Join St. Phoebe School at 8 p.m. ET Sunday-Thursday to pray Compline: Zoom Link for Compline
The Gathering Prayer
Creator, we give you thanks for all you are and all you bring to us for our visit within your creation. In Jesus, you place the Gospel in the center of this sacred circle through which all of creation is related. You show us the way to live a generous and compassionate life. Give us your strength to live together with respect and commitment as we grow in your spirit, for you are God, now and forever. Amen
The Gathering Hymn of Praise
Psalm 134
Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, * you that stand by night in the house of the LORD,
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD, * the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday’s Gospel will be read each night, with a short time of reflection to follow
Luke 16: 1-13
Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’
Response:
In the time of silence, select one of these questions to reflect on:
- What word(s) idea(s) or sentence(s) stand out for you in this Gospel?
- What is Jesus (the Gospel) saying to you?
- What is Jesus (the Gospel calling you to do?
The Lord be with you.
And also with you
Let us pray.
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.
Lord, hear our prayer;
And let our cry come to you.
Let us pray.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Great Spirit, God of all people, every tribe and nation through whom all people are related; Call us to the kinship of all your people. Grant us vision to see through the lens our Baptismal Covenant, the brokenness of the past; help us to listen to you and to one another, in order to heal the wounds of the present; and, give us courage, patience and wisdom to work together for healing, and hope with all your people, now and in the future. Mend the hoop of our hearts and let us liven justice and peace, through Jesus Christ, the One who comes to all people that we might live in dignity.
Amen.
Let us take time now to share our prayers and thanksgivings silently or aloud.
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.
–From “A Disciple’s Prayer Book” by The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society and The Book of Common Prayer.
Compline for the Week of November 19 was prepared by the Rev. Kathy Maddox, Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and St. Phoebe School graduate.
Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe 