Opening Prayer
One thing You have spoken; two things I have heard: That You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving. -Psalm 62:11-12 (Silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. -Psalm 105: 1-5 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin For You, the Lord God, have said, “I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” -Isaiah 43:25 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. -Matthew 5:43-48 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayer for Ourselves and Others That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. -Mark 11:24 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Lord, we thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you. Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace. Help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children — Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow — will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen. -Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) |