Sunday, October 9, 2011

Spending my early years attending a Lutheran Church where my dad was a pastor introduced me to liturgy.  It's the one thing that comes to my mind when I am unable to sleep.  An additional worship outlet which reminds me of my childhood and brings me warmth and familiarity when I am desperate for it.  It's like smelling a familiar scent that you can't quite place but prompts you to sit in silence enjoying it.

This morning when I could not find rest, I opened my bible to 1 John and read


God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

This particular passage from 1st John is mentioned a lot in the readings I remember.
The following is from the book of common prayer:

Almighty everliving God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray,
and to give more than we desire or deserve;
pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things
of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those things
for which our prayer dares not ask;

through Jesus Christ
who is alive with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.