Phoenix, Arizona
Opening Prayer
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening, You have the words of eternal life. Speak to me and comfort my soul; help me to amend my whole life, and may it, in turn, give You praise, glory, and endless honor -Thomas a’ Kempis (1380-1471) (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me. -Psalm 31:1-3 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. -Isaiah 55:6-7 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Jesus looking up to heaven, sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” -Mark 7:34-37 (Think deeply on the life and 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 Jesus Christ, grant that as your body, we might we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ -Ephesians 4: 13-15 
Santa Fe, New Mexico
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