Opening Prayer Who is like You, O Lord? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders? -Exodus 15:11 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away -Psalm 148: 1-6 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Lord our God, in our sin we have avoided your call. Our love for you is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Have mercy on us; deliver us from judgement; bind up our wounds and revive us; in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -Book Of Common Worship (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now, Father, I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. -John 17: 12-14 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit -Luke 18:1 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Jesus, You shall be first in my life. I want to talk with You and work for You. I want to think everything with You, making all my decisions with You. Nothing shall be done without You, for I do not want to shut You out of my life. Bind me tightly to You, so that nothing—No work, no burden, no other interest, no joy—Can separate us during this day. So may I constantly live in Your holy presence -M. Basilea Schlink (1902-2001) |