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A Devotional guide for the month of July – Rest, Retreat, Renewal.

Summer in Canada is traditionally a time when we rest from regular activities. Even in the church, meetings stop and regular gatherings cease. Summer is a season for reflection, for appreciating nature and rekindling relationships. Below is a devotional guide for the month of July. It includes simple morning and evening prayers along with a daily scripture for reflection. The prayers and photographs have been offered to us from Rev. Kristine O’Brien. Kristine is a gifted preacher and the executive director of Crieff Hills Conference and Retreat Centre. Crieff Hills is owned and operated by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The property (250 acres) is located near Guelph. It was gifted to the denomination in 1950, along with funds to maintain it, from the estate of Colonel John Bain MacLean. Col. MacLean was the founder of MacLean’s magazine, the Financial Post and Maclean-Hunter publishers. MacLean, the son of a Presbyterian minister, was born and raised in the small village of Crieff. He returned to the area as an adult and over a few years, created an industrious farm with a dairy herd, pigs, grain fields, orchards and about 100 acres of reforested land. His estate, known as Crieff Hills Farm, was famous for its beautiful landscape and gardens. In the mid 1970’s the Presbyterian Church in Canada began to develop the land as a retreat facility, gradually adding buildings as demand increased.

Today, Crieff Hills is open all year long, welcoming individuals and groups of up to a hundred people. This quiet place has an important mission in today’s busy world, providing a warm welcome and an opportunity for people from all walks of life to connect with the Divine and find renewal. We remember Rev. Kristine O’Brien in our prayers this month, knowing that Covid 19 has posed unique challenges to this important ministry within our denomination.

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Prayers for the Morning

As the light of dawn awakens earth’s creatures

And stirs into song the birds of the morning

So may I be brought to life this day.

Rising to see the light

To hear the wind

To smell the fragrance and what grows from the ground

To taste its fruit

And touch its textures

So may my inner senses be awakened to you. Amen.

--J Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction

Sunrise at Crieff Hills Retreat Centre

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Morning Prayers continued…

O God our Creator,

Your kindness has brought us

The gift of a new morning.

Help us to leave yesterday,

And not covet tomorrow

But to accept the uniqueness of today.

By your love

Celebrated in your Word,

Seen in your Son,

Brought near by your Spirit,

Take from us what we need to carry no longer,

So that we may be free again

To choose to serve

and to be served by each other.

Amen.

--A Wee Worship Book, Wild Goose Worship Group

Oh Lord Jesus

true gardener

work in us what you want of us,

For you are indeed the true gardener

at once, maker and tiller

and keeper of your garden

you who plant with the word,

water with the spirit

and give your increase

with your power.

Amen.

--Cisterician Guerric of Igny 12th century

Summer’s glory, Crieff Hills

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Morning Prayers continued….

Lord, open unto me,

Open unto me—light for my darkness.

Open unto me—courage for my fear.

Open unto me—hope for my despair.

Open unto me—peace for my turmoil.

Open unto me—joy for my sorrow.

Open unto me—strength for my weakness.

Open unto me—wisdom for my confusion.

Open unto me—forgiveness for my sins.

Open unto me—love for my hates.

Open unto me—they Self for my self.

Lord, Lord, open unto me!

--Howard Thurman. Book of Common Prayer, Presbyterian Church, USA

Walking labrynth at Crieff

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Prayers for the Evening

Keep watch, dear Lord,

with those who work, or watch,

or weep this night,

and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend the sick, Lord Christ;

give rest to the weary,

bless the dying,

soothe the suffering,

pity the afflicted,

shield the joyous;

and all for your love's sake. Amen.

--Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Church of Canada

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Evening Prayers (continued)

O Lord, support us all the day long,

until the shadows lengthen,

and the evening comes,

the busy world is hushed,

the fever of life is over,

and our work done;

then Lord, in your mercy,

grant us safe lodging,

a holy rest and peace at the last. Amen.

--Book of Common Prayer, Presbyterian

Church in Canada

Lord, it is night.

The night is for stillness.

Let us be still in the presence of God....

It is night after a long day.

What has been done has been done;

what has not been done has not been done. Let it be.

The night is dark.

Let our fears of the darkness of the world

and of our own lives rest in you.

The night is quiet.

Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,

all dear to us, and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.

Let us look expectantly to a new day,

new joys, new possibilities. Amen.

--New Zealand Prayer Book/He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa

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A verse a day for the Month of July

During the month of July, we are invited to meditate on one verse of scripture each

day. A well known Baptist clergyman once said “we read the Bible not to know the

Bible, but to know God.” As we read these verses in the month ahead, may these

words of Scripture help us draw closer to God. There are many ways to focus our

hearts on scripture.

We might: create a journal and write the

verse at the top of the page in the morning.

In the evening, we can note any words or

thoughts that have come to us related to

that verse during the day.

We might: set the words to a tune and sing the verse in our heads (or outloud!) as we go about your day. We might: listen to a sermon or meditation based on the verse (try googling one of these names with the assigned scripture reading and see what comes up! Fred Craddock, Barbara Brown Taylor, Rachel Held Evans, Tom Long, Will Willimon, or Susan Sparks. They are all accomplished

preachers who might challenge us as we reflect on these passages) We might: sit quietly and read the scripture verse several times slowly and carefully. Think about what words jump out. What words raise questions. We might: turn the verse into a prayer. We might: read several different translations of the same verse. (check out: www.biblegateway.com for a great online Bible that offers all kinds of translations.) In the month ahead, may God’s word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths.

(Psalm 119:5)

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A Verse a Day

June 27th 1st John 4:8 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with

punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

June 28th Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will

strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

June 29th Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

June 30th Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

July 1st Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of

fools suffers harm.

July 2nd Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof

July 3rd Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

July 4th Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge

in him.

July 5th 1st Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a

multitude of sins.

July 6th Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the

everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his

understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he

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increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall

exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up

with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

July 7th Exodus 34:21 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in

harvest you shall rest.

July 8th Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD,

make me dwell in safety.

July 9th Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in

everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests

be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

July 10th Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it

day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you

will be prosperous and successful.

July 11th Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

July 12 Matthew 8:24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat

was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

July 13 Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests

satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

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July 14th Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me

beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his

name's sake.

July 15th 1st John 1:19 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our

sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

July 16th Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the

renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is

good and acceptable and perfect.

July 17th Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

July 18th Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit

within me.

July 19th Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I

believe; help my unbelief!”

July 20th 2nd Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man

is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

July 21st Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before

others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in

heaven.

July 22nd John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word

was God. He was in the beginning with God.

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July 23rd Matthew 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the

one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

July 24th 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give

thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

July 25th Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not

hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

July 26th Psalm 56:3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

July 27th Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return;

and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the

unthankful and evil.”

July 28th 1st Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God

and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

July 29th 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will

also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let

each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God

loves a cheerful giver.

July 30th Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self -control.

Against such there is no law.

July 31st Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving

one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

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