Morning Prayer 5.13.15, Frances Perkins, Mother of Social Security, 1965; Rogation Day

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—

This is our God;
no other can be compared to him.

The Morris Dancers of Berkeley, California were up on May Day to greet the dawn with classic folk routines. Edward VI, Cromwell and Reformed Scotland tried to ban May Day celebrations as suspiciously pagan, but Mary I and Charles II brought them back as folk celebrations of spring. (via Alison Saichek)

You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

INVITATORY AND PSALTER

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Christ Our Passover
1 Cor. 5:7-8; Rom. 6:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:20-22

Alleluia.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *
death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *
but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ has been raised from the dead, *
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death, *
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, *
so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

Psalm 119:97-120

97  Oh, how I love your law! *
all the day long it is in my mind.
98  Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *
and it is always with me.
99  I have more understanding than all my teachers, *
for your decrees are my study.
100  I am wiser than the elders, *
because I observe your commandments.
101  I restrain my feet from every evil way, *
that I may keep your word.
102  I do not shrink from your judgments, *
because you yourself have taught me.
103  How sweet are your words to my taste! *
they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104  Through your commandments I gain understanding; *
therefore I hate every lying way.

105  Your word is a lantern to my feet *
and a light upon my path.
106  I have sworn and am determined *
to keep your righteous judgments.
107  I am deeply troubled; *
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.
108  Accept, O LORD, the willing tribute of my lips, *
and teach me your judgments.
109  My life is always in my hand, *
yet I do not forget your law.
110  The wicked have set a trap for me, *
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111  Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
truly, they are the joy of my heart.
112  I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
for ever and to the end.

113  I hate those who have a divided heart, *
but your law do I love.
114  You are my refuge and shield; *
my hope is in your word.
115  Away from me, you wicked! *
I will keep the commandments of my God.
116  Sustain me according to your promise, that I may live, *
and let me not be disappointed in my hope.
117  Hold me up, and I shall be safe, *
and my delight shall be ever in your statutes.
118  You spurn all who stray from your statutes; *
their deceitfulness is in vain.
119  In your sight all the wicked of the earth are but dross; *
therefore I love your decrees.
120  My flesh trembles with dread of you; *
I am afraid of your judgments.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

THE LESSONS
Baruch 3:24-37 (NRSV)

O Israel, how great is the house of God,
how vast the territory that he possesses!
It is great and has no bounds;
it is high and immeasurable.
The giants were born there, who were famous of old,
great in stature, expert in war.
God did not choose them,
or give them the way to knowledge;
so they perished because they had no wisdom,
they perished through their folly.
Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her,
and brought her down from the clouds?
Who has gone over the sea, and found her,
and will buy her for pure gold?
No one knows the way to her,
or is concerned about the path to her.
But the one who knows all things knows her,
he found her by his understanding.
The one who prepared the earth for all time
filled it with four-footed creatures;
the one who sends forth the light, and it goes;
he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;
the stars shone in their watches, and were glad;
he called them, and they said, “Here we are!”
They shone with gladness for him who made them.
This is our God;
no other can be compared to him.
He found the whole way to knowledge,
and gave her to his servant Jacob
and to Israel, whom he loved.
Afterward she appeared on earth
and lived with humankind.

Canticle: A Song of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 36:24-28

I will take you from among all nations; *
and gather you from all lands to bring you home.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you; *
and purify you from false gods and uncleanness.
A new heart I will give you *
and a new spirit put within you.
I will take the stone heart from your chest *
and give you a heart of flesh.
I will help you walk in my laws *
and cherish my commandments and do them.
You shall be my people, *
and I will be your God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

James 5:13-18 (NRSV)

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

Canticle: A Song of the Spirit
Revelation 22:12-17

“Behold, I am coming soon,” says the Lord,
“and bringing my reward with me, *
to give to everyone according to their deeds.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *
the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, *
and may enter the city through the gates.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *
with this testimony for all the churches.
“I am the root and the offspring of David, *
I am the bright morning star.”
“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride; *
“Come!” let each hearer reply!
Come forward, you who are thirsty, *
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Luke 12:22-31 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

THE PRAYERS

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold them, now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your Name for ever.
Lord, keep us from all sin today;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.

The unveiling of a Frances Perkins icon one year ago at St. Andrew’s, Newcastle, Maine – her home parish – as (L-R) the Rector, the Rev. Lu-Anne Connor, Perkins’ grandson Tomlin Coddeshall, and donor the Rev. Amelia Hagen look on. Ms. Perkins, Secretary of Labor under FDR, was one of the great Americans of the 20th century, and one of the great Episcopalians of all time. She talked Roosevelt into backing her plans for Social Security, and passed workplace safety and child labor laws that continue to protect workers 80 years later. A former winner of Lent Madness, an online popularity contest which pits saints against each other, she was also one of the finalists to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. And once a month throughout her 13 years in office, she stole away to an Episcopal convent in Maryland to make a spiritual retreat. (Heidi Shott)

Collect of the Day: Frances Perkins, Public Servant and Prophetic Witness, 1965

Loving God, we bless your Name for Frances Perkins, who lived out her belief that the special vocation of the laity is to conduct the secular affairs of society that all may be maintained in health and decency. Help us, following her example, to contend tirelessly for justice and for the protection of all in need, that we may be faithful followers of Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect of Rogation Day: for stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is wide open to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power; that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For joy in God’s creation: a mountain hare of Scotland. (Andrew Easton)

For Joy in God’s Creation

O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Diocese of North Carolina, USA

The Diocese of North Carolina is the 10th largest in The Episcopal Church with about 50,000 communicants. According to Wikipedia it has grown about 3% annually in recent years, one of the few in TEC to report positive numbers. Above, Christ Church, Charlotte. (clergyaction.org)

Wednesday Morning Prayer List

Healing of Body, Mind & Soul
Pamela, upper respiratory illness for months
Peter A., cancer surgery
Michael’s brother William, hospitalized 3 months
Dina, onset of dementia
Sandy, severe pain in hand
Sara, chemotherapy
Harry, preventive chemo
Katherine G., breast cancer with complications
Stephanie
Krystal, surgery
Michele, cancer
Ron M., transplant waiting list
Al, cancer
Thom, dementia
Don, palliative care
Debbie
Greg, cancer
Subdeacon Clint, soul-medic

For Caregivers
Peggy

Please add your own intercessions, supplications and thanksgivings here.

Prayer for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfil now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

May the blessing of the God of Abraham and Sarah, and of Jesus Christ born of our sister Mary, and of the Holy Spirit, who broods over the world as a mother over her children, be upon us and remain with us always. Amen.++

VIDEO: Bishop Ian Douglas on His Nomination for Presiding Bishop – The Episcopal Church in Connecticut, May 1, 2015