My Family Prayer Book

  2023-Aug-13: The 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time     1 Kings 19:9-18 Ahab was a ninth-century king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He married a Phoenician princess named Jezebel and joined her in worshipping Baal. Elijah appeared as the champion of the Lord (Yahweh), announcing a drought. Following the contest between Yahweh and Baal at Mt. Carmel, which the Lord won, Elijah orchestrated the slaughter of the prophets of Baal. Jezebel was displeased and sent word to Elijah that she was going to have him killed. He fled for his life, going into Judah, and so hopefully beyond Ahab and Jezebel’s reach. He travels forty days and nights through the wilderness until he reaches Mt. Horeb. There, Elijah has an encounter with God. As our text opens, Elijah is in a cave on Mt. Horeb. The “word of the Lord” (1 Kings 19:9b) comes to him. The Lord poses a question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” The short answer would be, “Running away from Jezebel,” God responds to Elijah’s answ...

2023-Aug-05: The transfiguration of our Lord     Opening prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together today to study your Word. Help us to find the true meaning of your mysteries. May your peace be in our hearts, your grace be in our thoughts, your love be in our words and your joy be in our souls. May your Spirit guide us, your words bring us your peace, your shield protect us, and your wisdom arm us, wherever you may lead us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 The prophet Daniel was a righteous man of princely lineage and lived about 620–538 B.C. He was carried off to Babylon in 605 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar, the Assyrian, but was still living when Assyria was overthrown by the Medes and Persians. The text, an apocalyptic dream, gives a physical description of God, a rare occurrence in the Old Testament. Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 provides a clear picture of the person of Jesus of Nazareth, particularly of his divine being. Second Daniel is set w...

 Prayers for Bible Study Prayer #1 Father, anoint us with your Holy Spirit, so that as we read your eternal word, your word may penetrate our whole being and transform us. Grant us the blessing to be a faithful disciples in believing the Word of God and that we may be a light shining upon all who are in darkness. Amen Prayer #2 Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking for your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. Help us to engage in meaningful discussion; allow us to grow closer as a group and nurture the bonds of this St Simon's faith community. Fill us with your grace, Lord God, as we make try to understand your mysteries. And continue to remind us that all that we do here today, all that we accomplish, is for the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of You, and for the service of humanity. We ask these things in your name, Amen. Prayer #3 We stand before you, Holy Spirit, conscious of our sinfulness, but aware that we gather in your name. Come to us, re...