John 3:2

Father, we thank you for revealing yourself to us in Jesus the Christ, we who once were not your people but whom you chose to adopt as your people. As ancient Israel confessed long ago, we realize that it was not because of our own righteousness, or our own superior wisdom, or strength, or power, or numbers. It was simply because you loved us, and chose to show us that love in Jesus.

As you have accepted us when we did not deserve your love, will you help us to accept those whom we find it hard to love? Forgive us, O Lord, for any attitude that we harbor that on any level sees ourselves as better or more righteous than others. Will you help us to remove the barriers of prejudice and to tear down the walls of bigotry, religious or social? O Lord, help us realize that the walls that we erect for others only form our own prisons!

Will you fill us so full of your love that there is no more room for intolerance. As you have forgiven us much, will you enable us with your strength to forgive others even more? Will you enable us through your abiding Presence among us, communally and individually, to live our lives in a manner worthy of the Name we bear?

May we, through your guidance and our faithful obedience, find new avenues in ways that we have not imagined of holding the Light of your love so that it may be a Light of revelation for all people.

We thank you for your love, praise you for your Gift, ask for your continued Presence with us, and bring these petitions in the name of your Son, who has truly revealed your heart. Amen
Dennis Bratcher

Our God is a God of power and goodness, who loves us and knows our souls.
We praise him with joyful hearts:
We praise you, Lord, and we trust in you.
We bless you, Almighty God, King of all things.
We are in the wrong; we have sinned; but you have called us
to know your truth and serve you in your greatness.
God, you chose to open wide the doors of your compassion:
do not let us stray from the path of true life.
As we celebrate the resurrection of your beloved Son,
let us spend this day in spiritual rejoicing.
Lord, give your faithful a spirit of prayer and praise,
and let us always give you thanks.
Lord, may your grace go always before us and behind us:
may it make us constantly eager to do good works.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Photo: Awesome statue looking out over those at rest in the Lake City, Iowa cemetery.

Lord, in your kindness fill our deepest being with your holy light, so that we may be steadfast in our devotion to you: for your wisdom created us and your providence guides us.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

Amen.

Photo: Fall color from our county courthouse square.

prayer from universalis.com for today

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ, by pouring out his blood, has won for himself
a new people. Let us worship him and humbly ask:
Lord, remember your people.
Our King and Redeemer, listen to your Church as
she sings your praises at the start of the day:
teach her to give unceasing glory to your greatness.
You are our hope and our strength: we put our trust
in you. Let us never be put to shame.
Take pity on our weakness. Hurry to help us,
for without you there is nothing we can do.
Remember the poor and forgotten. Let this day not
be a burden to them, but a joy and a consolation.

Almighty God, creator of a good and beautiful world
may we joyfully set out on this day in your name, and fill
it with acts of love for you and our brethren.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Universalis.com - prayer for this morning

Prayers and Intercessions

Blessed be God our Saviour, who has promised
to be with his Church until the end of time.
Let us thank him and ask him:
Lord, remain with us.
Remain with us, Lord, throughout today:
let your grace be a sun that never sets.
We consecrate today as an offering to you:
we promise to do nothing evil today, nor even attempt it.
Lord, may your gift of light shine through us today:
make us the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
May the love of your Holy Spirit guide our hearts
and our speech, so that we may be at one with you
in righteousness and praise.
universalis.com, from the morning prayer for this day