Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Cloud of Witnesses Meditation
Now let’s call to mind and heart, the ancestors— those who in their time, endured trials of many kinds, and are now bathed in light, those who uphold us in our trials with their love. Consider them, call them to mind by name, invite them to be with us as we pray, and let yourself become more aware of their presence in the Spirit. Over the next minute, go ahead.
Refrain for the Psalm
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother.
Psalm 131
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time on and forevermore.
Refrain for the Psalm
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother.
Words of the Prophets
Ezekiel 34: 1–10
The word of the LORD came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them.
Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.
Refrain for the Reading
Lord, save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil!
Words of Jesus
Luke 13: 31–33
At that time some came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’”
Refrain for the Reading
Lord, save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil!
Prayer to Face the Fears and Frustrations of the Day
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
A Pause for Gratitude
Take about 30 seconds to focus on one or two things that you are grateful for.
An Old Prayer from the African American Church
O Lord, we come today knee bowed and body bent before thy throne of grace. We come today like empty pitchers before a full fountain, realizing that many who are better by nature than we are by practice have passed into that great beyond; and yet you have allowed us your humble servants to plod along just a few days longer here in this howling wilderness. We thank thee Lord that we arose this morning, and that our bed was not a cooling board, and our sheet was not a winding shroud. We thank thee Lord that we are clothed in our right mind– bless the sick and afflicted. And when we have prayed our last prayer and sung our last song, and when we are done climbing the rough side of the mountain, when we come down to tread the steep and prickly banks of Jordan, meet us with thy rod and staff and bear us safely over. We ask these things in Jesus name, world without end. Amen.
Benediction
Go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor—you are not alone.