Praying at Home Today: Wednesday 20 October 2021
Praying at home today:
That we may place our trust in God
A warm welcome to PrayingAtHome.com, where you can find worship resources for praying at home today or wherever you are.
We hope these readings, prayers, music and the short reflection will help you stay in touch with the Church and to sustain you on your journey through life.
If this is your first visit to this website, then you might like to read about the common elements and the suggested structure for each day’s prayer.
Everything’s optional!
Opening to the Word
You can spend a few moments in silence,
focussing on your breathing
to become more mindful of the present moment
and to open yourself more fully
to God’s presence within you.
Short reading
Our steps are made firm by the Lord,
when God delights in our way;
though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds us by the hand.Apud Dominum gressus hominis dirigentur,
et viam ejus volet.
Cum ceciderit, non collidetur,
quia Dominus supponit manum suam.L’Eternel affermit les pas de l’homme,
et il prend plaisir à sa voie;
s’il tombe, il n’est pas rejeté,
car l’Eternel lui prend la main.
Psalm 36(37):23-24
The Liturgy of the Word
Here are today’s Bible readings.
You can read just one, or all three if you have time.
One link to all three readings
Separate links to each reading
Short Reflection
Samuel’s farewell address to the people of Israel
Samuel has given the people of Israel Saul as their king and they, in return, admit that neither the prophet nor his sons had ever defrauded or oppressed them.
Having thus established his credentials –God is his witness against them – Samuel challenges the people as to their future behaviour.
By reminding them of their history as God’s people and God’s saving deeds, he demonstrates that their way was safe if they trusted in God. However, as soon as they turned away from God, that’s when everything went wrong for them. In desperation, they then called on God as their king to save them.
Samuel recalls that it was when the Ammonite king attacked them that they decided that they needed a king to defend them, even though God had been their protector.
So, now they have their king. Saul, whom they have asked for, whom they have chosen. God has set a king over them, with all that entails.
Only if they keep to God’s way will they remain safe.
But if they turn away from God’s path, they, and their king, will pay the price.
In our Gospel reading, Jesus shows the true meaning of authority as he washes the disciples’ feet. The one whom we acclaim as “King of kings and Lord of lords” humbly takes on the role of a slave, calling on us to do the same to one another.
advertisement
Buy from Amazon – print copy or e-book (Kindle)
Music for reflection
Prayer Suggestions
In communion with all God’s faithful people,
we continue our journey in faith today:
- for all affected by climate change,
especially those in Africa - for peace and tolerance between people of different cultures
- for those in government and for business leaders
that they may act justly and for the common good - for all who inspire us.
(In Holy Trinity, Stirling, we invite you to pray today
for Bishop Ian on the anniversary of his Consecration in 2018.)
For all who have asked for our prayers.
a moment of silence
Pray for us all
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
We can say the Lord’s Prayer in any language or version we choose.
Here it is, in English, Latin and French.
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.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis;
sanctificetur nomen tuum:
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie:
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris:
et ne nos inducas in tentationem:
sed libera nos a malo.
Quia tuum est regnum,
et potestas, et gloria, in saecula.
Amen.
Notre Père, qui es aux cieux,
que ton nom soit sanctifié,
que ton règne vienne,
que ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel.
Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain de ce jour.
Pardonne-nous nos offenses,
comme nous pardonnons aussi à ceux qui nous ont offensés.
Et ne nous laisse pas entrer en tentation
mais délivre-nous du Mal.
Car c’est à toi qu’appartiennent le règne,
la puissance et la gloire
pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.
Concluding prayer
Almighty and merciful God:
in your goodness keep from us all that is harmful;
that, being ready both in body and soul,
we may freely accomplish your will;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen.
Pentecost 21
Returning to the world
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Benedicamus Domino.
Deo gratias.
Thank you for joining us in praying at home.
Oremus pro invicem.
In these strange times, we are called to trust
* You can find more organ music from Holy Trinity Church, Stirling
on Alistair Warwick‘s website and on SoundCloud
There are several books by Brother Roger of the Taizé Community from many booksellers.
You can buy The Complete Chronicles of Narnia at Bookshop.org
Other worship resources
- Worship resources from Holy Trinity Church, Stirling, Scotland
- Music for reflection
- RSCM: Hymn for the Day and Sunday Self-Service
- Liturgy resources from New Zealand – Aotearoa
- Prayer live from Taizé
- CCC – Christ, Covid, Community (Facebook Group)
- Live-streamed liturgy from Pluscarden Abbey, Scotland
Praying at Home Today: Acknowledgements
The lectionary for weekdays is taken from the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
In that lectionary, the readings are in the following order: Old Testament reading, Psalm, New Testament reading; we have changed the order to the more usual OT, Psalm and NT.
English Bible texts are usually from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Latin Bible texts are from Biblia Sacra Vulgata, and are in the Public Domain.
French Bible texts are usually from Version Segond 21, copyright © 2007 Société Biblique de Genève by Société Biblique de Genève.
Images, unless otherwise stated, are from lockdown in Scotland, by Alistair Warwick.
Music engraved by The Art of Music.
advertisement
Affiliate disclosure
This website is free to use but it is not cheap to run.
If you make a purchases by clicking links on this website, these will cost you no more than buying directly from the supplier; we may receive a small commission, which helps with the costs of maintaining and running this website.
Praying at Home (part of The Art of Music) is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
Liturgy | Lectionary | Celtic Spirituality
Amazon Music Unlimited (30 days free)
