Friday 11th November 2022
Meeting details
Morning prayer is hosted by Graham on weekday mornings at 07:30 when it is not a public holiday. If you want to recall a particular day's liturgy you can add the date to the end of the web address (YYYY-MM-DD). Here is a real-world example https://morningprayer.torrix.uk/2020-11-16.
Meeting ID: 886 6182 8034
Passcode: morning
You can join by telephone if you wish:
+44 203 901 7895 (United Kingdom)
Passcode: 5521199
Meeting expectations
This is a short service that you are welcome to invite anyone to. It will last no more than 20 minutes.
There will be opportunities for you to contribute by saying some of the prayers or reading scripture. There is no obligation to participate.
You are welcome to join with your camera off and to keep your microphone muted.
Opening
One thing I have asked of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life;
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to seek Him in His temple.
Call: Who is it that you seek?
Response: We seek the Lord our God.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your heart?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your soul?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your mind?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your strength?
Response: Amen. Christ, have mercy.
Declaration of faith
We believe in God who celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate.
We will allow ourselves to be challenged and will not discriminate against people on grounds of
- disability or economic power,
- ethnicity or gender,
- gender identity or mental health,
- neurodiversity or sexuality.
We believe in a Church that:
- welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ;
- Listens to the scriptures and learns from them;
- seeks to share the stories of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit;
- And allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.
Scripture reading
Proverbs 16
16The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All ones ways may be pure in ones own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
9 The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.
10 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgement.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lords;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves those who speak what is right.
14 A kings wrath is a messenger of death,
and whoever is wise will appease it.
15 In the light of a kings face there is life,
and his favour is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,
and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
but in the end it is the way to death.
26 The appetite of workers works for them;
their hunger urges them on.
27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 The violent entice their neighbours,
and lead them in a way that is not good.
30 One who winks the eyes plans* perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Grey hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is the Lords alone.
Prayers for others
Canticle
Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks to me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.
Acknowledgements
- Structure, Opening, Canticle and Blessing:
- Taken from Morning Prayer from Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer published by Collins.
- Declaration of Faith
- Adapted from http://inclusive-church.org/.
- Scriptures
- New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.