A QUOTE, A TEXT AND A PRAYER…OR TWO
A QUOTE
Jesus, like all other religious leaders, taught men to pray, that is, He taught them to look away from the world of ordinary sense impressions and to open the heart and spirit to God; yet He is always insistent that religion must be related to life. It is only by contact with God that a better quality of living can be achieved — and Jesus Himself, as the records show, spent many hours in communion with God — yet that new quality of life has to be both demonstrated and tested in the ordinary rough-and-tumble of plain living. It is in ordinary human relationships that the validity of a man’s communion with God is to be proved. J.B. Phillips
A TEXT
Give praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the Name of the Lord.
Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, from this time forth for evermore.
From the rising of the sun to its going down let the Name of the Lord be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
From Psalm 113
AND A PRAYER…OR TWO
Lord of the feast,
you have prepared a table before all peoples
and poured out life with such abundance
that death cannot claim the triumph over your universe.
Call us again to your banquet where we may receive your holy food,
and strengthened by what is honourable, just, and pure,
be transformed into a people of righteousness and peace. Amen.
You know each of us by name, O God, and in your sight we have found favour, yet our minds cannot comprehend the vision of your glory or the vastness of your love. Grant that as we glimpse your greatness, reflected in your many gifts, we may always return to you the praise that is yours alone. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.