July 4th is, of course, American Independence Day. Contrary to some popular belief, it’s not actually a part of the Christian calendar.

What is part of the calendar is one day the less: July 3rd, the Feast of St. Thomas. One of the Twelve, Thomas is mentioned in all four gospels and features prominently in the Fourth Gospel, where he insists the disciples accompany Jesus into danger, that they might ‘die with him’ (Jn. 11:16). Curiously, a collection of Christian churches in India (called ‘Thomas Christians’) trace their origins to the arrival of Thomas a missionary to their shores. The claim, while historically dubious (though not strictly implausible), nonetheless provokes the imagination.

Morning Prayers

Eternal glory to the Father, the Son and the Spirit of God.
So it was at the dawning of the world.
So it is in the moments we live.
So it will be to the ages of ages.
Eternal glory to the Three who are One.

Prayer for Those Near, and Those Distant:

As morning awakens, we bless you, God,
Who awakened the cosmos with the word of life.
We ask you to bless those whose paths we join
And those whose paths we cross:
Both family and foreigner,
Both neighbor and stranger,
Both friend and enemy.

Personal prayers for others

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Readings:

As many of these scripture readings as you like can be read throughout the week. Since you won’t be tested on them, feel free to skip any if you prefer to read just a few or even one passage slowly and contemplatively.

Old Testament: Genesis 1:1-10;  Genesis 1:11-31

* The days of creation answer the problem of Genesis 1:2 – an earth without form, and empty. The first three days (1:3-10) show how God makes form out of formlessness. In the second three days (1:11-31), God fills the forms with life. The days comprise literary parallels: Day 1, light and darkness, with Day 4, sun and moon to govern the light and darkness; Day 2, separating the waters and the sky, with Day 5, filling the seas and sky with creatures; Day 3, forming the land, with Day 6, filling the land with creatures and humankind.

Psalms: Psalm 1 and Psalm 2
Gospel: Mark 1:1-11
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

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Prayer of Presence:

The midsummer sunrise over rolling hills.
The lilting voices of songbirds: the robin, the wren, the finch,
Or the laughter of the kookaburra.
The coming of expected friends.
Drenching rains, long awaited, that follow a drought.
The early autumn gloaming.
In all these things, God, your presence is made visible –
A presence of profound beauty,
Of sometimes subtle wonder.

The winter winds, barely held at bay by rattling windows.
The endless barking of the neighbor's dog.
The arrival of unwelcome news.
The approach of the hurricane, the flood, or the fire.
A sick child. Again.
The onset of an anxiety spiral.
The loss of love.
In all these things too, God, we become aware of your presence,
Acutely and bitterly –
A presence that shares sadness and pain,
A presence that sustains,
A presence that is patient, that perseveres and preserves,
A presence that gives life to what is dead.

Our Father:

Our Father in the unseen realm,
May your name be holy.
Let your kingdom come and your will be done on the earth,
Just as in heaven.
Give us the nourishment we need today
And for our wrongs, forgive us,
As we forgive those who wrong us,
And do not lead us into the test,
But rescue us from evil.
For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours, 
To the ages of ages.

Evening Prayers

Eternal glory to the Father, the Son and the Spirit of God.
So it was at the dawning of the world.
So it is in the moments we live.
So it will be to the ages of ages.
Eternal glory to the Three who are One.

Phos Hilaron:

Hail, gladdening light of the holy glory of the immortal Father:
The heavenly, holy and blessed Jesus, the Christ.
Having come to the sun's setting,
Having seen the evening light,
We praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God.
It is right you should be praised at all times and with fitting voices,
Son of God, the life-giver.
Therefore, the whole earth gives you glory.

Prayer for Tomorrow:

If we have lost sight of your goodness today, God,
If we have failed to treat our neighbors as we should,
Give us grace, that tomorrow might be different.

Our Father:

Our Father in the unseen realm,
May your name be holy.
Let your kingdom come and your will be done on the earth,
Just as in heaven.
Give us the nourishment we need today
And for our wrongs, forgive us,
As we forgive those who wrong us,
And do not lead us into the test,
But rescue us from evil.
For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours, 
To the ages of ages.

Benediction:

May the God who perseveres through aeons, millennia, and generations
Grant you peace and rest this night,
And in the morning and days to come.

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