Category: Daily Prayer

Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain By Li Po (China, 701-762)  The birds have vanished down the sky. Now the last cloud drains away.  We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains.  [translated by Sam Hamill]  Good evening and welcome to Evening Prayer That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful, let us...

I was passionate, filled with longing, I searched far and wide. But the day that the Truthful One found me, I was at home. by Lal Ded (Kashmir, 14th century) [translated by Jane Hirshfield]  Good morning and welcome to Morning Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with...

The Props assist the House By Emily Dickinson  Until the House is built And then the Props withdraw And adequate, erect, The House support itself And cease to recollect The Auger and the Carpenter— Just such a retrospect Hath the perfected Life— A past of Plank and Nail And slowness—then the Scaffolds drop Affirming it a...

IF  by Rudyard Kipling  If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in...

Good evening everyone.  Welcome to Friday evening’s prayers. 1 week from Christmas!  I don’t know about you, but I have found that, despite so much of my life being different this year from any other December I can remember, the days of Advent seemed to have passed very quickly. I notice that, on the radio and...

Good morning to you all joining us to welcome this fresh Friday with prayer. O Lord, who lights our way in the early morning darkness, thank you for this brand-new day. Open our eyes to the beauty of this life, open our ears to the cries of those in need and open our mouths with words...

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son...

God Prepares the Way for Salvation There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. John 1: 6–8 NIV® Elizabeth and Zechariah...

The great sea frees me, moves me, as a strong river carries a weed. Earth and her strong winds move me, take me away, and my soul is swept up in joy. Uvavnuk (Iglulik Eskimo, 19th century) translated by Jane Hirshfield Good evening and welcome to Evening Prayers That this evening may be holy, good and...

Good morning, good people. Third week of Advent, so we are speeding our way to Christmas. I don’t know about you, but the time is rolling by so quickly and there seem to be so much to do before we get to Christmas. It will be good for us all to have a short period quietly...

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do...

Solitude by Ella Wheeler Scott  Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone; For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own. Sing, and the hills will answer; Sigh, it is lost on the air; The echoes bound to a joyful sound, But shrink from...

Love is Reckless By Rumi  Love is reckless; not reason. Reason seeks a profit. Love comes on strong, consuming herself, unabashed. Yet, in the midst of suffering, Love proceeds like a millstone, hard surfaced and straightforward. Having died to self-interest, she risks everything and asks for nothing. Love gambles away every gift God bestows. .. Translated...

Prayer of the Farm Worker’s Struggle By  César Chávez Show me the suffering of the most miserable; So I will know my people’s plight. Free me to pray for others; For you are present in every person. Help me take responsibility for my own life; So that I can be free at last. Grant me courage...