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
Alongside Babylon’s streams,
there we sat down,
crying because we remembered Zion.
2
We hung our lyres up
in the trees there
3
because that’s where our captors asked us to sing;
our tormentors requested songs of joy:
“Sing us a song about Zion!” they said.
4
But how could we possibly sing
the LORD’s song on foreign soil?
5
Jerusalem! If I forget you,
let my strong hand wither!
6
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I don’t remember you,
if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.
7
LORD, remember what the Edomites did
on Jerusalem’s dark day:
“Rip it down, rip it down!
All the way to its foundations!” they yelled.
8
Daughter Babylon, you destroyer,
a blessing on the one who pays you back
the very deed you did to us!
9
A blessing on the one who seizes your children
and smashes them against the rock!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
4. Short Reading and Meditation
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of
many angels surrounding the throne
and the living creatures and the elders;
they numbered myriads of myriads and
thousands of thousands, 12singing with
full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that
was slaughtered to receive power and
wealth and wisdom and might and
honor and glory and blessing!" 13Then I
heard every creature in heaven and on
earth and under the earth and in the
sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To
the one seated on the throne and to
the Lamb be blessing and honor and
glory and might forever and ever!"
14And the four living creatures said,
"Amen!" And the elders fell down and
worshiped.
Thought for Today
The opening words to
our Introduction this
morning relay our desire
for God to find our
prayer acceptable.
Psalm 137 is a prayer
that wouldn’t seem to
be so, but is acceptable
to God. Why? In what
areas of our life do we
need to be more honest
with God?
Revelation 5:11-14
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)
