New Testament

for all nations

/ Eric Mathews / Leave a comment
O God of all the nations of the earth,
   remember the multitudes who,
   though created in your image,
   have not known you,
   nor the dying of your Son their Saviour Jesus Christ;
and grant that by the prayers and labours of your holy Church
   they may be delivered from all ignorance and unbelief
   and brought, to worship you;
through him whom you have sent
   to be the Resurrection and the Life of all people,
   your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Romanian witness

/ Eric Mathews / 2 Comments

Church of the Holy Archangels, Rogoz

O Lord, whose holy saints and martyrs
   in all times and places have endured
      affliction, suffering and tribulation,
   by the power of the Holy Cross,
   the armor of salvation:
so likewise, we pray, send your Holy Spirit,
   the Comforter and Advocate of all Christians,
   to sustain these Churches in their
      martyrdom, witness and mission.
The world without provocation hates your Church,
   but you have taught us not to despair.
Therefore, you who are a God at hand
   and not a God afar off,
   grant these Christians the power to lift up
   their hands, their eyes and their hearts
   to continue their living witness
   in unity with the universal Church,
   to the glory of your most holy name.

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commissioning

/ Eric Mathews / Leave a comment
Eternal God,
   to whom the hidden is as clearly known as the visible:
before you your people bow their heads,
   to you they submit their hard hearts and unruly bodies.
Send down blessing from your glorious dwelling
   on these men and women,
   lend them a ready ear and answer their prayers.
Set them up firmly with your strong hand
   and protect them against all evil passions.
Preserve their bodies and souls,
   increase their faith and fear and increase ours,
   through your only Son.

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serving

/ Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

Lord God, you have taught us
that we are members one of another
and that we can never live to ourselves alone:
we thank you for the community of which we are part;
for those who share with us in its activities,
and for all who serve its varied interests.
Help us, as we have opportunity,
to make our own contributions to the community
and to learn to be good neighbors,
that by love we may serve one another,
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Continue reading →

True Hospitality

/ Eric Mathews / 2 Comments
God of the Widow at Zarephath,
God of Joseph the Forgiver,
we stand in awe of people
   who showed hospitality
   in the midst of sacrifice and betrayal.
Take us deep into the heart of hospitality.
Help us to understand
   that the generosity the world needs
   often demands sacrifice on our part.
Be with those who have never known
   a table blessed by laughter and welcome,
   who have seldom heard affirmations
   and who do not know your abiding love.
Remind us, O God, that we are to set many tables,
   to speak blessings often and to be your love in the world.
In the name of Christ we pray. Amen

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love in proximity

/ Eric Mathews / Leave a comment
O God, it is easy to love the whole world,
  but hard to love the person one works next to;
O God, it is easy to campaign for world peace,
  but hard to contribute to the peace within my own home;
O God, it is easy to be fascinated with some new truth,
  and miss you in the thing I have known for so long;
O God, it is easy to share my home and possessions with people I like.
  Teach me how to be generous towards others.
Enable me today to say something,
  or do something that will make a difference to the discouraged,
  to the inexperienced, to the despairing.
Let no selfish concern with my own affairs shut me off from any today.
For your love’s sake.

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