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
Philemon 1-25
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith towards the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow-workers.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Meditation
“Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands, but our soul belongs to Someone Else. Six days a week we seek to dominate the world, on the seventh day we try to dominate the self.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath
How will we choose to cease from work and see God today?
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 