 Opening PrayerAs a deer craves running water, I thirst for you my God. I thirst for God, the living God. When will I see your face? -Psalm 42 (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleGive praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done. -Psalm 105: 1-5 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinO Lord, the house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that you may enter in. It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases your sight; I confess it, I know. But who shall cleanse it, or to whom shall I cry but unto you? Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord, and spare your servant from intentional sins. -Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. -Matthew 5:43-48 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersThat's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. -Mark 11:24 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerLord, we thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you. Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace. Help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children — Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow — will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen. -Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photo 1 public domain: children's hands
photo 2 taken in: Gozo, Malta
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 Opening Prayer: O God, You are our God, the One in whom we trust. We’ve gathered together to come before You, to open our hearts and minds to Your presence. We long to meet You here, and to hear Your voice. We come with confidence, because we’ve met You here before; we’ve been awed and inspired by Your glory and Your power. We come with gratitude, because we’ve known Your steadfast love, a love which is better than life itself. And so we praise You, lifting our voices, lifting our hands in joy and expectation. Come among us in Your power. Pour out Your spirit on our thirsty souls, that we may be filled with Your goodness and love.* Reading: Imagine the angelic choirs, and God the Lord of all sitting, and his Only Son sitting with him at his right hand, and the Spirit with them present, and thrones and dominions doing service, and each man and woman among you receiving salvation. Even now let your ears ring with the sound: long for that glorious sound, which after your salvation, the angels will chant over you: Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. [Ps 32:1]** Song - Psalm 118 Oh give thanks to the Lord Oh give thanks to the Lord For He is good, He is good For He is good, He is good His steadfast love endures Forever, forever, He endures Reading – Psalm 90 (Take a moment to ponder your mortality and to confess your need for God) Song – Psalm 66 Come and see what God has done, see what God has done For every daughter and every son Oh, Come and hear what God has done For everyone who fears the Lord will sing of what he’s done And all the earth will shout your praise And all the earth will sing your name For You are great, For You are great How glorious your name How awesome are your ways For you are great, For you are great Reading – Psalm 92 Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord The Words of Jesus – John 15:18-27 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.' (Psalm 35:19; 69:4) But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” Reflection • On how God is meeting you through your pursuit of him in the Psalms • On what God is teaching you about himself and what it means to walk with him • On what is stirring in your own hearts as you grow in the heart language of God Song – Psalm 134 Come and bless the Lord Come and bless the Lord Come and bless the Lord All you servants of the Lord Lift up your head To the holy place Lift up your head And bless his name Evening Readings – Psalms 3, 4, and 137
Closing Prayer and Benediction Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. ~ Jude 24-25 *Adapted from re:Worship (Opening Prayer Psalm 63) **Cyril of Jerusalem, Procatechesis  Opening PrayerJesus, awaken hope and trust in us because you always come to us, and you say to us: ‘Come to me, you who are overburdened, and you will find real rest.’ Amen. (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleTaste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. -Psalm 34:8-10 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinI will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.’ -Luke 15:18 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. -Matthew 5:38-42 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and OthersBe joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. -Romans 12:12 (Take time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerPatrick’s Breastplate Christ, as a light-illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield-overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me, on my left and on my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me, Lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light, Christ as a shield, Christ beside me, on my left and my right. -Saint Patrick (385-461) Go, sent by the Father into the world to love & serve in the name of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit  photo 1 public domain: 'Patrick's Breastplate'
photo 2 taken in: church in Harz Mountain Region of Germany  Opening PrayerI cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. -Psalm 77 1-4 (silent reflection) Confession of SinHave mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. -Psalm 51: 1-2, 10-12 (Time of silence for confession of sin) Thoughts for ReflectionWhy do we celebrate together but so often suffer in silence? What if our deepest pain is one of the greatest gift we can offer one another? If we can find the strength to remove our 'I'm okay mask' and invite others into our vulnerability. “Sometimes suffering feels like a free fall,” But we can find hope and a way forward in Jesus, who displays the love of God by taking on our human suffering and anguish. If we can discover the language of lament we will discover a kind of merciful undoing. While a lament may not change our circumstances, it will help clear up our misunderstandings about God… A lament is a pathway; it serves a purpose. But a lament denied turns into a lie and damages the soul God, not only gives permission to lament but considers it worship. Lamentation is a vital aspect of a life in relation with God. Seventy percent of the psalmist’s words are words of lament. “Hear my prayer, O LORD,” the psalmist pleads. “Let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress." Lament is not a relinquishing of faith, but a cry in worship to the one who weeps with us. The Words of JesusI have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 (Silent reflection) Prayers for Ourselves and OthersIn the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. -Hebrews 5:8 (Bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing PrayerThe Divine Embrace Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in Your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and Love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen! -The Book of Common Prayer, 101   Opening PrayerO Lord Jesus, you who came to us to show the compassionate love of your Father, make us, your people know this love with our hearts, minds and souls. So often we feel lonely, unloved, and lost in the valley of tears. We desire to feel affection, tenderness, care, and compassion, but suffer from inner darkness, emptiness, and numbness. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Do not just come to our understanding, but enter our hearts, our passions, emotions, and feelings. -Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) (silent reflection) Prayer of the BibleO Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah But you, O Lord, are a a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! -Psalm 3:1-7 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of SinSurrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. -Hebrews 12:1-2 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. -Matthew 5:33-37 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and OthersPray to God the Father, through the power of our Master Jesus, through the love of the Spirit -Romans 15:30 The Message (Bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. ” -Numbers 6:24-26 (Go now, sent out by the Father into the world to love and serve in the name of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit)  photo 1 public domain: 'Statue of Despair'
photo 2 taken in: Barcelona, Spain Jesus statue on top of Tibidabo Church |
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