Subject: Daily Prayers and Scriptures: Saturday, May 2

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As we enter the third week of Easter, we may see an ease in stay-at-home restrictions and a re-opening of businesses, but we do not know what this means for returning to our places of worship. In this season of uncertainty, let us hold fast to what we know to be true in Christ. May we continue to find encouragement through our daily prayers, spiritual discernment, and a shared reading of the Scripture.

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Saturday, Third Week of Easter
God Will Preserve a Remnant (Zephaniah 3:8-13, NRSV)

The Home Daily Bible Readings for Monday through Saturday are selected in support of the Sunday lesson in the Uniform Lessons Series, ©Spring 2020.

3: 8 Therefore wait for me, says the Lord,
for the day when I arise as a witness.
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all the heat of my anger;
for in the fire of my passion
all the earth shall be consumed.

9 At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him with one accord.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
my suppliants, my scattered ones,
shall bring my offering.

11 On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
12 For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord—
13 the remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
and no one shall make them afraid.

Jesus Calls the First Disciples, (Matthew 4:18-25, NRSV)
Today’s Gospel lesson is selected from the Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer (Louisville, KY:Westminster/John Knox, 1993).

4: 18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Morning Prayer

From Harold J. Recinos, Professor of Church and Society, Perkins School of Theology/SMU, Dallas, Texas

God of life and compassion,
you mend what is broken, unite
the scattered, give strength
to the tired, calm us of all fears,
and keep faith focused on the
mystery of the Word made flesh
in an unemployed carpenter from
a poor family who disclosed the
light of your truth and reconciling
union. God, enlighten us today to
learn once again to be your people
in service and agents of love in the
world filled with the light of your
Spirit. God of our deepest longing,
come upon us to still our anxious
souls, whisper in the long hours of
this day the joy obtained for us by
your Crucified Son, breathe life into
our weary hearts, give us patience
to deal with the unknown and the
slow movement of healing in our
broken world and remind us you
have been with us in every age
and even now are a refuge—the
one who gives comfort, clarity to
thought and the assurance that
storms will pass. God, by your
Spirit, remind us that sickness and
suffering do not have the last word
on this wondrous new day, instead
care, compassion, laughter, healing
and service to others in need will
speak of your presence through the
risen Christ at work in us, through
us and around us. Lord, come and
make us your peace in the world,
today. Amen.
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You can follow our daily readings, prayers, and meditations on our website at http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/topics/daily/Be safe, healthy, and blessed during this time.
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