Daily Prayers for April 30
North and South Vietnam were reunited on April 30, 1975, bringing an end to the Vietnam War.
O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Song “We Are Marching in the Light of God”
Establish the work of our hands, O God : establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 144:1 – 2, 13 – 16
Blessed be the Lord my rock! : who trains my hand to fight and my fingers to battle;
my help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer : my shield in whom I trust, who subdues the -peoples under me.
May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth : and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.
May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops : may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands; may our cattle be fat and sleek.
May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile : no wailing in the public squares.
Happy are the -people of whom this is so! : happy are the -people whose God is the Lord!
Establish the work of our hands, O God : establish the work of our hands.
Leviticus 25:35 – 55 1 Peter 4:7 – 19
Establish the work of our hands, O God : establish the work of our hands.
Twentieth-century novelist Georges Bernarnos said, “Every particle of Christ’s divine charity is today more precious for your security — for your security, I say — than all the atom bombs in all the stockpiles.”
Prayers for Others
Our Father
If our days do not begin and end in you, O Lord, they come to nothing. Bless our efforts at faithfulness; work through us despite our supposed strengths. Establish the work of our hands, O God, and be merciful. Amen.
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.
Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers: A Few Ideas
1. Track to its source one item of food you eat regularly. Then each time you eat that food, remember the folks who made it possible for you to eat it.
2. Become a pen pal with someone who is in prison.
3. Try recycling water from the washer or sink by using it to flush your toilet. Remember the 1.2 billion folks who don’t have clean water.
4. Leave a tip for someone cleaning the streets or the public restroom.
5. Write one CEO each month this year. Affirm or critique the ethics of their companies. (You may need to do a little research first.)
