Opening Prayer
As the hand is made for holding and the eye for seeing, You have created me for joy, O God. Share with me in finding that joy everywhere: in the violet’s beauty, in the lark’s melody, in the child’s face, in a mother’s love, in the purity of Jesus. Amen -Traditional Scottish Gaelic Prayer (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. -Nehemiah 9:6 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin For You, the Lord God, have said, I even 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 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” -John 6: 28-29 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God. Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night. -Nehemiah 1:4-6 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Come let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant which will never be forgotten.” “I do take You, O Eternal God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to be my God. Be my portion. I do give up myself, body and soul, to be Your servant, promising and vowing to serve You in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life” -John Wesley (1703-1791) |