Mostar, Bosnia
Opening Prayer
“When God looks at you, there is a smile on His face. He embraces you in love, sets a place for you at His table, serves you with His own hands, converses and delights Himself with you incessantly, and invites you to be part of His loving actions in the world.” -Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. -Psalm 100: 4-5 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin O God, you made him who knew no sin to be sin for me, so that in him I might receive his righteousness. -2 Corinthians 5:21 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him -John 13: 1-5 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. -1 Peter 4:7 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Lord our God, we gather in your presence, coming from this world so full of suffering, grief, and misfortune that we could well be afraid. But we do not have to rely on this world. We can come to you, the almighty God. You are our Father, and no matter what may come, we remain your children and receive your blessing. So protect us in this present time. Even if a flood of evil seems about to break over us and our hearts are heavy, you will uphold us. You will strengthen us so that we can bear this time patiently, hoping in you and in what you do for all people. May the praise of your name be in our hearts for ever and ever. Amen. -Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842-1919) 
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
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