Nepsis

Category: Time to Pray

  • Colossians 1 15–28

    (the beloved Son)
    who is the image
    of the invisible god,
    first-born of all creation
    because in him everything was created:
    all things in heaven and upon the earth,
    visible things and invisible things whether
    enthroned or
    powers or
    rulers or
    authorities
    all things through him and for him
    have been created.


    and he himself is before all things
    and everything in him
    holds together.

    And he himself is the head
    of his body, the church,

    in that he is the beginning
    the first-born from the dead people,
    in order that he may become in all things, himself, first.
    because
    in him
    all the fullness of God
    was well pleased
    to dwell
    and through him
    reconcile everything to Him (God),
    making peace
    through the blood of his cross-
    whether things upon the earth
    or things in the heavens.

    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
    Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
    Where there is injury, pardon;
    Where there is discord, union;
    Where there is doubt, faith;
    Where there is despair, hope;
    Where there is darkness, light;
    Where there is sadness, joy,
    For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen

  • Genesis 18.1-10a

    The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 

    He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

    They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

    And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him…

    O Lord Jesus Christ,
    stay beside me to defend me,
    within me to guide me,
    before me to lead me,
    and above me to bless me,
    that with you and in you,
    I may live, and move and have my being,
    for ever and ever.
    Amen.

    (unknown)

  • 1 Corinthians 16 13-24

    Be alert,
    Stand firm in the Faith,
    Show grown-up courage,
    Be strong,
    All the things you do, do in love.

    I ask you,
    sisters/brothers –
    you know the household of Stephanus,
    that it is a first-fruit in Archaia
    and that they have devoted themselves
    to the service of the ‘holy ones’
    – so you be subject to these ones
    and to everyone who cooperates (with them?)
    and works hard.

    Moreover I am delighted
    over the coming of Stephanus
    and Fortunatus
    and Achaicus,
    because
    they make up for (my) want of you.
    For they refreshed my spirit and yours.
    So, recognise such people.

    The churches of Asia greet you.
    Aquila and Prisca,
    together with the church that meets in their house
    greet you warmly in the Lord.
    All the brothers/sisters greet you.
    Greet one another with a holy kiss.

    This greeting, in my hand, Paul.
    If someone does not love the Lord
    let them be accursed.
    ‘Maranatha’ – Our Lord, come!
    The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
    My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

    O Lord, in whom is our hope,
    remove far from us, we pray thee,
    empty hopes and presumptuous confidence.
    Make our hearts so right with thy most holy and loving heart,
    that hoping in thee we may do good;
    until that day when faith and hope
    shall be abolished by sight and possession,
    and love shall be all in all.

    Christina Rossetti (1830-94)

  • 1 Corinthians 16 10-12

    Now whenever Timothy comes,
    see to it
    that there is nothing to fear
    among you;
    for he is doing the work of the Lord,
    as I do too.
    Let no one treat him with contempt,
    but send him on his way in peace,
    so that he might come to me.
    For I am expecting him with the brothers.

    Regarding Apollos the brother,
    I strongly encouraged him,
    that he might come to you with the brothers,
    but by no means was it his desire to come now.
    But he will come when he has time.

    Eternal God and Father,
    you create us by your power,
    and redeem us by your love,
    guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
    that we may give ourselves in love and service
    to one another and to you;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Amen

  • 1 Corinthians 16 5-9

    Map

    So I will come to you when I have gone through Macedonia,
    for I am going through Macedonia,
    but perhaps I will stay with you
    or spend the winter,
    so that you might send me off (with help),
    to wherever place I might go.
    For I do not want
    to see you now
    in passing;
    for I hope to remain for some time
    with you
    if the Lord allows.


    But I will remain in Ephesus
    until Pentecost.
    For a door stands open to me –
    great and effective
    – yet opposed by many.

    Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth,
    in a serious seeking after thee,
    and in an affectionate walking with thee,
    every day of our lives;
    that when thou comest,
    we may be found not hiding our talent,
    nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
    but waiting and longing for our Lord,
    our glorious King, for ever and ever.

    Richard Baxter (1615-1691)

  • 1 Corinthians 16 1-4

    Now about the collection for the ‘holy ones’
    just as I have directed the Galatian churches
    so also you should do.

    On every first day of the week
    each of you
    should set aside (something)
    in accordance to how they fare
    storing it up
    so that whenever I come
    collections will not be happening.

    Then when I arrive,
    those whom you approve,
    by letters [of authorisatio]
    I will send (these ones)
    to take your gift
    to Jerusalem.

    And if my going is fitting
    they may go with me.

    Lord God,
    you feed us with the living bread from heaven;
    you renew our faith,
    increase our hope,
    and strengthen our love.

    Teach us to hunger
    for Christ who is the true and living bread,
    and to live by every word
    that comes from your mouth,
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Amen.

  • 1 Corinthians 15 54-58

    And when this body which can wear out
    is clothed with what cannot wear out
    and this body which dies
    puts on what never die,
    then the word which is written will be fulfilled:
    Death is swallowed up into victory,
    Where Death, is your victory,?
    Where Death, is your sting    ?

    Now the sting of Death is Sin.
    And the power of Sin is the Law.

    But thanks be to God
    who gives us the victory
    through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

    So then, beloved sisters /brothers
    come to be firm
    immovable,
    always abounding in the work of the Lord
    knowing that your work is not in vain
    in the Lord.

    Eternal Light, shine into our hearts;
    Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil;
    Eternal Power, be our support;
    Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance:
    That we may seek your face
    with all our heart and mind and soul and strength. Amen.

    Alcuin

  • 1 Corinthians 15 50-53

    So, I affirm (all) this, brothers/ sisters:
    (i.e. )
    Flesh and blood cannot receive the kingdom of God.
    no r does what wear out inherit what cannot wear out.


    Look –
    a mystery I am telling you.
    We will not all die
    but (we) all will be changed
    – in a moment,
    in the blink of an eye
    at the last trumpet,
    for (the trumpet) will sound
    and the dead people will be raised enduring
    and we shall be changed.

    For it is necessary that this (body) which wears out
    be clothed with what cannot wear out
    and this (body) that dies
    puts on what never dies…

    God, give me grace to accept with serenity
    the things that cannot be changed,
    Courage to change the things
    which should be changed,
    and the Wisdom to distinguish
    the one from the other.

    Living one day at a time,
    Enjoying one moment at a time,
    Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
    Taking, as Jesus did,
    This sinful world as it is,
    Not as I would have it,
    Trusting that You will make all things right,
    If I surrender to Your will,
    So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
    And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

    Amen.God, give me grace to accept with serenity
    the things that cannot be changed,
    Courage to change the things
    which should be changed,
    and the Wisdom to distinguish
    the one from the other.

    Living one day at a time,
    Enjoying one moment at a time,
    Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
    Taking, as Jesus did,
    This sinful world as it is,
    Not as I would have it,
    Trusting that You will make all things right,
    If I surrender to Your will,
    So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
    And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

    Amen.

  • 1 Corinthians 15 46-49

    But not the first
    was the one of the Spirit
    but the one of nature
    then the one of the Spirit.
    The first human came from the earth,
    the second human is from heaven.

    Like the one from the earth,
    so are these from the earth.
    and like the one from heaven,
    so are these from heaven.

    and as we have worn the image of the one from the earth,
    so we will bear the image of the one from heaven.

    Eternal Light, shine into our hearts,
    Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil,
    Eternal Power, be our support,
    Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance,
    Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us;
    that with all our heart and mind
    and soul and strength we may seek thy face
    and be brought by thine infinite mercy
    to thy holy presence;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    Alcuin (735-804)

  • 1 Corinthians 15 42-45

    So also the resurrection of the dead people,
    It is sown as something decaying
    it is raised something ‘full of life’
    It is sown as something in humiliation
    it is raised something glorious,
    It is sown as something in weakness
    it is raised as something powerful.
    It is sown a body animated by natural life
    is it raised a body animated by the Spirit.
    Since there is a body (for this world) of nature
    there is also a body (for the world-to-come) of the Spirit.
    So also it is written:
    ‘The first man, Adam, became a living person1,
    The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

    1. Genesis 2:7 ↩︎

    Lord, you have given me so much,
    I ask for one more thing –
    a grateful heart.

    George Herbert