Daily Morning Prayer (Prime) for Epiphanytide
from Daily Prayer for All Seasons
Opening
Your word is a lamp to our feet
and a light for our path.
Prayer
Insistent God, by night and day you summon your slumbering people: So stir us with your voice and enlighten our lives with your grace that we give ourselves fully to Christ’s call to mission and ministry. Amen.
Praise
Psalm 27:1, 5-6, 10-11 43
God is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
God is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
One thing have I asked of you, O God; one thing I seek:
that I may dwell in your house all the days of my life,
To behold your fair beauty, O God, and to seek you in your temple.
Hearken to my voice, O Most High, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.”
Your face, O God, will I seek.
Scripture: John 6:16-27
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’
Meditation
“The eye of the cormorant is emerald. The eye of the eagle is amber. The eye of the grebe is ruby. The eye of the ibis is sapphire. Four gemstones mirror the minds of birds, birds who mediate between heaven and earth. We miss the eyes of the birds, focusing only on feathers.” –Terry Tempest Williams
What are we looking for? Where have we failed to look?
Affirmation
We are not alone;
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Prayers
Jesus, you are the light of the world:
May your light open our eyes to see those in need.
Jesus, you are the light of the world:
May the works of our lives demonstrate your love.
Jesus, you are the light of the world:
May your wisdom enlighten our decisions.
Jesus, you are the light of the world,
hear the prayers of our hearts:
As you enlighten our lives,
May we be light 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
Open our eyes that we may see. Incline our hearts that we may desire. Order our steps that we may follow the way of your commandments. Amen.
Going Out
Your word is a lamp to our feet
and a light for our path.
Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe 