Pray. End of the Month.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, August 31, 2015

Pray. End of the Month.

As I started to unpack the last few mitts of great awareness on this 31^st day of August, I knew what I would be writing about. Simeon’s song, at the end of Compline. (Also known as the Canticle of Simeon, or the Nunc dimittis.)

Simeon’s words were sung when the baby Jesus had been brought to the Temple. And, Simeon recognized who the baby Jesus was and what He would grow up to be and become. This reading from the Gospel of Luke holds huge significance to me. In the Lutheran church where I was a child, I remember the Nunc dimittis closing each Sunday morning worship service.

In the structure of Compline (or, Night Prayer), “The service concludes with 1) a calling on God for protection through the coming night and 2) a simple blessing.” [1] The Canticle of Simeon is a most appropriate ending to prayer.

I will miss these reflections on the website’s www.dailyoffice.org Evening Service. I have greatly appreciated this month. Tomorrow begins another month. Another practice of prayer.

It is so appropriate to close tonight’s prayer with the Nunc dimittis:

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Amen. Alleluia.

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Visit the website http://dailyoffice.org/ to find out more about Morning and Evening Prayer!

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/daily2/night/introstructurenotes.aspx

There’s a Sweet Spirit in This Place

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, July 11, 2015

There’s a Sweet Spirit in This Place

Holy Spirit. Heavenly Dove. Third member of the Trinity. So mysterious, yet so needful. You are a presence, a comforter, a helper to me. Coming alongside of me, helping me even when I am not sure You are there. I mean, here. I mean to say, with me.

These verses from this chapter of Praying the New Testament as Psalms intrigue me. They surprise me. Not because of the content backing up these modern verses, which I’ve known so well for decades. But, because of the format.

I was taken aback when I considered this to be such a moving psalm. (Yes, it is a modern adaptation, it is a psalm!) However, I’ve always seen these as more intellectual statements, printed in the New Testament. (And, sometimes, the transition to another format is quite a shake to the systems.)

Here’s a verse I felt was incredibly moving, adapted from the Gospel of Luke: “Send me to proclaim release to the captives,/recovery of sight to the blind,/and to let the oppressed go free.”[1] I know when Jesus read these words in the Hebrew Scriptures, He knew exactly how and when He was going to fulfill those words. I do not. However, as I read them in this different format, Luke’s words were packed with new meaning for me. Fresh import. I mean,

Sweet Holy Spirit, You seem to be the quiet one, the restful one. I know there is so much going on under Your mysterious surface. Holy Spirit, help me to act in a courageous way, in keeping with You and Your purposes. Lead me in a powerful way, ready to follow Your will and Your ways. I pray these words in Jesus’ risen name, amen.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

[1] Praying the New Testament as Psalms, Desmond O’Donnell, OMI, and Maureen Mohen, RSM, (United States of America: ACTA Publications, 2002.), 100.