Today I went to the House of Blues Gospel Brunch with Cynde and Amy. It was awesome. So much singing and dancing! I got to go on stage:
So THAT was worship.
Last night I was worship leader at St. Martin, which means I got to read the Prayers of the People. If you were raised in the Episcopal Church and grew up on the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, you'll know it's a special gift to get to read words like these:
Almighty and everliving God, who in thy holy Word hast
taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give
thanks for all men: Receive these our prayers which we offer
unto thy divine Majesty, beseeching thee to inspire
continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth,
unity, and concord; and grant that all those who do confess
thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and
live in unity and godly love.
Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all bishops and other
ministers [especially ], that they may, both by
their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word,
and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.
And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and especially
to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and
due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy Word,
truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days
of their life.
We beseech thee also so to rule the hearts of those who bear
the authority of government in this and every land [especially
], that they may be led to wise decisions and right
actions for the welfare and peace of the world.
Open, O Lord, the eyes of all people to behold thy gracious
hand in all thy works, that, rejoicing in thy whole creation,
they may honor thee with their substance, and be faithful
stewards of thy bounty.
And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord,
to comfort and succor [ and] all those who in this
transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any
other adversity.
Holy Eucharist I 329
Additional petitions and thanksgivings may be included here.
And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants
departed this life in thy faith and fear [especially ],
beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love
and service; and to grant us grace so to follow the good
examples of [ and of] all thy saints, that with
them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.
Grant these our prayers, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake,
our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
I just relish it. That's language you can chew and swallow and you know you've prayed, when you pray those words.
Praying for a spirit of truth, unity and concord as Super Tuesday looms.
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