Prayer of Sacred Reading and Listening (Lectio Divina), Monday , July 20, 2026, 9:00am

 

Zoom Meeting ID: 814 8663 8380        Passcode: scripture

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

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

31 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." 33He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." 44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.  52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

Kelly Latimore Icons, "The Parable of the Mustard Seed"

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

Seed-planting, fish-netting, bread-baking, pearl-hunting God,
you shape us into living parables.
Pray with your Spirit in us
so that we may understand our experiences as healing metaphors,
and become creative and abundant stewards
of the environment you entrusted to our love. Amen.