Opening Prayer
Lord, I have made you my refuge, even you, Most High, my habitation. -Psalm 91:9 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me. My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.” -Job 19:13-14 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Holy God, we confess our separation from you. From the womb we have suffered estrangement from Your Presence, and to this day we are guilty of both apathy and rebellion. Lord have mercy on us. We cry out to You now, come Lord Jesus. Indwell us, in-will us, be formed in our midst. Nothing else will do. Join us together as Your Body, that we may cry out with one voice. Make us a Church that can reach those who are most devastatingly separated from You. Amen -Leanne Payne. (1932-2015) (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. -Mark 14:43-50 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! -Psalm 66:20 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Lord Jesus, we bless and praise You, You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty, You will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who overcome will inherit all this, and You will be their God and they will be Your children. -Revelation 21:6-7 |