Phoenix, Arizona
Opening Prayer
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. -Augustine of Hippo (354-430) (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible This is love: that we walk in obedience to your commandments, O God. And this is the commandment that we have heard from the beginning: We are to walk in love. -2 John 1:6 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen! -Book of Common Prayer (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” -Mark 12:28-31 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. -Ephesians 1:15-16 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Finally, pray that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. -2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 
Trieb, Germany
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