Rila Monastery: Rila, Bulgaria
Opening Prayer
O God, you set me apart from the time I was born and called me through your grace. -Galatians 1:15 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. -Isaiah 43:1-3 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Come to the living waters, come! Sinners, obey your Maker's call; Return, ye weary wanderers, home, and find my grace is free for all. -John Wesley (1703-1791) (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. -Mark 3:13-19 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. -1 John 5:15 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Jesus, you have called us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything you have commanded us. We realize that this call may lead some to go overseas but for most of us it means to make disciples of those we interact with on a daily basis, our own families, our neighbors, our co-workers and all those God allows to cross our paths. Thank you for your promise to be with us always, working in us and through us, even to the end of the age. -Adapted from Matthew 28:19-20 
Kosovo Mountains
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