Prayer, Attention, Relationship

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

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Listening (Lectio Divina), Monday , September 14, 2026, 9:00am

 

Zoom Meeting ID: 814 8663 8380        Passcode: scripture

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




"Day Laborers Brought in by Truck from Nearby Towns,"

 Marian Post Wolcott. photograph, (1939)Artists


Creation Date

1939


Matthew 20:1-16

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

The Lord’s Prayer in Three Voices


Voice 1 Our Father who art in HeavenVoice 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 heavenVoice 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 usVoice 2 Forgive us our failings in love,  and free us from all  falseness,  

Voice 3 Release us from the things we have done wrongin 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 evilVoice 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 of miracles and of mercy,
all creation sings your praise.
Like the vineyard owner,
your grace is extravagant and unexpected.
Lead us to repentance
and the acceptance of your grace,
that we may witness to your love,
which embraces both those we call friend
and those we call stranger. Amen.

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Listening (Lectio Divina), Monday , September 7, 2026, 9:00am

 

Zoom Meeting ID: 814 8663 8380        Passcode: scripture

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







Peter von Cornelius.  Joseph reveals himself to his brothers





Genesis 50:15-21       

15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?" 16 So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 'Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18  Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves." 19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20  Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.  21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.






The Lord’s Prayer in Three Voices


Voice 1 Our Father who art in HeavenVoice 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 heavenVoice 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 usVoice 2 Forgive us our failings in love,  and free us from all  falseness,  

Voice 3 Release us from the things we have done wrongin 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 evilVoice 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 of Joseph and all his brothers,
your forgiveness transcends
whatever wrong exists between us.
Grant us the courage to forgive others,
and to practice reconciliation
by the kindness of our speaking,
the sharing of our resources,
and the honoring of your desire for good. Amen.

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Listening (Lectio Divina), Monday , August 31, 2026, 9:00am

 Zoom Meeting ID: 814 8663 8380        Passcode: scripture

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




“Women Outside the Church at Ruokolahti”,  Albert Edelfelt, 1887




Matthew 18:15-20

15 "If your brother and sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." 

The Lord’s Prayer in Three Voices


Voice 1 Our Father who art in HeavenVoice 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 heavenVoice 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 usVoice 2 Forgive us our failings in love,  and free us from all  falseness,  

Voice 3 Release us from the things we have done wrongin 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 evilVoice 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


Holy God, you call us to righteousness and light.
Teach us the undivided law of love,
that we may love your children even as you do,
love you with all our will and strength,
and find our freedom in this blessed service,
taught to us in word and deed
by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.