PRAYER & READING
Morning Prayer
O God, my Father, who has asked me to live in fellowship with on another, keep me from everything which would make me difficult to live with today.
Help me never thoughtlessly or deliberately to speak in such a way that I would hurt another’s feelings or wound another’s heart.
Keep me from all impatience, from all irritability, and from a temper which is too quick.
Keep me from eyes which are focused to find fault and from a tongue which is tuned to criticise.
Keep me from being easily upset, and quick to take offence, and slow to forget it.
Help me not to be stubborn and obstinate and keep me from the selfishness which can see nothing but its own point of view, and which wants nothing but its own way.
Grant me all through this day something of the grace and beauty which shone upon Jesus.
Hear this my prayer, for your love’s sake.
Amen.
Luke 12:15-21 New International Version (NIV)
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Evening Prayer
Eternal God, who has given me this day, forgive me for all the things I did not do.
Forgive me for any word of comfort, of praise, of thanks which I might have spoken, and did not speak.
Forgive me for any help I might have given to someone in need and did not give.
Forgive if today I have made things more difficult for anyone.
Forgive me if by word or action I have set a bad example to anyone and made it easier for another to go wrong.
Forgive me if today I have been disloyal to any friend, or if I have hurt the hearts of those whom above all I ought to cherish.
Grant me this night the gift of sleep; and grant me grace that tomorrow I may walk closer to you through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Amen.