Opening Prayer
As the light of dawn awakens earth’s creatures and stirs into song the birds of the morning so may I be brought to life this day. Rising to see the light to hear the wind to smell the fragrance of what grows from the ground to taste its fruit and touch its textures so may my inner senses be awakened to you, O God. -Celtic Benediction (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth! -Psalm 57:8-11 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my sins. -Psalm 39:4-8 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” -Mark 13:32-37 (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 I thank You, O God, for Your care and protection this day, keeping me from physical harm and spiritual corruption. I now place the work of the day into Your hands, trusting that You will redeem my errors, and turn my achievements to Your glory. And I now ask You to work within me, trusting that You will use the hours of rest to create in me a new heart and new soul....Let me rest tonight in Your arms, and so may the dreams that pass through my mind be holy. And let me awake tomorrow, strong and eager to serve You. Amen. —Jacob Boehme (1575-1624) |