Proper 7 (12)
June 19, 2022
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a or Isaiah 65:1-9
Psalm 42 and 43 or Psalm 22:19-28
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-39
Our gracious, eternal God, we thank you for the blessings which are abundantly ours. We thank you for the gentle arrival of summer days, for azure skies and the new and varied colors in new green leaves, for gentle warm days, for all of nature which reminds us of your gracious provision for our needs, and for such a beautiful world which points us to a majestic creator God. We thank you for the Scriptures which provide us a window into our souls and provide for spiritual growth and understanding. We are reminded today of some of the tensions with which we permanently live.
We would live free in your grace, yet we easily succumb to wanting clear rules of law.
We would live free in your grace, yet we often want to be justified by what we do and by our achievements and good works.
We would live free in your grace, yet we are inclined to long for some clear statement or code which, when upheld by us, would give us the confidence and certainty that we have done all that you require of us.
We would live free in your grace, yet we so easily divide people up into the righteous and the unrighteous, the favoured and the rejected, that we miss the gospel’s truth that there are no superior Christians, but we are all united in you who love all with an everlasting love.
O God, permeate our hearts with your grace and help us to find greater room in them for others.
Breathe your gentle, healing spirit upon all this day who need your special graces and keep this world in your loving embrace. Amen
June 19, 2022
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a or Isaiah 65:1-9
Psalm 42 and 43 or Psalm 22:19-28
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-39
Our gracious, eternal God, we thank you for the blessings which are abundantly ours. We thank you for the gentle arrival of summer days, for azure skies and the new and varied colors in new green leaves, for gentle warm days, for all of nature which reminds us of your gracious provision for our needs, and for such a beautiful world which points us to a majestic creator God. We thank you for the Scriptures which provide us a window into our souls and provide for spiritual growth and understanding. We are reminded today of some of the tensions with which we permanently live.
We would live free in your grace, yet we easily succumb to wanting clear rules of law.
We would live free in your grace, yet we often want to be justified by what we do and by our achievements and good works.
We would live free in your grace, yet we are inclined to long for some clear statement or code which, when upheld by us, would give us the confidence and certainty that we have done all that you require of us.
We would live free in your grace, yet we so easily divide people up into the righteous and the unrighteous, the favoured and the rejected, that we miss the gospel’s truth that there are no superior Christians, but we are all united in you who love all with an everlasting love.
O God, permeate our hearts with your grace and help us to find greater room in them for others.
Breathe your gentle, healing spirit upon all this day who need your special graces and keep this world in your loving embrace. Amen