Morning Prayer, Friday before the Fourth Sunday in Lent — March 24, 2017

Opening

O Lord, open my lips,
     and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (Psalm 51:15)
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.

Invitatory

The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings. (Malachi 4:2)
Oh, come, let us worship and praise.

Psalm 95:1-7

Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving
     and raise a loud shout to the Lord with psalms.
For you, Lord, are a great God,
     and a great ruler above all gods.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
In your hand are the caverns of the earth;
     the heights of the hills are also yours.
The sea is yours, for you made it;
     and your hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Come, let us worship and bow down;
     let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
For the Lord is our God,
and we are the people of God’s pasture
and the sheep of God’s hand.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.

Invitatory

The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.
Oh, come, let us worship and praise.

Psalm 23

You restore my soul, O Lord,
    and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
    for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
    you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

Gracious God, you keep us safe in trying times. Provide for us with your overflowing love and send us your goodness and mercy. Open our hearts to reflect your generosity in welcoming others to our tables. Amen.

Song “Healer of our every ill” (ELW 612)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_CHcM2EmLs

Refrain
    Healer of our ev'ry ill,
    light of each tomorrow,
    give us peace beyond our fear,
    and hope beyond our sorrow.

1    You who know our fears and sadness,
    grace us with your peace and gladness;
    Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.  Refrain

2    In the pain and joy beholding
    how your grace is still unfolding,
    give us all your vision, God of love.  Refrain

3    Give us strength to love each other,
    ev'ry sister, ev'ry brother;
    Spirit of all kindness, be our guide.  Refrain

4    You who know each thought and feeling,
    teach us all your way of healing;
    Spirit of compassion, fill each heart.  Refrain


John 9:1-7
Jesus heals a man born blind, provoking a hostile reaction that Jesus regards as spiritual blindness to the things of God.

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. Jesus’s disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. But in order that God’s works might be manifest in him, we must work the works of the one who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When Jesus had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

The word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Reflection  “There is a balm in Gilead” (ELW 614)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fcMxI_6xsk

Refrain
    There is a balm in Gilead
    to make the wounded whole;
    there is a balm in Gilead
    to heal the sin-sick soul.

1  Sometimes I feel discouraged
    and think my work's in vain,
    but then the Holy Spirit
    revives my soul again.  Refrain

2  If you can't preach like Peter,
    if you can't pray like Paul,
    just tell the love of Jesus
    and say, "He died for all."  Refrain

3  Don't ever be discouraged,
    for Jesus is your friend;
    and if you lack for knowledge
    he'll ne'er refuse to lend.  Refrain

Scriptural Dialogue

One does not live by bread alone,
     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

Gospel Canticle “Song of Zechariah”

In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel,
     you have come to your people and set them free.
You have raised up for us a mighty Savior,
     born of the house of your servant David.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Through your holy prophets, you promised of old
     to save us from our enemies,
     from the hands of all who hate us,
to show mercy to our forebears,
     and to remember your holy covenant.
This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham:
     to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship you without fear, holy and righteous
     before you, all the days of our life.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
     for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give God's people knowledge of salvation
     by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
     and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Prayers

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us pray. We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all harm and danger. We ask that you would also protect us today from sin and all evil, so that our life and actions may please you. Into your hands we commend ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels be with us, so that the wicked foe may have no power over us. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

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 forever. Amen.

Blessing

May God who has called us forth from the dust of the earth, and claimed us as children of the light, strengthen you on your journey into life renewed. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor
and give you + peace. Amen.

Song "O mio babbino caro" ("O my beloved father”)
James Galway flute, with orchestra, performs soprano aria from Gianni Schicchi (1918) Giacomo Puccini, text: Giovacchino Forzano. The aria sung by Lauretta expresses single-hearted love in contrast with atmosphere of hypocrisy, jealousy, double-dealing, and feuding in medieval Florence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dngwx5CbMZM
A greeting of peace may be shared by all.

Copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS011448. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. “Healer of our every ill” (ELW 612) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_CHcM2EmLs Text: Marty Haugen © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc. “There is a balm in Gilead” (ELW 614) Text: African American spiritual https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fcMxI_6xsk "O mio babbino caro" ("O my beloved father”) from Gianni Schicchi (1918) Giacomo Puccini, text: Giovacchino Forzano; James Galway flute, with orchestra, performing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dngwx5CbMZM