Morning Prayer for Wednesday 4.29.26

Morning Prayer 4.29.26, Catherine of Siena, Mystic and Prophetic Witness, 1380 | Daily Office Network

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Good morning and welcome. I'm Father Tom Royd, the Vicar of the Daily Office Network. I'm an ordained priest in the Diocese of Minnesota. The Daily Office Network is a community of Christians who gather together on a daily basis Monday through Friday to play pray morning prayer live. We come from several different faith traditions in several different countries. We use the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer as our guide. We mix in artwork, a news story, and we usually have a video at the end. All are welcome here where we do our best to exercise tolerance and decency with one another. Now let's settle in and begin morning prayer. Today is the 29th of April, 2026. Just two days left in the month of April. In the life of the church, our saint is Catherine of Siena, a mystic and a prophetic witness who died in the year 1380. The Daily Office Network is podcasting. You can find us on Apple or Spotify by searching the keywords Daily Office Network. Let's begin. But the Lord said, You cannot see my face, or no one shall see my face and live. Photograph of folks in worship looking up towards the altar. In Las Cruz this is New Mexico, a city that's more than 60% Latino. Only a few Protestant churches offer Spanish language worship services. When last December St. James Episcopal Church began engaging in Latino outreach. Its attendance went from 70 members to over 150 members, including pledging families with small children. Several of St. James's new members, excuse me, who were recently baptized, are in the process of becoming confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Attendance and membership continue to grow. The growth started with casual conversations in the Latino community, said the Reverend Peter Schmidt, who became St. James's rector in December. Last month, St. James began holding Sunday afternoon worship services in Spanish, which Schmidt said are growing in attendance every week. Schmidt has also added that the Spanish gospel readings into the church bulletin, and he now recites the Eucharistic prayers in both English and Spanish during the two Sunday morning worship services. Inclusivity and maintaining tradition. That's the Episcopal Church. Everything old has passed away. See? Everything has become new. Addie, would you lead us in the inventory in the Psalter?

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Lord, open our lips.

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And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

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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. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin once for all. But the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God and Jesus Christ our Lord. Hallelujah. Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep. But since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

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Thank you, Abdie. Our psalm appointed for this morning is a portion of Psalm number 119, 23 verses 49 through 72. I'm going to ask Jacqueline and Jill to lead our psalm this morning. Jacqueline, would you start?

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Remember your word to your servant, because you have given me hope.

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This is my comfort in my trouble that your promise gives me life.

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The proud have derided me cruelly, but I have not turned from your law.

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When I remember your judgments of old, O Lord, I take great comfort.

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I am filled with the burning rage because of the wicked who forsake your law.

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Your statutes have been like songs to me, wherever I have lived as a stranger.

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I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and dwell upon your law.

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This is how it has been with me, because I have kept your commandments.

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You only are my portion, O Lord. I have promised to keep your words.

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I entreat you with all my heart. Be merciful to me according to your promise.

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I have considered my ways and turned my feet toward your decrees.

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I hasten and do not tarry to keep your commandments.

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Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, I do not forget your law.

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At midnight I will rise to give you thanks because of your righteous judgments.

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I am a companion of all who fear you and of those who keep your commandments.

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The earth, O Lord, is full of your love. Instruct me in your statutes.

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O Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant according to your word.

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Teach me discernment and knowledge, for I have believed in your commandments.

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Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

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You are good and you bring forth good. Instruct me in your statutes.

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The proud have smeared me with lies, but I will keep your commandment with my whole heart.

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Their heart is gross and fat, but my delight is in your law.

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It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

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The law of your mouth is dearer to me than thousands in gold and silver.

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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.

SPEAKER_00 8:18

Amen. Thank you, Jill and Jacqueline. That was a great reading. Moses with his face veiled. Our first reading comes from Exodus chapter 33, verses 1 through 23. Chad, would you lead this?

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The Lord said to Moses, Go, leave this place, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, To your descendants I will give it. I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go up among you, or I will consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. When the Lord when the people heard these harsh words, they mourned, and no one put on ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, You are a stiff-necked people. If for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do to you. Therefore the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward. Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp. And he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would arise and stand, each of them at the entrance of their tents, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of clouds standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise and bow down, all of them at the entrance of their tent. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face as one speaks to a friend. Then he would return to the camp, but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, would not leave the tent. Moses said to the Lord, See, you have said to me, Bring this people up, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight. Now, if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people. He said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. And he said to him, If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your side, I and your people, unless you go with us. In this way we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth. The Lord said to Moses, I will do the very thing that you have asked, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name. Moses said, Show me your glory, I pray. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name of the Lord, and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But he said, You cannot see my face, for no one shall see me and live. And the Lord continued, See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by, I will put you in the cliff of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by, and I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen. The word of the Lord.

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Thanks be to God. Thank you, Chad. Our first canticle is a song of Ezekiel. Mother Angel, would you lead this?

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I will take you from among all nations and gather you from all lands to bring you home. I will sprinkle clean water upon you and purify you from false gods and uncleanness. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit put within you. I will take the stone heart from your chest and give you my heart of flesh. I will help you walk in my laws and cherish my commandments and do them. You shall be my people, and I will be your God.

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Thank you, Mother and Joe. Paul and Silas are flogged at Philippi. Shamefully mistreated. Paul, would you lead this?

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You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare you to the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know, and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext of greed, nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters. You worked night and day so that we might not burden only so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaim to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct towards you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. The word of the Lord.

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Thanks be to God. Thank you, Paul. Mother Angel.

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Behold, I am coming soon, says the Lord, and bringing everyone with me to give to everyone according to their deeds. I am the elephant and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessing among those who do God's commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, lent me into the city through the gates. I am the root and the offspring of David. I am the bright morning sun. Come say the spirit and the bride. Come let you change. Come forward you on a Thursday. Let those who desire to make the water of life as I gift.

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Thank you, Mother Angel. Another depiction of the Sermon on the Mount. Deacon Diana, would you lead this one?

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Jesus said, Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The word of the Lord.

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Thank you, Deacon. And now the Apostles' Creed. Carol, would you lead us in the creed?

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I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again, he ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

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Amen. Thank you, Carol. And now the prayers begin with our Lord's Prayer. Robert, would you lead us in the Lord's Prayer and then we'll read the suffrages?

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The Lord be with you.

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And also with you.

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Let us pray. 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.

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Show us your mercy, O Lord.

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And grant us your salvation.

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Clothe your ministers with righteousness.

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Let your people sing with joy.

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Give peace, O Lord, in all the world.

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For only in you can we live in safety.

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Lord, keep our nations under your care.

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And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

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Let your way be known upon earth.

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You're saving health among all nations.

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Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten.

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Nor the hope of The poor be taken away.

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Create in us clean hearts, O God.

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And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

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Thank you, Robert. This is a depiction of our saint of the day, Catherine of Sina. This is by Pompeo Baton from 1743. It's the ecstasy of Saint Catherine of Sina. She was a Dominican nun and a theologian. She was the author of 400 letters that are still in existence today, who received her first mystical vision at the age of six. In times she reportedly levitated, much to the chagrin of the other sisters who couldn't understand that this showing wasn't to glorify her, but to teach them and us. Pompano Baton in 1743. And it looks like I've got some extra stuff on here, too. So let me continue with that. She was a Dominican nun, a nurse, a theologian, a diplomat, a mystic, and she received her first vision at the age of 19. She underwent a mystical marriage with Christ in which he fed her communion himself. She was constantly opposed by her order, which had her examine her heresy, but in time she began to exert a wide influence rare for a woman over church affairs, advocating for the reunification of the papacy between a Vignan and Rome, reform and the clergy, and better administration. Over 300 of her letters survive, as well as dialogue between a rising soul and God. A collect on racism and injustice, a collect for grace and a collect for joy in God's creation. Deacon Elizabeth, would you lead us in these four prayers?

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Sure. Kindle the flame of holy love in our hearts, O God, that we, being strengthened by the example of your servant Catherine of Siena, may dedicate ourselves to the service of the poor and the sick, and to the and to pe and to the peace and unity of your church. Grant that with her we also may share in the mystery of Christ's death and rejoice in the revelation of his glory, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Help us to see with new eyes the injustices within church and society. Call us to have a loving heart that respects and uplives the humanity and dignity of every person. Open our ears to listen and learn from the experiences of people whose skin is different from ours. Open our mouths to speak up about injustices. Join us with others to work for racial, equity, and inclusion for all people. Amen. Lord God Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us into in savity to this new day. Preserve us with your mighty power that we may not fall into sin, not be overcome by adversity, and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Amen. And our picture for joy in God's creation was sent in by Katrina Soto from our late service. This is Katrina's orchids in bloom. Katrina said that these are in the side patio at her home in Dana Point, California, and that they only water them. God handles the rest. Evidently her husband bought them years ago at a garage sale. And they are still growing and growing strong, beautiful. Go ahead, Deacon.

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O Heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty. Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works, that rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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Amen. Thank you, Elizabeth. One look back at the orchids in bloom. Wow. And now our Wednesday morning prayer list for healing of body, mind, and soul. We pray for the essential workers in our world. Continuing prayers for our founding vicar, Josh Thomas, in a skilled nursing facility after a stroke. Pray for healing for Sarah Hartzell. She's from our late service. She fell last Thursday and faceplanted on concrete, broke her nose and has some facial damage, and she's been in the hospital for about four days. They released her yesterday, I believe. Prayers for healing for Deacon Leilani and her many health challenges. Prayers for Tracy Kay, who is awaiting a transplant. Pray for Andrea with a brain tumor. She's been undergoing physical and occupational therapy. Pray for her healing. Prayers for Beth and Jim. Jim is losing his eyesight. Addie and her husband Anthony. We're praying for their continued health and well-being. Stephen, Paul, Danielle, Alexis, Peter, Jerry G, Robbie, and Zachary all have cancer. Pray for all of those who have cancer. Don and Cheryl Lee are going through dementia. Prayers for Don and Cheryl Lee and all who have to go through that. Pray for Patricia for her continued strength and wellness. She's in an assisted living facility. And pray for all of those who are in hospice or comfort care. On Wednesday, we also pray for all of the caregivers, and there are many, but we just name a few. Prayers for Jan, Marianne, Cheryl, Beth, Judith, Tina, Morgan, Pam, and Mark. Patricia, would you lead this and then I'll bless the Lord and bless us?

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Almighty and everlasting God, by whose spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified. Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

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Thanks be to God. Hallelujah, alleluia.

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Life is short, and we don't have much time to gladden the hearts of those that make this journey with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind. May the blessing of the God of Abraham and Sarah, and of Jesus Christ, born of our sister Mary, and of the Holy Spirit who broods over the world as a mother over her children be upon you now and remain with you always. Amen. That is morning prayer on this Wednesday. Thank you for coming to pray today. Wherever you go, take that love of Jesus that lives inside of you, that Jesus that's in your heart. Share that Jesus with the world. Show that Jesus to the world. Hope to see you back with us tomorrow.