Monday 21st 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.

Join via Zoom

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 20

20Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
   and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
² The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;
   anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.
³ It is honourable to refrain from strife,
   but every fool is quick to quarrel.
⁴ The lazy person does not plough in season;
   harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.
⁵ The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,
   but the intelligent will draw them out.
⁶ Many proclaim themselves loyal,
   but who can find one worthy of trust?
⁷ The righteous walk in integrity
   happy are the children who follow them!
⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgement
   winnows all evil with his eyes.
⁹ Who can say, I have made my heart clean;
   I am pure from my sin?
¹⁰ Diverse weights and diverse measures
   are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹¹ Even children make themselves known by their acts,
   by whether what they do is pure and right.
¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye
   the Lord has made them both.
¹³ Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;
   open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
¹⁴ Bad, bad, says the buyer,
   then goes away and boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold, and abundance of costly stones;
   but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
¹⁶ Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
   seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.
¹⁷ Bread gained by deceit is sweet,
   but afterwards the mouth will be full of gravel.
¹⁸ Plans are established by taking advice;
   wage war by following wise guidance.
¹⁹ A gossip reveals secrets;
   therefore do not associate with a babbler.
²⁰ If you curse father or mother,
   your lamp will go out in utter darkness.
²¹ An estate quickly acquired in the beginning
   will not be blessed in the end.
²² Do not say, I will repay evil;
   wait for the Lord, and he will help you.
²³ Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
   and false scales are not good.
²⁴ All our steps are ordered by the Lord;
   how then can we understand our own ways?
²⁵ It is a snare for one to say rashly, It is holy,
   and begin to reflect only after making a vow.
²⁶ A wise king winnows the wicked,
   and drives the wheel over them.
²⁷ The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord,
   searching every inmost part.
²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,
   and his throne is upheld by righteousness.^*
²⁹ The glory of youths is their strength,
   but the beauty of the aged is their grey hair.
³⁰ Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
   beatings make clean the innermost parts.

NRSV

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.