Prayer, Attention, Relationship

  • “Exegesis is loving God enough to stop and listen carefully to what God says.” — Eugene Peterson, “Eat This Book”

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Listening (Lectio Divina), Monday, January 26, 2026, 9:00am

 

Zoom Meeting ID: 814 8663 8380        Passcode: scripture


Link:   https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81486638380pwd=elNs




















Mary’s Tears, detail from “The Descent from the Cross”, Rogier van der Weyden  (1399)



Matthew 5:1-12 The teaching of Christ: Beatitudes

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying: 

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 

8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 


The Lord’s Prayer in Three Voices

Voice 1     Our Father who art in Heaven

Voice 2         Holy One beyond all names, Eternal Wellspring

Voice 3 O Great Spirit, our Father from above,

Voice 1 Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come

Voice 2 May love rise again in us today 

Voice 3 we honor your name as sacred and holy.

Voice 1 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Voice 2 with food for every table, shelter for every person,

Voice 3 Bring your good road to us, 

where the beauty of your ways in the spirit-world  

above is reflected in the earth below.

Voice 1 Give us this day our daily bread

Voice 2 and reverence for every living being.

Voice 3         Provide for us day by day

--the elk, the buffalo, and the salmon. 

The corn, the squash, and the wild rice. 

All the  things we need for each day.

Voice 1 Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us

Voice 2 Forgive us our failings in love,  and free us from all  

falseness, 

Voice 3 Release us from the things we have done wrong, 

in the same way we release others 

for the things done wrong to us.

Voice 1 and Lead us not into temptation,

Voice 2 that the light of our souls may shine 

Voice 3        Guide us away from the things that tempt us 

to stray from your good road

Voice 1      but deliver us from evil

Voice 2      and help the strength of our spirits endure 

for earth and all its people

Voice 3  and set us free from the evil one & his worthless ways.

Voice 1 For the kingdom, the power, & the glory are yours forever

Voice 2 this day, tonight,  and forever.  

Voice 1     Amen!

Voice 2   Yes, I commit! 

Voice 3   Aho! May it be so!

Texts  from  Matthew 6: 9-13 (NRSV), "Celtic Benediction," by John Phillip Newell,        

First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament.

Closing Prayer


God our deliverer, you walk with the meek and the poor,

the compassionate and those who mourn,

and you call us to walk humbly with you.

When we are foolish, be our wisdom;

when we are weak, be our strength;

that, as we learn to do justice and to love mercy,

your rule may come as blessing. Amen.


Saturday, January 17, 2026

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Listening (Lectio Divina), Monday, January 19, 2026, 9:00am

 



Zoom Meeting ID: 814 8663 8380        Passcode: scripture

Link:   https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81486638380pwd=elNs





“Fishers of Men” Rex Deloney


Matthew 4:12-23


12  Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13  He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15  "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles-- 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." 17  From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fisher of people." 20  Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21  As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22  Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23  Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.



The Lord’s Prayer in Three Voices

Voice 1     Our Father who art in Heaven

Voice 2         Holy One beyond all names, Eternal Wellspring

Voice 3 O Great Spirit, our Father from above,

Voice 1 Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come

Voice 2 May love rise again in us today 

Voice 3 we honor your name as sacred and holy.

Voice 1 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Voice 2 with food for every table, shelter for every person,

Voice 3 Bring your good road to us, 

where the beauty of your ways in the spirit-world  

above is reflected in the earth below.

Voice 1 Give us this day our daily bread

Voice 2 and reverence for every living being.

Voice 3         Provide for us day by day

--the elk, the buffalo, and the salmon. 

The corn, the squash, and the wild rice. 

All the  things we need for each day.

Voice 1 Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us

Voice 2 Forgive us our failings in love,  and free us from all  

falseness, 

Voice 3 Release us from the things we have done wrong, 

in the same way we release others 

for the things done wrong to us.

Voice 1 and Lead us not into temptation,

Voice 2 that the light of our souls may shine 

Voice 3        Guide us away from the things that tempt us 

to stray from your good road

Voice 1      but deliver us from evil

Voice 2      and help the strength of our spirits endure 

for earth and all its people

Voice 3  and set us free from the evil one & his worthless ways.

Voice 1 For the kingdom, the power, & the glory are yours forever

Voice 2 this day, tonight,  and forever.  

Voice 1     Amen!

Voice 2   Yes, I commit! 

Voice 3   Aho! May it be so!

Texts  from  Matthew 6: 9-13 (NRSV), "Celtic Benediction," by John Phillip Newell,        

First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament.

Closing Prayer

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the  ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to  follow you in good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is  leading us and your love supporting us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (originally titled “The Call of Abraham”, now known as “The Holden Prayer”)