Daily prayers for morning, noon, evening, and the close of the day, drawn from the Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer Edition, prepared by the Office of Theology and Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Daily prayer has been a way of life and practice of faith for the people of God for millennia, from the psalmists of ancient Israel through the saints of the Christian Church. These services for daily prayer are designed to help you join that great cloud of witnesses - seeking the way of God in your life and the will of God for the world. The patterns provided here are a simplified, streamlined version of the ancient daily office, a tradition with origins in the Jewish temple and monastic life.

The service for morning prayer includes a reading from the New Testament, readings from the Psalms, and a canticle such as the Benedictus (Song of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79).

The service for midday prayer includes a reading from the Old Testament, readings from the Psalms, and a time of silent prayer.

The service for evening prayer includes thanksgiving for light (candles are appropriate), a reading from the Gospel, readings from the Psalms, and a canticle such as the Magnificat (Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55).

The service for night prayer (or prayer at the close of the day) includes a prayer of confession, readings from the Psalms, and a canticle such as the Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon, Luke 2:29-32).

All four services include the Lord's Prayer. I have elected to rotate through three different versions of that prayer.

The scripture readings incorporated in the four daily services walk through the entire New Testament in one year, and most of the Old Testament in two.

All scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, except for the Psalms and canticles, which are from the beautiful translation in the Book of Common Worship.

All the prayers and readings are thematically tied to the special days and seasons of the Christian year.

The 2018 Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer Edition is available for purchase online. This podcast highlights one of several different ways the resource could be used. You do not need a copy of the book to pray along with this podcast.

I heartily believe that a discipline of daily prayer is a fruitful way to deepen and enrich your faith and life in Christ, and I fervently hope and pray that this podcast will help you do just that.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Num. 6:24-26)

Rev. Bill Pinches, Pastor, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Advent 2020