Opening Prayer
Remember your mercies O Lord, and fill my heart with Your grace and teach me to do Your will, teach me to live worthily and humbly in Your presence. You, Lord, are my wisdom. You truly know me as I am, and have known me before the world came to be and before I came into being -Thomas a’ Kempis (1380-1471) (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, -Psalm 8:3-6 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin When I have sinned against You, and when I have turned back to You and confessed my sin, hear from heaven and forgive my sin and restore me. Teach me the good way in which I should walk -I Kings 8:33-34, 36 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. -Mark 4:33-34 (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 Lord help us to flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with all those who call on Your name from a pure heart. Give us your grace as not to have anything to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; that they breed quarrels. And help us to be Your servants that are not quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting our opponents with gentleness. That perhaps You may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. Amen -Prayer from 2 Timothy 2:22-25 |