Morning Prayer for Monday, 17 May 2021

OPENING

One: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Many: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

One:                   Clap your hands, all you peoples;

                            shout to God with loud songs of joy.

Many:               For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,

                            a great ruler over all the earth.

One                     God has gone up with a shout,

                          the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Many:               Sing praises to God, sing praises;

                            sing praises to the Most High, sing praises.

PSALMODY

Psalm 115

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.

Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

Our God is in the heavens;

    and does whatever he pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold,

    the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but do not speak;

    eyes, but do not see.

They have ears, but do not hear;

    noses, but do not smell.

They have hands, but do not feel;

    feet, but do not walk;

    they make no sound in their throats.

Those who make them are like them;

    so are all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in the Lord!

    God is their help and their shield.

O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!

    God is their help and their shield.

You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!

    God is their help and their shield.

The Lord has been mindful of us; God will bless us;

    God will bless the house of Israel;

    God will bless the house of Aaron;

God will bless those who fear him,

    both small and great.

May the Lord give you increase,

both you and your children.

May you be blessed by the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

We will bless the Lord

from this time on and forevermore.

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Song: Jaya hos (Oh give praise to Jesus, the King) from Nepal

WORD: A reading from the Gospel of John

Jesus prayed, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:11-17)

One: Holy Wisdom, Holy Word,

Many: Thanks be to God.

MEDITATION

The Rev. Joseph Soren, President of the Nepal Evangelical Lutheran Church

Song: Ubi caritas (Taizé)

PRAYERS

In these exceptional times, we turn to the One who prays: “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Let your face shine upon your whole creation, O God. Incline your ear to your family. Protect all who are suffering in this time of pandemic, especially in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and the many countries experiencing new surges of COVID-19. Compassionate God,

Hear our cry.

Lead and guide the peoples and churches in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan that religious and government leaders make it possible for all to live in justice with peace and harmony. Compassionate God,

Hear our cry.

Lead and guide these nations which depend on other countries and are often threatened by interests of their bigger neighbours. Compassionate God,

Hear our cry.

Sustain and strengthen countries and regions that suffer from other pandemics as well, from malaria and dengue, those suffering from HIV and AIDS. Compassionate God,

Hear our cry.

Lead and guide all health care workers, researchers, scientists, care-givers, staff persons, and all workers engaged in controlling and stopping the spread of COVID-19. Compassionate God,

Hear our cry.

We entrust to you the many places in the world suffering from violence especially the situation in Palestine and Israel. Compassionate God,

Hear our cry.

For what else do we pray either in the chat room or in the silence of our hearts…(brief silence) Compassionate God,

Hear our cry.

All times are in your hands, O God, hold in your steadfast love all those who will die this day (brief silence).

O Saviour Christ,

in whose way of life lies the secret of all life,

and the hopes of all the people,

we pray for quiet courage to meet this hour.

We did not choose to be born or to live in such an age.

But let its problems challenge us,

its discoveries exhilarate us,

its injustice anger us,

its possibilities inspire us,

and its vigour renew us,

for your Kingdom’s sake.