Said or sung all together except for the sentences marked ‘Call’ which are for the Leader only.
+ indicates that you may make the sign of the cross.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than those
who watch for the morning,
more than those
who watch for the morning.
Response: O Lord, hear my voice.
Call: With my whole heart I want to praise You.
Response: O Lord, hear my voice.
Call: If you, Lord, should mark iniquities:
Response: Who could stand? who could stand?
and in His word do I hope.
Lord, You have always given
bread for the coming day;
and though I am poor,
today I believe.
strength for the coming day;
and though I am weak,
today I believe.
peace for the coming day;
and though of anxious heart,
today I believe.
me safe in trials;
and now, tried as I am,
today I believe.
the road for the coming day;
and though it may be hidden,
today I believe.
this darkness of mine;
and though the night is here,
today I believe.
when time was ripe;
and though you be silent now,
today I believe.
Today’s Scripture Reading
30 April
Psalm 35:9-10 Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his deliverance. 10 All my bones shall say, ‘O Lord, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and needy from those who despoil them.’
Zechariah 2:10-11 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. 11 Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
Luke 19:1-10 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ 9 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’
These scripture readings relate to the Colman readings (Buechner’s ABC) in Celtic Daily Prayer Book 2.
Today’s Meditation
Our lives are long enough to learn what we need to learn, but not long enough to change anything. That is our flaw. Each age must learn everything afresh. Such waste!
Such waste – making all the mistakes once and again, each generation making the same mistakes, fumbling in ignorance and darkness.
This oak was already old when I was born.
Now I am old and soon to die, and this tree grows strong still.
We are small creatures.
Our lives are not long,
but long enough to learn.
Stephen Lawhead
Prayers for others
In the shadow of Your wings
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
one thing I seek;
to dwell in the presence of my God,
to gaze on Your holy place.
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
of the Lord in the land of the living.
O wait for the Lord!
Have courage and wait,
wait for the Lord.
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
See that ye be at peace among yourselves, my children,
and love one another.
Follow the example of the wise and good
and God will comfort you and help you,
both in this world
and in the world which is to come.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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