Proper 26
Worship
Aids To The Psalms
Praise is due to you,
O God, in Zion;
and to you who shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near
to live in your courts,
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains;
you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your
signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the
evening shout for joy.
Alternate Image
The Singer sits at a thanksgiving meal. She takes a generous forkful of beef and eats with relish. She lifts her glass of wine to God. The Singer savors a bit of sweet potato then lifts her glass to God. She munches on crisp carrot sticks and cauliflower and lifts her glass to God. The Singer takes a mouthful of freedom and lifts her glass to God. She inhales the aroma of re-creation and lifts her glass to God. The Singer luxuriates in the flavor of relationships and lifts her glass to God. She sucks the sweetness of forgiveness and fresh strawberries then lifts her glass to God. The Singer breaks a piece from a fresh loaf of bread, dips it in her cup, eats and sings her gratitude to God.
Reflection
It is common practice to say grace before meals to thank God for the physical food that sustains our bodies. It is also common at the time to offer thanks to God for that which sustains aside from physical food: for relationships, forgiveness, for the gift of salvation. We need times on a regular basis to reflect and center on God's continuing blessings to us. Memorized prayers help us gain and maintain the habit of prayer, but it is also important to have spontaneous prayers that can reflect the ever changing patterns of God's blessings to us daily. For Christians, each day is thanksgiving day to God for all the blessings we have received in generous abundance.
O God, in Zion;
and to you who shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near
to live in your courts,
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains;
you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your
signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the
evening shout for joy.
Alternate Image
The Singer sits at a thanksgiving meal. She takes a generous forkful of beef and eats with relish. She lifts her glass of wine to God. The Singer savors a bit of sweet potato then lifts her glass to God. She munches on crisp carrot sticks and cauliflower and lifts her glass to God. The Singer takes a mouthful of freedom and lifts her glass to God. She inhales the aroma of re-creation and lifts her glass to God. The Singer luxuriates in the flavor of relationships and lifts her glass to God. She sucks the sweetness of forgiveness and fresh strawberries then lifts her glass to God. The Singer breaks a piece from a fresh loaf of bread, dips it in her cup, eats and sings her gratitude to God.
Reflection
It is common practice to say grace before meals to thank God for the physical food that sustains our bodies. It is also common at the time to offer thanks to God for that which sustains aside from physical food: for relationships, forgiveness, for the gift of salvation. We need times on a regular basis to reflect and center on God's continuing blessings to us. Memorized prayers help us gain and maintain the habit of prayer, but it is also important to have spontaneous prayers that can reflect the ever changing patterns of God's blessings to us daily. For Christians, each day is thanksgiving day to God for all the blessings we have received in generous abundance.
