Albrecht Durer, Painter; Michelangelo Buonarroti, Artist

O God, who by your Holy Spirit give to some the word of wisdom, To others the word of knowledge, and to others the word of faith: We praise you for the gifts of preaching through visual representation that you gave to your servants Albrecht Duerer and Michaelangelo Buonarroti, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns, with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!

8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come into his courts!

9Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth!

10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;

he will judge the peoples with equity."

11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

12let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

Psalm 96 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Jeremiah 18:1-11 - Romans 8:1-11 - John 6:27-40

Father, You have taken my sins and put them far away from me, as if I had never sinned, for the sake of Jesus, my Redeemer. Yet still I fall victim to anger, wrath, and malice toward others, despite Your loving example. I live in a world full of anger, and I find forgiving difficult. In times of violent emotions, help me remember Your unending forgiveness and treat others with the kindness and compassion that You show to me every day of my life. Amen.

(From "Prayers and Promises")

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor!

In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;

2the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;

he is called blessed in the land;

you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

3The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;

in his illness you restore him to full health.

4As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me;

heal me, for I have sinned against you!"

11By this I know that you delight in me:

my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.

12But you have upheld me because of my integrity,

and set me in your presence forever.

Psalm 41 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Jeremiah 17:19-27 - Romans 7:13-25 - John 6:16-27

Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968

Holy and righteous God, you created us in your image. Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression. Help us, like your servant, Martin Luther King, Jr., to work for justice among people and nations, to the glory of your name, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, LBW, ELW))

11I will remember the deeds of the LORD;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

12I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds.

13Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God?

14You are the God who works wonders;

you have made known your might among the peoples.

15You with your arm redeemed your people,

the children of Jacob and Joseph.

19Your way was through the sea,

your path through the great waters;

yet your footprints were unseen.

Psalm 77 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Jeremiah 16:10-21 - Romans 7:1-12 - John 6:1-15

March 31, 2011 - John Donne, 1631

O eternal and most gracious God, you permitted darkness to be before light in the creation, and yet in the making of light so multiplied it that it enlightened even the night: Grant that by your light we may see that no sickness, no temptation, no sin, no guilt can remove us from the determined and good purpose which you have revealed in your Son and sealed by your Holy Spirit: who live and reign with you, one God, forever and ever, Amen

(Pfatteicher, from prayers by Donne)

5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

8You have said, "Seek my face."My heart says to you,

"Your face, LORD, do I seek."

9 Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

Psalm 27 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Jeremiah 10:11-24 - Romans 5:12-21 - John 8:21-32

How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of this season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your resurrection when I have avoided participating in you death? Yes, Lord, I have to die – with you, through you, and in you – and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your resurrection.There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed, and anger, impatience and stinginess. O Lord, I am self-centered, concerned about myself, my career, my future, my name and future, my name and fame. I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen (from Show Me the Way – Daily Lenten Readings by Henri J.M. Nouwen) 1By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? Psalm 137 English Standard Version Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary (click on underlined link to go directly to the reading) Jeremiah 8:4-9:6 - Romans 5:1-11 - John 8:12-20

John Keble, Renewer of the Church

Grant, O God, that in all time of our testing we may know your presence and obey your will; that, following the example of your servant John Keble, we may accomplish with integrity and courage what you give us to do, and endure what you give us to bear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

3For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

4I do not sit with men of falsehood,

nor do I consort with hypocrites.

5I hate the assembly of evildoers,

and I will not sit with the wicked.

6I wash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O LORD,

7proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

and telling all your wondrous deeds.

Psalm 26 English Standard Version

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 7The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121 English Standard Version Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary (click on underlined link to go directly to the reading) Jeremiah 7:1-15 - Romans 4:1-12 - John 7:14-36