Thursday Morning Prayer

Oh Lord, open my hands, and teach me to give without fear.

Mark 10:45

For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Silence for reflection

Poem: Compassion by Robert William Service

A beggar in the street I saw,
Who held a hand like withered claw,
As cold as clay;
But as I had no silver groat
To give, I buttoned up my coat
And turned away.

And then I watched a working wife
Who bore the bitter load of life
With lagging limb;
A penny from her purse she took,
And with sweet pity in her look
Gave it to him.

Anon I spied a shabby dame
Who fed six sparrows as they came
In famished flight;
She was so poor and frail and old,
Yet crumbs of her last crust she doled
With pure delight.

Then sudden in my heart was born
For my sleek self a savage scorn,--
Urge to atone;
So when a starving cur I saw
I bandaged up its bleeding paw
And bought a bone.

For God knows it is good to give;
We may not have so long to live,
So if we can,
Let's do each day a kindly deed,
And stretch a hand to those in need,
Bird, beast or man.

Silence for reflection

Personal petitions

Closing prayer

Holy one, teach me to put my trust in you and not in wealth in this world. What I have, teach me to share. For what I need, teach me to trust. In all things, teach me humility and love. Amen.