Opening Prayer
But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. -Psalm 31:14–16 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. -Psalm 6:4-9 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are the One I praise. -Jeremiah 17:14 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. -Luke 6:6-11 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. -Psalm 88:1 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer “Save us, Lord, from a religion that ignores the cries of the exploited and oppressed. Lead us into a deeper faith that challenges injustice and makes the sacrifices that must be made to build a society that is ever more truly human. Amen.” -Walter Brueggemann (1933- ) |