Defend | Morning Prayer for Ordinary Time

This is Ordinary Time, Proper 6. As always, our Scripture readings and general order come from the Book of Common Prayer (1979) Daily Office. We’ll sing “I Need You, Lord” by me throughout today’s time of prayer. We’ll read Psalm 20 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Lesson is Mark 4:26-34. We’ll say the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We’ll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it at https://benwardmusic.com/prayerrequest. If you’d like to be on the email list visit https://benwardmusic.com/email. Visit https://patreon.com/morningprayer to give and support Morning Prayer! Painting by unidentified artist. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=2021061269712436&code=ACT&RC=55890&Row=6 Ordinary Time, Proper 6 I Need You, Lord Ben Ward I need You, Lord More than I need the air I’m breathing, Lord My heart cries out to you The One who made me and gave me life I drink Your living water I need You, Lord More than the very life in me And only You can satisfy All other water left me dry And now I’m looking in Your eye Jesus, fill me And heal my broken heart Prayer of Confession Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Psalm 20 1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble, *   the Name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 Send you help from his holy place *   and strengthen you out of Zion; 3 Remember all your offerings *   and accept your burnt sacrifice; 4 Grant you your heart’s desire *   and prosper all your plans. 5 We will shout for joy at your victory   and triumph in the Name of our God; *   may the Lord grant all your requests. 6 Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed; *   he will answer him out of his holy heaven,   with the victorious strength of his right hand. 7 Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, *   but we will call upon the Name of the Lord our God. 8 They collapse and fall down, *   but we will arise and stand upright. 9 O Lord, give victory to the king *   and answer us when we call. Mark 4:26-34 (NRSV) Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He 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, and is seated at