Istanbul, Turkey
Opening Prayer
Renew me today in the image of your love in the likeness of your mercy, O God. May any refusal to forgive that lingers with me and any hardness of heart be softened by your loving embrace -A2J Community (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible We praise you, Lord! We give thanks to you, for you are good; for your loving mercy endures forever. Who can express your mighty acts, O Lord, or fully declare your praise? -Psalm 106: 1-2 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Forgive me, most gracious God, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and kindly help where I had the opportunity but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness. I ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. -F.B. Meyer (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” -John 11:41-44 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! -Psalm 4:1 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. Amen -Book of Common Prayer 
Mostar, Bosnia
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