Morning Prayer

Our morning prayer service is an opportunity to carve out space for contemplation and stillness in our otherwise busy lives.

We offer you a warm welcome, and as is our practice, we remember that the land on which we meet is, was, and always will be native land. We acknowledge those indigenous tribes to Oklahoma: the Wichitas, Caddos, Plains Apaches, and the Quapaws, as the original custodians of the land in this place. We grieve the violence done to native language, culture, and personhood, and seek to honor the sovereignty and dignity of native peoples.

Carolyn Sargent and Glenda Stansbury

Let us begin the day with this time of consideration, holy listening, supported silence, song, and prayer. We invite you to settle into your seat, let your shoulders drop, and take a deep breath. Today we ask ourselves:

• What road are you currently traveling? Are you we walking towards something, away from something, or maybe both? Or is this a season in which you honestly don’t know?
• Who are the people who accompany you on life’s journey and help orient you in seasons of uncertainty, grief, or confusion?
• What practices help to ground you in God’s goodness?

As we reflect together, remember: your whole self is welcome here.

One: Our Creator, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is heaven.

All: Help us, Holy One, to make the only world we know a place where you would feel at home. Let us work in ways that bring peace, comfort the afflicted, and alleviate suffering. God, hear our prayer.
 
One: Give us this day our daily bread.

All: Help us to ask for what we need, Holy One, and to share what we have. Let us live in ways that ensure everyone has enough. God, hear our prayer.
 
One: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

All: All of us have fallen short at one time or another, so may mercy be our first instinct. Let us loosen our grip on grudges and grievances. God, hear our prayer.
 
One: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

All: We know that violence begets violence, so help us transform our pain instead of transmitting it. Grant us courage to do the next faithful thing. God, hear our prayer.
 
One: We lift up the beloveds of this congregation: Phil Manning’s brother Mark, Tyler Minton’s grandmother, George + Jeanette Atwood, Meg Hunt, Mike Fox, and Carolyn Wade.

All: In a world where it is so easy to feel forgotten, may our beloveds know that we hold them close. God, hear our prayer.
 
One: Despite our best efforts, we do not always know what we need, what our neighbors need, or what to say.

All: Trusting that the Spirit intercedes for us, God, hear our prayer.
 
One: In our sleeping and waking, in our work and in our play, in our responsibilities and in our rest, come to us, Holy One, abide with us, and grant us your peace.

Won't You Let Me Be Your Servant?, Hymn 539
New Century Hymnal

Rev. Dr. Lori Walke

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Rev. Dr. Lori Walke

All are welcome at God's Table.

Everyone is invited to receive communion either by remaining in your pew, so that communion can be brought to you, or by coming forward to receive the elements. If you come forward, please take the offered gluten-free cracker and a cup of juice, and pause to eat and drink or take the elements back with you to the pew. Place the cup in the pew back in front of you for our deacons to collect after worship. For those who are worshiping from home, use whatever elements are available to you, in keeping with Jesus's example of using what was on the table.

[Communion Music]
I Come With Joy
Clint Williams and Glenda Stansbury

I come with joy, a child of God, forgiven, loved, and free,
The life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me,
in love laid down for me.

I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed,
The new community of love in Christ’s communion bread,
in Christ’s communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud division ends.
The love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends,
and strangers now are friends.

And thus we meet and better know the Presence ever near,
And join our hearts and sing with joy that Christ is risen here,
that Christ is risen here.

Together met, together bound, in friendship we will stay,
And go with joy to love the world and live the way we pray,
and live the way we pray.

As you go out into the remainder of the day, may you carry the still, small voice of the Divine within you. May your hearts be filled with peace, your hands moved by compassion, and your steps guided by love. Amen.