Opening Prayer
You, O Lord, are the Spirit, and where your Spirit is, there is freedom. Help me to breathe in this freedom. -2 Corinthians 3:17 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. -Psalm 110:1-3 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin God our Father, I come in need and with trust confessing my sin. Thank you that in Christ, your fullness dwells, and through him you choose to reconcile all things to yourself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. -Colossians 1:19-20 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. -Mark 3:22-26 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. –The Book of Common Prayer (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Grant us Lord to love what is worth loving, to know what is worth knowing, to praise what pleases you most, to esteem what is most precious to you, and to hate what is evil in your sight. Grant us the true judgment always to search out and do your holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. -Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) |