#lectionary — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #lectionary, aggregated by home.social.
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Opening Prayers for Trinity Sunday Year A (May 31 2026)
NEW: read ‘Reflecting on my Lectionary Prayers‘- an introduction the Lectionary Prayers resource.
Part of a series of opening prayers for Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome. These prayers are based on the readings for Trinity Sunday Year A: Genesis 1:1-2:4a, Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 and Matthew 28:16-20.
Call to Worship
O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8.9
Let us worship God.
Prayers of Approach and Confession
God our creator
your glory is there for all to see
in the wonders of creation.
We look at the stars, and consider the scale of the universe
and we are filled with awe.
We think of the teeming multitude of plants and animals
how you have created land and sea and sky
in all their intricate detail
and it takes our breath away.
We know that it has taken millions of years
for all this to come to pass-
and the wonder of it all is just amazing.
And yet it is you, our loving God, who has done all these things.
By your Spirit, you brought all things into being
and are continually sustaining the entire universe.
How majestic is your name!The scale of creation may leave us feeling small-
but Scripture assures us that you care for each and every one of us.
For in Jesus Christ,
the creative word which nurtures all creation
has taken human form, and walked among us,
sharing your glory and your love.
And as your Son sends us out
to carry on his work
and make disciples of all nations
he has given us the Holy Spirit
to bring us strength in all we do
and to assure us of Christ’s presence with us always.And so, to you, Creator, redeemer and sustainer,
we bring you our worship and our praise!We confess, gracious God,
that we have spoilt your creation
spoilt our relationships with others
and broken our connection to you.
In our selfishness, thoughtlessness and laziness
we have broken your law of love.
Forgive us our sins, we pray.
Help us to turn to you
and to know again the forgiveness
which Jesus offers us all in your name.silence
God, our perfect Father, and loving Mother,
forgive us for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit
that we might know the joy and certainty
of believing in you, and doing the work of your Kingdom. Amen.Supplication
Our minds cannot grasp the mystery of your being, loving God.
So grant to us, we pray,
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ;
enable us to love you with all our heart, mind and soul;
and may the communion of the Holy Spirit be among us
that the world may see clearly
the reality of your love at work
to bring peace and justice to our world. AmenFeatured image: Rublev’s icon showing the three Angels being hosted by Abraham at Mambré. Early 15th century. Public Domain (Wikipedia)
© Peter W Nimmo 2026
#Lectionary #Prayer #Trinity -
Opening Prayers for Trinity Sunday Year A (May 31 2026)
NEW: read ‘Reflecting on my Lectionary Prayers‘- an introduction the Lectionary Prayers resource.
Part of a series of opening prayers for Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome. These prayers are based on the readings for Trinity Sunday Year A: Genesis 1:1-2:4a, Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 and Matthew 28:16-20.
Call to Worship
O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8.9
Let us worship God.
Prayers of Approach and Confession
God our creator
your glory is there for all to see
in the wonders of creation.
We look at the stars, and consider the scale of the universe
and we are filled with awe.
We think of the teeming multitude of plants and animals
how you have created land and sea and sky
in all their intricate detail
and it takes our breath away.
We know that it has taken millions of years
for all this to come to pass-
and the wonder of it all is just amazing.
And yet it is you, our loving God, who has done all these things.
By your Spirit, you brought all things into being
and are continually sustaining the entire universe.
How majestic is your name!The scale of creation may leave us feeling small-
but Scripture assures us that you care for each and every one of us.
For in Jesus Christ,
the creative word which nurtures all creation
has taken human form, and walked among us,
sharing your glory and your love.
And as your Son sends us out
to carry on his work
and make disciples of all nations
he has given us the Holy Spirit
to bring us strength in all we do
and to assure us of Christ’s presence with us always.And so, to you, Creator, redeemer and sustainer,
we bring you our worship and our praise!We confess, gracious God,
that we have spoilt your creation
spoilt our relationships with others
and broken our connection to you.
In our selfishness, thoughtlessness and laziness
we have broken your law of love.
Forgive us our sins, we pray.
Help us to turn to you
and to know again the forgiveness
which Jesus offers us all in your name.silence
God, our perfect Father, and loving Mother,
forgive us for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit
that we might know the joy and certainty
of believing in you, and doing the work of your Kingdom. Amen.Supplication
Our minds cannot grasp the mystery of your being, loving God.
So grant to us, we pray,
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ;
enable us to love you with all our heart, mind and soul;
and may the communion of the Holy Spirit be among us
that the world may see clearly
the reality of your love at work
to bring peace and justice to our world. AmenFeatured image: Rublev’s icon showing the three Angels being hosted by Abraham at Mambré. Early 15th century. Public Domain (Wikipedia)
© Peter W Nimmo 2026
#Lectionary #Prayer #Trinity -
Today's lectionary didn't get the memo about the National Day of Prayer. The Psalms are lament. Leviticus measures holiness by how we treat the immigrant. Matthew tells us not to worry. A look at what our tradition already quietly accomplishes at: https://notd.io/n/DayofPrayer2026 #NationalDayofPrayer #Prayer #Lectionary #TraditionRemixed #FunctioningFaith #EpiscopalChurch
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Today's lectionary didn't get the memo about the National Day of Prayer. The Psalms are lament. Leviticus measures holiness by how we treat the immigrant. Matthew tells us not to worry. A look at what our tradition already quietly accomplishes at: https://notd.io/n/DayofPrayer2026 #NationalDayofPrayer #Prayer #Lectionary #TraditionRemixed #FunctioningFaith #EpiscopalChurch
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Opening Prayers for the Baptism of the Lord Year A
Part of a series of opening prayers for Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.
The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Baptism of the Lord, and this week is mostly based on the Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12.
Prayer of Approach, Confession and Supplication
Almighty, eternal and loving God,
this universe you have created
is wonderful proof of your concern
for we mortals.
In Jesus Christ, you have come among us,
his baptism sealing his solidarity
with the whole human race.Yet confess we must,
that we have failed to acknowledge your love.
We have used the gifts of your creation
as though they belonged only to us,
as if we had an absolute claim to your creation.We have been selfish,
failing to share your good gifts with others,
failing to remember that you are the source
of all our material and spiritual riches.In our concern for the everyday,
we have failed to see your love for us in creation,
and we have obscured for others
the signs of the eternal.But Lord, to whom shall we go?
Yours are the words of eternal life.Silence
Your Word became flesh and lived among us.
You have taught us that it is the Spirit
which gives us life,
compared to which the mundane things
of this world which we normally worship
are as nothing.
You understand our faults, our failings,
our weaknesses,
and have made it possible to come to you
through Jesus Christ.
For your grace,
for your promise of forgiveness,
and for the power of your Spirit to renew our lives
we give you thanks, in Jesus’ name. Amen.Featured image: “John baptizes Jesus” from JESUS MAFA (1973). JESUS MAFA is a response to the New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings was selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings. From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48290 [retrieved January 2, 2023]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).
Liked this? Click on the graphic to make a donation© Peter W Nimmo 2025
#bible #Christ #faith #god #Jesus #JohnTheBaptist #Lectionary #Prayer
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Opening Prayers for Epiphany of the Lord, Years A, B and C
Part of a series of opening prayers for Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.
The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Epiphany of the Lord Year A, where the Gospel is the story of the Wise Men. Where this is not a Sunday you may wish to transfer it to the previous Sunday or the next Sunday. Alternatively, you might wish to preach on the passage during the Christmas season. You could also use these prayers for the First Sunday after Christmas Day in Year A, when the Gospel passage is the second half of Matthew 2 (see here for other prayers for Christmas 1 Year A).
The prayers are based on Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12 and Matthew 2:1-12. The readings are the same for all three years.
Call to worship
Lift up your eyes, and look around!
God’s people are gathering.cf Psalm 60.4
So let us worship God.
Prayer of Approach
Lord of light,
we praise you,
for you are the one who casts away the darkness
which covers our lives, and our world.
Yours is the light which illuminates that which is good
in all the nations of the world.
In this time of worship
we lift our eyes to your light.
We rejoice in your glory
and in the mystery of the salvation of the world
you have brought through Jesus Christ.As the Wise Men came seeking the Christ Child
kindle within us a desire to seek him anew
and to make new discoveries
of his truth and his glory.
May the Star of Bethlehem
lead us to worship the Light of the World.As the Wise Men came seeking the Christ Child
kindle within us a desire to seek him anew
and to make new discoveries
of his truth and his glory.
May the Star of Bethlehem
lead us to worship the Light of the World.Confession
God of infinite grace,
in the gift you gave us at Bethlehem
you offer us the boundless riches of Christ.
Yet we are slow to offer all that we have.
The Wise Men left home to seek the truth;
but we are too often content to stay where we are comfortable.
King Herod claimed he wanted to worship the child;
and too often, we are taken in by plausible lies.We ask for your forgiveness
for all the ways we fall short
in generosity,
in courage,
and in failing to seek and to heed your truth.
Give us time to amend our lives
and may your Spirit to enable us
to live more fully
in the light of your Word made flesh.silence
Supplication
What shall we give you, O Lord
for all that you have given us in Jesus Christ?
The wealth of all nations would not be sufficient!
In the bleak midwinter,
the Wise Men brought their gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
So what may we bring you, poor as we are?
What else, but a heart to follow Jesus!
So grant us boldness and confidence
in our faith in the promises of Jesus.Give us the courage to take another road
if that is where you are leading us on our journey of life.
And may we thrill and rejoice
as your light dawns on us anew every day.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ,
the Light of the World. Amen.Dismissal and Blessing
Go in peace,
and may Christ be a bright flame before you,
a guiding star above you,
a kindly shepherd behind you,
and supporting strength beneath you;based on a blessing attributed to St Columba of Iona
The blessing of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you all.Featured image: Adoration of the Magi (1619). Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts de Belgique. from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56315 [retrieved December 13, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Paul_Rubens_-_L%27adoration_des_Mages.jpg.© Peter W Nimmo 2025
#bible #christianity #Epiphany #faith #Jesus #Lectionary #Magi #Prayer #WiseMen
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Opening Prayers for the First Sunday after Christmas Day, Year A
Part of a series of opening prayers for upcoming Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.
The following prayers are for the First Sunday after Christmas Day. They are based on Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 148, Hebrews 2:10-18 and Matthew 2:13-23.
Call to Worship
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!Psalm 148.1 NRSV
Let us pray.
Prayer of Approach
O God, for whom and through whom all things exist,
today, in this congregation
with your faithful people everywhere,
and with all creation,
we join in praising you.For you are praised by all you have made:
the angels in heaven
and the sun, moon and stars;
mountains and trees and all the forces of nature;
animals and birds and creepy crawlies-
all creation praises you!
Rulers and the lowliest of people,
young and old, men and women alike-
together, all your people praise you!We praise you that,
in your gracious love for us
you did not send an angel or a messenger
to bring salvation.
Instead, you sent your very Son,
born in a manger to Mary and Joseph,
living a human life with all its joys and perils,
suffering and dying and being raised to life
so that we would all become the sisters and brothers of Jesus.Confession
God of steadfast love,
we confess that we are not steadfast in faith.
We succumb to temptations to treat others unfairly.
Yet you are not deceived for you see into our hearts,
and know how we have failed you.
Hear us, as in silence, we confess our sins.silence
God, in your mercy, forgive us
and help us live in the abundance of your steadfast love.Supplication
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are our saviour in distress.
Grant us to be confident
in the reality of our forgiveness
through Christ’s atonement for his people.
Help us, like Joseph,
to try to do your will
even when it is not entirely clear where you are leading us.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.Featured image: Kelly Latimore, Refugees: La Sagrada Familia
From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57109 [retrieved November 22, 2022]. Original source: Kelly Latimore Icons, https://kellylatimoreicons.com/.© Peter W Nimmo 2025
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Opening Prayers for the First Sunday after Christmas Day, Year A
Part of a series of opening prayers for upcoming Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.
The following prayers are for the First Sunday after Christmas Day. They are based on Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 148, Hebrews 2:10-18 and Matthew 2:13-23.
Call to Worship
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!Psalm 148.1 NRSV
Let us pray.
Prayer of Approach
O God, for whom and through whom all things exist,
today, in this congregation
with your faithful people everywhere,
and with all creation,
we join in praising you.For you are praised by all you have made:
the angels in heaven
and the sun, moon and stars;
mountains and trees and all the forces of nature;
animals and birds and creepy crawlies-
all creation praises you!
Rulers and the lowliest of people,
young and old, men and women alike-
together, all your people praise you!We praise you that,
in your gracious love for us
you did not send an angel or a messenger
to bring salvation.
Instead, you sent your very Son,
born in a manger to Mary and Joseph,
living a human life with all its joys and perils,
suffering and dying and being raised to life
so that we would all become the sisters and brothers of Jesus.Confession
God of steadfast love,
we confess that we are not steadfast in faith.
We succumb to temptations to treat others unfairly.
Yet you are not deceived for you see into our hearts,
and know how we have failed you.
Hear us, as in silence, we confess our sins.silence
God, in your mercy, forgive us
and help us live in the abundance of your steadfast love.Supplication
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are our saviour in distress.
Grant us to be confident
in the reality of our forgiveness
through Christ’s atonement for his people.
Help us, like Joseph,
to try to do your will
even when it is not entirely clear where you are leading us.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.Featured image: Kelly Latimore, Refugees: La Sagrada Familia
From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57109 [retrieved November 22, 2022]. Original source: Kelly Latimore Icons, https://kellylatimoreicons.com/.© Peter W Nimmo 2025
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Opening Prayers for the Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C (May 25 2025)
These opening prayers for Sunday worship take their inspiration from the Scripture readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome. The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C. The Gospel use reading is John 14.23-29.
Call to Worship
Optional: the congregation may say together the words in bold.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.Let us worship God.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
you deserve the praise of all people and all nations.
For you created the earth and all its people
and work inscrutably in the history of all nations.Above all, you have sent your Son, Jesus Christ
your Word made flesh
for us to learn of your love.
He calls those who love him
to keep his commands
for what he taught has come from you.
And he promises us the help of the Spirit
sent by you to teach us the fullness of faith
and to remind us of Christ’s love.And so we praise you today,
and sing for joy
for all your blessings to us!We confess that we need reminding of your love
for we find it easy to forget Christ
and to follow our own path
instead of the ways Jesus calls us.
Forgive us our forgetfulness and our lack of faith
for the sake of Christ, our saviour.silence
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us.
The peace of God be with us all.Supplication
God of grace,
your Spirit call us ever onward on our journeys of faith.
Open our hearts to hear your Word
and give us courage to go where Christ calls us.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.Featured image: Trey Everett, Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled (2018). Trey Everett is a graphic artist who has created images for some of the Lectionary readings. His work is available at www.treyeverettcreates.com. From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57820 [retrieved May 16, 2025].
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Join us for Divine Service at Holy Trinity this Sunday, May 11th.
Schedule:
8:15am - Worship (Livestream: https://holytrin.link/5e11w3)
9:30am - Bible Study/Sunday School
10:45am - WorshipOnline Check-In: https://holytrin.link/HTLCCheckIn
Readings for the day:
Old Testament: Acts 20:17-35
Epistle: Revelation 7:9-17
Gospel: John 10:22-30#HolyTrinity #SundayService #Worship #BibleStudy #RogersAR #ChristianFaith #Lectionary #Acts #Revelation #GospelOfJohn
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Opening Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Easter Year C (May 11 2025)
These opening prayers for Sunday worship take their inspiration from the Scripture readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome. The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
Call to Worship
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne
and to the Lamb!”
Revelation 7.9
Let us worship God.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Let us pray.
God our good shepherd,
as we come to worship you
we acknowledge your presence with us.
Yet you, creator God,
have been with us all the days of our lives.
You are the source of all our blessings.
You give us all that we need
for your power, and love, and care
always surround us.
Even if we have walked
through death’s dark vale,
you have been with us,
your rod and staff
have guided and comforted us.
And now we to come to your house;
you welcome and bless us
and your love for us overflows
and you invite us to dwell with you forever.
God our good shepherd,
you alone are worthy of our praise and worship.
21 April 2013 alt
Restore our souls
God of grace;
for we have failed too often
to be true disciples of Jesus.
We have followed the voice of others
in our journey through life
and failed to find the green pastures you promise your people.
Forgive us our sins
and for the sake of Christ,
the Lamb who died for our sins.
silence
Christ the Good Shepherd
will lead us to the springs of the water of life
where God will wipe the tears from our eyes.
Know that in Christ you are forgiven.
Collect
Lord Jesus Christ
like a caring shepherd you call us
to follow your voice.
Grant that we would truly know you and follow you
by obeying your command of love in all things.
And so may we be counted among your people
so that we may know eternal life in you.
Doxology
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving
and honour and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 7.12
Featured image: Shepherd in Făgăraș Mountains, Romania. Wikipedia commons
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Opening Prayers for the Fifth Sunday in Lent Year C (April 6 2025)
These opening prayers for Sunday worship take their inspiration from the Scripture readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome. The following prayers are for based on the readings for The Fifth Sunday in Lent April 6, 2025.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Let us pray.
Generous God
you are the one who has created all things
that we need to live and to thrive.The wonders of your creation
leave us in awe.
Your works of salvation
leaves us speechless.
The new things that you promise to do
make us tingle with anticipation.You have created us for your praise:
accept our worship today!In gratitude, eternal God
we recall what you have done for us:
in the stories of your people, Israel-
chosen to bring the knowledge of God to the world;
in the stories of Jesus
which teach of your love and forgiveness;
in the work of your Holy Spirit
in the lives of our mothers and fathers in the faith
who handed the Gospel down to us.You call us to be your people,
created to declare your praise
and to serve those in poverty and need
in the name of Christ.Yet we take our heritage of faith lightly.
We turn away from the suffering of our neighbours
although in baptism
we were called to share in the suffering of Christ.We are proud of our own status and achievements
yet we fail to see them in the perspective
of what Christ has achieved for us.Too often,
we offer our love and our service
in carefully calculated small doses
instead of responding generously and spontaneously
with the fragrance of your love.
We are unwilling to bear
the cost of discipleship
because we underestimate the value
of who Jesus is for us.We find ourselves clinging to past glories
instead of straining forward
to the future you are bringing us.Forgive us for these and all our failings
and grant us forgiveness of sins.silence
If we sow in tears, may we reap with joy,
for the Lord has done great things for us!Supplication
Eternal God,
whose Son Jesus Christ came among us
to bring joy where there is mourning,
life in the face of death,
and hope when we are discouraged
help us to know anew
the power of Christ’s resurrection
in our life together
and to strive for the goal
of knowing you ever more fully
in Jesus Christ. Amen.Sending and Benediction
Rejoice!
Go in joy and laughter
for God has done great things for us
and listen for the heavenly call of Christ
in the week ahead.The blessing of God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be with you all. Amen.Like this? Buy me a coffee!
Featured Image: Anonymous. Mary Anoints Jesus’ Feet: Germany, 16th Century – detail, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56139 [retrieved March 31, 2025]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:German_School,16th_Century-_Mary_Magdalene_anointing_the_feet_of_Christ.jpg.
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Opening Prayers for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C (February 9 2025)
Part of a series of opening prayers for Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.
The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 9, 2025.
Call to Prayer
The Psalmist says:
On the day I called, you answered me;
you increased my strength of soul.
Psalm 138.3
Let us pray.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of hosts-
you are the only holy God.
Source of life,
ground of our being,
creator of all:
you alone are worthy of our worship
in this holy place on this Sabbath day
and in loving service to our neighbours
wherever we are, every day of the week.
Above all lesser gods
we sing your praise
exalt your name
and give thanks
for your steadfast love and faithfulness.
We acknowledge that,
in the face of your holiness and power
we feel lost and unclean,
sinful people who feel unfit to be your people.
For we are too often blind and deaf to your call.
In silence, we remember our failings.
silence
Hear the message which has been proclaimed to us:
by the grace of God,
we are what we are-
people set free by God from sin
for the sake of Christ
who died, was buried, and raised to life for us.
Thanks be to God!
Holy God, by your Spirit
your grace is within us.
You will not forsake the work of your hands:
for you promise to preserve and deliver us.
You have brought us through
the waters of baptism
to land us safe with Christ
and now you call us to proclaim his love.
Help us to fish for men and women
who will join us in his boat.
Enable us to fulfil your purpose for us
and deliver us from your troubles.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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Featured image: Albrecht Bouts, Miraculous Draught of Fish, 16th Century. Museum Leuven, Belgium. from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library
#Epiphany5 #Lectionary #LectionaryPrayers #Prayer #Prayers #worship
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Happy New Year to my fellow lectionary nerds! Happy Year C!
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Happy New Year to my fellow lectionary nerds! Happy Year C!
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#Lectionary post: Positions
The sons of Zebedee are trying to ensure themselves special places in the Kingdom. They seem to envision some kind of banquet or court with Jesus in the most prominent position and others with honored or powerful positions arrayed around him according to the rules of precedence. They want to lock down the two most important positions for themselves. We've heard for several weeks in a row now.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/10/19/positions/
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#Lectionary post: Positions
The sons of Zebedee are trying to ensure themselves special places in the Kingdom. They seem to envision some kind of banquet or court with Jesus in the most prominent position and others with honored or powerful positions arrayed around him according to the rules of precedence. They want to lock down the two most important positions for themselves. We've heard for several weeks in a row now.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/10/19/positions/
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Back in May I left full-time parish ministry due to my continuing ill-health. My continued battle with Long Covid has also meant that there have been few posts on this site recently
At the moment I am preparing to move out of the manse and into a new home. Once the move is over, I hope to be able to start thinking again about blogging here more often. In particular, I know that many people appreciated my Lectionary Prayers, and I eventually hope to start posting these again sometime soon.
I thank all of you follow me here for your patience.
Peter
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#Lectionary Post: Disaster
Jesus is talking about welcoming children again you'd think we'd have that covered, but apparently the disciples still haven't figured it out. Anyway, I don't really want to write about that again so instead let's talk about Job. This is a kind of disturbing little story. To settle a private bet, God allows great misfortune to come to one of his loyal followers.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/10/06/disaster/
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#Lectionary Post: Disaster
Jesus is talking about welcoming children again you'd think we'd have that covered, but apparently the disciples still haven't figured it out. Anyway, I don't really want to write about that again so instead let's talk about Job. This is a kind of disturbing little story. To settle a private bet, God allows great misfortune to come to one of his loyal followers.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/10/06/disaster/
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#Lectionary post: Millstone
The piece in this week's passage about the millstone and chopping off of hands is often snipped out of its context and used as a general response to sin. It becomes a kind of purity talking point that says if you sin or allow others to sin then you should be punished. However, I think this week's Gospel text really wants to be read together with last week's so let's just remind ourselves of the situation here.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/09/28/millstone/
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#Lectionary post: Millstone
The piece in this week's passage about the millstone and chopping off of hands is often snipped out of its context and used as a general response to sin. It becomes a kind of purity talking point that says if you sin or allow others to sin then you should be punished. However, I think this week's Gospel text really wants to be read together with last week's so let's just remind ourselves of the situation here.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/09/28/millstone/
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#Lectionary Post: Messiah
Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus begins to teach his disciples something of what he's about. The way this passage is structured it feels like that's in response to Peter's declaration as a correction or an expansion on that idea. Jesus doesn't confirm or deny Peter's declaration. He just starts in on this lesson. The word "Messiah" comes with baggage.
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#Lectionary Post: Messiah
Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus begins to teach his disciples something of what he's about. The way this passage is structured it feels like that's in response to Peter's declaration as a correction or an expansion on that idea. Jesus doesn't confirm or deny Peter's declaration. He just starts in on this lesson. The word "Messiah" comes with baggage.
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#Lectionary post: Outsider
The general agreement is that the Gospel of Mark was written for a gentile audience far from Galilee or Jerusalem. So why all the insults in this week's encounter with this women seeking wholeness for her daughter? Jesus is in the road, visiting Tyre. He's apparently trying to go incognito for a quiet escape from all the crowds that have featured in the previous couple of chapters.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/09/06/outsider/
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#Lectionary post: Outsider
The general agreement is that the Gospel of Mark was written for a gentile audience far from Galilee or Jerusalem. So why all the insults in this week's encounter with this women seeking wholeness for her daughter? Jesus is in the road, visiting Tyre. He's apparently trying to go incognito for a quiet escape from all the crowds that have featured in the previous couple of chapters.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/09/06/outsider/
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#Lectionary post:Defile
We're finished with John's long conversation about bread and we're back in Mark but we're still talking about eating so let's see if there are any interesting connections here. Before I jump in playing with this text, here's Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg putting this conversation, or one very much like it recorded in Matthew, into the context of debates between different schools of Rabbinic Judaism.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/08/31/defile-3/
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#Lectionary post:Defile
We're finished with John's long conversation about bread and we're back in Mark but we're still talking about eating so let's see if there are any interesting connections here. Before I jump in playing with this text, here's Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg putting this conversation, or one very much like it recorded in Matthew, into the context of debates between different schools of Rabbinic Judaism.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/08/31/defile-3/
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I'm planning out my next set of lectionary inspired paintings. This seems to be a set of 6 small living things. So far I have:
Psalm 19:10 - honey, honeybee.
Psalm 1:3 - leaf, sapling
Psalm 124:7 - bird
Psalm 22:6 - worm.Two are missing:
Psalm 125 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20125&version=NIV )
Psalm 26 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2026&version=NIV )Do you have any ideas for small living things associated with mountains/unshakableness? Or with prairies/level ground?
Or another idea?
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I'm planning out my next set of lectionary inspired paintings. This seems to be a set of 6 small living things. So far I have:
Psalm 19:10 - honey, honeybee.
Psalm 1:3 - leaf, sapling
Psalm 124:7 - bird
Psalm 22:6 - worm.Two are missing:
Psalm 125 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20125&version=NIV )
Psalm 26 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2026&version=NIV )Do you have any ideas for small living things associated with mountains/unshakableness? Or with prairies/level ground?
Or another idea?
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#Lectionary post: After
The Gospel of John was written afterwards. After the life of Jesus. After the destruction of the Temple. After Christians and Jews became distinct religions. After the writing of Mark, Matthew, Luke, Acts, all of Paul's letters, and most of the other Epistles. After decades of development in Christian doctrine and practice. As a result, it's sometimes more a theological document than a narrative one.
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#Lectionary post: After
The Gospel of John was written afterwards. After the life of Jesus. After the destruction of the Temple. After Christians and Jews became distinct religions. After the writing of Mark, Matthew, Luke, Acts, all of Paul's letters, and most of the other Epistles. After decades of development in Christian doctrine and practice. As a result, it's sometimes more a theological document than a narrative one.
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#Lectionary post: Bread
It's my hypothesis that Jesus fed people a lot. There are several different miraculous feeding of large crowds of course. But I like to think there was probably more. Later, at Easter, his disciples will recognize him when he breaks bread. So I speculate wildly and fill in a lot more feedings. Maybe he just fed people all the time. Miraculous, perhaps, or perhaps just bread.
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#Lectionary post: Bread
It's my hypothesis that Jesus fed people a lot. There are several different miraculous feeding of large crowds of course. But I like to think there was probably more. Later, at Easter, his disciples will recognize him when he breaks bread. So I speculate wildly and fill in a lot more feedings. Maybe he just fed people all the time. Miraculous, perhaps, or perhaps just bread.
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#Lectionary post: Nostalgia
After the miraculous feeding, Jesus goes to Capernaum. In my understanding, this is a little bit of a home base for much of Jesus early ministry. It's a town mentioned repeatedly through all four Gospels. Some people who were at the feeding of the 5000 that we read last week track him down there and they have this kind of tense conversation.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/08/03/nostalgia/
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#Lectionary post: Nostalgia
After the miraculous feeding, Jesus goes to Capernaum. In my understanding, this is a little bit of a home base for much of Jesus early ministry. It's a town mentioned repeatedly through all four Gospels. Some people who were at the feeding of the 5000 that we read last week track him down there and they have this kind of tense conversation.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/08/03/nostalgia/
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#Lectionary Post: Identity
Last week's readings included speculation about Jesus's identity. This week the readings suggest a different answer. It's more than just a different suggestion, it's a whole different genre of answer. Jesus, when confronted once again with the crowd stops to heal and teach them. Whatever people may appreciate, Jesus is the one who teaches the crowd. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like...
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/07/19/identity-2/
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#Lectionary Post: Identity
Last week's readings included speculation about Jesus's identity. This week the readings suggest a different answer. It's more than just a different suggestion, it's a whole different genre of answer. Jesus, when confronted once again with the crowd stops to heal and teach them. Whatever people may appreciate, Jesus is the one who teaches the crowd. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like...
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/07/19/identity-2/
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#Lectionary post: Raised
The death of John the Baptist here in Mark is told in flashback to explain some of the conclusions people are coming to about who Jesus is. There are various hypothesis, but some people apparently believe that Jesus is John the Baptist, raised from the dead. According to this passage, Herod is among those with this idea. Which has me wondering about the Resurrection.
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#Lectionary post: Raised
The death of John the Baptist here in Mark is told in flashback to explain some of the conclusions people are coming to about who Jesus is. There are various hypothesis, but some people apparently believe that Jesus is John the Baptist, raised from the dead. According to this passage, Herod is among those with this idea. Which has me wondering about the Resurrection.
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#Lectionary post: Leave
This week we have Jesus sending out his disciples in pairs to do exactly the kinds of things that Jesus himself has been doing. Healing, preaching, the whole thing. He gives them some instructions when they go, one of which is "Just walk out." If they won't welcome you then leave. Like this poorly spelled meme: This is made easier by the other instruction: don't take anything with you.
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#Lectionary post: Leave
This week we have Jesus sending out his disciples in pairs to do exactly the kinds of things that Jesus himself has been doing. Healing, preaching, the whole thing. He gives them some instructions when they go, one of which is "Just walk out." If they won't welcome you then leave. Like this poorly spelled meme: This is made easier by the other instruction: don't take anything with you.
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#Lectionary post: Lament
To say that David and Saul aren't on good terms at the time of Saul's death is something of an understatement. They're not fighting each other directly in this incident. It is not David or his army who kills Saul and his sons, but they're still in opposition to each other. The messenger who comes to tell David the news believes that David will be pleased to hear it.
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#Lectionary post: Lament
To say that David and Saul aren't on good terms at the time of Saul's death is something of an understatement. They're not fighting each other directly in this incident. It is not David or his army who kills Saul and his sons, but they're still in opposition to each other. The messenger who comes to tell David the news believes that David will be pleased to hear it.
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#Lectionary post: Boats
Let's back up a little to get some context. In the previous chapter, Jesus performed a public healing on the Sabbath and all of the sudden there were crowds. There are so many desperate that Jesus is unable to rest or eat. At the same time the religious leadership is suspicious and showing up in large numbers to ask tricky questions and make snide comments.
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#Lectionary post: Seeds
This week we have two parables that use seeds as their central metaphor. Planting them, growing them, harvesting them. These metaphors don't really tell us anything useful about seeds or plants, (mustard is not a particularly small seed nor a particularly large plant) but that's not the goal here. The goal is to tell us something about the Kingdom of God.
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#Lectionary Post: Outside
There are two or even three stories sort of interleaved with each other here. We've got Jesus gaining some fame and starting to draw crowds large enough to cause some logistical difficulties. At the same time we hear about his family coming to intervene. And right in the middle of all that we have the religious leaders from Jerusalem abusing him of being possessed by a demon.
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#Lectionary post: Jars
The first century Roman Empire ran on fast food. Much of the population did not have access to private cooking facilities so they bought their meals at small shops or street side stands. Some of the options may have been finger foods that could be eaten without bowls or utensils, but soups, stews, and porridges were also common offerings and these would have been served in clay bowls.
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Darn it! I had an even better idea. But it wants to be 8 weeks and it's broken the 4 week set I had. Anyone have any great ideas for a tool suggested in a positive way by Psalm 9:9-20? (ie besides the digging implement that is negative in vs 15?)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+9%3A9-20&version=NIV
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#Lectionary post: Born again
English lacks a singular second person pronoun. This was not always the case. Once we had a similar structure to French with "you" doing double duty as a plural to address groups of people and a formal mode of address. The pronoun for individuals without a requirement for formality was "thou". The English, being notoriously formal and stuffy, gradually dropped "thou" in favor of addressing everyone formally.
https://lectionaryoutloud.wordpress.com/2024/05/24/born-again/