Friday, October 18 – Holy, Holy, Holy

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
     the whole earth is full of his glory.”         –Isaiah 6:3 (NIV2011)

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”          –Matthew 21:9 (NIV2011)

 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
    heaven and earth are full of your glory.
 Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
 Blessed is he, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
 Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.”

From Isaiah’s vision during worship in the Temple to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem several days before his death, this song of praise expresses the breadth of God’s glory from the majestic temple vision to the gruesome ‘glory’ of the cross.  How great is our God!

Grant us grace as we sing to get a glimpse of your glory and majesty.

Thursday, October 17 – The Great Thanksgiving

Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." –Luke 22:19

Jesus gives thanks to God, the Creator, for the gifts of bread and wine.

We give thanks to God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer for giving us the body and blood of Jesus.

This portion of our worship is called the Great Thanksgiving because it is just that, a Great Thanksgiving for all that God has and is doing for us through Jesus, the Christ.

From the Preface (The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Lift up your hearts.  We lift them to the Lord...) to the Holy, Holy, Holy to the Eucharistic Prayer to the Lord’s Prayer, this portion leads us to give thanks for what God gladly offers to us each time we eat and drink:  Jesus’ body “given for you,” and Jesus’ blood “shed for you for the forgiveness of sin.”  They are words we sing and say quite often.  They deserve some time and thought to think through them carefully so we get their full message...life...in the love of Christ...forever.

Lord, open my mind & my heart to fully receive what has entered my mouth...and may I be thankful.

Wednesday, October 16 – Eucharist = _ _ _ _ _ _ giving

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
      for his steadfast love endures forever.
                  –1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1 (NRSV)

Eucharist, one of the names for Holy Communion (Sacrament of the Altar & the Lord’s Supper are others), is the Greek word (through Latin) for thanksgiving.  Can we receive this gift without giving thanks to God for the steadfast, enduring love which continues to seek us out, wash us clean, nourish our weak souls, and send us out refreshed and restored?

While every time we receive Communion is not necessarily deeply moving, are we not a little awed when we think that Jesus is ‘leaving the building’ inside of us?  And what do we let him do in, with, and through us during the week?

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.          –Psalm 57:9; 108:3

Tuesday, October 15 – The Offering...from us

What shall I return to the LORD
      for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
      and call on the name of the LORD. –Psalm 116:12-13 (NIV2011)

Our offering of treasure, time, and talent is one tiny response to all the giving God has been doing since the beginning of creation.  God is the Great Giver and there is so much more God wants to give us.  The Meal represents the centerpiece of God’s giving.

What can we offer in response?  Maybe we can “lift up the cup of salvation...” receive gratefully the gift of Christ in bread and fruit of the vine and then take the offering prayer fully to heart:

Merciful God, everything in heaven and earth belongs to you.  We joyfully release what you have entrusted to us. May these gifts be signs of our whole lives returned to you, dedicated to the healing and unity of all creation, through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Monday, October 14 – The Offering...from God

"For God so loved the world that he gave ...     –John 3:16 (NRSV)

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?
                                                                –Romans 8:31-32 (NRSV)

The Offering is the first part of the Meal.  We usually think it’s just the collection of money...but it’s so much more...
God is offering to us...everything.  God has given creation to us.  God has given his Son to us.  God has given his love to us. 

What more is there to give?

(Contemplative prayer on that question...?)

The Meal: Food for Life!

We come to the table to eat and drink...but what exactly is it we are consuming?  What is happening here?  What is God up to?

Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 6:51-69

Lord, open my mind, heart, and spirit to the mystery of your presence.