Sayulita, Mexico
Opening Prayer
“Lord, I don’t understand what is going on in my own life, let alone the world with all its pain and confusion but I choose again this day to entrust myself to your good, strong, and loving hands.” -A2J Community (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” -Revelation 21:1-5 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin All who are thirsty, all who are weak come to the fountain, dip your heart in the stream of life let your sin, pain and sorrows be washed away in the waves of His mercy. -All Who Are Thirsty (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. -Mark 13:6-8 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Lord, help us to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. -Galatians 6:2 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Lord our God, we are your children, who come before you and stand in your presence. Be with us and be our light in all situations of life, in all hardships and grief. Be our light, as you have always been. Reveal your power so that the world may know you as we have come to know you. Give us joyful readiness to persevere until your day comes, for the brightness of your day will shine through all darkness and will end all evil, to the glory of your name. Amen. -Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842-1919) 
Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming
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