Monday 24th April 2023
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
Acts 4:5-22
5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,* and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
7When they had made the prisoners* stand in their midst, they inquired, By what power or by what name did you do this?
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders,
9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed,
10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,* whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.
11This Jesus* is
the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.*
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. 14When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. 16They said, What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. 17But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. 18So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, Whether it is right in Gods sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard. 21After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
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.