The pattern for daily servicesO God, open my lips,and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. I pray to you, O God: you hear my voice in the morning; Early in the day I offer my prayer and wait for your answer. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may we reflect the light of your presence to all whom we will meet this day, Amen. (Note 1) A Psalm (leader and congregation reading alternate verses)(note 2) A Bible reading Short reflection Hymn (Note 3) Prayers and Lord's Prayer Benediction
Note 1: This short introduction above was used at all sea-day service after Easter. It helped provide a measure of continuity day by day.
Readings, hymns and prayers for sea-day morning services at Eastertide 2013.
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Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Monday 1 April | 98 | John 20: 1-18 | Woman, weeping in the garden | Daniel Damon | Gott will's machen 87 87 |
Prayer When everything was dark, and it seemed that the sun would never shine again, your love broke through. Your love was too strong, too wide, too deep for death to hold. The sparks cast by your love dance and spread and burst forth with resurrection light. Help us to grasp resurrection; to understand its power, to see its force at work in our world, overturning evil empires, changing the hatred within us, moving the world slowly, forcefully, bending us towards love and truth. At this time of great gladness, empower us to be your ambassadors, proclaiming good news - good news in our homes and workplaces, good news amongst friends and colleagues, good news here on board the Black Watch and in places we visit. Help us to be that good news, walking softly on this good earth, caring gently for all people, living hopefully into your kingdom. We think of all who are grieving, of the sick and dying, of places in the world that are torn by war and bloodshed, of everyone who finds just living to be a daily struggle. In this world of broken hopes and dreams, we catch sight of your kingdom come in the reign of your Christ, who lives in us forever. So give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours, that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us. God, all this is our desire; God, hear our prayer. |
Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Tuesday 2 April | 93 | John 14: 15-31 | Every new morning | Carol Dixon | Bunessan 5 5 5 4 D |
Prayer God, with faces touched by the light of a new day, and hearts warmed by our prayers and praises, we come before you to pray for the needs of our world. Risen Christ, when darkness overwhelms us, may your dawn beckon. When fear paralyses us, may your touch release us. When grief torments us, may your peace enfold us. When memories haunt us, may your presence heal us. When justice fails us, may your anger ignite us. When apathy stagnates us, may your challenge renew us. When courage leaves us, may your spirit inspire us. When despair grips us, may your hope restore us. If Christ be truly risen, let us live resurrection so that all who meet us shall know that Christ is risen indeed! Christ is risen! Alleluia! God did not say, "You shall not be tempted; you shall not be travailed; you shall not be afflicted." But God said, "You shall not be overcome." (Julian of Norwich) The quiet strength of Christ, the humble power of God, and the pervasive light of the Spirit, is yours, today and always. Thanks be to God. |
Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Wednesday 3 April | 96 | John 16: 1-15 | Christ at the centre | Alan Gaunt | Ellers 10.10.10.10 |
Prayer Gracious God, hear our prayers: for hope for those who feel hopeless... for healing for those who need healing... for jobs for those who are jobless... for community for those who feel lonely... for peace for those whose lives are filled with conflict... for understanding for those seeking to be understood... for comfort for those who grieve... for food for those who hunger... for shelter for those who are homeless... for clean water for those whose waters are contaminated... for rain for those who live in drought... for a time of drying for those who are facing too much rain. for freedom for those who live under dictatorships... for wisdom for our leaders... for spiritual growth and health for our churches... for your Kingdom to reign here on earth. Amen. |
Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Friday 5 April | 145 | John 14: 1-14 | Almighty Father, great must be your power | David Mowbray | Herongate LM |
Prayer Generous God, for the abundance of your blessings day by day and year by year, we give you our thanks. For the simple pleasures of life: meeting new people, for health and strength to appreciate the wonder of life, we give you our thanks. for houses that become homes, for homes that offer hospitality, for the warmth and fun of friendship, for people who take us as we are and are patient with our moods, we give you our thanks. for the air that gives the breath of life, the sun that warms us, and good food that keeps us strong, for friends new and old, for all that makes it good to live, we give you our thanks. So we thank you, generous God, and may our thanks move beyond words to transform us into thankful folk, faithful folk, seeing folk, folk who see need and see the need to act, folk who love to live and live to love, folk who serve you by serving others. Amen |
Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Saturday 6 April | 147 | John 15: 1-11 | As the vine is to the branches | Fred Kaan | Ottawa 87 87 77 |
Prayer Jesus prayed that his followers may all be one. We join our prayers with his. I am the vine and you are the branches. Abide in me as I abide in you. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Love one another as I have loved you. Abide in me as I abide in you. For all the blessings of this life, we give thanks to you, Creator God. We pray for families, friends, colleagues, neighbours, and strangers who nurture us, that the love of God may grow within. May your love, your Word, bind us into Christ, the true Vine. May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong. We pray for the leaders of nations and peoples, that they may lead with strong hearts, gentle hands and generous spirits, with compassion and mercy, with wisdom and grace. May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong. We pray for those who live in fear, those who worry about employment, bills, food and health, and struggle just to find dignity in life. May your grace bring peace and safety to all people, one to another. May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong. We pray for those who suffer from any illness or dis-ease of mind, body, or spirit. Restore them, and all those we carry in our hearts, to wholeness of life - a healing that only you, O God, can bring. May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong. We pray for solace for those who mourn. Console those who grieve. May your grace surround us like a mantle upon our heads, a shawl upon our shoulders, a hand, to hold our hand. May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong. Christ sends us forth: 'Keep my commandments, abide in my love.' We will go forth in peace and justice! 'Love one another, go forth to serve.' We will go forth in love! 'Share in my mission, bear fruit that will last.' We will go forth rejoicing as your disciples! |
Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Monday 8 April | 51 | Luke 3: 1-14 | Hear us, O God | Michael Forster | Slane 10 11 11 12 |
Prayer In a cynical and despairing world, O God, give us a quietly prophetic voice to proclaim your hope. In a violent and angry world, O God, give us a quietly prophetic voice to proclaim your peace. In a dismissive and disinterested world, O God, give us a quietly prophetic voice to proclaim your compassion. In a lonely and inhospitable world, O God, give us a quietly prophetic voice to proclaim your love. In a grieving and weeping world, O God, give us a quietly prophetic voice to proclaim your joy. May we be so captivated by your hope, O God, that we cannot help but live out the message of your reign which is always coming into our world; And may our quietly prophetic lives, be channels of your restoring grace wherever we may go. Amen. |
Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Tuesday 9 April | 15 | Luke 3: 15-22 | To Jesus, wet with Jordan's waves | Brian Wren | Breslau LM |
Prayer The Lord shall give us the blessings of strength and peace. Beloved of God, let us pray: Walk with us through the waters, O God; walk with us through the fire. O God, you have blessed us to be members of your world-wide Church. Strengthen the unity of all Christian people, serving you wherever they find themselves. Silence Walk with us through the waters, O God; walk with us through the fire. Break down the walls of division in our cities and our nation. Bring us together as one human family - formed and made by your loving purpose. Silence Walk with us through the waters, O God; walk with us through the fire. Heal and comfort your cherished children, O God. Be with those in need in their trials. May they know that they are precious in your sight. Silence Walk with us through the waters, O God; walk with us through the fire. |
Date | Psalm | Reading | Hymn | Author | Tune |
Wednesday 10 April | 47 | Mark 3: 13-19 | Lord, you chose your first disciples | Christopher Idle | Alleluia (Wesley) 87 87 D |
Prayer Holy and Gracious God, we give you thanks for the gift of life, for the gift of your Christ, for the gift of your Spirit. We thank you calling us to discipleship, for welcoming us into your purposes, for inviting us to be witnesses of good news, for calling us to our community of faith. Work through human events to show your presence and purpose, work through each of us as we seek to respond to your call to serve. Lead us through the trials, the suffering and sorrow, the challenges and struggles, the tired times and dark places. Mend us as needed, bend us as necessary, that we may be your new creation, in body, mind and spirit. Lead us with grace, with love, with peace. Fill us with hope, with patience, with stamina. Transform us to grow, to understand, to see. Transform us, transform your church, transform your world, that all may become new and whole. And in wholeness, may we be the hands and heart of Christ. Amen.
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