Morning Prayer~ Hosea

OPENING SENTENCE

Seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness uponyou.

Hosea 10.12

Helen

Opening Prayer

Let us pray:Glory be to you, O God of all creation, ever steadfast in your love,guiding, forgiving, healing, true to our mothers and fathers,and faithful to us even when we have been least aware.Your love, O God, is as constant as the rising sun.To you we look in the morning lightsForgive our wrongdoings, heal our disloyalties,renew the goodness that is planted within us, and transform our shameInto a new sense of life’s glory, that we may love you and one another once again. Lord have mercy on us Christ have mercy on usLord have mercy on us

Helen

CANTICLE: A SONG OF RENEWAL

'Come, let us return to the Lord;for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two clays he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;his appearing is as sure as the dawn. And he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth:

Helen

Hosea 14:4-9 (NIV)

 "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; 6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. 7 Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. 8 O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me." 9 Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them

John

Psalm 127

1 Unless the Lord builds the house: their labour is but lost that build it.2 Unless the Lord keeps the city: the watchmen watch in vain.3 It is in vain that you rise up early and go so late to rest, eating the bread of toil: for the Lord bestows honour—and on those whom he loves.4 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his gift.5 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior: are the children of one’s youth.6 Happy the man who has his quiver full of them: he will not be put to shame when he confronts his enemies at the gate.

John

Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;  for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

John

1. My soul is filled with joyas I sing to God my savior:you have looked upon your servant,you have visited your people.

RefrainAnd holy is your name through all generations!Everlasting is your mercy to the people you have chosen,and holy is your name.

2. To the hungry you give food,send the rich away empty.In your mercy you are mindfulof the people you have chosen.

3. In your love you now fulfillwhat you promised to your people.I will praise you, Lord, my savior,everlasting is your mercy.

Helen

Blessed are those who rejoice in God

John

Share: Some ministry you are a part of that makes you rejoice

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

O God of all faithfulness, God of all goodness,who delights in the loyalties of men and women,of brother and sister,parent and child,yet whose faithfulness is not limited to blood and race,but extends to all people and all time,we offer thanks for the signs of constancythat are all around us:for mothers who labour in birthand hold their childrenclose to their hearts throughout life;

Helen

for the simple kindliness of neighbours, unassuming and freely given;and for the testing times when we have been given strengthto be true to ourselves and to our hopes and commitments.All faithfulness flows from you, O God, like a river running through the whole of the universe,in the unerring movement of the planets above, and below in the abounding fertility of the earth.And yet we know also the dark streaks of unfaithfulness that run through all things,of earth’s elements in disturbed imbalances, of oppression and suffering inflicted,of bloodshed following bloodshed, and indifference multiplying indifference.And so it is our concern for the world, as well as the hurts and struggles of our own lives, which we bring in prayer to you,O Healer of the wounded. (prayers)

Helen

Canticle: The Song of Hannah

`My heart exults in the Lord; and my strength is found in him. There is no Holy One like the Lord; There is no Rock like our God.The lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are filled. The barren woman bears sevenfold, but the mother of many is forlorn.The Lord gives life and takes it away; he brings down to the grave and raises up. He lifts the poor from the dust, and gives them a place with princes.He guards the feet of the faithful, but the wicked shall vanish in darkness;for not by might does one prevail

Helen

CLOSING PRAYER

May our morning awareness of you, O God,endure more than the mist that scatters early in the day,and as you have been our God from the beginning of timemay we be your faithful people in the living of our lives together.Grant us a new depth of seeing so that the mystery of your presence in each thingmay not seem strange to us, but rather be the light by which we are guided;and may the divine foolishness of saints before usand their openness to the promptings of the Spirit be our wisdom and our way.

Helen

Thy word

Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid,And think I've lost my way.Still, You're there right beside me.Nothing will I fearAs long as You are near;Please be near me to the end.

O, Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.

I will not forgetYour love for me and yet,My heart forever is wandering.So Jesus be my guide,And hold me to your side,And I will love You to the end.

O, Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.O, Thy word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.And a light unto my path.You're the light unto my path. John

BENEDlCTlON

By the tender mercy of our God, may the dawn from on high break upon youMay he give light when you sit in darkness and in the shadow of deathAnd may he guide your feet into the way of peace.

John