2. Introduction
Let the words of my mouth, and the
meditation of my heart, be always acceptable
in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my
redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)
The hour comes, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit
and in truth: for the Father seeks such to
worship him. (John 4:23)
If you are praying with another person – read responsively
where appropriate.
3. The Psalm – Psalm 137
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
We sat down and cried by the rivers of Babylon when we remembered
Zion. 2
There upon the trees we put our harps. 3
For those who held us
there made us sing. And those who made it hard for us asked for joy.
They said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”
4
How can we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? 5
If I forget
you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget what it is able to do. 6
May
my tongue hold to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I
do not honor Jerusalem above my highest joy.
7
O Lord, remember what the sons of Edom did on the day Jerusalem
fell. “Knock it down,” they said, “Knock it down to the ground.” 8
O
daughter of Babylon, you who will be destroyed, how honored will be
the one who pays you back for what you have done to us! 9
How
honored will be the one who catches your children and throws them
against the rock!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
4. Short Reading and Meditation
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose
name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas.
She was devoted to good works and acts of
charity. 37At that time she became ill and
died. When they had washed her, they laid
her in a room upstairs. 38Since Lydda was
near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that
Peter was there, sent two men to him with
the request, "Please come to us without
delay." 39So Peter got up and went with
them; and when he arrived, they took him to
the room upstairs. All the widows stood
beside him, weeping and showing tunics and
other clothing that Dorcas had made while
she was with them. 40Peter put all of them
outside, and then he knelt down and prayed.
He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get
up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing
Peter, she sat up. 41He gave her his hand
and helped her up. Then calling the saints
and widows, he showed her to be alive.
42This became known throughout Joppa,
and many believed in the Lord.
Thought for Today
Today’s short reading might
cause us to think about
where the power and
strength to continue to live in
such a world that is riddled
with death and injustice
comes from. Peter turned to
the Lord in prayer in
restoring Tabitha’s life. The
Psalmist is crying out to the
Lord to restore his life. In
what ways does our life, and
community, need
restoration? Please pray.
Acts 9:36-42
5. Prayer
Pray Silently or Aloud for Others and Yourself
Lord, because you have made me, I owe you the whole of my
love; because you have redeemed me, I owe you the whole of
myself; because you have promised so much, I owe you my
whole being. Moreover, I owe you as much more love than
myself as you are greater than I, for whom you gave yourself
and to whom you promised yourself. I pray you, Lord, make
me taste by love what I taste by knowledge; let me know by
love what I know by understanding. I owe you more than my
whole self, but I have no more, and by myself I cannot render
the whole of it to you. Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of
your love. I am wholly yours by creation; make me all yours,
too, in love.
(Anselm 1033-1109)
