Good morning.
Today is Wednesday,
October 21st,
2020.
Oh Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three in one,
Creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer,
As it was in the beginning,
Is now,
And will be forever.
Amen.
Come,
Let us bow down and worship.
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our maker.
Remind yourself that you're in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on a word or a phrase that jumps out at you,
And let your heart respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Shelter us not with walls that exclude,
But with your widespread wing.
The scripture this morning is John chapter 2,
Verses 1 through 11.
Three days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
And Mary,
The mother of Jesus,
Was there.
Jesus and his disciples had likewise been invited to the celebration.
At a certain point,
The wine ran out,
And Jesus' mother told him,
They have no wine.
Jesus replied,
Mother,
What does that have to do with me?
My hour has not yet come.
She instructed those waiting on tables,
Do whatever he tells you.
As prescribed for Jewish ceremonial washings,
There were six stone water jars on hand.
Each one holding between 15 and 25 gallons.
Fill those jars with water,
Jesus said,
And the servers filled them to the brim.
Now,
Said Jesus,
Draw some out and take it to the caterer.
They did as they were instructed.
The caterer tasted the water,
Which had been turned into wine,
Without knowing where it had come from.
The only ones who knew were those who were waiting on tables,
Since they had drawn the water.
The caterer called the bride and grew over,
And remarked,
People usually serve the best wine first.
Then,
When the guests have been drinking a while,
A lesser vintage is served.
What you've done is to keep the best wine until now.
Jesus performed this first of his signs at Cana in Galilee.
In this way,
He revealed his glory,
And the disciples believed in him.
Please repeat these words.
Shelter us not with walls that exclude,
But with your widespread wing.
On Wednesdays,
We pray for our communities.
So I invite you now to hold your community before God.
Don't worry about diagnosing complicated needs or telling God what to do.
Just silently hold your community before the Lord.
As you do,
Hear these words of blessing spoken over your community.
May the light of Christ go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you.
On your right and on your left.
When you rise and when you lie down,
May the light of Christ be with you.
May the light of Christ be in you.
May the love of God go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you.
On your right and on your left.
When you rise and when you lie down,
May the love of God be with you.
May the love of God be in you.
In the name of Jesus,
Who taught us to pray.
Our Father,
Which art in heaven,
Eternal God,
Earth-maker,
Pain-bearer,
Life-giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be,
Not only Father,
But Mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on Earth.
With the bread we need for today feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever.
Amen.
The light of the dawn reminds us that your mercies are new every morning.
We need your mercy,
O God.
We need your grace.
We long for your peace.
As sure as the sun rises,
Your love is always with us.
Amen.
And now my friends,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
