Scripture and Prayer on Friday, February 5, 2021
Pastor David reads Mark 9:2-13 and offers a prayer from W.E.B. Du Bois:
Give us grace, O God, to dare to do the deed which we well know cries to be done. Let us not hesitate because of ease, or the words of men’s mouths, or our own lives. Mighty causes are calling us—the freeing of women, the training of children, the putting down of hate and murder and poverty—all these and more. But they call with voices that mean work and sacrifices and death. Mercifully grant us, O God, the spirit of Esther, that we say: I will go unto the King and if I perish, I perish.
Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Friday, February 5, 2021
Daily Scripture & Prayer from February 4, 2021
Scripture and Prayer on Thursday, February 4, 2021
Pastor David reads Mark 8:27-9:1 and offers a prayer from Howard Thurman:
Open unto me, light for my darkness
Open unto me, courage for my fear
Open unto me, hope for my despair
Open unto me, peace for my turmoil
Open unto me, joy for my sorrow
Open unto me, strength for my weakness
Open unto me, wisdom for my confusion
Open unto me, forgiveness for my sins
Open unto me, tenderness for my toughness
Open unto me, love for my hates
Open unto me, Thy Self for myself
Lord, Lord, open unto me!Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Thursday, February 4, 2021
Daily Scripture & Prayer from February 3, 2021
Scripture and Prayer on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Pastor David reads Mark 8:11-26 and offers a prayer from Mary McLeod Bethune, entitled “Symphony of Life”:
Father, we call Thee Father because we love Thee. We are glad to be called Thy children, and to dedicate our lives to the service that extends through willing hearts and hands to the betterment of all mankind. We send a cry of Thanksgiving for people of all races, creeds, classes, and colors the world over, and pray that through the instrumentality of our lives the spirit of peace, joy, fellowship, and brotherhood shall circle the world. We know that this world is filled with discordant notes, but help us, Father, to so unite our efforts that we may all join in one harmonious symphony for peace and brotherhood, justice, and equality of opportunity for all men. The tasks performed today with forgiveness for all our errors, we dedicate, dear Lord, to Thee. Grant us strength and courage and faith and humility sufficient for the tasks assigned to us.
Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Daily Scripture & Prayer from February 2, 2021
Scripture and Prayer on Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Pastor David reads Mark 8:1-10 and offers a prayer from Paul Laurence Dunbar:
O LORD, the hard-won miles
Have worn my stumbling feet:
Oh, soothe me with thy smiles,
And make my life complete.
The thorns were thick and keen
Where’er I trembling trod;
The way was long between
My wounded feet and God.
Where healing waters flow
Do thou my footsteps lead.
My heart is aching so;
Thy gracious balm I need.Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Black History Month
Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, a season when we remember important people and events in the history of African Americans. The first Black History Month was held in 1970 at Kent State University, but a week-long mid-February celebration of African-American history dates back to 1926. Why February? Because it’s the month when Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were born.
This year, let’s center African-American voices in our readings and reflections. I am challenging myself to read a book by Barbara Holmes entitled “Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church” (second edition). This book was published in 2017 and contains chapters that explore spiritual life during the time of slavery, congregational life in African-American churches, the fusion of contemplation and activism in the Black church, the role of Christian faith in the Black Lives Matter movement, and the contemplative presidency of Barack Obama. I have had this book on my shelf for a couple of years but have not gotten around to reading it yet. I’m going to make it a priority this month.
In our daily “Scripture and Prayer” videos this month, we will read historic and contemporary prayers written and/or spoken by African-Americans. In the past, almost all of the prayers I have shared in these videos have come from one specific book, which predominantly features European (white) people. But the world is much bigger than Europe, and we all need to hear the voices of those whose ancestry traces back to a different continent.
Why is this important to do? Because the voices of people like me are heard all the time. Because the voices of people different from me have been ignored (or misunderstood) by people like me for a long time. Because Black lives matter, Black voices matter, and Black prayers matter. Because sometimes (perhaps often!) the prayers of African-Americans speak to situations that people like me would never experience. Because people of color have much to teach me about God’s compassion, provision, and presence. Because I need to listen in order to understand and to appreciate and to be transformed.
Join me in centering Black voices this month.
Daily Scripture & Prayer from February 1, 2021
Scripture and Prayer on Monday, February 1, 2021
Pastor David reads Mark 7:24-37 and reads a poem from Langston Hughes entitled “I Dream a World”:
I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom’s way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head
And joy, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all mankind-
Of such I dream, my world!Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Monday, February 1, 2021