Marktzeuln, Germany
Opening Prayer
Help us Lord to see that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. -Romans 14:17 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit. -Jonah 2:2-6 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin O Lord be gracious to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You. -Psalm 41:4 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” -Mark 3:28-30 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others O Christ, friend of the wounded and the broken, quicken in me empathy and compassion for the needs of the world. Release in me a greater yearning for your healing that is rooted in love and hope. -Apprenticeship to Jesus Community (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer O Lord my God, teach my heart this day where and how to see You, where and how to find You. You have made me and remade me, and You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess, and still I do not know You. I have not yet done that for which I was made. Teach me to seek You, for I cannot seek You unless You teach me, or find You unless You show Yourself to me. Let me seek You in my desire, let me desire You in my seeking. Let me find You by loving You, let me love You when I find You. -Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 
Sedona, Arizona
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