Saturday Morning Prayer from Daily Prayer for All Seasons
Opening
Holy God, you are always with us.
Open our eyes to your presence.
Prayer
God of faithful surprises, throughout the ages you have made known your love and power in unexpected ways and places: May we daily perceive the joy and wonder of your abiding presence and offer our lives in gratitude for our redemption. Amen.
Praise Benedicite Omnia Opera
All you works of God, bless your creator;
praise her and glorify her for ever.
Let the wide earth bless the creator;
let the arching heavens bless the creator;
let the whole body of God bless the creator;
praise her and glorify her for ever.
You returning daylight, bless your creator;
twilight and shadows, bless your creator;
embracing darkness, bless your creator;
praise her and glorify her for ever.
Let all who live and grow and breathe bless our creator,
praise her and glorify her for ever.
Scripture
John 10:1-18
‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’
Meditation
“People say that walking on water is a miracle, but to me, walking peacefully on the earth is the real miracle.” –Thich Nhat Hanh
How will we walk in peace today?
Affirmation
We believe in God,
the creator of all life and beauty,
who blesses our journey.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
who lived as a friend and savior
to all he met as he traveled,
and who ate and laughed,
wept and celebrated with them in love.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who rides on the gentle breeze,
who strengthens our bindings,
and who offers hope eternal.
We believe in the church,
which stands open to all travelers,
and bears witness to the everlasting love of God.
Prayers
As we turn to the tasks before us this day,
Fill us, gracious Lord.
In making faithful choices, great and small,
Guide us, gracious Lord.
As we seek to notice and serve those in need,
Teach us, gracious Lord.
As we offer our lives to you,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
With our hearts ready to serve,
Accompany us, gracious Lord.
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.
Going Out
Holy God, you are always with us.
Open our eyes to your presence.
Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe 