Opening Prayers of Remembrance for September 11:
O Almighty God, who brings good out of evil and turns even the wrath of your children towards your promised peace: Hear our prayers this day as we remember those of many nations and differing faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger and hatred. Hasten the time when the menace of war shall be removed. Cleanse both us and those perceived to be our enemies of all hatred and distrust. Pour out the spirit of peace on all the rulers of our world that we may be brought through strife to the lasting peace of the kingdom of your Son; Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We pause this morning with silence to offer the names, the memories, the experiences and the hopes that we hold in our hearts as we remember the events of twenty years ago: September 11, 2001
(a minute of silence is held, followed by the opportunity to offer names and petitions)
O God, you are the source of wisdom, justice, love and peace: Give us in our present need the light of your wisdom, the courage of your justice, the patience of your love and the assurance of your peace. Amen.
–opening and closing collects from the Episcopal Diocese of New York.
Saturday Morning Prayers from Daily Prayer for All Seasons (Ordinary Time/ “Rest” Series)
Opening
We are called in the morning
to turn our hearts to you.
Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting, O God, that you will make all things right if I surrender to your will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with you for ever in the next. Amen.
Praise
Rejoice, people of God!
Celebrate the life within you,
and Christ’s presence in your midst!
Our eyes shall be opened!
The presence will have new meaning,
and the future will be bright with hope.
Rejoice, people of God!
Bow your heads before the One
who is our wisdom and our strength.
We place ourselves before our God,
that we may be touched and cleansed
by the power of God’s Spirit.
Scripture
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Luke 12:27
Meditation
“The final fruitfulness of work is actually found by choosing and living its exact opposite — the cessation of work — or the Sabbath rest. Unless approximately one-seventh of life is also ceasing from work, putting spaces, paragraphs, and parentheses around my efforts, work always becomes compulsive, addictive, driven, unconscious, and actually counter-productive for the self and for those around us. We also need not to work.” –Richard Rohr
Today and in the days to come, how will we choose to cease from work?
Affirmation
We believe in God, who loves us and wants us
to love each other.
This is our God.
We believe in Jesus, who cared for children and
held them in his arms.
He wanted a world where everyone could live
together in peace.
This is Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who keeps working
with us until everything is good and true.
This is the Holy Spirit.
We can be the church, which reminds people of
God because we love each other.
This we believe. Amen.
Prayers
As we begin our day,
Give us your peace.
As we pause this morning,
Give us your peace.
As we do the work you have given us to do,
Give us your peace.
For all places of need in this world,
Give us your peace.
In trusting you, O God, to care for your children,
Give us your peace.
As we seek wholeness,
Give us your peace.
Here, the people may add particular intercessions or thanksgivings.
As we reflect on your presence,
Let us be peace for others.
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.
Prayer
Holy One, we are too often blinded by trivial matters. Lord, may our attention be diverted now from these things, and may we become as little children, trusting and seeking with love to cross bridges that we have not crossed in the past. Amen.
Going Out
We are called in the morning
to turn our hearts to you.
Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe 