Order of service http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/intro http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification mojoPortal Blog Module en-US 120 no Midday Prayer  My brothers and sisters, our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.
 
Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.

Silence

Let us worship the God of love.

Alleluia. Alleluia.

Psalm

The following psalm is said.

Wednesday - Trusting in God’s purpose

Dear God, your eternal word of love
endures for ever in the universe.
Your truth stands fast from one generation to another.
You have laid the foundations of the earth, and it abides.
In fulfilment of your purpose it continues to this very day,
for all things serve you.
If my delight had not been in your wisdom,
I should have perished in my trouble.
 
I shall never forget your truths,
for with them you have given me life.
I belong to you: save me;
for I have sought your counsel.
The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me,
but I will meditate on your law.
I see that all things come to an end,
but your commandment is exceeding broad.
(Psalm 119:89-96)

Reading

Silence may follow the reading.

Wednesday

As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:
through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching, hunger;
by purity, knowledge, forbearance,
kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God;
with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute.
We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
as unknown, and yet well known;
as dying, and behold we live;
as punished, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
(2 Corinthians 6:4-10)

Canticle

1   A Hymn for Midday

O God, creation’s secret force,
Thyself unmoved, all motion’s source;
Who, from the morn till evening’s ray,
Through all its changes guid’st the day.
 
Come, Holy Ghost, with God the Son,
And God the Father ever one;
Shed forth thy grace within our breast,
And dwell with us a ready guest.
 
By every power, by heart and tongue,
By act and deed thy praise be sung;
Inflame with perfect love each sense
That others’ souls may kindle thence.
 
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ thine only Son.
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.

2    St Patrick’s Breastplate

Verses may be selected

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity.
By invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
 
I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith,
Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation.
His bursting from the spiced tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.
 
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the star-lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s lifegiving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea around the old eternal rocks.
 
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch,
his might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide,
his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
 
Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
 
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
 
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
 
I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
the Three in One,
and One in Three,
 
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation:
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

3   Song to the Lord God - James K. Baxter

Lord God, you are above and beyond all things,
Your nature is to love,
You put us in the furnace of the world
To learn to love you and love one another.
Father, we sing to you in the furnace Like the three Jewish children.
The hope and the doom of the love of friends Is eating up the marrow of our bones.
Lord Christ, you are the house in whom we live,
The house in which we share the cup of peace,
The house of your body that was broken on the cross,
The house you have built for us beyond the stars.
Lord, Holy Spirit, beyond, within, above,
Beneath all things, you give us life.
Blaze in our hearts, you who are
Love himself, Till we shine like the noonday sun.
Lord God, we are the little children,
The feeble ones of the world.
Carry us for ever in your breast,
Lord God, Give us the power by love to be your holy ones.

4   The Song of the Women - T. S. Eliot

We praise thee, O God,
for thy glory displayed in all the creatures of the earth,
In the snow, in the rain, in the wind, in the storm;
in all of thy creatures, both the hunters and the hunted.
For all things exist only as seen by thee, only as known by thee,
all things exist Only in thy light,
and thy glory is declared even in that which denies thee;
the darkness declares the glory of light.
Those who deny thee could not deny,
if thou didst not exist; and their denial is never complete,
for if it were so, they would not exist.
They affirm thee in living; all things affirm thee in living;
the bird in the air, both the hawk and the finch;
the beast on the earth, both the wolf and the lamb.
Therefore we, whom thou hast made to be conscious of thee,
must consciously praise thee, in thought and in word and in deed.

 

Prayers

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Select one of the three sections, ending with the Collect for Midday and The Lord’s Prayer.

1 O God of many names,
lover of all peoples;
we pray for peace in our hearts and homes,
in our nations and our world;
the peace of your will,
the peace of our need.
 
Dear Christ, our friend and our guide,
pioneer through the shadow of death,
passing through darkness to make it light,
be our companion that we may fear no evil,
and bring us to life and to glory.
 
O God of peace and justice,
of holiness and love;
knit us together in mind and flesh,
in feeling and in spirit, and make us one,
ready for that great day;
the fulfilment of all our hopes,
and the glory of Jesus Christ.
 
Keep us in the spirit of joy and simplicity and mercy.
Bless us and those you have entrusted to us,
in and through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
Amen.

 

2 For the hungry and the overfed May we have enough.

For the mourners and the mockers May we laugh together.

For the victims and the oppressors May we share power wisely.

For the peacemakers and the warmongers May clear truth and stern love lead us to harmony.

For the silenced and the propagandists May we speak our own words in truth.

For the unemployed and the overworked May our impress on the earth be kindly and creative.

For the troubled and the sleek May we live together as wounded healers.

For the homeless and the cosseted May our homes be simple, warm and welcoming.

For the vibrant and the dying May we all die to live.

3

Let us be at peace within ourselves.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe

Silence

Let us accept that we are profoundly loved and need never be afraid.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe

Silence

Let us be aware of the source of being that is common to us all and to all living creatures.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe

Silence

Let us be filled with the presence of the great compassion towards ourselves and towards all living beings.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe

Silence

Realising that we are all nourished from the same source of life, may we so live that others be not deprived of air, food, water, shelter, or the chance to live.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe
 
Silence
 
Let us pray that we ourselves cease to be a cause of suffering to one another.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe

Silence

With humility let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on earth.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe

Silence

May God kindle in us the fire of love to bring us alive and give warmth to the world.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe
 

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth; lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust; lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.

Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe. Amen

COLLECT FOR MIDDAY

Blessed Saviour, at this hour you hung upon the cross,
stretching out your loving arms;
grant that all the peoples of the earth may be
drawn to your uplifted love; for your kingdom’s sake. Amen.

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Jesus, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray
 
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever.   
Amen.

Blessing

( deacon or layperson says ‘us’ instead of ‘you’.)
May the Creator bless you and keep you;
may the beloved companion face you and have mercy upon you;
may the eternal Spirit’s countenance be turned to you and give you peace;
may the Three in One bless you.

Silence

The service concludes

The divine Spirit dwells in us.

Thanks be to God.


gkestoor  ...]]>
http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/midday-prayer http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/midday-prayer http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/midday-prayer Wed, 01 Apr 2015 11:05:00 GMT
Monday N Gloomy Monday.

Yep it may be gloomy with even some rain in the air but still we will rejoice.

We need to remember that God gives us what we need in season. We have the complete body of Christ available to us. This body has different duties and parts. We have scholars, Carpenters and Leaders. Each with their purpose and drive. 

It links nicely with the reading of Sirach 38:24-34 for today.

 
Sirach 38:24-34
Scholars must have time to study if they are going to be wise; they must be relieved of other responsibilities. How can a farm hand gain knowledge, when his only ambition is to drive the oxen and make them work, when all he knows to talk about is livestock?  He takes great pains to plow a straight furrow and will work far into the night to feed the animals.  It is the same with the artist and the craftsman, who work night and day engraving precious stones, carefully working out new designs. They take great pains to produce a lifelike image, and will work far into the night to finish the work.  It is the same with the blacksmith at his anvil, planning what he will make from a piece of iron. The heat from the fire sears his skin as he sweats away at the forge. The clanging of the hammer deafens him as he carefully watches the object he is working take shape. He takes great pains to complete his task, and will work far into the night to bring it to perfection.  It is the same with the potter, sitting at his wheel and turning it with his feet, always concentrating on his work, concerned with how many objects he can produce.  He works the clay with his feet until he can shape it with his hands; then he takes great pains to glaze it properly, and will work far into the night to clean out the kiln.  All of these people are skilled with their hands, each of them an expert at his own craft.  Without such people there could be no cities; no one would live or visit where these services were not available.  These people are not sought out to serve on the public councils, and they never attain positions of great importance. They do not serve as judges, and they do not understand legal matters. They have no education and are not known for their wisdom. You never hear them quoting proverbs.  But the work they do holds this world together. When they do their work, it is the same as offering prayer.

Everyone has a task and needs to be skillful in it. You are who you are, through Christ who guide and strengthen you. Doing the job which you love. Even when you struggle or when you experience absolute joy in your achievements. That job of yours is not less than those of your brothers or sisters. Your job has a purpose which build this kingdom of God. Remember, cities are not build by Scholars or Presidents. They are build by people like you and me, carpenters, brick-layers, engineers, road workers, IT-people. 

This reading remind us that when you do your work, its the same as offering prayer.Through your work you too proclaim Gods peace and happiness.

Enjoy your work and let God reign in all you do.

Blessings and peace.


gkestoor  ...]]>
http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/monday-november-2014 http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/monday-november-2014 http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/monday-november-2014 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 07:42:00 GMT
Friday Morning Prayer Morning Prayer for Friday October 10th,  2014
In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Amen
 
Christ died for our sins once and for all:
Let us worship and praise him
 
Lord, open our lips
                That we may glorify and praise your name
 
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever
Amen
Praise the Lord, Alleluia
 
God
You call us to serve you with all the strength we have:
You are faithful to those you call:
May Jesus’ resurrection raise us if we stumble
the Christ-light beckon us if we lose our way
and we shall have strength once more
to walk with you to the cross
 
Psalm 32
Blessèd is he whose sin is forgiving:
                whose iniquity is put away.
Blessèd is the man to whom the Lord imputes no blame:
                and in whose spirit there is no guile.
For whilst I held my tongue:
                my bones wasted away with my daily complaining.
Your hand was heavy upon me day and night:
                and my moisture was dried up like a drought in the summer
Then I acknowledged my sin to you:
                and my iniquity I did not hide.
I said “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”:
and so you forgave the wickedness of my sin.
For this cause shall everyone that is faithful make his prayer to you in the day of trouble:
                and in the time of the great water-floods they shall not come near him.
You are a place to hide me in
you will preserve me from trouble:
you will surround me with deliverance on every side.
“I will instruct you
                and direct you in the way that you should go:
I will fasten my eye upon you and give you counsel.
“Be not like horse or mule that have no understanding:
                whose forward course must be curbed with bit or bridle.”
Great tribulations remain for the ungodly:
                But whoever puts his trust in the Lord
                                Mercy embraces him on every side.
Rejoice in the Lord you righteous and be glad:
                and shout for joy all you that are true of heart.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.
Amen
 
Psalm 23
 
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.
Amen
 Spend some time reflecting on the Psalm after reading it

 

Our first reading is from Micah 3:9 - 4:5
 
… here ends the first reading
 
Our second reading is from Acts 24:24 – 25:12
 
… here ends the second reading
 
After reflection we pray
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord;
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul and with all your might.
And these words which I command you this day
shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children;
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way,
and when you lie down and when you rise.
 
Your word is a lantern to my feet
                And a light to the path.
 
Let us pray
 
Our Father
 
Let us pray
 
Go before us, Lord, in all our doings
With your most gracious favour
And encourage us with your continual help
That in all our works
                Begun, continued and ended in you
We may glorify your holy Name
And finally, by your mercy
Obtain the fullness of eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 Amen
 
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God!

gkestoor  ...]]>
http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/friday-morning-prayer http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/friday-morning-prayer http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/friday-morning-prayer Fri, 10 Oct 2014 07:06:00 GMT
Thursday Devotion

Old Testament Reading

Micah 3:1-8 -
Rulers and Prophets Denounced
3  And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— 2  you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones,3  who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron. 4  Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. 5  Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. 6  Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; 7  the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. 8  But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.

Psalm 19 (20,21)

How clearly the sky reveals God's glory! How plainly it shows what he has done! Each day announces it to the following day; each night repeats it to the next. No speech or words are used, no sound is heard; yet their message goes out to all the world and is heard to the ends of the earth. God made a home in the sky for the sun;  it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom, like an athlete eager to run a race. It starts at one end of the sky and goes across to the other. Nothing can hide from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect; it gives new strength. The commands of the LORD are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it. The laws of the LORD are right, and those who obey them are happy. The commands of the LORD are just and give understanding to the mind.  Reverence for the LORD is good; it will continue forever. The judgments of the LORD are just; they are always fair. They are more desirable than the finest gold; they are sweeter than the purest honey.  They give knowledge to me, your servant; I am rewarded for obeying them.  None of us can see our own errors; deliver me, LORD, from hidden faults! Keep me safe, also, from willful sins; don't let them rule over me. Then I shall be perfect and free from the evil of sin. May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O LORD, my refuge and my redeemer!

New Testament Reading

Acts 24:1-23

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

24 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Paul Kept in Custody

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reflection

We read these readings with awe and wonder. Sometimes even with surprise on how it speaks to us directly. We are often reminded that we should read the Bible regularly and meditate on it. It will help with our development of the Quiet time we need and should make time for. We are reminded that we should always have God before us when we act with others. The Old Testament reading is speaking with fierce directness against the prophets who should know better and those who lead the people of God astray. We often will start pointing fingers at this point. We will claim that we are not prophets and we have nothing to do with leading the people of God astray. We will feel like that reading may not have anything to do with us. Our typical human response is "It wasn’t me!".

We all study the Bible and listen to the words of our preachers. We all interact with our neighbour and even share the word of God with our fellow servant on this road. I often wonder how many of us who like to claim that we are on a journey to Salvation are taking note of the bodies we leave in our wake. We like to sit and walk with confidence like the space we occupy is our own. The work we do belong to us. The ministry we serve is "My ministry". We at these times forgot that God make all these things possible.

The people we destroy and break down and insult with our righteous attitude completely forgotten!

Just pause and think of the decisions we made which will only benefit us and did not serve God. Take a moment to ponder on cased where we serve ourselves instead of God. Let’s think of time where we RULE in our house, work or church without any consultation from the Lord.

We read in the New Testament reading of Acts that the Pharisees and High-Priest went to the Governor of Palestine and laid a charge against Paul. They all agreed that Paul was a nuisance and that he was a follower of the Way. Their spokesperson spoke eloquently before the Governor. Paul responded with the facts. Detailing everything he has done and why. All these things could not be disputed by those who lay charges against him. This was before a Governor who know the Way intimately. 

Is it not always the case with us, the Rulers and Prophets of this age to lay false charges against one of our own and then get friends and cronies to agree with us? Today we really need to examine ourselves of the dark paths we sometimes roam - In private and often very public. We need to repent and return to the Way which Christ has directed us to. We have a cloud of witness and inspirational Spiritual leaders who can assist us in returning to the way of Christ. We only need to repent and study the word of God to keep us on that Way.

Psalm 19 tells us how wonderful God is. How his blessings are new every morning. How we can only but relax in the knowledge of his Greatness. We may falter and fail. We may sin and stray. But we can always return to the ever forgiving God who will help us grow and restore our relationship with him.

The journey we travel may not be smooth and without turn-offs and dead-ends, but it is a journey of discovery of the wonders which God promised through his Son.


 

Read and reflect on the word of God and remember to talk to you priest or Spiritual guide. They may even have experience some of the things we struggle with.

Amen.


gkestoor  ...]]>
http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/thursday-devotion gkestoor@gmail.com (gkestoor) http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/thursday-devotion http://www.stgeorgeskr.org.za/thursday-devotion Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:00:00 GMT