In Our Hand
I. Readings
Psalms 84, 150, 42, 32
Exodus 3:16-4:12
Romans 12:1-21
John 8:46-59
II. Selections
Psalm 84:12
O LORD of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.
Exodus 4:2
The LORD said to [Moses], “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”
Romans 12:12-13
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
John 8:53
“…Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?” [The Jews who had believed in him, to Jesus]
III. Meditation
O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone
who trusts in you.
We have no idea what power resides
in the things you have placed in our hand.
Through Abraham and Moses you accomplished wonders,
but we follow one far greater than Abraham or Moses.
Teach us to use what we have received from you,
what we hold in our hand.
Teach us to rejoice in hope, to be patient in suffering,
to persevere in prayer.
Make us generous in our giving and in our hospitality.
Make us happy as we trust in you.
Meditations inspired by readings from the Daily Lectionary as found in the Mission Yearbook of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Elmer E. Ewing
- I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.
"Elijah" - A bronze sculpture by a friend, the late Reverend Gurdon Brewster. Click on the image to see more of his sculptures.
Archives
Samples from the archives
- 3/19/18 Remedy for Hubris--A Child Could Do It
- 2/25/14 Unbind me, Jesus
- 10/26/13 Refreshing hearts, in Christ
- 8/9/13 When things I do displease you, God
- 2/7/13 Freed, saved, gathered in
- 1/1/13 For a joy that is complete
- 11/20/12 Though the fig tree does not blossom
- 11/19/12 Alas, my house is set on high
- 10/14/12 Held in your arms
- 9/14/12 The land cries out against us
- 8/29/12 The snare of false accusation
- 8/5/12 Tie up the strong man
- 4/5/12 We who dip bread
- 9/23/10 The right to be joyful
- 9/18/10 Chief cornerstone
- 7/27/10 Triumph over enemies
- 10/9/08 Our iniquity is great
- 5/14/08 When at night
- 2/17/08 The thin and ugly
- 1/17/07 We do not know you
- 1/3/07 Promises
- 1/2/07 For things not seen
- 10/3/06 Fear of you
- 10/2/06 Little we know
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