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ChantThis day is new, it comes from God.
It is a gift from heaven’s hand.
Let troubles held from yesterday
Melt in the grace that comes today.
Music: "Jesu dulcis memoria, plainsong, Mode 2"
Hymnal 1982
Preparation for
Prayer
As you greet the new day, quiet your soul and be aware of the
presence of the Holy One in you and all around you as you listen to the ringing
of the bell.
Opening
Sentence
“When dawn begins to emerge over the darkened horizon, it is a
reminder that all of life is a birth from silence.” —Renee Miller, Fertile Soil in
a Barren Land
“This is the day
that God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
—Psalm 118:24
A Psalm
“Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, and your glory over all the
earth. My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make
melody. Wake up, my spirit; awake, lute and harp; I myself will waken the dawn.
I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; I will sing praises to you among
the nations. For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, and your
faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”—Psalm 57: 6-1
A Reading from
the Bible
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:6-7
Reflection
followed by Silence
As the sun slowly rises, the thick, heavy drape of
darkness is lifted and the light emerges, as if for the first time, nascent and
fresh, no harshness to the transition, no favoring of one over the other, no
sense of competition. It’s a silent and balanced movement.
As you consider that balanced movement, visualize the same drape of darkness being lifted from your soul and feel yourself being bathed in light. Just as nature provides a steady and dependable rhythm to the day, you can know that a similar rhythm is being lived out in your soul. Ask yourself, “Am I willing to ‘wake up’ to the presence of God in my soul, as if for the first time?”
Prayer
Take some moments now to offer the concerns of your
heart to heaven. Remember those who are in pain, those who are afraid, those who
are alone, those whom you love, those who are dying, and those who are already
in heaven, and pray for the needs of your own life.
(Silence)
Prayer for
Expressing Gratitude
“Gracious God, in the busy-ness of my day, I
sometimes forget to stop to thank you for all that is good in my life. My
blessings are many and my heart is filled with gratefulness for the gift of
living, for the ability to love and be loved, for the opportunity to see the
everyday wonders of creation, for sleep and water, for a mind that thinks and a
body that feels. I thank you, too, for those things in my life that are less
than I would hope them to be. Things that seem challenging, unfair, or
difficult. When my heart feels stretched and empty, and pools of tears form in
my weary eyes, still I rejoice that you are as near to me as my next breath and
that in the midst of turbulence, I am growing and learning. In the silence of my
soul, I thank you most of all for your unconditional and eternal love. Amen.”
—fromPrayers for Living
Blessing
The dawn has come and another day of life awaits your presence. Heaven
looks on your soul with a protecting glance. May you feel the tender touch of
God’s blessing this day and may your soul be warmed with
love.
Closing Thought with Chant
Whatever happens this day,
know that you are loved by God—
boundlessly,
unconditionally, and eternally.
“When you were
formed by heaven above
You were formed in perfect love.
Open your eyes, to
realize
God’s presence in your soul.”
Text: Renee
Miller
Music: Thomas Pavlechko
Wellspring, Selah Publishing
