Morning Prayer for 7.20.26

Here is a link to our liturgy: Morning Prayer 7.20.26, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, Sojourner Truth, Social Reformers, 1902, 1894 and 1883 | Daily Office Network

Transcript

SPEAKER_08 0:05

Good morning and welcome to morning prayer on the Daily Office Network. I am Tony Vitali and we are a community of Christians from several different faith traditions, several different countries, come together to pray morning prayer on a daily basis. We use the 1979 Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer. We highlight a news story and we mix an artwork. All are welcome here, where we do our best to exercise tolerance and decency with one another. If you'd like to view us later, you can search for our podcast by typing in Daily Office Network. We're on Apple and Spotify. And now morning prayer. Oh, no one anything except to love one another. For the one who loves another. I'm gonna mute a couple of you guys. Let's see. There you go. All right. Today's picture shows Lindsay Bloom. She's a senior at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. She grew up going to Hebrew school and attending the synagogue with an Israeli flag hanging near the front of the sanctuary. However, as she has sought to distance herself from Israel's government in recent years, she says she didn't know of other ways to engage with Jewish culture until she learned about Yiddish. I've definitely talked to quite a few people that just stopped engaging with their Judaism because they didn't know where to go, Bloom said. That was the case for me. Then I got into Yiddish. And I was like, oh, this is actually a lot better. I actually aligned with this a lot more. Bloom isn't alone. The language app Duolingo reported that as of this year, roughly 296,000 people around the world are studying the language with 10th century European roots. An estimated 60% of them are under 25 years old. Again, the photo above shows Francesca Rubenson on the left. She is manager of social justice at the Workers' Circle, a Jewish nonprofit in Manhattan. And her colleague, Yasha Geiner, Yiddish culture and social justice organizer at the Workers' Circle. They're exchanging ideas at Griner's Desk about their work on a college ambassador program. The photo by Nirvani Williams. Mother Gretchen, would you lead us in the inventory and this altar?

SPEAKER_02 2:48

Lord, open our lips.

SPEAKER_08 2:51

And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

SPEAKER_02 2:54

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. Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_00 3:06

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 to the Lord a shout with song. For you are a great God. You are great above all God. In your hand are the caverns of the earth, and the heights of the hills are yours also. The sea is yours, for you made it, and your hands have moulded the dry land. Come, let us bow down and bend the knee and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For you are our God, and we are the people of your pasture, and the sheep of your hand. Oh, that today we would hearken to your voice.

SPEAKER_08 4:14

Thank you very much. Our psalms today are forty-one and fifty-two. Let's see. Sarah and would you share the psalms this morning?

SPEAKER_05 4:36

Happy are they who consider the poor and needy.

SPEAKER_10 4:50

The Lord does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.

SPEAKER_05 4:56

The Lord sustains them on their sick bed and ministers to them in their illness.

SPEAKER_10 5:03

I said, Lord be merciful to me, heal me, for I have sinned against you.

SPEAKER_05 5:12

My enemies are saying wicked things about me and asking when I will die and when my name will perish.

SPEAKER_10 5:22

Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words, their heart collects false rumors, they go outside and spread them.

SPEAKER_05 5:32

All my enemies whisper together about me and devise evil against me.

SPEAKER_10 5:39

They say a deadly thing has fastened on me that I have taken to my bed and will never get up again.

SPEAKER_05 5:48

Even my best friend, whom I trusted, who broke bread with me, has scorned me and turned against me.

SPEAKER_10 5:57

But you, O Lord, be merciful to me and raise me up, and I shall repay them.

SPEAKER_05 6:05

By this I know you are pleased with me, that my enemy does not triumph over me.

SPEAKER_10 6:13

In my integrity you hold me fast and shall set me before your face forever.

SPEAKER_05 6:22

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from age to age. Amen.

SPEAKER_10 6:29

Psalm fifty two. You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness against the godly all day long?

SPEAKER_05 6:38

You plot ruin, your tongue is like a sharpened razor, O worker of deception.

SPEAKER_10 6:46

You love evil more than good and lying more than speaking the truth.

SPEAKER_05 6:53

You love all words that hurt, O you deceitful tongue.

SPEAKER_10 6:58

Oh that God would demolish you utterly, topple you and snatch you from your dwelling, and root you out of the land of the living. The righteous shall see and tremble, and they shall laugh at you, saying, This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, but trusted in great wealth and relied upon wickedness.

SPEAKER_05 7:26

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, and that I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

SPEAKER_10 7:35

I will give you thanks for what you have done, and declare the goodness of your name in the presence of the godly.

SPEAKER_05 7:46

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.

unknown 7:57

Amen.

SPEAKER_08 7:59

Thank you very much. Our painting today comes from the Revolutionary War. John Trumbull, who was born in 1756, died in 1843, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He also became a painter. They called him the painter of the revolution. And this is not, if it was today's world, he would be the battle of AI. But in this case, it's the battle of Ai. And Morgan, would you read for us from the Old Testament?

SPEAKER_01 8:34

But the Israelites broke faith in regard to the devoted things. A Khan, son of Carme, son of Zabdi, son of Zarah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the Israelites. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai. Then they returned to Joshua and said to him, Not all the people need go up. About two or three thousand men should go up and attack Ai. Since they are so few, do not make the whole people toil up there. So about three thousand of the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai. The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, chasing them from outside the gate as far as Shabaran and killing them on the slope. The hearts of the people melted and turned to water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening. He and the elders of Israel, they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, Ah, Lord God, why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all to hand us over to the Amorites so as to destroy us? Would that we had been content to settle beyond the Jordan? Lord, what can I say now that Israel has turned their backs to their enemies, the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and surround us and cut off our name from the earth? Then what will you do for your great name? The Lord said to Joshua, Stand up. Why have you fallen upon your face? Israel has sinned. They have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things, they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, they have put them among their own belongings. Therefore, the Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies. They turn their backs to their enemies because they have become a thing devoted for destruction themselves. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Proceed to sanctify the people and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, there are devoted things among you, O Israel. You will be unable to stand before your enemies until you take the devoted things from among you. The word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_08 11:20

Our first canticle is from the first song of Isaiah, 12 verses 2 to 6. And there's Scotty. Would you chant for us, please?

SPEAKER_11 11:31

Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be my savior. Therefore, you shall draw water with rejoicing from the springs of salvation. And on that day you shall say, Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name. Make his deeds known among the peoples. See that they remember that his name is exalted. Sing the presence of the Lord, for he has done great things, and this is known in all the world. Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, for the great one in the midst of you is the holy one of Israel. 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_08 13:03

Thank you very much. This is one of my favorite memes. I actually use this as a Facebook profile picture for a while. Love God, love your neighbors, change the world. I just think this is so powerful. Our next reading is from Paul's letter to the church in Rome. And you'll pardon me, it's one of my particular things that we often say to the Romans. And we've asked Wendy today if you would read the epistle for us.

SPEAKER_12 13:42

Owe no one anything except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet. And any other commandments are summed up in this word love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know that time is now. What time it is. How it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than it was before the believers became believers. The night is gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify the desires. The word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_08 15:06

And now we go from the Old Testament to the very end of the Bible for our next canticle from Revelation. Scotty, please.

SPEAKER_11 15:15

O ruler of the universe, Lord God, great deeds are they that you have done, surpassing human understanding. Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, O King of all the ages. Who can fail to do you homage, Lord, and sing the praises of your name? For you only are the Holy One. All nations will draw near and fall down before you, because your just and holy works have been revealed. 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.

unknown 16:08

Amen.

SPEAKER_08 16:09

Thank you so much. Our picture to me looks like it was taken off of a fresco wall. I might be wrong. If Miss Jan were with us, I'm sure she would be giving us the background on it right now. But this is Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Deacon Marge, please.

SPEAKER_09 16:29

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, Sit here while I go over there and pray. He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, I am deeply grieved, even to death. Remain here and stay awake with me. And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass for me. Yet not what I want, but what you want. Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, So could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, he went away for the second time and prayed, My father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand. The word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_08 18:07

Thanks be to God. Now the apostles creed. Susan, you're out, please.

SPEAKER_13 18:14

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.

SPEAKER_08 19:03

Amen. Now the prayers. Katrina Soto, would you join us for that, please? The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_03 19:16

The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_08 19:18

And also with you.

SPEAKER_03 19:19

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 a time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_08 19:58

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.

SPEAKER_03 20:01

Govern and uphold them now and always.

SPEAKER_08 20:05

Day by day we bless you.

SPEAKER_03 20:07

We praise your name forever.

SPEAKER_08 20:10

Lord, keep us from all sin today.

SPEAKER_03 20:13

Have mercy on us, Lord. Have mercy.

SPEAKER_08 20:16

Lord, show us your love and mercy.

SPEAKER_03 20:19

For we put our trust in you.

SPEAKER_08 20:22

You, Lord, is our hope.

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And we shall never hope in vain.

SPEAKER_08 20:29

And I have to admit I forgot to name our three saints of the day, but this is one of them. This is Amelia Bloomer. She's best known for women's dress reform. She was active in the temperance, abolitionists, and women's rights movements all her life because she was a disciple of Jesus Christ. Male clergy attacked her from the pulpit for wearing Turkish trousers based on an Old Testament verse. She fired back. It matters not what Moses had to say to the men and women of his time about what they should wear. If clergy really cared about what Moses said about clothes, they would all put fringes and blue ribbons on their garments. The other two, Elizabeth Caden Stanton and Sojourner Truth.

SPEAKER_07 21:33

Oh God, whose spirit guides us into all truth and makes us free. Strengthen and sustain us as you did your servants Elizabeth, Amelia, and Sojourner. Give us vision and courage to stand against oppression and injustice and all that works against the glorious liberty to which you call all of your children through Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior, who lives and reigns. With you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the night from the day and turns the shadow of death into the morning. Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace, that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Dear Lord Jesus, help me to do the things that I should, to be to others kind and good, and all that I do or say grow more loving every day.

SPEAKER_08 22:47

And now our morning, Monday morning prayer list. We continue to pray for the continued health and well-being of the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Sean Rowe, the primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Shane Parker, and the Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies, Philip Wright of Belize. Let us continue to pray for those immigrants to our country who are being persecuted and pursued by ICE. For Josh Thomas, living in a skilled nursing facility for his continued improvement from a stroke. For Ian and his struggles with mental health, for Carmen and her health challenges, and for divine healing. That's Gordon's wife. For Dawn with herniated discs and severe pain in her back. For Miss Jan for provision and employment. For Patricia, for healing and a relief of pain. Please continue to pray for Yvonne Arivan, who's been fighting cancer for over seven years. Linda Barry, would you lead us in a collect? And Father Michael, would you uh give us our final blessing?

SPEAKER_04 24:04

Ever living God, whose will it is that all should come to know you through your Son Jesus Christ, inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_06 24:25

Let us bless the Lord.

SPEAKER_04 24:27

Thanks be to God.

SPEAKER_06 24:29

Glory to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

SPEAKER_08 24:51

They chop it right off at the end. Don't even let the last note call up those people and let's see what's going on. That's quite for morning prayer. Thank you for joining us this morning and helping me along here. This is morning prayer for Monday, July the 20th, 2026. And uh Sarah, would you have said, you know what you have to say.

SPEAKER_05 25:18

I do. For all those who joined us here this morning, and all those who will join us later in the day. Pace bene, peace and all good.

SPEAKER_08 25:32

Thank you all. And I'm gonna press the stop record button, or actually, Father.