 Opening PrayerShow me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation, and my hope is in you all day long. -Psalm 25: 3-5 (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleWe praise you Jesus—the One who was made a little lower than the angels—now crowned with glory and honor because you suffered death, so that by the grace of God you might taste death for everyone. In bringing many of us to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make you—the author of our salvation—perfect through suffering. -Hebrews 2:9-10 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinI praise Thee Lord, for cleansing me from sin. Fulfill your Word, and make me pure within. Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame. Grant my desire to magnify your Name. -J. Edwin Orr (1912-1987) (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of JesusI honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” -John 8:49-51 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersAnswer me, O Lord, for your lovingkindness is good; in the abundance of your mercies, turn to me -Psalm 69:16 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerLet nothing disturb thee, Nothing affright thee; All things are passing; God never changeth; Patient endurance Attaineth to all things; Who God possesseth In nothing is wanting; Alone God sufficeth. -St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Eifel Region, Germany Bottom: Iznik (Nicea), Turkey
0 Comments
 Opening PrayerAlone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand than if a host did round me stand. -Columba, Irish abbot and missionary (521-597) (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleTeach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! -Pslam 27: 11-14 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinWhat I do may seem right to me and others, But you, Lord know my inner motives and what I am thinking. -Proverbs 21:2 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of JesusJesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies -John 8:42-44 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersFar be it from me that I should sin against You, O Lord, by ceasing to pray for others -I Samuel 12:23 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerLord Jesus Christ, grant that as your body, we might we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ -Ephesians 4: 13-15 Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Meteora, Greece Bottom: Wittenberg, Germany
 Opening PrayerSpeak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. I am Your servant, give me understanding that I may know Your decrees. Incline my heart to the words of Your mouth and let them come upon me as the dew -adapted from Psalm 119 (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleIt was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. -Psalm 119: 67, 71, 75 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinThanks be to you O God that I have risen this day to the rising of this life itself. May it be a day of blessing, O God of every gift, a day of new beginnings given. Help me to avoid every sin, and the source of every sin to forsake and as the mist scatters from the crest of the hills may each ill haze clear from my soul. -Prayer from Iona Community (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of JesusI know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. -John 8:37-41 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersWhen two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. -Matthew 18:19 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerO Holy Spirit, give me faith that will protect me from despair, from passions, and from vice; give me such love for God and men as will blot out all hatred and bitterness; give me the hope that will deliver me from fear and faint-heartedness. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Arat Plain, Armenia Bottom: Rothenburg, od Tauber, Germany
 Opening PrayerFather, I need you, I feel alone and abandoned, help me to trust that you are here now wanting to meet with me. You are my Shepherd, restoring my soul, and gently guiding me. Open my eyes to see where you are at work within me and around me. -A2J Community (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleThe Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. -Psalm 23: 1-4 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinThank you Jesus, that sin no longer need reign in my body that I should obey its evil desires. With your help, I will not present the parts of my body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but I will present myself to You, Lord God, as one who is alive from the dead. -Romans 6:12 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave] to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. -John 8:31-36 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersBlessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! -Psalm 66:20 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerYou never go away from us, Yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run. -Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Istanbul, Turkey Bottom: Yeghegnadzor, Armenia
 Opening PrayerThe Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. -Habakkuk 2:20 (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleAll the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they sing of Your ways, O Lord, for Your glory is great. Though You reign on high, Yet you look upon the lowly, but the proud You know from afar. -Psalm 138: 4-6 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinO that we may all receive of Christ’s fullness, grace upon grace; grace to pardon our sins, and subdue our iniquities; to justify our persons and to sanctify our souls; and to complete that holy change, that renewal of our hearts, whereby we may be transformed into that blessed image wherein thou didst create us. Amen -John Wesley (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of JesusSo Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him. -John 8:28-30 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersHave mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. -Psalm 86:3 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerGod of compassion, You sent Jesus to proclaim a time of mercy reaching out to those who had no voice, releasing those trapped by their own shame, and welcoming those scorned by society. Make us ambassadors of reconciliation. Open our ears that we may listen with respect and understanding. Touch our lips that we may speak your words of peace and forgiveness. Warm our hearts that we may bring wholeness to the broken-hearted and dissolve the barriers of division. Guide the work of your Church and renew us with the Spirit of your love. Forgive, restore and strengthen us through our Lord Jesus Christ. -Prayer of Reconciliation Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Interlaken, Switzerland Bottom: Bruge, Belgium
 Opening PrayerEternal God, who are the light of the minds that know you, the joy of the hearts that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you; grant us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom, in Jesus Christ our Lord. -Augustine of Hippo (354-430) (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleI will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is Your love toward me, and you have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave. -Psalm 86: 12-13 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinForgive me God for forsaking You, the fountain of living waters, to dig my own cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water -Jeremiah 2: 11, 13 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of JesusSo they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. -John 8:25-27 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersHere’s what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open. Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need -Luke 11:9-10 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerLord, look at my soul’s wounds, your living and effective eye sees everything. It pierces like a sword, even to part asunder soul and spirit. Assuredly, my Lord, you see in my soul the traces of my former sins, my present perils, and also motives and occasions for others yet to be. You see those things, Lord, and I would have you see them. you know well, O Searcher of my heart, that there is nothing in my soul that I would hide from you, even had I the power to escape your eyes. My hope, most merciful, is in your lovingkindness; for you will see me, either as a good physician sees, intent upon my healing, or else as a kind master, anxious to correct, or a forbearing father, longing to forgive. -Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Tatev Village, Armenia Bottom: Trieb, Germany
 Opening PrayerLord God, my holy lover, when You enter my heart everything rejoices within me. You are my glory and the joy of my heart; You are my hope and my refuge in the day of my distress. Thomas a’ Kempis (1380-1471) (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleHear O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my helper. You turned my mourning into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my heart may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. -Psalm 30: 10-12 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinMy God, for love of you I desire to hate and forsake all sins by which I have ever displeased you; and I resolve by the help of your grace to commit them no more; and to avoid all opportunities of sin. help me to do this, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -Common Worship (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. -John 8:21-23 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and Others For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. -Ephesians 1:15-16 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer O Christ, our Morning Star, Splendor of Light Eternal, shining with the glory of the rainbow, come and waken us from the greyness of our apathy, and renew in us your gift of hope. Amen. -Bede the Venerable (672-735) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Yeghegnadzor, Armenia Bottom: Gozo, Malta
 Opening PrayerEven in our weaknesses and limitations, we know that you, Holy Spirit are here with us. Help us to see that prayer is trusting Jesus will make good on the promise once made to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is manifested in your weakness" -Jean Vanier (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleYou uphold all who fall, O Lord, and lift up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing -Psalm 145: 14-16 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinWho can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. -Psalm 19:12-13 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of JesusIn your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. -John 8:17-20 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersI call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. -Psalm 88:9 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerDear Father in heaven, we thank you that we are your children and that your eyes watch over us and see all that is in our hearts. You hear the request of each heart, and you will answer at the right time. Stretch out your strong hand to us, for we are weak and often heavy-hearted, not knowing what to do nor how to find you. But you are with us in every need in spite of all our faults and shortcomings. You are with us; you lead us through everything to our life’s true goal, until each of us can rejoice over all you have done, to the praise of your name, our Father. Amen. -Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Bruge, Belgium Bottom: Wurzburg, Germany
 Opening Prayer“I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly” -Jesus (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleI will give thanks to you, Lord, for you are good; your lovingkindness endures forever. I will give thanks to you for your unfailing love and your wonderful acts to all your people, for you satisfy the thirsty soul and fill the hungry soul with good things -Psalm 107: 1, 8,9 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinI know, O Lord, that my life is not my own; it is not for me to direct my steps. O Lord, correct me, but with justice—Not in Your anger, lest You reduce me to nothing. -Jeremiah 10:23-24 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of JesusJesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. -John 8:14-16 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersI know, O Lord, that my life is not my own; it is not for me to direct my steps. O Lord, correct me, but with justice—Not in Your anger, lest You reduce me to nothing. -Jeremiah 10:23-24 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerHoly Spirit, powerful Consoler, Sacred Bond of the Father and the Son, Hope of the afflicted, descend into my heart and establish in it Your loving dominion. Enkindle in my tepid soul the fire of Your Love so that I may be wholly subject to You. We believe that when You dwell in us, You also prepare a dwelling for the Father and the Son. Deign, therefore, to come to me, Consoler of abandoned souls, and Protector of the needy. Help the afflicted, strengthen the weak, and support the wavering. Come and purify me. Let no evil desire take possession of me. You love the humble and resist the proud. Come to me, glory of the living, and hope of the dying. Lead me by Your grace that I may always be pleasing to you. Amen. -Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Harare, Zimbabwe Bottom: Ettal, Germany (Ettal Abbey)
 Opening PrayerMay the light of God illumine the heart of my soul. May the flame of Christ kindle me to love. May the fire of the Spirit free me to live now and always -Celtic Blessing (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleWhere shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. -Psalm 139: 7-12 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinGod did in Christ himself reveal, To chase our darkness by his light, Our sin and ignorance dispel, Direct our wandering feet aright, And bring our souls, with pardon blest, To realms of everlasting rest. -Charles Wesley (1707-1788) (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersMay we be deeply devoted to one another, honoring one another above ourselves -Romans 12:10 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerClosing Prayer Lord, 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, tenderness for my toughness, Open unto me, love for my hates Open unto me, Thy Self for myself, Lord, Lord, open unto me! -Howard Thurman (1899-1981) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photos taken--Top: Arat Plain, Armenia (Khory vrap monastery) Bottom: Yeghegnadzor, Armenia
|
Categories
All
Archives
December 2018
|
|
RSS Feed