August 29, 2021
A daily prayer from the New England Conference
The clergy and laity of the New England Conference are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week.
You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.
Today's Prayer
James 1:22-27 (NRSV) 22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves[c] in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. 26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Lord of mercy, justice and grace, what a world we live in! Sometimes, when patience grows short and tempers grow even shorter, we forget what it means to keep ourselves unstained by the world and still be hearers and doers. How easy it is to lash out in the pain of grief and exhaustion that wearies the very bones and our very souls over the days of never-ending pandemic, violence of all kinds, and a world battling the ever changing and confusing news and recommendations and findings!
It is no wonder that some of the greatest prophets and preachers and teachers in the great cloud of witnesses sought out solitary places in their days in the world. Because there, there was space to breathe and listen and be filled with You. It was in those places they found space to not only be hearers but to be doers.
In your mercy, give us places of peace to listen and gain refreshment from the one who offers life-giving water, so we may offer water to others as we renew the spirit within us to become doers of Your Word and givers of Your mercy.
Thanks be to God, in the name of the one who lives and prayers for us even now, Jesus the Christ.
Rev Michele St Cyr, Executive Director of UMEM and pastor at Corinna