Opening Prayer
O God, our Father I bless you and praise you for you have raised Jesus Christ and will also raise me up through your power. -Prayer adapted from Corinthians 6:47 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. -Jeremiah 10:6-7 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Come, O thou all-victorious Lord! Thy power to us make known; strike with the hammer of thy word, and break these hearts of stone. O that we all might now begin, our foolishness to mourn; and turn at once from every sin, and to our Savior turn! Give us ourselves and thee to know, in this our gracious day; repentance unto life bestow, and take our sins away. -Chalres Wesley (1707-1788) (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.” Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? -Mark 12:18-24 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. -Romans 12:12 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. -Revelation 7:12 |