Daily Prayers for Moravians

This blog has moved to a new site

2010-11-24T11:29:00.002-05:00

Effective NOW, Daily Prayers for Moravian can now be found at dailyprayersformoravians.wordpress.com . Sorry for the in convinience this might cuase you. So if you have my blog stored as a favorite in your web browser, please be sure the change the setting to the new address. I am blessed that you continue to use these prayers to guide your daily journey in faith. Blessings and Peace to you, Chris

Prayers for the 25th Week of Pentecost - Christ the Chief Elder

2010-11-15T16:22:00.002-05:00

Watchword for the Week:

Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing
what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:13

Loving God, from the busyness of this day,
Call us into your presence.
From the distractions of our lives,
Call us into your presence.
From the slumber into which our faith can fall,
Call us into your presence.
From the pain present in our lives as well as in the world around us,
Call us into your presence.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 98
O sing to God a new song,
for God has done marvelous things.
God's strong hand and holy arm
have given God the victory.
God has made known his victory;
and has revealed his vindication
in the sight of the nations.
God has remembered having steadfast love
and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth
have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song
and sing praises.
Sing praises to God with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the Ruler, the Sovereign.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of God,
for God is coming to judge the earth.
God will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

If we say that we have no sin, we have deceived ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sin, and lead us to live a new life.

O Holy One, we call to you and name you as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there are times when we fail to recognize you in the living of our lives. Forgive us for the times when we feel that church activity counts for living a Christian life. Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Awaken us so that we might see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from our wisdom.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Standing in the light, let us give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen

Lord awaken us,
To see your presence with us in each moment.
Lord awaken us,
To see the suffering of others.
Lord awaken us,
To the ways in which we can serve you this day.
Lord awaken us,
To see the value that we have in your great kingdom on earth.
Lord awaken us,
To accept the grace that you have already extended to us.
Lord awaken us,
To see how we can share grace with those around us.
Lord awaken us,
To place you squarely at the center of our lives and to follow you faithfully.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And whatever we do in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. AMEN.

Prayers for the 24th Week of Pentecost

2010-11-07T21:26:00.003-05:00

Watchword for the week:

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at
the last he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

The Lord is in the holy temple; let all the earth keep silence.
Gracious Lord, we are your holy temples when we acknowledge your presence within us.
As we marvel at the beauty of the changing seasons, we give praise to your creative power.
May we open our hearts to that same creative power within us.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 17:1-9

Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.

From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.

If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.

As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.

My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me, hear my words.

Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Who among us has clean hands and a pure heart? Who among us has not given in to vanity, or yielded to selfish desires?
If we say that we have no sin, we have deceived ourselves, and the truth in not in us.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us. Indeed we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one, and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Loving God, we thankfully acknowledge that you have stamped your very image within each of us and therefore we are holy, just as you are holy. We confess, however, there are times when we forget who you are, and therefore we lose sight of who we are both as individuals and as communities of faith. We ask that you forgive us for the times when we forget that our bodies are your holy temples and do not care for them, or use them in ways which are unholy. We also confess that we do not always acknowledge your holy image pressed within the essence of those who are around us, both near and far. We are far more willing to divide ourselves by class, culture, race, ideology, and geography than to unite with one another under your banner of grace.
Hear us and renew us, gracious Lord and God.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us therefore give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read and ponder the Daily Texts. Then pray for your needs, the needs of your community, and the needs of the world. Pray especially this week for the needs in Haiti. The recovery from the earth quake continues at a very slow rate, and this has been componded by the heavy rains of Hurrican Tomas.
After your prayer continue as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of the heavens and earth, praise be to your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. While we know that you have created us to be holy, we ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; may we give thanks for your blessings all the days our lives, even as we live into eternity. Amen.

And so my brothers and sisters build yourselves up on your most holy faith.
May we be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit to pray every day and so be drawn closer to our living Redeemer.
May we live a life that gives space for silence to ponder the mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and give praise for God’s miracle of the sacred within us and others.
Think about the following things: things that are true and honorable, just, and pure;
meditate on things that are lovely and of good report; ponder things that are of virtue and worthy of praise. These are things that are holy, and for them we give thanks.

And now unto the God who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you as holy before the throne of grace with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 23rd Week in Pentecost

2010-11-01T08:18:00.008-04:00

The Watchword for the week together:

Jesus says, "For the Son of Man came to seek
and to save the lost." Luke 19:10

The Lord is in the holy temple; let all the earth keep silence.
Gracious Lord, we are your temples; we acknowledge your presence within us.
As we marvel at the beauty of the changing seasons, we give praise to your creative power.
May we open our hearts to that same creative power within us.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 32:1-7

Happy are those whose transgression
is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Happy are those to whom God imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand
was heavy upon me;

my strength was dried up
as by the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to God,"
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;

at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.

You are a hiding-place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us. Indeed we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one, and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Loving God, forgive us for wandering. We have followed paths of self-centered desires that have taken us far from you. Rather than seeking to bring our communities together we have divided ourselves according to race, creed, and class. We have lost our way, and confess our need for your guidance. Bring us back to you.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you. Let us therefore give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read today's Daily Texts. Don't rush, instead take time to ponder and reflect on words and phrases that catch your spirit today. This may be where the Spirit of God is seeking to speak to you. Next, take time to pray for your needs, the needs of your congregation, and the needs of the wider world. When you are ready, continue with the prayer as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of the heavens and earth, praise be to your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. While we know that you have created us to be holy, we ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that his holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; may we give thanks for all of your blessings everyday of our lives, even as we live into eternity. Amen.

And so my brothers and sisters build yourselves up on your most holy faith.
May we be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit to pray every day and so draw us closer to holiness.
May we live a life that gives space for silence to ponder the mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and gives praise for God’s miracle of the sacred within us and others.
Think about the following things: things that are true and honorable, just, and pure; meditate on things that are lovely and of good report; ponder things that are of virtue and worthy of praise.
These are things that are holy, and for them we give thanks.

And now unto the God who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you as holy before the throne of grace with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 21st Week in Pentecost

2010-10-17T20:16:00.003-04:00

Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2

Gracious God,
In the midst of a busy day
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of a busy life
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of the pain that we carry in our hearts,
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of our joyful celebration of the gift of life,
We pause to build our lives around you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?

My help comes from God,
who made heaven and earth.

God will not let your foot be moved;
God who keeps you will not slumber.

God who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

God is your keeper;
God is your shade at your side.

The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

God will keep you from all evil;
God will keep your life.

God will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

Let us confess our sins to our loving God:
(Adapted from the Liturgy of Christian Unity in the Moravian Book of Worship, page 125. Used by permission)

Gracious Lord and God we know that we will remain less that the whole persons you have called us to be in Christ Jesus until we acknowledge our sins to you, so we bow before you and pray: We confess that we have tried to run away and hide from you. We constantly deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live without you. We have made idols of our own achievements. We have treated other persons as though they did not bear your image. We have failed to enfold and include all persons within the outstretched and open arms of Jesus Christ, our Savior. And we have left undone those deeds of loving kindness and godly justice that you want us to pursue in your name. Bring your Spirit upon us in a gracious, healing way. Make us agents of reconciliation as we live within your holy presence. Amen.

Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

Thanks be to God.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Don't rush over words, but pause where words or phrases catch your attention. Relect and pray on those words. Then pray for your needs, the needs of your community of faith, and the needs of the world.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

God of all creation we thank you for the great things you have done for us.
Help us to make you the cornerstone upon which we build our lives.
We thank you for the way that you have gifted each of us in unique and wonderful ways,
So that we may live gracefully as a reflection of what you have given us.
Savior of the world guide us to build our lives on you,
Fan the flames of our faith so that we may passionately share your love with those with whom we live, and work, and play.
May the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us throughout the living of this day we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers for the 20th Week in Pentecost

2010-10-10T19:43:00.003-04:00

The Watchword for the week together:

If we have died with him, we will also live
with him. 2 Timothy 2:11

Praise be to you, creator God;
to you be glory and praise forever!
Just as your creative power moved over the face of the waters to bring light and life to your kingdom on earth,
Pour out your Spirit on us this day,
that we may live as children of light.
By your grace reveal your presence to us,
that we may be reflections of your love for the world.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

Let us confess our sins to our Gracious God:

Gracious Lord and God we confess that we often fail to seek after our Savior and instead use our own minds to guide our lives. In so doing we bend to the influence of prevailing culture which can lead us to self-centered decisions and separate us from you and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are sorry for our sins and seek now to turn away from them. For the sake of your Son who died for us, forgive us, cleanse us, and change us so that we might truly live. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to seek after the mind of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

We praise God by saying: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Tkae time now to read today's Daily Texts, then pray for your needs, the needs of your family and friends, and the needs of the world.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and forever. Amen

Living God, you invite us to take on the mind of Christ.
Everyone who follows you in the ways of your love is born of you and knows you well.
Loving Savior, you sacrificed your life in love for us,
You show us how to love by being vulnerable, unconditional, and persistent to the end.
Since you love us so much,
you empower us to love one another.
And if we love one another,
you abide in us, and we live in you.
Your love will bear fruit through us,
complete and perfect at the harvest.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid;
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Christ the Lord. Amen.

Prayers for the 19th Week in Pentecost

2010-10-04T09:27:00.002-04:00

The Watchword for the Week:
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and
he will act. Psalm 37:5

Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to prepare the paths for your Only-begotten Son:
that we may worthily serve you
with hearts purified by His coming.

Psalm 37:1-9

Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers,
for they will soon fade like the grass,
and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.

Take delight in God,
who will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.

God will make your vindication shine like the light,
and the justice of your cause like the day at noon.

Be still before God, and wait patiently;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for God shall inherit the land.

Let us confess our sins, knowing that God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins.

Forgive us loving God for the winding path upon which you have to travel to find us. As we bend to the selfish influences of our culture we lose sight of your intended will for us. Too often we live by fear rather than by faith because we underestimate your power to heal the parts of us that are broken, and to correct the parts of us that have drifted from your influence. Bring us back to you so that we might respond to your Grace living it each day. Give us the courage to give you unhindered access to all of who we are.

Comfort, comfort my people says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.

We praise God by saying: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today, or another selection of Scripture. Ponder the meaning of those words for your life today. Then pray for your needs, the needs of your family and friends, and the needs of the world. When you are ready, proceed with the prayer as fallows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and forever. Amen

ISAIAH 40:30-31
Even those who are young grow weak;
the young can fall exhausted.
But those who wait on the Lord for help
will find their strength renewed.
They will rise on wings like eagles;
they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

Christ, the Light of the world, empower us to live as lights in this dark world of sin.
Christ, lead us into good stewardship of creation that we and our children may preserve and enjoy the world entrusted to us.
O Emmanuel, God with Us, Jesus Christ, desire of every nation, Savior of all peoples,
come and dwell within our hearts and lives.
We praise you, for you are good,
And your mercy endures forever. Amen.

Prayers for the 15th Week of Pentecost

2010-09-07T16:59:00.002-04:00

The Watchword for the week:

Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him. Deuteronomy 30:19,20

In the midst of this busy day we pause to place God at the center of all that we are.
We lay aside the menial tasks as well as the important decisions for just a moment as we focus our attention on God’s grace.
Holy God, hear us now,
Listen to us as we lift up the prayers and petitions of our hearts, and may you open our ears so that we might hear your voice speaking to us.

Psalm 1

Happy are those who do not follow
the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;

but their delight is in the law of God,
and on God's law they meditate
day and night.

They are like trees planted in streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,

and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

for God watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Let us humbly confess our sins.
Gracious Savior, we bow our heads before you and confess that too often we have forgotten that we are yours and that true life comes from you. We confess that too often our first thought is financial security rather than sacrifice for your kingdom. We confess that we often hold being right as a higher virtue than being compassionate. We confess that too often we accept the notion that the immediate gratification of our needs and wants is more satisfying than seeing your will be known and done. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may choose life by what is good and acceptable and perfect. Enfold us in your arms so that we might feel your love for us and for the world.

My friends, the Biblical message is clear: Christ died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again that we might live in newness of life; new life both here and in the world yet to come. Let us give thanks to God.

Today we praise the God who created us, the God who is redeeming us, and the God who is sustaining us. Glory be to the triune God. Amen.

Take time to read the Daily Texts for the Day. Pause and ponder on words or phrases that happen to catch your spirit today. Then pray for yourself, your loved ones, and the issues that confront our world right now. When that is concluded continue as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we, sisters and brothers in Christ, pray together.

Our Father in heaven, praise be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

The Apostle Paul writes:
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
Romans 12:1-5

As one body then let us together go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers for the 14th Week of Pentecost

2010-08-30T11:08:00.002-04:00

The watchword for the week:

Let mutual love continue. Hebrews 13:1

May the love of the Lord our God be upon us.
Christ, inspire the work of our hands;
May the mercy of the Lord our God be upon us.
Christ, strengthen the work of our hands.
May the grace of the Lord our God be upon us.
Christ, empower the work of our hands.

Psalm 112
Praise be to God! Happy are those who fear God,
who greatly delight in God's commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in God.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Almighty and most merciful Father, like lost sheep we have strayed from your holy ways, we have withheld love from those around us rather than allowing it to grow. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, as we know that you forgive those who humbly confess their faults, and that you restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to humankind in Christ Jesus our Lord; Through your Holy Spirit grant to us the resolve to go from this day forward seeking to live a loving, gracious, and righteous life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

Almighty and merciful Lord, grant us the forgiveness of all our sins, and empower us to amend our lives to follow your example. If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read today's Daily Texts. Don't rush over this as if it is a chore to complete, but rather listen for the precious messages that God might be imparting to you this day.

As you complete the Daily Texts extend your prayer time to include your needs, the needs of those that you love, those that need God's gracious presence, and the needs of our hurting world. When you are finished continue with this prayer as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we, brothers and sisters in Christ, pray together.

Our Father in heaven, praise be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Lord, keep our Church under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.

Shout for joy all people of God, rejoice all the earth! The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Blessed be the name of the Lord in whom we live, labor, and love. Amen.

Prayers for the 9th Week in Pentecost

2010-07-25T13:40:00.003-04:00

The Watchword for the Week: Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 11:1

How wonderful it is to give praise to God.
How blessed it is to give thanks to the one who created this world and given us our place in it.
Hear and know that the Lord is good.
God’s mercy passes from one generation to the next and we are thankful for its presence with us now.

Psalm 138

1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
2 O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
3 When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
4 Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
6 By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
7 You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.
8 Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

Knowing that God is ready to hear us let us confess our sins:

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned in many ways, times, and places. We have mishandled this good earth entrusted to our care, and we have misused our personal gifts, hurting both ourselves and others. Forgive our false pride which hides our negligence, and forgive our careless acts which destroy your handiwork. In your mercy correct our faults and restore us to responsible, compassionate living.
(from the Moravian Book of Worship, Liturgy for Stewardship, page 155. Used by permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication.)

Hear and know that the Lord is good. God forgives those who are contrite in heart. Live in peace, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to sit and reflect on God's presence with you at this very moment. Read and reflect on today's Daily Texts. How are they calling to a life of prayer? How are they teaching you to pray? Then as you are led pray for your needs, concerns, and joys. Pray for the needs of the world. Then proceed as follows:

Jesus has taught his disciples to pray, and so we pray together.

Our father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we have forgiven
those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Through the hours of this day and night may we, O God, fix our eyes only on you.

Keep us from being distracted by the pervasive selfishness of our culture.

The Lord our God calls us to a life of prayer.
May we be guided and supported through our daily conversations with the Savior.

May the words that we speak, the thoughts of our hearts, and the actions of our lives be pleasing to you, O Lord.

May we serve this day in the name of the one who has created us, redeemed us, and sustained us. AMEN.

Prayers for the 7th Week after Pentecost

2010-07-12T19:46:00.003-04:00

The watchword for the week:

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4

Unto you, O God, we lift our praise.
Your ways are marvelous, and we seek to walk in your path.
This day gives us the chance to honor you,
To share with others your never ending love.

Psalm 25:1-10
To you, O God, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O God;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O God,
and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O God!
Good and upright is God;
therefore God instructs sinners in the way.
God leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble God's way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep God's covenant and God's decrees.

Let us confess our Sins:

We, in our human frailty, have a hard time understanding your steadfast love O God. We confess that too often our love comes with strings attached, and is based on what can be gained from sharing it. We, in our human frailty, have a hard time understanding how you can honor your covenants forever. We confess that too often we break the promises we have made to you and to those that we love. Gracious God, forgive our lack of understanding, forgive our shortsightedness, and forgive our unfaithfulness. Guide us to walk in your ways, to sing your praise, and to share your love unconditionally.

Thanks be to God that God’s love for each of us is not based on our faithfulness but rather on God’s steadfast love. My friends, know that your sins are forgiven, go therefore and walk in the light of the Lord, and give praise:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read and contemplate on today's Daily Texts or another appropriate passage of scripture. Take time to listen and allow words to sink in below the surface of your soul. Ask how these verses might help you to walk in God's paths of steadfast love. When you are ready to move on with this prayer, continue as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we brothers and sisters in Christ pray together.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

Romans 6:12-14, 17-18, 23 (TEV)

12 Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self.
13 Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes.
Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life,
and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.
14 Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace.
17 But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin,
you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received.
18 You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness.
God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gracious God, keep us mindful of your steadfast love for us and ways in which we can make that love come alive in the hearts of those that we love, serve, and come in contact with this very day. AMEN.

Prayers for the 6th Week in Pentecost

2010-07-05T10:18:00.003-04:00

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right.
Galatians 6:9

O come let us worship the One who created us, who has redeemed us, and who sustains us each day.
We seek to worship you, gracious God, with glad and generous hearts.
Let us give God all that is due.
Let us respond to God’s infinite love with the lives that we live, the words that we share, and the work that we do.

Psalm 66:1-9
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of God's name;
give to God glorious praise.
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
Because of your great power,
your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth worships you;
they sing praises to you,
sing praises to your name."
Come and see what God has done:
God is awesome in deeds among mortals.
God turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in God, who rules forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations -
let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of God's praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living,
and has not let our feet slip.

Let us confess our Sins:

Creator God, Redeeming Savior, Sustaining Spirit, we humbly acknowledge your sovereignty over all of who we are. It is you who gave us life, it is you that forgives our sins, it is you who whispers in our souls and breathes new life into us. You are woven into the very fabric of our being. We confess the times that we hold back from you that which you deserve from us: the times that we have held tightly to our wallets instead of giving generously; the times when our mouths have uttered words that have caused damage instead of spreading grace; the times when moral decisions have been made for immediate gratification rather than seeking your will for our lives. For the times when we have grown weary of doing what is right, we humbly ask for your forgiveness.

Our Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces, and remove the disgrace of his people from the earth. In that day we will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. Let us rejoice in his salvation.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today, or a portion of scripture that was read at worship this past Sunday, or that will be used this coming Sunday. Don't rush over this, take your time to focus on words or phrases that happen to catch your spirit today. Perhaps this is a place to which God is calling your attention. Comtemplate on these words or phrases by repeating them in your soul and then being quite in God's presence. When you feel ready to move on please proceed as follows.

O Lord, hear us now as we brothers and sisters in Christ pray together.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find ourselves complete in giving ourselves to you, forever. Amen.

You send us to bring good news to the oppressed,
and to bind the wounds of those broken in heart,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of prisons to those who are bound,
to announce the year of your grace,
to comfort all who mourn,
to give them a garland of consolation,
instead of the ashes of mourning,
the oil of gladness and healing,
and the rolling tears that wash away sorrow.
So may we be called oaks of righteousness,
trees that you plant to shade and sustain.
As the earth puts forth its blossom,
and as seeds in the garden spring up,
so you make justice flower,
and bear its fruit of peace among the peoples.

Lord of the dance, in whom we live and move and exult for joy, guide our steps through the complexity of our lives.
Keep us mindful of your steadfast love for us, and ways in which we can make that love come alive in the hearts of those that we love, serve, and come in contact with this very day. AMEN.

Prayers for the 5th Week in Pentecost

2010-06-28T09:10:00.003-04:00

The watchword for the Week: If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

O come let us worship and lift our hearts high
and adore our God, our Creator.

For you indeed are God, and we are your people,
crafted by the skill of your hands.

Psalm 16
Protect me, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
I say to God, "You are my God;
I have no good apart from you."
As for the holy ones in the land,
they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
Those who choose another god
multiply their sorrows;
their drink-offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
God is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
I bless God who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep God always before me;
because God is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad,
and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Let us Confess our Sins:

Gracious God, we are thankful for the gift of your Spirit which is around us and within us each day, beckoning us to follow you more faithfully. But we now confess that at times we have been unfaithful servants seeking after worldly acceptance, self gratification, and material gain. We often deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live without you, and act in ways which prove that we think your eyes are turned and your ears are closed to us. May we be guided once again by your Spirit to live lives worthy of our calling in Christ, with humility and patience, bearing one another in love, and eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thanks be to God, who has loved us from the beginning, and who promises that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will purify us from all unrighteousness.
Our Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from the earth. In that day we will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. Let us rejoice in his salvation.”

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

O Lord, hear us now as we brothers and sisters in Christ pray together.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

Guided by your Spirit send us to bring good news to the oppressed,
and to bind the wounds of those broken in heart,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of prisons to those who are bound,
to announce the year of your grace,
to comfort all who mourn,
to give them a garland of consolation,
instead of the ashes of mourning,
the oil of gladness and healing,
and the rolling tears that wash away sorrow.
So may we be called oaks of righteousness,
trees that you plant to shade and sustain.
As the earth puts forth its blossom,
and as seeds in the garden spring up,
so you make justice flower,
and bear its fruit of peace among the peoples.

Lord of the dance, in whom we live and move and exult for joy, guide our steps through the complexity of our lives.
Keep us mindful of your guiding Spirit, and ways in which we can make love come alive in the hearts of those that we serve and come in contact with this very day. AMEN.

Prayers for the 3rd Week in Pentecost

2010-06-15T09:18:00.002-04:00

The Watchword for the Week: We know that a person is justified not by the
works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:16

Spirit of the Living God, open our lips
and we shall sing of your wonders;
open our eyes
and we shall behold your glory;
open our hearts
and we shall welcome your love;
open our minds
and we shall discover your wisdom;
open our hands
and we shall show your generosity;
open our flesh
and we shall embody your presence.

Psalm 32
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom God imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to God,"
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
You are a hiding-place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in God.
Be glad in God and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Let us Confess our Sins:

Dear Heavenly Father, we bow before you and we confess that too often we have forgotten that you are the one who created us, who has justified us in Jesus Christ, and who comes to us daily and abundantly through the Holy Spirit. Because we have forgotten your profound love for us we sometimes fall short of being a credible witness to you. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may share your grace in our world. Remind us to be who you would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to you and build our relationship with you and with those you have given us on earth.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8-12
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Take time now to read the the Daily Texts for today or other appropriate Scirpture. Don't rush while reading. Take time to notice words that speak to you today. Ponder them, repeat them in your mind, let them sink into your heart. Allow them to transform your life.

Pray for the needs of your life, and the world around you. Pray most especially for the Synod of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church as we begin our meetings on Thursday, June 17.
When you are finished spend some time simply being quiet, then continue as follows:

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The work of the Creator is visible.
Let us respond with praise.
The example of Jesus is clear to us.
Let us respond with obedience.
The wind of the Spirit is blowing
Let us respond with joy.
The word of God is calling.
Let us respond by serving with thanksgiving.

And now may the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us now and forever. Amen.

Prayers for the Fifth Week in Easter

2010-05-04T08:56:00.003-04:00

The Watchword for the week:

Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life." Revelation 21:6

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
We should praise the Lord at our rising, and at the setting of the sun.
May we share our faith and sing God’s praise through the living of each moment this day.

Psalm 148
Praise God! Praise God from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!
Praise God, all you angels of God;
praise God all you host of heaven!
Praise God, sun and moon;
praise God, all you shining stars!
Praise God, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of God,
for God commanded and they were created.
God established them forever and ever;
God fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise God from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God's command!
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Beast of the forest and all cattle,
crawling things and flying birds!
Rulers of the earth and all peoples,
nobles and all leaders of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Sovereign,
whose name alone is exalted;
whose glory is above earth and heaven.
God has raised up a horn for the people, and praise for all the faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to God. Praise be to God!

Together, let us confess our wandering steps:

We, your disciples, have often dishonored the holy name that we bear, and we have turned aside from that path of holiness and loving service, in which you have called us to follow. We are sorry to find that we often attempt to satisfy our need for treasures and pleasures in ways that will not bring us deep happiness and purpose in life; and in fact cause us to walk away from you. Guide us to once again seek to abide in your love, and to live your graceful presence into the lives of those around us.

Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Text for the day, and to pray for your needs, the needs those around you, the needs of your congregation, and the needs of the world. Then continue in prayer as follows...

In one voice, we pray together:

Creator of the heavens and earth, we praise your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. We know that you have created us to be holy, and ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; we give thanks for the blessings of our lives even as we seek to live into the eternity of yours. Amen.

The Festival Doxology:

Unto the Lamb that was slain,
And has redeemed us out of all nations of the earth;
Unto the Lord who purchased our souls for himself;
Unto that friend who loved us, and washed us from our sins by his own blood;
Who died for us once,
That we might die unto sin;
Who rose for us,
That we might also rise;
Who ascended for us into heaven,
To prepare a place for us;
And to whom are subjected the angels, and powers, and dominions; to him be glory at all times,
In the Church which waits for him, and in that church which is around him from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

Prayers for Holy Week

2010-03-29T09:59:00.002-04:00

The Watchword for the Week:
The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14

We praise you, the Lord God of Israel! You came to the help of your people and have set them free.
You have shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and have remembered your holy covenant.
By your tender mercy you cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us,
To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29

O give thanks to God, for God is good;
God's steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say,
"God's steadfast love endures forever."
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to God.
This is the gate of God;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is God's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that God has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O God!
O God, we beseech you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
We bless you from the house of God.
The Sovereign is God,
and God has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to God, for God is good,
for God's steadfast love endures forever.

Confession of Sin

The voice of the messenger echoes from the desert, calling us to prepare the way of the Lord and make a straight path on which he may come. Let us confess our sins, so that our crooked ways will be made straight and the rough ways smooth.

Our sovereign Redeemer, we join with the people of Jerusalem offering our own shouts of praise and celebration at your coming. Although we often welcome you as did the multitude on Palm Sunday, we also have not always understood what that meant. We confess as well that we have stood with the condemning crowd on Good Friday with our thoughts, words, and actions crying “Crucify!” And like Peter we have, at times, denied our relationship with you through our silence. We turn to you for help and forgiveness, gracious Savior, not because we deserve it, but because you are forgiving. Save us from our sinful ways, and restore us to a life of loyalty to you. Amen.

A silence is observed, giving each penitent the opportunity to reflect on their own particular shortcomings, and upon the gift of God’s grace.

Through John the Baptizer, we hear the Lord’s promise: Turn away from your sins, and God will forgive your sins.

Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Then pray for the needs of the world, your community, and yourself. When you are ready, proceed as follows...

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass
against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, we are continually amazed at the way you turn the world upside down. For a Savior of the world we would have chosen a powerful prince,
But you chose a carpenter’s son born under questionable circumstances.
For disciples to help Jesus through his ministry we would have chosen well connected wealthy people of the upper class to bank roll the operation,
But you chose fishermen, a tax collector, and other such outcasts.
For a grand entrance into Jerusalem, we would have chosen a white Stallion,
But you chose a donkey.
When riding high in the polls on Palm Sunday we would have chosen to stay there as long as we could,
But you chose to clear the temple.
For a place of coronation we would have chosen a palace with a wonderfully decorated royal throne,
But you chose a cross.
For those who we would want to have included in the kingdom of God we would have chosen those who look and sound like we do,
But you chose the world.
For people to show the love and grace extended to us in Jesus Christ we would have chosen somebody else,
But you chose each of us. Use us today. Amen.

Prayers for the 5th Week in Lent

2010-03-23T11:29:00.003-04:00

Watchword for the Week:

Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14

Loving God, from the busyness of this day,
Call us into your presence.
From the distractions of our lives,
Call us into your presence.
From the slumber into which our faith can fall,
Call us into your presence.
From the temptation of being trapped by the memories of yesterday,
Call us into your presence.

Psalm 126

When God restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“God has done great things for them.”
God has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O God,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.

Confession of Sin

In order that our hearts might be cleansed, we need to lift to God the sins which stain our souls. Together, let us confess our sins:

Your ways are marvelous, O God. Your law is perfect, and your grace is boundless. We humbly ask for your forgiveness for the times when we have ignored your good intentions for us and instead have followed a short-sighted and misguided way of living. Forgive us for allowing the wistful memories of yesterday to cloud our vision for your work among us today. Give us courage then to set our faces toward the future. We ask that you create in us a clean heart, O God. Renew within us a true and right spirit with which we can stand before you without guilt or shame. Do not cast us away as we might deserve, but restore unto us the comforting presence of your Holy Spirit. Give us joyful hearts with which to serve our brothers and sisters, and your Church.

Christ came into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be save through Him. We are forgiven and we have the promise of eternal life. Rejoice and give God praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Take time to read the Daily Texts, or another suitable text of Scripture. Slow down and read with an open heart and mind. Then spend some time praying for the needs of your life, the needs of those around you, and the needs of the world.

With one voice, we pray together:

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, Amen.

Lord awaken us,
To see your presence with us in each moment.
Lord open our hearts,
To see the suffering of others.
Lord open our eyes,
To see the ways in which we can serve you this day.
Lord help us,
To see the value that we have in your great kingdom on earth.
Lord open our souls,
To accept the grace that you have already extended to us.
Lord make us aware,
Of how we can share your grace with those around us.
Lord awaken us,
To see the places that you are even now taking us.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And whatever we do in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. AMEN.

Prayers for the 4th Sunday in Lent

2010-03-14T17:21:00.002-04:00

The watchword for the week together:

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
From the rising to the setting of the sun,
The name of the Lord be praised.

Psalm 32

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom God imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to God,"
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in God.
Be glad in God and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Confession of Sin

Loving God, even though we have placed our trust in you, we have often betrayed this sacred relationship by living in such a way that has caused us to be separated from you and caused pain in the lives of others. Hear now our confessions as we seek to present ourselves honestly to you.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have often wandered from you like lost sheep. More than we care to admit, we have followed the desires of our own hearts. We have ignored your will for us as well as your holy laws. As a result, the good that we know to do, we have not always done, and those things that we ought not to have done, we have done. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. Today we humbly ask that you create in us a clean heart, O God. Renew within us a true and right spirit with which we can stand before you without guilt or shame. Do not cast us away as we might deserve, but restore unto us the comforting presence of your Holy Spirit. Give us joyful hearts with which to serve our brothers and sisters, and your Church.

(A silence is observed, giving each penitent the opportunity to reflect on their own particular shortcomings, and upon the gift of God’s grace.)

Christ died for our sins. We are forgiven and we have the promise new life now and of eternal life in the world to come. Thanks be to God.
Amen.

The Daily Text or another reading of scripture should be done here. Take time to ponder words or phrases that happen to catch you spirit today.
Then pray for your needs, the needs of your community, and the needs of the world.

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass
against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, we give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made.
We thank you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your grace which gives us the gift of re-creation.

Loving God, come and make us new.

May we then respond with acts of loving kindness that might bring about social justice and new life for all. Amen.

Prayers for the 3rd Week in Lent

2010-03-07T21:41:00.002-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon
him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

Christ invites us to come to worship
To rest from the things that are troubling us
To pray for the needs of those close us as well as for the needs of the world
To realize what we can offer to others
And so to return into the world to serve
Let us worship God.

Psalm 63:1-8

O God, you are my God,
I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Confession of Sin
(from the Liturgy for Lent II, pages78-79

Lord Jesus, we come before you in humble confession. Help us conform our lives to you as the model for holy and righteous living.

Forgive us for our desire for personal greatness, for our attempts to make gods of ourselves, for our willingness to exalt ourselves at the expense of others, and for our resistance to serving one another as you have served us.

Forgive us for making light of your obedience and sacrifice on the cross by living an undisciplined and indifferent Christian witness; forgive us for yielding to fear rather than relying on your strength to take the risks of discipleship.

Forgive us, dear Jesus, for times we have not looked to you as our Lord, and for allowing the clamoring distractions of the world to become higher priorities than you. Forgive us for yielding more to the temptations of this world than being transformed by your lordship over our lives.

May the Holy Spirit empower us to accept the grace that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ offers to us today. Hear the words of our Lord, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.”

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we were called to peace. And let us be thankful.

Read and contemplate the Moravian Daily Texts for today. Don't rush pause over words that catch your spirit. When you are finished take time to pray for the needs of the world, your community, and yourself, then continue with the prayer as follows.

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen

And now, most merciful God, we ask you to continue extending your grace and favor towards us; May we take time each day to seek you with our whole heart.
Let your truth abide and be established among us forever.
Help our unbelief, increase our faith, give us hearts to consider your many gifts to us.
In faith clothe us with Christ, that he may live in us,
And your name may be glorified in us, in the sight of all the world.
Christ, and him crucified,
Remain our confession of faith. Amen.

Prayers for the First Week in Lent

2010-02-22T10:34:00.003-05:00

Watchword for the Week:
No one who believes in Christ will be put to shame. Romans 10:11

In this Lenten season, Loving God, you call us to a time of reflection and contemplation.
This is a time to ponder where our wandering steps have separated us from you.
This is a time to consider all of who we are, and where you want us to be.
This is a time to establish a proper relationship with you.
O Lord, we want to be upright in heart.
May your comforting spirit allow us to unburden our souls.

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to God,
“My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For God will command God's angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.

Confession of Sin

If we confess our sins God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In full assurance of faith, let us confess our sins.

Gracious God, this season of Holy Lent calls us home to you. As we have wandered in our spiritual lives we now hear your invitation to return to you. As such Lent challenges us to look within ourselves and examine the priorities in our lives, as well as the ways in which those priorities have influenced our choices. Loving God, we easily see that our ways are not your ways, and for that we are sorry, and we seek to repent. Your ways are loving and gracious, yet we nurse selfish attitudes and practice only a selective distribution of grace. Forgive us for the barriers with which we separate ourselves from you so that we can keep you from looking deep into our hearts. We seek to have you know us, so that we in turn, might know our true selves. We trust, O Lord, in your steadfast love.

The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow, and courage to continue the journey.
Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Take time now to pray for the needs of the world, your community, your congregation, your family, and yourself. We you have concluded that, continue as follows:

Let us pray together:

Our Father in heaven, holy is your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Throughout this Lenten journey, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

We thank you, Lord Jesus, not only for the privilege of believing in you, but of suffering for you as well, so that we may also be glorified with you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of the body we were called to peace. And let us be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Whatever we do, therefore, whether in word or deed, let us do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

Prayers for the 3rd Week After the Epiphany

2010-01-24T21:28:00.002-05:00

Watchword for the Week
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Gracious God, from the busyness of our day we pause to remember that we are yours.
You give us our breath, and you deserve to be a part of our every moment.
Magnificent are your ways, and gracious is your will.
May our lives be lived in response to your freely given love.

Psalm 19

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims God's handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens God has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a beloved from his wedding canopy, and like an athlete runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of God are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of God is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of God is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of God are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O God, my rock and my redeemer.

Confession of Sin

Before the throne of grace we confess your sins:

The meditations of our hearts and the words of our mouths have not always been a reflection of our love for you, gracious Lord. We are sorry for the times when our words and actions have more often served our own needs rather than benefit your kingdom. Open our hearts to your guidance, and guide us to gratefully live in response to your grace.

My friends, God is faithful and just. God seeks only to forgive your sins and will not remember them. God asks that you now live a new life. Rejoice, be glad, and give God praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord God, Father, hear us as we pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come
Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

May the glory of the Lord fill our lives.
May our hearts be glad, and may our mouths give praise.
May the love of the Lord fill our lives.
May our hearts be glad, and may our mouths give praise.
May the grace of the Lord fill our lives.
May our hearts be glad, and may our mouths give praise. Amen.

Prayers for the 2nd Week after the Epiphany

2010-01-19T08:34:00.003-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:4,5

(Portions of this prayer are adapted from the Moravian Book of Worship, pages 122-126)

Loving God, we are part of your creation.
You put the sun, moon, stars, and planets in their intended orbits.
You created life on earth, and you created humanity little lower than the angels.
We thank you for the life of Jesus Christ, the Word that became flesh. For in him all things are held together.

Psalm 36:5-10

5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!

Confession of Sin

Let us in penitence and humility confess our sins before the throne of grace, praying together:

Almighty God, we confess that we have tried to run away and hide from you. We constantly deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live without you. We have made idols of our own achievements. We have treated other persons as though they did not bear your image. We have failed to enfold and include all persons within the outstretched and open arms of Jesus Christ, our Savior. We have left undone those deeds of lovingkindness and godly justice that you want us to pursue in your name. Bring your Spirit upon us in a gracious, healing way. Make us agents of reconciliation as we live within your holy presence. Amen.

My friends, God is faithful and just. God will not remember your sins. Rejoice, be glad, and give God praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts, or a short portion of scirpture, then pray for the needs of a hurting world. This week, pray especially for the suffering in Haiti. Pray for those who have lost loved ones, their homes, their way of life. After your prayer, continue as follows:

Lord God, Father, hear us as we pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Holy Trinity, three in one, teach us to love the world-wide church called out of all peoples and nations.
Make visible the unity that you desire as we express a spirit of reconciliation in all our relationships.
Show us that we are part of the one and only body of Jesus Christ, unified by faith, scattered for witness and service.
Lead us to appreciate the richness of our diversity and your creative power at work in our various traditions and customs.
Make us all one with you by the inspiration and guidance of your Spirit.
Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!

Prayers for the 1st Week After the Epiphany

2010-01-11T09:26:00.001-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:
God says, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Isaiah 43:1

Gracious God, from the busyness of our day we pause to remember that we are yours.
We seek to make you a part of our every moment.
Magnificent are your ways, and gracious is your will.
May our lives be lived in response to your freely given love.

Psalm 29:1-11

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Confession of Sin

Let us in penitence and humility confess our sins before the throne of grace, praying together:

We confess to you, loving God, that our daily lives do not always honor you. You deserve our tithes, but we give you what is left over. You deserve our obedience, but we forget your commandments. You deserve our undivided attention, but we give you a passing glance. You ask that we live lives of grace and righteousness, but we live by dept and obligation. We want to be closer to you, so accept our humble confession of sin and our desire to begin a new life today.

My friends, God is faithful and just. God will not remember your sins. Rejoice, be glad, and give God praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord God, Father, hear us as we pray:

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
Whom you have prepared for all the world to see.
A Light to en-lighten the nations,
And the glory of your people Israel.
The work of the Creator is visible.
Let us respond with praise.
The example of Jesus is apparent.
Let us respond with obedience.
The wind of the Spirit is blowing
Let us respond by yielding to its leading.
The word of God is calling.
Let us worship in spirit and in truth.

Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might,
Belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!

Prayers for the Epiphany of our Lord

2010-01-06T09:07:00.004-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:
God has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ. Ephesians 1:9

Like the wise-men from the east, we have been following a star that brings us to greet a mystery.

Perhaps we expected a king, royalty of some manner; at the very least we expected power that finds its roots in wealth. But instead we greet a humble peasant family with a vulnerable child. And to this great mystery we offer our gifts.

Psalm 147: 12-20

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.
14 He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the Lord!

Confession of Sin (from the Moravian Book of Worship, Liturgy for Epiphany page 67)

With sincere hearts and open minds, let us now acknowledge the sin that entangles us and prevents us from doing God’s will:

Compassionate Lord, you call us to a higher standard than we have achieved. We therefore bow in honest confession of those thoughts, words, and deeds which have missed the mark. Within our families, we have loved imperfectly. Among sisters and brothers in the church, we have not fully walked in the light. Often our congregations have not reflected the rich diversity of people in our communities. In our witness to the world, our lives have not adequately testified to your redeeming power. Forgive us, gracious Lord, for permitting ourselves to be distracted from the goal of our discipleship. Heal the brokenness of our hearts and restore us to you, our first love.

There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. Hear the word of the Lord: I do not condemn you. Go, but do not sin again.

Take time now to slowly and gently read the Daily Texts for today. Then simply stop to listen to your thoughts. Allow them to drift away and focus simply on God's love for you, and for the world. Pray for the issues that are confronting our planet right now. Pray for the needs of those whom you love. Pray for God's wisdom to direct your actions today. When you are finished, continue with the prayer as follows:

Epiphany Prayer of Intersession.

Let us offer intercessions and petitions for the needs of the world.

Lord Jesus Christ, as disciples called to your service, we pray for the salvation of all. Lead us to bear witness to friends and neighbors in this community. Fill our words and manner of life with the convincing power of your Spirit. Intensify our love for all people that our discipleship may be confirmed as genuine. Through our obedience to your call, bestow on many the faith to be saved.

Give every gift and blessing to your witnesses in all places. May those who suffer because they have named you as Lord be strengthened to endure every temptation. Give courage, insight, and loving patience to those who have left their own people to proclaim the gospel to those yet unreached.

Savior, grant that your church may always grow in grace and in numbers. Bring multitudes from every people to bow and confess that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The message of Epiphany is that the birth of Jesus was meant to have global implications; that the good news was meant for all people.

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Just as the magi came bearing gifts to the Christ Child, so may we offer ourselves to our Lord.

Lead us Lord to nurture and then share our gifts with the world around us. Through the tasks that are laid before us today, may the message of your grace fall on an ear that needs to hear it.

We marvel, gracious Lord, that through this mysterious birth your will for humanity is revealed for all to see.

Be with us as we seek to love as you have loved us, to forgive as you have forgiven us, and to give as you have given to us. Amen.

A Christmas Reflection

2009-12-28T08:28:00.003-05:00

Why Did God Choose?

I attended a Jim Brickman concert this past Monday night at the Hershey Theater and among the last few people to get settled into their seats was a couple that had seats right in front of us. They were a middle aged couple perhaps just a bit older that Tina and me. The theater was packed, and just as this couple was seated a man took the stage to give the usual announcements about turning off cell phones and those sorts of things. He also announced that following the concert all those who were members of the Jim Brickman VIP club should come down and take a seat in the front rows, and they would have a chance to meet him and the other musicians who would be performing that night. The gentleman of this couple excitedly took out his Jim Brickman VIP badge and showed it to his wife. I could tell from his body language that he was excited to be at this concert.

For those of you who don’t know who Jim Brickman is, he describes himself as America’s leading romantic pianist. While he is no doubt a very gifted piano player, he does not show off with his music. He just plays nice, soothing music, and on this evening he did some very creative arrangements of Christmas carols and other holiday music which were performed by him along with a small ensemble consisting of two singers, a violin player, and a percussionist. All of the audience members that sat around us seemed pleased to be there, and ready to listen, but not quite like this man. As Mr. Brickman took the stage this gentleman excitedly clapped not only with his hands, but his entire body, as he shook with excitement.

But it was here that the evening took a dramatic turn. Just as the first few notes were being played the last person sitting in the row in front of us finally arrived…and wouldn’t you know it his seat was in the middle of the row. So everybody, including the couple front of us had to stand up to let him in completely blocking our view of the stage. And just then the woman sitting right behind Tina yelled, in a voice for the entire theater to hear, “Sit down, I can’t see!” The man’s wife turned and in a stern but muffled voice told the lady to calm down. I started worrying about having to break up a fight, but after everyone was settled into their seats, it did get quiet again, as this man was not going to allow his evening to be ruined by a lady’s bad attitude. After each piece he would clap enthusiastically, and then eagerly lean forward in his seat for the next piece to start. Those of us around him couldn’t help but notice that he was appreciating this concert on a very different level than the rest of us. Everybody was certainly enjoying the evening, but this man was soaking up every note… every moment… as if it were the most important thing that he had ever been a part of.

It made me think about how we approach Christmas. I can certainly appreciate that over the course of time Christmas loses some of its magic. This is only natural as the central figure of the secular celebration of Christmas and his transportation system become more symbolic than real. But we should never, no matter what our age, lose the stirring of emotion that comes when we stop to fully comprehend and appreciate the gift that God gives to us in the birth of this little, vulnerable child, born to confused and homeless parents, in a poor and forgotten part of the world. Perhaps we need to be a bit more like this middle aged man who looked forward to the gift of this concert like a four year old child approaching the Christmas tree on Christmas morning viewing the assortment of neatly wrapped presents that were not there when she went to bed the night before.

While we often blame it on busyness, perhaps part of the reason that we leave the true inner experience of Christmas at arm’s length year after year is the difficulty that we have in understanding the choices God made to accomplish the task of placing his presence on earth in a human being.

After all, why would God choose to have Jesus be born into poverty, to an unmarried couple who was far from home, and seemingly ill prepared for this birth? Why not choose a married couple with some means to at least provide a home for this child.

Why would God choose a forgotten village in a forgotten corner of the world? Why not choose Rome or Alexandria, why Israel? And if Israel, why not Jerusalem? But God chose Bethlehem, not Jerusalem.

Why would God choose to be born in a stable full of barn animals, which amounted to being little more than a motel parking lot? And why would God choose a manger (which is a more romantic word for a cow’s feeding trough), for the first crib in which this Holy Baby would be cradled?

Such imperfection by our standards. Such an odd way of accomplishing what needed to be done.

But could it be that God chose such an imperfect scenario so that we could understand God’s wanting to find a place to be within the imperfections of our own lives? Could it be that God would choose to be born to a confused teenager, and her unsuspecting fiancée, just so that we would know that our confusion could also be a place where a Savior could be found? Could it be that God might choose this young couple, far removed from home and family and friends, so that we might understand God’s presence in the seeming loneliness and broken relationships of our own lives?

Could it be that God would choose the extreme poverty into which Jesus was born so that we might understand that wealth has nothing to do with spiritual fulfillment, as a matter of fact seeking wealth at all costs might even get in the way? So no matter what your economic reality right now, Christ can and will be present.
Could it be that through this unlikely birth God would reach out and choose even you to be a child of God? Could it be that God would reach out and chose even me?

Yes… the answer is yes! And as we continue with our celebreation of Christmas, as we attend services of worship, as we visit with friends and family, and as we take time to be quiet, I would invite you to allow your heart to be stirred, that you might allow the tear in your eye to roll freely down your cheek, that you might welcome the lump in your throat, that you might allow your voice to quiver as you sing an old familiar Christmas Carol, that you might once again allow Christ to be born into your life and receive him with enthusiasm and hope. Might we too lean forward in anticipation of where God might be taking us next in our life?

Might we, from the bottom of our hearts, join with Mary proclaiming these words to all around us: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

Why would God choose? God chooses because God so loved world, that he gave to us a Son, and his name is Jesus.

Prayers for the 4th Sunday in Advent

2009-12-20T20:59:00.002-05:00

(Portions of this prayer contain excerpts from the Moravian Book of Worship Liturgy for Christmas, pages 59-63)

The Watchword for the Week:

God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. Luke 1:52

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 1:46-55

46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Invitation to Confession

God has done marvelous things for us, but often the conduct of our lives does not reflect the acceptance of those gifts. Let us acknowledge our sin and our need for a Savior.

Confession of Sin:
Saving God, we confess to you our sinfulness. We are consumed with greed and with self, instead of loving you as we ought. Too often we are indifferent to those for whom this season is not a time of joy. You call us to a simple life, but we engage in extravagance, which directs our hearts away from you and from those in need. Forgive us and renew us, gracious Savior.

God has reached into the darkness of our lives to give us hope for living a new life. Accept the gift of God’s grace today and be transformed.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Take time now to read today's Daily Texts. Pause and ponder words or phrases that happen to catch your spirit today. Then pray for your needs, and the needs of the world.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Holy Child of Mary, Savior of the World,
reveal yourself to us.

Help us and save us through the totality of your life:

By your holy incarnation,
By your human birth,
By your pure and blameless childhood,
By your obedience and diligence,
By your humility, meekness, and patience,
By your extreme poverty,
By your grief and sorrows,
By your prayers and tears,
By your having been despised and rejected,
By your cross and suffering,
By your death and burial,
By your triumphant resurrection and ascension.

God has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly.

We marvel, Gracious God, at the mystery of your incarnation.

Why would you choose to be born into poverty, with a family far from home, and seemingly ill prepared for your arrival?

Why would you choose a forgotten village in a forgotten corner of the world?

Why would you choose to be born in a cave full of cattle, and take a manger for your crib?

Could it be that through this unlikely birth you would reach out and choose even us to be your children?

Could it be that you would reach out and choose even me?

The Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Prayers for the 3rd Week in Advent

2009-12-16T11:40:00.003-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:

Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Luke 3:8

Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to prepare the paths for your Only-begotten Son:
that we may worthily serve you
with hearts purified by His coming.

Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid,

for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

And you will say on that day: Give thanks to the Lord,

call on his name; make known his deeds among
the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.

Shout aloud and sing for joy O royal Zion,

For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Invitation to Confession

Preparing for the coming Savior means that we need to acknowledge our need for one. Let us prepare the way for the arrival of Jesus Christ by confessing our sins:

Forgive us loving God for the winding path upon which you have to travel to find us. As we bend to the selfish influences of our culture we lose sight of your intended will for us. Too often we live by fear rather than by faith because we underestimate your power to heal the parts of us that are broken, and to correct the parts of us that have drifted from your influence. We confess that we have separated ourselves from you and our spirit, soul, and body have been used to meet our own needs rather than seeking the purity of your will. Bring us back to you so that we might respond to your grace by sharing it with others. Give us the courage to give you unhindered access to all of who we are and in so doing find ourselves blameless at your coming.

Comfort, comfort my people says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Text for today. As you do so pause at words or phrases that speak most especially to your preparation for the Christmas season that is now fast approaching.

Then take time to pray for your needs, the needs of your family and friends, and the needs of the world. When you have finnished that, continue with the prayer as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ, the Light of the world, empower us to shine as lights in this dark world of sin.
As we continue in this Advent season enable us to more faithfully seek your presence in our daily lives.
Come Lord Jesus, come.
Come and mold us, change us, use us.
We praise you, for you are good,
And your mercy endures forever. Amen.

Prayers for the First Sunday in Advent

2009-12-01T08:15:00.002-05:00

The Watchword for the Week - Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Luke 21:33

Sing to the Lord a new song, for God has done marvelous things.

Rejoice greatly, shout for joy! See, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation.

Psalm 25:1-10
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Hear the voice of John the Baptist calling to us from the wilderness, challenging us to prepare the way for the coming Messiah, to repent and to make our paths straight.

Gracious God, this Advent season stirs a longing to have Christ come alive within us, yet we allow ourselves to become enslaved to cynicism, selfishness, and greed. In a season for freely giving and receiving, we tend to live by debt and obligation. We rush from task to task, scarcely opening our eyes to the peace and beauty around us. We sing of one who was laid in a borrowed manger, but we ignore the poor and homeless around us. We decry the violence of a wicked king, yet we are too often silent in the face of abuse and injustice around us. For this and all our sins, forgive us.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.

We are forgiven, may God lead us to live a new and nobler life today. Thanks be to God.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today or read a passage from the Bible. The Advent season invites us to ponder the expectant lives that anticipated the coming Messiah. Can we live our lives with that same expectation that Christ will come to us as well?

After you have read and pondered the text for the day, pray for needs of your community, and the world around you.

O Lord, Hear our Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ, the Light of the world, empower us to shine as lights in this dark world of sin.

Christ, lead us into good stewardship of creation that we and our children may preserve and enjoy the world entrusted to us.

O Emmanuel, God with Us, Jesus Christ, desire of every nation, Savior of all peoples,

come and dwell within our hearts and lives.

We praise you, for you are good,

And your mercy endures forever. Amen.

Prayers for the 24th Week of Pentecost

2009-11-17T13:27:00.006-05:00

The Watchword for the Week

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for God who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid;

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

Today may we perfectly love You, and worthily magnify your holy name,

And now visit us with your Holy Spirit as we open our hearts to you. Amen.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 16

1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.

4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

8 I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.

10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.

11 You show me the path of life.

In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We come before the throne of grace to unburden our hearts and to receive forgiveness. Let us confess our sin.

Gracious God, we affirm you as our creator, our redeemer, and the sustainer of our lives. You love us so very much that you have reached into our lives to claim us as your own. We confess however that we take your love for granted, and your grace is often forgotten. We allow our lives to become so cluttered that we forget to stop and count the steps that we have taken on any given day and ponder whether those steps have moved us closer or farther away from you. In so doing we cease to be faithful to you even as you have been faithful to us. We humbly ask that you would hear our prayer, know our hearts, and forgive us our sin.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today or another passage of scripture. Don't just rush over words, take time to ponder most especially words that catch your attention today. Chances are these are things that God wants you to pay attention to.

Whey you are done with your reading take time to pray for yourself, or community, and for the needs of the world. When you are done with your prayer, continue reading below.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, hear us.

Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your life-giving strength, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.

Empowering God, just as you created the heavens and the earth,

May you create within us a new life.

Open the eyes of our hearts

To see the impact that our every word and action can have on the lives around us.

You give us each day as a blessed gift.

Guide us and lead us to be faithful to you, faithful to our calling, and faithful in all that we do and say.

May the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

Be and abide with us now and forever. AMEN.

Prayers for the 24th Week of Pentecost

2009-11-12T10:36:00.002-05:00

Watchword for the week:

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. Psalm 146:8

The Lord is in the holy temple; let all the earth keep silence.
Gracious Lord, we are your holy temples when we acknowledge your presence within us.
As we marvel at the beauty of the changing seasons, we give praise to your creative power.
May we open our hearts to that same creative power within us.

Psalm for the Week:

Psalm 146

Praise be to God! Praise God, O my soul!

I will praise God as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in nobles,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.

When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans shall perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Sovereign their God,

who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

God sets the prisoners free; God opens the eyes of those who cannot see. God lifts up those who are bowed down; God loves the righteous.

God watches over the strangers
and upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked God brings to ruin.

The Sovereign will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise be to God!

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us. Indeed we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one, and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Loving God, we thankfully acknowledge that you have stamped your very image within each of us and therefore we are holy, just as you are holy. We confess, however, there are times when we forget who you are, and therefore we lose sight of who we are both as individuals and as communities of faith. We ask that you forgive us for the times when we think of ourselves more highly that we ought and we refuse to acknowledge your holy image pressed within the essence of those who are around us, both near and far. Grant us today a humble spirit that seeks to honor you in the ways that we treat others.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us therefore give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to listen for God's direction in your life as you read the Daily Texts for today, or another selection of scripture. When you are done reading pray for the needs of your family, friends, and the world.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of the heavens and earth, praise be to your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would grant us a humble spirit with which to forgive each other. While we know that you have created us to be holy, we ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; may we give thanks for your blessings all the days our lives, even as we live into eternity. Amen.

And so my brothers and sisters build yourselves up on your most holy faith.
May we be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit to pray every day and so be drawn closer to living a righteous life.
May we live a life that gives space for silence to ponder the mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and give praise for God’s miracle of the sacred within us and others.

And now unto the God who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you as holy before the throne of grace with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 22nd Week of Pentecost

2009-11-02T09:07:00.002-05:00

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:4,5

Praise be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Praise be to the One who does wonderful things.
Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see the many ways that you have blessed us.
Open our ears, Lord, that we may hear the cries of need in the world and respond as you lead us.
Open our hearts, Lord, that we might feel your presence with us this day.
With all of our heart, and soul, and might, we give you honor and praise.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 119:1-8

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of God.

Happy are those who keep God's decrees,
who seek God with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in God's ways.

You have commanded that all your precepts shall be kept with diligence.

O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances.

I will observe your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.

Let us confess our sins to our loving God:

Gracious God your way is perfect and your will for our lives can bring us meaning. But we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have at times disregarded your will for us by looking at the world through selfish eyes. We have acted in ways that has brought pain to us and others, and has separated us from your love. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. Hear now our desire to love you with all of our heart, soul, and might, and to love others as you love us. Give us the wisdom to see the world through your compassionate eyes and share your loving presence with those in need.

Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for the day. Don't rush over this as if it is a task to check off of your to do list for the day. As you read, anticipate that God will be sharing with you wisdom for your life. Ponder over words and phrases that happen to speak to you today. When you are done pray for the needs of a hurting world. Ask God to show you ways that you can be a light unto the world.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

God of the past, present, and eternity,
Fill us with your grace.
For the living of this day,
Give us wisdom and direction.
For the desire to share your grace in tangible ways,
Give us passion and purpose.
Lord of life in whom we live, and move, and have our being,
May we follow you all the days of our lives.
We exalt you and praise your name,
For you have done wonderful things and we are thankful.

May the love God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be and abide with us now and forever, Amen.

Prayers for the 21st Week After Pentecost

2009-10-28T20:36:00.003-04:00

The Watchword for the Week

The Lord has done great things for us.
Psalm 126:3

Gracious God,
In the midst of a busy day
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of a busy life
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of the pain that we carry in our hearts,
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of our joyful celebration of the gift of life,
We pause to build our lives around you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 126

When God restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then it was said among the nations,
“God has done great things for them.”

God has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.

May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.

Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

Let us confess our sins to our loving God:
(Adapted from the Liturgy of Christian Unity in the Moravian Book of Worship, page 125. Used by permission)

Gracious Lord and God we know that we will remain less that the whole persons you have called us to be in Christ Jesus until we acknowledge our sins to you, so we bow before you and pray: We confess that we have tried to run away and hide from you. We constantly deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live without you. We have made idols of our own achievements. We have treated other persons as though they did not bear your image. We have failed to enfold and include all persons within the outstretched and open arms of Jesus Christ, our Savior. And we have left undone those deeds of loving kindness and godly justice that you want us to pursue in your name. Bring your Spirit upon us in a gracious, healing way. Make us agents of reconciliation as we live within your holy presence. Amen.

Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

Thanks be to God.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today or read a selected passage of Scripture. When you have completed that, take time to pray for your needs, the needs of your commuity, and the needs of the world.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

God of all creation we thank you for the great things you have done for us.
Help us to make you the cornerstone upon which we build our lives.
We thank you for the way that you have gifted each of us in unique and wonderful ways,
So that we may live gracefully as a reflection of what you have given us.
Savior of the world guide us to build our lives on you,
Fan the flames of our faith so that we may passionately share your love with those with whom we live, and work, and play.
May the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us throughout the living of this day we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers for the 17th Week After Pentecost

2009-09-28T08:52:00.002-04:00

The Watchword for the Week:

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:8

From the busyness that fills our daily lives,
We gather to fix our attention on God’s way.
From the distractions that re-order our life’s priorities,
We gather to fix our attention on God’s way.
From the slumber into which our faith can sometimes fall,
We gather to fix our attention on God’s way.

Psalm 19: 7-14

The law of God is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of God are sure,
making wise the simple;

the precepts of God are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of God is clear,
enlightening the eyes;

the fear of God is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of God are true
and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also
from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you,
O God, my rock and my redeemer.

Let us humbly confess our sins.
Gracious God, we affirm that your way is perfect. The Biblical witness and the life of Jesus Christ give us the pattern by which we should live out our faith, but we have chosen to walk on our own path. We confess that we have found it all too easy to follow the way of our culture and have made keeping your commandments an option, rather than an expectation for our lives.
So we humbly ask that you create in us a clean heart, O God, and place within us that understanding that will help us to see your way and to observe it with our whole heart.
Lord have mercy on us.

The Lord says to us: I will forgive your iniquity and remember your sin no more. Peace be with you.
With grateful hearts we say: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read and ponder the Daily Texts for today or read one of this week's assigned Scripture lessons from the Lectionary. Don't rush over this as if it were a task to complete, instead anticipate that in some way God is gifting you with words of wisdom for use in your daily life. This week's lessons are as follows: Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29; Psalm 19:7-14James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50.

After reading the Texts for today, pray for yourself, those you love, and for the needs of a hurtig world. Pray for peace in those parts of the world that are currently in the midst of war. Remember that people on both sides of a conflict lose loved ones.

Use the following prayer to complete your time of intersession:

Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your life giving strength, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.

Just as God created an Eden in which all was made to work together,

God has created a pattern of life which is intended to bring us to wholeness.

That wholeness was shown to us as Jesus brought the law of God into human form.

Jesus showed us a way of grace and forgiveness even though life was made difficult for him by the sin of the world.

We pray that God might awaken in us the desire to follow his path more closely amidst the temptations and difficulties of our lives.

Come, Holy Spirit, show us the way, the truth, and the life.

Whatever we do, therefore, whether in word or deed, let us do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers for the 13th Week after Pentecost

2009-08-31T10:33:00.002-04:00

The Watchword for the week:

Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19

Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us give thanks to the One who hears our prayers and is quick to forgive.
We can take comfort in knowing that the Spirit of God is upon us today.
Give us, O God, the grace to bring you the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart, which you will not despise.

Psalm 15

O God, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, who speak the truth from their heart,

and do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends,

nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised,

but who honor those who fear God; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;

who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.

A Prayer of Confession:

In truth and honesty, let us draw near to the throne of grace and confess our sins to God.

Forgive us Lord when we have put our material possessions as gods in our lives.
Forgive us Lord for making idols of our accomplishments, and for placing others before you as primary in our lives.
Forgive us Lord when the words spoken from our lips have not brought honor to you or your kingdom.
Forgive us Lord when we have forgotten or refused to take our rest in you.
Forgive us Lord when we fail to respect those who have passed the faith on to us.
Forgive us Lord when we injure or damage the emotional lives of others.
Forgive us Lord when we fail to keep the promises made to even those most close to us.
Forgive us Lord when we hoard our wealth at the expense of others.
Forgive us Lord when we lie to conceal our own mistakes.
Forgive us Lord when we spend time and energy wanting things that we don’t need.
Forgive us Lord when we fail to do your will.

The Lord your Redeemer says: Now your guilt is gone and your sins are forgiven. Let us give praise to God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts. When you have finished with the prayer for the day, continue in a period of silence. Reflect on words and phrases from the readings, ponder those things which seem to linger in your soul. Take time also to prayer for the issues and persons that are not only close to your heart, but those things which impact the world. When you are finished, continue with the prayer as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we, brothers and sisters in Christ, pray together.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Lord, as we continue our journey in life,
Help us to put our trust in you.
As we come to doubt our abilities,
Help us to know that you make us complete.
As we fear for the health and welfare of those that we love,
Help us to know that you are with both them and us.
As we come to doubt that we are making a difference in your Church,
Help us to know that this is your Church and we simply have to be faithful to your call to us.
As we come seek to listen more intently, speak more carefully, and anger less often,
Help us to know that your grace gives us new life both here, and in the world yet to come.

Shout for joy all people of God, rejoice all the earth! The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Blessed be the name of the Lord in whom we live, labor, and love. Amen.

Prayers for the 12th Week in Pentecost

2009-08-25T16:33:00.003-04:00

The Watchword for this Week:

Jesus says, "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63

How wonderful are your ways, loving God.
We look at the wonderful world which you have created, and we are filled with awe.
While we marvel at the complexity of this creation we are even more amazed at the love that you have for all of it, including humanity.
Compassion and steadfast love is what sets you apart from all else in this world. How wonderful you are.

Psalm 34:15-22

The eyes of God are on the righteous, and God's ears are open to their cry.
The face of God is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, God hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
God is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God rescues them from them all.
God keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
God redeems the life of those who serve God; none of those who take refuge in God will be condemned.

In truth and honesty, let us draw near to the throne of grace and confess our sins to God.

God of spirit and life we come to you with a humble heart and a contrite spirit asking for your grace to be showered upon us. As we consider the pattern of your spirit we feel inadequate to even approach you, but hear us as we ask your forgiveness. We confess that we have not always reflected your compassion to those around us. While we find it easy to be compassionate towards those whom we love, we find that it is harder to do that with those who we consider to be our enemies. We find it easy to keep a score of those who have wronged us, while we ignore the pain that we have inflicted on others. Help us to look first at how we can best transform ourselves into a more faithful reflection of your love, instead of how we can change those with whom we have conflicted feelings. We hunger for your spirit and life, feed us this day. Amen.

The Lord your Redeemer says: Now your guilt is gone and your sins are forgiven. Let us give praise to God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Don't rush to get the reading done, pause at words that happen to catch your spirit today. Ponder them, meditate on them, and pray.

When you have finished the prayer, continue as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we, brothers and sisters in Christ, pray together.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
Whom you have prepared for all the world to see.
A Light to en-lighten the nations,
And the glory of your people Israel.
Send forth your Spirit, Lord,
Renew the face of the earth.
Creator Spirit, come and enable us to have compassion on others.
Feed our hungry hearts with spirit and life.
Lord, hear our prayer,
And let our cry come to You.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Prayers for the 8th Week in Pentecost

2009-07-24T15:41:00.002-04:00

The watchword for the week: The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. Psalm 145:13

Gracious God, we seek only to give you praise
To lift our hearts to you so that we may learn of your never ending love.
We are a distracted people
Too often we follow the whims of our fantasies, and the ways of our culture.
Call us back to you
So that we may know you more clearly, and walk in the light of your path.

Psalm 145:10-18

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, 12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.

14 The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Let us confess our Sins:

God of all people, we know your love to be steadfast, gracious, and merciful. We know you to be one who is slow to anger, whose compassion is given to all of humanity, and one who is faithful in all your words and deeds. As we look at our lives and the failed attempts to be anything like you are, we confess that sometimes we want to give up. You are too wonderful for us and we don’t deserve your graciousness. We thank you that your love for each of us is based not on our ability to perfectly reflect your ways but rather on your steadfast love. Hear our confession, know our hearts, and bring us home to you.

Hear the gracious words of our Savior, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more. Give praise to God!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for the day. After praying the written prayer, lift up to God those persons and places that need God's helping hand today. When you have finished your prayer, continue as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we brothers and sisters in Christ pray together.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

We as children of God seek to follow in the ways of God.
We acknowledge that God’s way is faithfulness and abounding in grace.
We confess that we often find it hard to extend grace to all people in our lives.
Loving God, we ask that your Holy Spirit guide the words of our mouths and actions of our lives so that they might be more closely aligned with your love and grace.
Our world needs God’s presence, and God asks, “Whom shall I send? Who will be my messenger?
And like Isaiah, we respond: “I will go. Send Me.”
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.

Prayers for the 7th Week in Pentecost

2009-07-20T10:22:00.003-04:00

The Watchword for the Week:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19

Sometimes we feel alone and weary.
Sometimes we stumble in the chaos of life.
Sometimes we find no comfort from the stress of life.
Sometimes the table seems bare.
So come, all who are weary and need rest.
We seek a home in which we can listen to God’s still, small voice.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Let us confess our Sins:

Loving God, we are a wandering people. We seek after riches, convenience, and easy answers, and in doing so we find ourselves far removed from your loving embrace. So hear now the confessions of our hearts, help us to find our way home to you.

(Silent Prayer of Confession)

Without Christ we were strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus we who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He is our peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. After you have finished the prayer, continue in that spirit by lifting up your needs, as well as those of your your community of faith and the world to God. In doing so ask not that God take care these things for you, but ask that you be given the wisdom and strength to be God's servant in taking are of these needs. When you have completed your prayer, continue as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we brothers and sisters in Christ pray together:

Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins As we forgive those Who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, And the glory are yours Now and forever. Amen.

I am a God nearby, says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? I am the Lord your God. I have called you out from the peoples and you shall be holy to me.

We declare your praise, the One who called us out of darkness into your wonderful light. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to you.

Let us in faith keep our eyes fixed on the promises of God, rather than the distractions of this world.

We confess that we are strangers and foreigners on earth, a people who are seeking our true home.

We desire a better place, that is, a heavenly one. Indeed, God has prepared a city for us.

Let us set aside those things that keep us from accepting God’s grace as the guiding force in our lives.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid;

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Christ the Lord. Amen.

Prayers for the 4th Week After Pentecost

2009-07-01T08:38:00.003-04:00

The watchword for the week: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. Lamentations 3:22

O come let us worship and lift our hearts high
and adore our God, our Creator.
For you indeed are God,
and we are your people,
crafted by the skill of your hands.

Psalm 30

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
7 By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication:
9 "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!"
11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Let us Confess our Sins:

Gracious God, we are thankful that your love is steadfast towards us. Your love is unwavering, unconditional, and given freely and abundantly. We acknowledge that our love for you has wavered and become lukewarm. We confess that at times we have been unfaithful servants seeking after worldly acceptance, self gratification, and material gain. We often deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live without you, and act in ways which prove that we think your eyes are turned and your ears are closed to us. Lead us into lives worthy of our calling in Christ, with humility and patience, bearing one another in love, and eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thanks be to God, who has loved us from the beginning, and who promises that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will purify us from all unrighteousness.
Our Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from the earth. In that day we will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. Let us rejoice in his salvation.”

Take time now to read today's Daily Text, and then pray for the needs of those close to you, and the needs of those around the world. When you are finished continue as follows:

O Lord, hear us now as we brothers and sisters in Christ pray together.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

You send us to bring good news to the oppressed,
and to bind the wounds of those broken in heart,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of prisons to those who are bound,
to announce the year of your grace,
to comfort all who mourn,
to give them a garland of consolation,
instead of the ashes of mourning,
the oil of gladness and healing,
and the rolling tears that wash away sorrow.
So may we be called oaks of righteousness,
trees that you plant to shade and sustain.
As the earth puts forth its blossom,
and as seeds in the garden spring up,
so you make justice flower,
and bear its fruit of peace among the peoples.

Lord of the dance, in whom we live and move and exult for joy, guide our steps through the complexity of our lives.
Keep us mindful of your steadfast love for us, and ways in which we can make that love come alive in the hearts of those that we love, serve, and come in contact with this very day. AMEN.

Prayers for the 4th Week in Pentecost

2009-06-24T09:47:00.005-04:00

The watchword for the week: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Let the whole earth be joyful in you, O God,
We greet you with gladness,
and celebrate your presence with a song.
For we know that you are creating us,
you are alive in us and we belong to you.
We enter your gates, a motley procession,
But we enter with heartfelt thanksgiving and joy.
For you are gracious and your embrace is compassionate,
faithful through all generations.

Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;
29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Let us Confess our Sins:
O God, we thank you for sending the gift of your steadfast love to us each day even though we do not always claim it. Move us, by your Spirit, to accept your love, and share it freely with those who need it. Forgive us when:
· We are slow to seek reconciliation with others,
· When we cling to the feeling of having been wronged,
· When we fail to work for the redemption of people whom we do not like,
· When we fail to extend to others the same compassion you freely give to us.
Break in on our selfishness, and astonish us anew, O God! Our prayer is that you will claim us again and strengthen us to respond to the needs of those who are hurting. Amen.

We are enabled to be kind to one another, to be tenderhearted, to forgive one another, and to be forgiven, because Jesus feeds us with his life. A life given to save us from sin. Hear, then, the good news: those who are in Christ are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come. Thanks be to God!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Take time now to pray for your needs, the needs within your congregation, your community, and the world. When you are finished with your prayer, proceed as follows:

Let us now pray together:

Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your live giving strength, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.

Jesus makes my heart rejoice,
I’m his sheep and know his voice,
He’s a shepherd kind and gracious,
And his pastures are delicious,
Constant love to me he shows,
Yea my very name he knows.
(Hymn 662 v.1)

And now may the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us now and forever. Amen.

Prayers in Celebration of the Trinity

2009-06-08T14:52:00.002-04:00

The watchword for the Week: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

Let the whole earth be joyful in you, O God,
We greet you with gladness,
and celebrate your presence with us,
For we know that you are creating us,
you are alive in us and we belong to you.
You are weaving us into a marvelous tapestry,
a people of diverse threads and colors.
We enter your gates, a motley procession,
with heartfelt thanksgiving and joy.
We dance with delight and bless one another,
in the Spirit of your love, intimate and just.
For you are gracious and your embrace is compassionate,
faithful through all generations.

Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Let us Confess our Sins:

Gracious God, your majesty is seen throughout the world.
But often we are too busy to notice.
Gracious God, your beauty is seen in the vast diversity of races, and clans, and tribes,
But often we allow differences of color, culture, and class, to divide us rather than give us a better picture of your creative power.
Gracious God, you call us to share your glory with all people.
But often we become too concerned with our own needs and wants, and forget the pain of others. Forgive us creator God, redeem us loving Savior, renew us empowering Spirit.
(Silent Reflection)
We are enabled to be kind to one another, to be tenderhearted, to forgive one another, and to be forgiven, because Jesus feeds us with his life. A life given to save us from sin. Hear, then, the good news: those who are in Christ are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come. Thanks be to God! Amen!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts, reflect on them, and then after reading the prayer for the day, continue to pray for your needs, the needs of your congregation, friends, and family, and then for the needs of the world. After that, continue as follows:

Let us pray together:

Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your life giving strength, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty.
We offer ourselves to you again this day.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty,
Create in us a clean heart.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty,
Bring us back to you and to your will.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty,
Empower us for ministry in all that we do and say.

And now may the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us now and forever. Amen.

Prayers for the 7th Week in Easter

2009-05-28T08:20:00.004-04:00

The Watchword for the week:

Jesus says, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17

From the busyness of this day we gather to hear God’s call to us.

We gather together at the throne of grace to pray for ourselves, our loved ones, the Church, and the needs of a hurting world.

We gather in God’s presence to hear the truth,

So that we might speak it, and live it in our daily lives.

Psalm 1

1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;

2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.

3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Together, let us confess our sins:

Gracious Lord, we know your word to be truth, but today we confess that at times our fallible minds find truth hard to define, and our mouths find the truth hard to speak. Forgive us for following paths which take us away from your loving intent for our lives. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

The Lord says: “I, even I, am the God who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and will not remember your sins. Go and sin no more.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Pause after each scripture verse and ponder its meaning for your life today.
Then pray for those in need, pray for your own search for truth. When you have finished, please continue with the following prayers:

Our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples to pray in this manner:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Loving God, open our eyes to see your truth,

So that we might walk on the path of righteousness.

Christ, the living truth, grant us wisdom,

To choose your will for our lives.

Spirit of truth, blow through us today,

And empower us to bring good news to those who need to hear it.

To the God of lasting wisdom, to the God of relentless change, to God be glory, majesty, dominion, and power,

Now and forever. Amen.

Prayers for the 6th Week in Easter

2009-05-20T08:32:00.002-04:00

Watchword for the week:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Psalm 98:4

This is the day the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

May we sing, shout, and give thanks to God.

For in Christ, God has brought the kingdom of God close to us.

Psalm 98

1 O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

2 The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.

8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy

9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Together, let us confess our sins:

Gracious Lord, forgive us when our mouths cease to joyously praise you. Forgive us for the times when we have used our months to speak ill of others instead of sharing our concern for them. Forgive us when our mouths have spoken harshly and hastily when anger has filled our souls. Forgive us for the times when the words coming from our mouths have spoken of envy, prejudice, and hate. Forgive us when our mouths have been silent instead of calling out injustice and abuse. Forgive us for our participation in a culture which seeks to use the earth for our own benefit rather than allowing it to show forth your glory. Forgive us Lord and bring us back to wholeness so that we may sing of your praise both night and day.

Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for Today, or another passage or two of scripture that will provide inspiration for your day.

Then take time to simply be quiet in God's presence. Breathe deep and know that you are loved. As the names and faces of loved ones come across your mind, pray for them. As issues and concerns that are plaguing our nation and world come to mind, pray for them. When you are finished continue with this prayer as follows:

In one voice, we pray together:

Creator of the heavens and earth, we praise your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. We know that you have created us to be holy, and ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; we give thanks for the blessings of our lives even as we seek to live into the eternity of yours. Amen.

Loving God, may the words of our mouths speak love,

And may they bring others closer to your presence.

Loving God, may the words of our mouths speak grace,

And may they bring others closer to your presence.

Loving God, may the words of our mouths speak peace,

And may they bring others closer to your presence.

Loving God, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable unto you,

Our rock and our redeemer.

Go forth from here and make a joyful noise to Lord.

Amen.

Prayers for the 5th Week of Easter

2009-05-11T10:16:00.002-04:00

The Watchword for the week:

Jesus says, "Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me."John 15:4

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
We should praise the Lord at our rising, and at the setting of the sun.
May we share our faith and sing God’s praise through the living of each moment this day.

Psalm 22:25-31

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
Before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

Let us confess our wandering steps:

Gracious God, we humbly bow before you and confess that we sometimes live our lives as if we did not know you. We deny our need for the life giving strength and guidance that your Holy Word can provide us. We are sorry to find that we often attempt to satisfy our need for treasures and pleasures in ways that will not bring us deep happiness and purpose in life; and in fact cause us to walk away from you. Guide us to once again seek to abide in your love, and to live your graceful presence into the lives of those around us.

Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Take time now to read the Moravian Daily Texts for the day. After you have completed today's prayer, take time to pray for your needs, the needs of your family and friends, the needs of your congregation, and the needs of the hurting world. May we all be brought closer to Christ.

In one voice, we pray together:

Creator of the heavens and earth, we praise your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. We know that you have created us to be holy, and ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; we give thanks for the blessings of our lives even as we seek to live into the eternity of yours. Amen.

The Festival Doxology:

Unto the Lamb that was slain,
And has redeemed us out of all nations of the earth;
Unto the Lord who purchased our souls for himself;
Unto that friend who loved us, and washed us from our sins by his own blood;
Who died for us once,
That we might die unto sin;
Who rose for us,
That we might also rise;
Who ascended for us into heaven,
To prepare a place for us;
And to whom are subjected the angels, and powers, and dominions; to him be glory at all times,
In the Church which waits for him, and in that church which is around him from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

Prayers for the 4th Week in Easter

2009-05-04T15:40:00.002-04:00

Watchword for the week:

Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11

The Easter season calls us to celebrate new life.
Loving God, grant that we may be renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Help us to lay aside those things that lead us astray from you,
And help us to embrace those things which bring us closer to you and your will for our lives.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Confession of Sin

Almighty and most merciful God, we have erred and strayed from your holy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too often the devices and desires of our own hearts, and we have offended your holy laws. This has separated us from you, and we have hurt even those that we love. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done things we ought not to have done, and we are truly sorry. O Lord, have mercy on us. Forgive us our sins as we are able to honestly confess them to you. Restore your image in us, and create in us a clean heart. Make of us a new creation, ready and willing to serve you.

Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Pause at words or phrases that happen to catch your spirit, and ponder what God might be saying to you today.

After you have read the texts and prayer, continue in the spirit of prayer mentioning the needs that you bring today, the needs of your friends and family, and the needs of the world. When you have finished your prayer, continue as follows:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again, he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the shepherd of our lives, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

We thank you, Lord Jesus, not only for the privilege of believing in you, but of suffering for you as well, so that we may also be glorified with you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of the body we were called to peace. And let us be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Whatever we do, therefore, whether in word or deed, let us do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

Prayers for the 3rd Week of Easter

2009-04-27T15:11:00.005-04:00

The watchword for the week: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. 1 John 3:1

This is the day the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
We pause for these moments to orient our lives to God’s purposes.
May our hearts be open, our minds be receptive, and our souls be vulnerable to God’s presence with us now.

Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, "O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!"
7 You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

We are deceiving ourselves if we think that we can live apart from God’s protection and influence. We have all been wandering children, let us confess our sins.

Gracious God, we are thankful that you have invited us into your household of faith, and called us your children. Despite our shortcomings you welcome us as we are, but love us too much to leave us that way. Forgive us for those times when we have ignored your will for us and when we have forgotten to whom we belong. Forgive us for doubting the power of Easter to transform us into your children, holy and righteous. Help us O God, to reach beyond ourselves, and beyond our comfortable sanctuaries to invite others into your family, so that they too might feel your loving embrace through us.

See God is coming to you, with arms outstretched, ready to welcome you home. Know that in Christ your sins are forgiven. With a joyful heart then, give God praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Take time now to read and pray the Daily Texts for today. Don't just rush over them as if it was a chore to be completed, but eagerly await each word from God as gift that has the potential to change your life. After you have had a chace to read the prayer at the end of the texts, take time to pray for your needs, the needs of your most imediate cirle of family and frriends, then pray for the larger comunity, most especially your congregation.

When your have completed your prayer time, continue as follows:

Our Lord taught his disciples to pray using these words:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!"
16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

We go from here knowing that God cares for us as parents care for their children. May we go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.

Prayers for the 2nd Week of Easter

2009-04-20T10:53:00.007-04:00

The Watchword for the week: If we walk in the light as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

O Lord, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, and strength to follow on the path you set before us;

Guide us, O God, by your Word, and Holy Spirit,

that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover peace.

Psalm 89:1-4: 11-18

1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:

4 "I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.' "

11 The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it—you have founded them.

12 The north and the south you created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.

13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

15 Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;

16 they exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness.

17 For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.

18 For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

In honesty before God, let us acknowledge our need for grace by confessing our sins:

Gracious God, we need the light of your love to shine into the dark corners of our hearts. We humbly confess that at times we have walked in darkness and have said and done things that have caused us to hide from you, and brought pain in the lives of those around us. We know that it is your will for us to be in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we confess a single mindedness in our point of view, and our lack of patience with others who think differently. For our sins we ask for your grace and that you might cleanse our hearts from all that separates us from each other and from you. May the new life of Easter be our guiding light.

Friends, hear the good news: God loves you and welcomes you out from the shadows, your sins are indeed forgiven. Give God praise:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

O Lord our God, you have commanded the light to shine out of darkness,

You have brought us again into this time of prayer to illuminate our hearts and minds so that we might be brought closer to you and to each other.

Accept now the gift of our hearts and our desire to walk in your light.

May our words and actions be ever more reflective of your love for us and for the world.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look with favor upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Prayers for Easter

2009-04-13T10:35:00.002-04:00

(Portions of this prayer adapted from the MBW Easter Liturgy)

The watchword for the week: But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20

The Lord is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed!
Hail all hail victorious Lord and Savior
You have burst the bonds of death.
Joyful, we with one accord
Hail you as our risen Lord.

Psalm 118:1-2,14-24
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
14 The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly."
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By God’s great mercy we are given new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
Praise, honor, glory, and power to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
Jesus was handed over to death for our sins,
And was raised to new life for our justification.
Then what can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or hardship? Can persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loved us.
For we are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor powers, nor heights, nor depths, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Take time now to readi the Daily Texts for the Day. Don't rush over them as if it is a task to be checked off. Look with anticipation that each word might bring meaning to your life.

Once you have completed the prayer in the Daily Text, take time to pray for yourself, your loved ones, your church family, and the needs of the world. When you have completed your prayer proceed as follows:

Victorious Lord, as you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trail and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

What we are saying brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
Nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
What is sown as perishable,
Is raised imperishable;
What is sown in dishonor,
Is raised in glory:
What is sown in weakness,
Is raised in power;
What is sown a physical body,
Is raised a spiritual body.
Then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
Make us complete in everything good so that we may do your will, working among us all that is pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers for Holy Week

2009-04-06T12:57:00.002-04:00

(Portions of this prayer are adapted from the Liturgy for Palm Sunday in the Moravian Book of Worship)

The Watchword for the week: Jesus said, "...'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'" Mark 14:62

Say to those who today possess a heart of fear, “Be strong and fear not. Behold, God will come and save you.”
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather his lambs in His arms, and carry them close to his heart.”
Behold your king is coming to you.
During this week we seek to walk with Jesus, to learn of his passion for the sins of the world, and his desire that we might have eternal life.

Psalm 31:9-16
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.

10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."
15 My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

Confession of Sin

If we say that we have no sin we are simply fooling ourselves, but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will not only forgive them, but cleanse our hearts, making us a new creation.

Our sovereign Redeemer, we join with the people of Jerusalem offering our own shouts of praise and celebration at your coming. Although we often welcome you as did the multitude on Palm Sunday, we have not always understood what that meant. We confess as well that we have stood with the condemning crowd on Good Friday with our betraying thoughts, words, and actions showing our lack of faithfulness. And like Peter we have, at times, denied our relationship with you through our silence. We turn to you for help and forgiveness, gracious Savior, not because we deserve it, but because you are forgiving. Save us from our sinful ways, and restore us to a life of loyalty to you. Amen.

After reading the prayer of confession, pause for a few moments and reflect on your own particular shortcomings, as well as the gift of God’s grace.

We are reconciled to the Father through sacrifice of the Son. Rejoice in your new found life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Reading of the Daily Texts

After reading the Daily Texts for the day take time to prayer for yourself, those around you, your congregation, and the needs of the world.

Gracious Lord, Jesus Christ, as you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy Name,thy kingdom come,thy will be done, on earth as it is inheaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespassagainst us.And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, we are continually amazed at the way you turn the world upside down. For a Savior of the world we would have chosen a powerful prince,
But you chose a carpenter’s son born under questionable circumstances.
For disciples to help Jesus through his ministry we would have chosen well connected wealthy people of the upper class to bank roll the operation,
But you chose fishermen, a tax collector, and other such outcasts.
For a grand entrance into Jerusalem, we would have chosen a white Stallion,
But you chose a humble donkey.
When riding high in the polls on Palm Sunday we would have chosen to stay there as long as we could,
But you chose to clear the temple.
For a place of coronation we would have chosen a palace with a wonderfully decorated royal throne,
But you chose a cross.
For those who we would want to have included in the kingdom of God we would have chosen those who look, sound, and worship just like we do,
But you chose the world with all of its challenging diversity.
For people to show the world the love and grace extended to us in Jesus Christ, we would have chosen somebody else,
But you chose each of us.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Prayers for the 5th Week in Lent

2009-03-30T10:16:00.004-04:00

Watchword for the Week:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Loving God, from the busyness of this day,
Call us into your presence.
From the distractions of our lives,
Call us into your presence.
From the slumber into which our faith can fall,
Call us into your presence.
From the pain present in our lives as well as in the world around us,
Call us into your presence.

Psalm 51:1-12

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Confession of Sin

In order that our hearts might be cleansed, we need to lift to God the sins which stain our souls. Together, let us confess our sins:

Your ways are marvelous, O God. Your law is perfect, and your grace is boundless. We humbly ask for your forgiveness for the times when we have ignored your good intentions for us and instead have followed a short-sighted and misguided way of living. We ask that you create in us a clean heart, O God. Renew within us a true and right spirit with which we can stand before you without guilt or shame. Do not cast us away as we might deserve, but restore unto us the comforting presence of your Holy Spirit. Give us joyful hearts with which to serve our brothers and sisters, and your Church.

Christ came into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be save through Him. We are forgiven and we have the promise of eternal life. Rejoice and give God praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Take time now to pray the Morvian Daily Text for the Day. Don't just rush through the task to get it over with. Treat word as a gift from God spoken to give your life direction for today.

After you have prayed the prayer in the Daily Text, take time to pray for the needs of your heart, the needs of your family and friends, and the needs of the world. Especially this week, pray for the Matt and Kim Knapp who are dear friends of mine. Their oldest son died unexpectadly this past week, and a service to celebrate his life will take place this coming Sunday in Sturgeon Bay, WI.

After your prayer share these words with God:

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, Amen.

Lord awaken us,
To see your presence with us in each moment.
Lord open our hearts,
To see the suffering of others.
Lord open our eyes,
To see the ways in which we can serve you this day.
Lord help us,
To see the value that we have in your great kingdom on earth.
Lord open our souls,
To accept the grace that you have already extended to us.
Lord make us aware,
Of how we can share your grace with those around us.
Lord awaken us,
To live our lives in anticipation of your return or our being called home to you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever we do in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. AMEN.

Prayers for the 4th Week in Lent

2009-03-23T09:53:00.002-04:00

Watchword for the Week:
By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
From the rising to the setting of the sun,
The name of the Lord be praised.

Psalm 103:1-5, 17-22

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
17 The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word.
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Confession of Sin

Loving God, as we acknowledge that our salvation is a gift from you, we now confess that our response to that gift has often fallen short of what it needs to be. Hear now our prayer of confession.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have often wandered from you like lost sheep. We have followed the ways of our culture and the desires of our own hearts rather than living as you have taught us to live. We have ignored your will for us as well as your holy laws. As a result, we have separated ourselves from you, and we have caused pain in the lives of others. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. We ask that you create in us a clean heart, O God. Renew within us a true and right spirit with which we can stand before you without guilt or shame. Do not cast us away as we might deserve, but restore unto us the comforting presence of your Holy Spirit. Give us joyful hearts with which to serve our brothers and sisters, and your Church.

Christ came into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be save through Him. We are forgiven and we have the promise of eternal life. Rejoice and give God praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy Name,thy kingdom come,thy will be done, on earth as it is inheaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespassagainst us.And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, we give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made.
We thank you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
Loving God, may your Holy Spirit be present with us now;
We pray that you would give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with thankful hearts we may give praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days, Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Prayers for the 3rd Week in Lent

2009-03-16T09:23:00.003-04:00

Watchword for the Week:
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

To the One who created all that is,
We give thanks and praise.
To the One who wove together the pattern of the world’s order:
We give thanks and praise.
To the One who invites us participate in the discipline of giving grace,
We give thanks and praise.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Confession of Sin
(from the Liturgy for Lent II, pages78-79)

Lord Jesus, we come before you in humble confession. Help us conform our lives to you as the model for holy and righteous living.

Forgive us for our desire for personal greatness, for our attempts to make gods of ourselves, for our willingness to exalt ourselves at the expense of others, and for our resistance to serving one another as you have served us.

Forgive us for making light of your obedience and sacrifice on the cross by living an undisciplined and indifferent Christian witness; forgive us for yielding to fear rather than relying on your strength to take the risks of discipleship.

Forgive us, dear Jesus, for times we have not looked to you as our Lord, and for allowing the clamoring distractions of the world to become higher priorities than you. Forgive us for yielding more to the temptations of this world than being transformed by your lordship over our lives.

May the Holy Spirit empower us to accept the grace that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ offers to us today. Hear the words of our Lord, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.”

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we were called to peace. And let us be thankful.

Take time now to read the Moravian Daily Text for this day. Don't just rush over them, pause and allow words and phrases to sink into your soul.

After you conclude the prayer in the Daily Text, take time to pray for the needs of the world, your congregation, your family and friends, and yourself.

After your time of intercessory prayer, pray the prayer that Jesus has taught us to pray.

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heavenGive us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen

And now, most merciful God, we ask you to continue extending your grace and favor towards us;
Let the sun of your gospel never go down out of our hearts;
Let your truth abide and be established among us forever.
Help our unbelief, increase our faith, give us hearts to consider your many gifts to us.
In faith clothe us with Christ, that he may live in us,
And your name may be glorified in us, in the sight of all the world.
As foolish as it may seem to some and even to us at times, Christ, and him crucified,
Remain our confession of faith. Amen.

Prayers for the 2nd Week in Lent

2009-03-09T11:02:00.003-04:00

Watchword for the Week:God says, "I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations." Genesis 17:7

Incline your ear to the Lord and come to him.
Listen that you may live.
We will seek the Lord while he may be found.
We will call upon him while he is near.
From the beginning of time God has been in covenant with humanity promising to be our God and to always bring us home.
We rejoice in God’s never ending faithfulness to that covenant.

Psalm 22:23-31

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

Confession of Sin

Lord Jesus, we come before you in humble confession. Help us to conform our lives to you as the model for holy and righteous living.

(Adapted from the Liturgy for Lent I)
Forgive us Lord
For the sin of unbelief. (pause)
Forgive us Lord
From the misuse of our body and spirit. (pause)
Forgive us Lord
From all self-righteousness. (pause)
Forgive us Lord
From the neglect of our covenants. (pause)
Forgive us Lord
From ingratitude and selfishness. (pause)
Forgive us Lord
From lukewarmness. (pause)
Forgive us Lord
From all indifference to your meritorious life and death. (pause)

"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Joel 2:12-12

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and every shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Take time now to pray for the needs of the world, your neighbors, fellow church members, your family, and yourself.

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen

Our God is faithful and just. In the person of Jesus Christ, God continues his covenant of love and grace.
It is through the sacrifice of the Son that the promises of God are fulfilled.

(Adapted from the Liturgy for Lent I)
Gracious Savior, by your holy incarnation and birth,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your pure and blameless childhood,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your willing obedience,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your humility, meekness, and patience,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your faithfulness in your earthly calling,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your fasting and temptation,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your perfect life before God and humanity,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your tears and agony, your crown of thorns and cross,
Lead us to repentance of our sins.
By your willing sacrifice of yourself even unto death,
Make known to us the mystery of your love.
Into your open arms stretched out upon the cross,
Receive us all.
You have made God known to us, so that the love with which he has loved you may be in us,
And you in us.
Christ, and him crucified,
Remain our confession of faith. Amen.

First Week in Lent

2009-03-02T09:10:00.001-05:00

Mid-Day Prayers
For the 1st Week in Lent

Watchword for the Week:
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8

In this Lenten season, Loving God, you call us to a time of reflection and contemplation.
This is a time to ponder where our wandering steps have separated us from you.
This is a time to consider all of who we are, and where you want us to be.
This is a time to establish a proper relationship with you.
O Lord, we so want to be upright in heart.
May your comforting spirit allow us to unburden our souls.

Psalm 25:1-10

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Confession of Sin

If we confess our sins God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In full assurance of faith, let us confess our sins.

Gracious God, this season of Holy Lent calls us home to you. As we have wandered in our spiritual lives we now hear your invitation to return to you. As such Lent challenges us to look within ourselves and examine the priorities in our lives, as well as the ways in which those priorities have influenced our choices. Loving God, we easily see that our ways are not your ways, and for that we are sorry, and we seek to repent. Your ways are loving and gracious, yet we nurse selfish attitudes and practice only a selective distribution of grace. Forgive us for the ways in which we have put up barriers between you and us, and have tried to keep you from looking deep into our hearts. We have done this by refusing to take a look at ourselves for fear of what we might find. Help us to know that our return to you is also a return to our true selves. We trust, O Lord, in your steadfast love.

The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow, and courage to continue the journey.Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Let us pray together:

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

Throughout this Lenten journey, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

We thank you, Lord Jesus, not only for the privilege of believing in you, but of suffering for you as well, so that we may also be glorified with you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of the body we were called to peace. And let us be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Whatever we do, therefore, whether in word or deed, let us do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

2009-02-24T08:50:00.002-05:00

Watchword for the Week:
For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as servants for Jesus' sake. 2 Corinthians 4:5

We praise you, O God; we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
All the earth worships you, the Father everlasting.
To you all angels cry aloud; the heavens, and all of the powers in them.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Psalm 50:1-6

1 The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him.
4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge.

Confession of Sin

New life is only possible when we bring to the cross those parts of our existing lives that need healing and transformation. Together then, let us confess our sins.

We are deeply moved gracious God that you would welcome us to your throne of grace. With humility we gather to praise and adore you. We ask now that you hear us as we pray.

Forgive us Lord:
· For the times when we forget to proclaim you as Lord with our lives.
· For the times when we feel that our personal well being and comfort are more important than the proclamation of your Gospel.
· For the times we have assumed that the Church is here to serve us.
· For the times when we take the weight of the world upon our shoulders, thinking that we are the sacrificial lamb needed to save it.
· For the times when we feel that our answers are the only ones that will solve the problem at hand.
Awaken us to know that it is your wisdom that is most needed, not ours. Make us aware that it is your sacrifice that saves the world, not ours. Help us to proclaim the Gospel of grace though all that we do and say.

The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow and courage to continue the journey.Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Let us affirm the faith that we seek to proclaim:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

How shall we live in response to our faith?
We will seek to have our lives reflect God’s love for us and for the world.
Our God is merciful, gracious, faithful, and righteous.
May these attributes be found in our words and actions.
God sent Jesus Christ into the world not to condemn it, but to save it.
And we are thankful for Christ’s love for all humankind.
Jesus said: Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.
Empower us, Holy Spirit, to take up this mission today.
As we do so, may the Grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be and abide with us now and forever more. AMEN.

Prayers for the 6th Week of Epiphany

2009-02-17T09:28:00.002-05:00

Watchword for the Week: Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

In the beginning, darkness covered the earth and it was a formless void.
But God said, “Let there be light,”
And there was light.
And God saw that the light was good.
In our world we find darkness,
But into our darkness God pours the light of Jesus Christ, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Psalm 30

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
7 By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication:
9 "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!"
11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Confession of Sin

If we confess our sins God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In full assurance of faith, let us confess our sins to our gracious God.

Forgive us Holy God, for we have sinned and fallen short of your intended will for us. Too often we diminish the power of your love and the ways through which you seek to bring us back to you. This causes us to live an undisciplined and unfocused life which does not bear witness to you. Forgive us when we allow the distractions of this world to hold a more powerful influence on us than your will. It is at these times and we misalign our priorities and find ourselves in places that we should not go. Forgive us when the darkness of our lives keeps us from seeing the light of your redemption, and the new life promised for us both today and in the world yet to come.

The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow, and courage to continue the journey.Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Let us pray together:

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

The followers of Jesus tasted the bitterness of sorrow and grief on a Friday afternoon,
But on Easter day darkness was turned to light and mourning was turned to joy.
May this good news guide our steps today.
For we know that weeping may linger for a night, but joy comes with the morning.
Rejoice greatly for Christ Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
He was dead and behold he is alive forevermore.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Amen.

Prayers for the 5th Week In Epiphany

2009-02-09T14:52:00.002-05:00

Watchword for the Week: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth.
To you we give thanks for your mercy endures forever.
We offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon your holy name.
Let us bless the Lord forever and ever.

Psalm 147:1-11, 20C

1 Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
20C Praise the Lord.

Confession of Sin

If we confess our sins God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In full assurance of faith, let us confess our sins to our gracious God.

Loving God, we approach your holy presence willing to admit that we need your gracious forgiveness. Forgive us for the times when our faith has been found lacking, and we have defiled both our body and spirit. Forgive us for the times when we have neglected our duty, or when we have been ungrateful for your gifts to us. Forgive us for the times when apathy has kept us from taking up your challenge to reach out in love to those in need. Forgive us when we have been indifferent to your supreme sacrifice for us as well as the resurrection power that can make all things new. Deliver us from the delusion that our understanding is greater than yours. Hear our prayer, O Lord.

The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow, and courage to continue the journey.Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Let us pray together the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to say:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours is the kingdom, and power, and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever things are true,
Whatever things are honorable,
Whatever things are just,
Whatever things are pure,
Whatever things are lovely,
Whatever things are of good report,
If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.
God’s power is abundant, and God’s wisdom is beyond measure.
Let us live our lives trusting it God’s abundance.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of God with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Savior,
Be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 4th Week In Epiphany

2009-02-02T11:29:00.002-05:00

Watchword for the Week:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. Psalm 111:10

The work of the Creator is visible.
Let us respond with praise.
The example of Jesus is apparent.
Let us respond with obedience.
The wind of the Spirit is blowing
Let us respond with joy.
The word of God is calling.
Let us worship in spirit and in truth.

Psalm 111:1-10

1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

Confession of Sin

When we cease to acknowledge God’s presence in our lives, we lose the ability to make wise choices with them, and so it is that we sin. Let us make confession of those short-comings.

Gracious God we know that you are the creator of all that is and will be. We confess that your supreme wisdom set the planets into motion, set the galaxies in their places, and made the universe in all of its infinite majesty. We recognize that it is you who set forth life on this planet, and created each one of us with love and care. Forgive us when we forget our place in your universe. Forgive us when we think that it is our wisdom that makes our part of the world go around. Forgive us for the times when we have not feared your presence with us and have said and done things that lacked understanding and have hurt both ourselves and others. Bring us home to you, our rock and our redeemer.

My friends, God is faithful and just. God seeks only to forgive your sins and will not remember them. Rejoice, be glad, and give God praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Let us confess our faith in the One who truly loves us:

I believe in the one true God, the Father of humanity,
who creates and sustains the universe in wisdom and power,
who calls us into being and into relationship with God by grace, whose nature is love.

I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
who lived that we might see God,
who died that we might be reconciled to God,
who rose that we might experience the
life of God,
who freely accepts and welcomes all who come to him, not on the basis of their merit, but on the basis of his unconditional love.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
who is God present with us now,
who shows us our need for God,
who assures us of God’s love in all circumstances
who lives the life and love of Jesus Christ through us.

In this faith I will seek to live in harmony with God, with people everywhere, and with all of creation. Amen.
(From the Moravian Book of Worship, the Liturgy for Creation, page 29. Used by permission from the Moravian Interprovincial Board of Communication.)

Triune God, knowing your will for us sends us to bring good news to the oppressed,
and to bind the wounds of those broken in heart,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of prisons to those who are bound,
to announce the year of your grace,
to comfort all who mourn,
to give them a garland of consolation,
instead of the ashes of mourning,
the oil of gladness and healing,
and the rolling tears that wash away sorrow.
So may we be called oaks of righteousness,
trees that you plant to shade and sustain.
As the earth puts forth its blossom,
and as seeds in the garden spring up,
so you make justice flower,
and bear its fruit of peace among the peoples.

Lord of the dance, in whom we live and move and exult for joy, guide our steps through the complexity of our lives.
Keep us mindful of your steadfast love for us, and ways in which we can make that love come alive in the hearts of those that we love, serve, and come in contact with this very day. AMEN.

Prayers for the 3rd Week in Epiphany

2009-01-26T10:29:00.001-05:00

Watchword for the Week:
Trust in him at all times, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

Gracious God, from the busyness of our day we pause to remember that we are yours.
You give us our breath, and you deserve to be a part of our every moment.
Magnificent are your ways, and gracious is your will.
May our lives be lived in response to your freely given love.

Psalm 62:1-2,5-12

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.
5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
9 Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,
12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.

Confession of Sin

We are a wandering people, O God, who seek refuge and protection in the vanity of our world. Accept now our confession of sin and our desire to be closer to you.

Loving God we seek not to approach your throne of grace on the basis of our own merit, but knowing that you earnestly seek to be in relationship with us. Forgive us for the times when we have deceived ourselves into thinking that we could find happiness in our lives through material possessions and money. Forgive us for the times when we have deceived ourselves into thinking that even relationships could fill an emptiness in our lives more completely than our relationship with you. Forgive us when we have allowed ourselves to be deceived into following the pattern of living deemed acceptable by our society instead of us taking the narrow path that leads us to you. Help us to put our full confidence and trust in you, our rock and our refuge.

My friends, God is faithful and just. God seeks only to forgive your sins and will not remember them. God asks that you now live a new life. Rejoice, be glad, and give God praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord God, Father, hear us as we pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come
Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

With the whole of Christendom we affirm that the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.
Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.
Loving God, in the midst of this busy day help us to remember your profound love for us,
Be close to us as we chose words and actions in our dealings with others.
In the midst of this busy day help us to remember that we are your ambassadors to the world.
May others see and hear in us the message of your life-giving love.
In the midst of this busy day help us to remember that in Jesus Christ you set for us a pattern for living.
Be near to our hearts as we make decisions concerning matters both great and small for we seek to give all of ourselves to you.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glory without fault and with unspeakable joy,
to the only God, our savior, be glory and majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, now, and in all ages to come, Amen.

Prayers for the First Week After Epiphany

2009-01-12T10:53:00.003-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor. Psalm 29:2

Gracious God, from the busyness of our day we pause to remember that we are yours.
We seek to make you a part of our every moment.
Magnificent are your ways, and gracious is your will.
May our lives be lived in response to your freely given love.

Psalm 29:1-11

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Confession of Sin

Let us in penitence and humility confess our sins before the throne of grace, praying together:

We confess to you, loving God, that our daily lives do not always honor you. You deserve our endless praise, but we often forget that you are there. You deserve our tithes, but we give you what is left over. You deserve our moral purity, but we forget your commandments. You deserve our undivided attention, but we give you a passing glance. You ask that we live lives of grace and righteousness, but we live by debt and obligation. Your will is that we live in peace with one another, but we live within emotional and physical barriers that separate us from those different than us. We want to be closer to you, so accept our humble confession of sin and our desire to begin a new life today.

My friends, God is faithful and just. God will not remember your sins. Rejoice, be glad, and give God praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord God, Father, hear us as we pray:

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
Whom you have prepared for all the world to see.
A Light to enlighten the nations,
And the glory of your people Israel.
The work of the Creator is visible.
Let us respond with praise.
The example of Jesus is apparent.
Let us respond with obedience.
The wind of the Spirit is blowing
Let us respond by yielding to its leading.
The word of God is calling.
Let us worship in spirit and in truth.

Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might,
Belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!

Prayers for Christmas/Epiphany

2009-01-05T10:55:00.003-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall show forth your praise.
Make speed, O God, to save us.
Make haste to help us, O Lord.
Sing praise to the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer,
One God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 147:12-20

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.
14 He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16,17 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the Lord!

Invitation to Confession

Loving and gracious God, we know of your love for us because you have given us this most precious gift in your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Knowing that you forgive those who are willing to admit their shortcomings, we now offer to you our confession of sin.

Confession of Sin:

O Holy One, we know that you love us unconditionally. Yet there are times when we fail to recognize you in the routine of our lives. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around our hearts, and we hide our true feelings. Sometimes we shrink in fear, and we miss the chance to speak from our hearts. Sometimes doubt invades our hopefulness, and we degrade your image in us. Holy God, amidst the tasks of this day, remind us again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Free us from shame and self-doubt. Help us to see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak words of grace.

Hear the words of our Lord and Savior, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.” Let us give thanks to God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Don't rush over the texts to complete the task, but savor each word as they are each a gift from God. When you are done with the Prayer take a moment to lift of the needs and concerns of our world, and those most close to you. Pray especially for peace in the Holy Land, as once again bullets and bombs are being used instead of grace. When you have come to the end of our prayer, continue as follows:

Lord God, Father, hear us as we pray the prayer that you taught your disciples:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
whom you have prepared for all the world to see.
A Light to enlighten the nations,
And the glory of your people Israel.

CONCLUDING PRAYER
Send forth your Spirit, Lord,
Renew the face of the earth.
Creator Spirit, come,
Inflame our waiting hearts.
Lord, hear our prayer,
And let our cry come to You.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Prayers for the 4th Week in Advent/Christmas

2008-12-22T10:31:00.002-05:00

(Portions of this prayer contain excerpts from the Moravian Book of Worship Liturgy for Christmas, pages 59-63)

The Watchword for the Week:

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:49

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

Luke 1:46-55

46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Invitation to Confession

God has done marvelous things for us, but often the conduct of our lives does not reflect the acceptance of those gifts. Let us acknowledge our sin and our need for a Savior.

Confession of Sin:
Saving God, we confess to you our sinfulness. We are consumed with greed and with self, instead of loving you as we ought. Too often we are indifferent to those for whom this season is not a time of joy. You call us to a simple life, but we engage in extravagance, which directs our hearts away from you and from those in need. Forgive us and renew us, gracious Savior.

God has reached into the darkness of our lives to give us hope for living a new life. Accept the gift of God’s grace today and be transformed.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Holy Child of Mary, Savior of the World,
reveal yourself to us.

Help us and save us through the totality of your life:

By your holy incarnation,
By your human birth,
By your pure and blameless childhood,
By your obedience and diligence,
By your humility, meekness, and patience,
By your extreme poverty,
By your grief and sorrows,
By your prayers and tears,
By your having been despised and rejected,
By your cross and suffering,
By your death and burial,
By your triumphant resurrection and ascension.

We marvel, Gracious God, at the mystery of your incarnation.

Why would you choose to be born into poverty, with a family far from home, and seemingly ill prepared for your arrival?

Why would you choose a forgotten village in a forgotten corner of the world?

Why would you choose to be born in a cave full of cattle, and take a manger for your crib?

Could it be that through this unlikely birth you would reach out and choose even us to be your children?

Could it be that you would reach out and choose even me?

The Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Prayers for the 3rd Week of Advent

2008-12-15T14:05:00.003-05:00

The Watchword for the week:
May the God of peace sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Stir up our hearts, O Lord,to prepare the paths for your only-begotten Son:
that we may worthily serve you with hearts purified by His coming.

Psalm 126

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

Invitation to Confession

Preparing for the coming Savior means that we need to acknowledge our need for one. Let us prepare the way for the arrival of Jesus Christ by confessing our sins:

Forgive us loving God for the winding path upon which you have to travel to find us. As we bend to the selfish influences of our culture we lose sight of your intended will for us. Too often we live by fear rather than by faith because we underestimate your power to heal the parts of us that are broken, and to correct the parts of us that have drifted from your influence. We confess that we have separated ourselves from you and our spirit, soul, and body have been used to meet our own needs rather than seeking the purity of your will. Bring us back to you so that we might respond to your grace by sharing it with others. Give us the courage to give you unhindered access to all of who we are and in so doing find ourselves blameless at your coming.

Comfort, comfort my people says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts appointed for the day. Pray the words as you read them, let them sink in below the surface of your being. After you have prayed the prayer for the day, take time to pray for the joys and concerns on your heart this day. Pray especially for those who need the true meaning of this season of the Church year, that a Savior was born to reach into the pain of our lives and provide new life. When you have come to the end of that prayer time, continue as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Master of all the universe, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. As we orient our lives to you may your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us when we get distracted, and may we forgive those who have done wrong to us just as you have pardoned us. In times of temptation may we keep our eyes on you, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom and we surrender ourselves to your glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.

ISAIAH 40:30-31
Even those who are young grow weak;
the young can fall exhausted.
But those who wait on the Lord for help
will find their strength renewed.
They will rise on wings like eagles;
they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

Christ, the Light of the world, empower us to shine as lights in this dark world of sin.
Christ, lead us into good stewardship of creation that we and our children may preserve and enjoy the world entrusted to us.
Come Lord Jesus, come,
come and dwell within our hearts and lives.
We praise you, for you are good,
And your mercy endures forever. Amen.

Prayers for the 2nd Week of Advent

2008-12-08T11:10:00.004-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:
He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom. Isaiah 40:11

Come, all who labor and are heavy laden.
Come, all who are lost and in need of a home.
Come, all who have faced their weakness and sins.
Rejoice greatly, shout for joy! See, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation.

Psalm 85:1-13
1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.
3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.

4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Prayer for the Confession of Sin:
Hear the voice of John the Baptist calling to us from the wilderness, challenging us to prepare the way for the coming Messiah, to repent and to make the pathway to our heart a straight one.

Holy God, we know that you want to come and walk with us through the journey of our lives. You send to us a Savior who seeks to offer us an eternal home in the life to come as well the pattern for the living of our daily lives. Forgive us for the times when we have turned our back on your invitation and have chosen to walk our own way. Forgive us for the times when we make the path into our hearts a steep one, making it hard for you to enter. Forgive us when treat even our loved ones with an unforgiving spirit. Forgive us when we busy our lives with diversions that deflect our attention from you. We invite your Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to bring us close to you this day.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.
We give thanks to the one who creates us, we give thanks to the one who redeems us, we give thanks to the one who brings the spirit of holiness to us today. Amen.

Today's Daily Texts may be read at this point. But don't just read the texts, pray them. Examine them with an expectant heart. After you have finished with the prayer take more time to simply be silent and meditate on words and phrases that happen catch your spirit today. Ponder them in your heart. Then as you are led, pray for the joys and concerns that fill your life today. Pray especially that your words and actions might show someone the presence of Christ. When you are done with your prayer you may proceed as follows:

O Lord, Hear our Prayer:
Giver of life and grace who dwells in heavens, we lift our praise to you. We pray that the ways of heaven might be made real in our earthly lives as we, your children, seek to do your will. Give us today the food that we need. Forgive us as we seek to forgive those around us, and as we fix our eyes on you, keep us from temptation, and deliver us from evil influences. For this is your world, and to you is due all honor, and glory, and praise forever and ever. Amen.

O Emmanuel, God with Us, Jesus Christ, desire of every nation,
come to earth we pray.
Shepherd of all humanity, and Savior of our souls
give us rest in your arms today.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.
You alone are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Come Lord Jesus,
Open our hearts to welcome you, let the Word become flesh in our hearts and in our lives. Amen.

Prayers for the 1st Week of Advent

2008-12-01T08:42:00.002-05:00

The watchword for the week:
Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Mark 13:26

Gracious Savior, this week we begin the journey of Advent.
This is a season of expectation and anticipation; a time of preparation and confession.
And so it is that we bring to the Lord a broken and contrite spirit which we know our God will honor.
We take this time to truly prepare for the coming savior.
Rejoice greatly, shout for joy! See, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 80:1-7,17-19
1 Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
2 Awaken your might; come and save us.
3 Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God Almighty, how long will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us a source of contention to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Unto you, O God, in whom all things are known, and from whom nothing is hidden, we draw close by lifting up our prayer of confession.

Gracious Lord Jesus, you come to us with the good news of salvation, but we often fail to notice. You come to us day by day, yet we close the doors of our hearts when it seems convenient to do things our own way. We ignore your presence and your leadership, and have lived as if we have no relationship with you. We have failed to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. Forgive us, merciful Lord. May we now live so that the world will know that you have come. Amen. (Adapted from the Moravian Book of Worship, page 50)

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.

We are forgiven, and we praise you Lord. May you lead us to live a new and nobler life today. Thanks be to God.

Take time now to read the Daily Text for today. Don't rush over the reading to "get it done", but ponder the meaning of each word for your life today.
After you have completed the prayer for the day, take more time to consider the needs of those around you. Pray especially that this season of Advent might be one that calls many out of the nostalgic celebration of Christmas to a true encounter with God's gift to the world. When you are finished with your prayer continue as follows:

O Lord, Hear our Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ, the Light of the world, empower us to shine as lights in this dark world of sin.
Christ, give to our congregations and their members a desire to serve you by seeking out those who need a relationship with you.

O Emmanuel, God with us, Jesus Christ, desire of every nation, Savior of all peoples,
come and dwell within our hearts and lives.

We praise you, for you are good,
And your mercy endures forever. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving for the Reign of Christ

2008-11-24T13:53:00.003-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:
God says, "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak." Ezekiel 34:16
Call to Prayer: Ephesians 1:3-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world
to be holy and blameless before him in love.
5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 95:1-7a

1 O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Knowing that Jesus Christ sits on the seat of judgment, let us humbly come before him confessing our sins.

Gracious God, it is our deepest desire in life to place you at the center of our lives and master of our every thought and action. But with a humble heart we confess that we often find ourselves living out our own short-sighted and selfish desires before we consider your will for us. We find ourselves doing things without considering their impact on our lives beyond the moment, much less how our actions might hurt others and disappoint you. Furthermore, in our congregations we often get distracted by trivial pursuits rather than building up the kingdom of God. For these thoughts and actions and for failing to surrender all of our lives to you, we are truly sorry and we humbly repent. We seek to turn our lives back to you as the author and perfector of our every moment of life. Hear our prayer, O Lord. AMEN.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Reading of the Daily Texts can be done here. As you read the text that were randomly chosen for today, what thoughts of thanksgiving come to mind.

After you have concluded with the prayer in the Daily Text continue further to lift up prayers of joy and concern as they are brought to your mind by the Holy Spirit. What you have concluded with these prayers, continue as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Master of all the universe, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. As we orient our lives to you may your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us when we get distracted, and may we forgive those who have done wrong to us just as you have pardoned us. In times of temptation may we keep our eyes on you, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom and we surrender ourselves to your glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving (Adapted from the Liturgy of Thanksgiving, MBW page 161-162)

For the creation itself and the nourishment we receive from its resources,
We give you thanks, Creator God.
For the seedtime and harvest, sunshine and rain, oceans and forests,
We give you thanks, Creator God.
For the wondrous way in which we are woven into the environment,
We give you thanks, Creator God.
For all the creative things we are enabled to do through the gifts and talents you have given us,
We give you thanks, Creator God.
For your presence with us in times of heath or illness, joy or sorrow,
We give you thanks, Creator God.
For the courage and healing that you provide when we are broken and discouraged in the midst of our earthly pilgrimage,
We acknowledge with thanks your leadership in our journey.
For the gift of time and the guidance you give, for the redemptive use of our days,
We are grateful, loving Savior.
For the satisfaction and renewal that come from our labor and leisure,
We are grateful, loving Savior.
For directing us to do justice and to love mercy,
We are grateful, loving Savior.
For the chance to begin again whenever we falter, or fail to place you first in our lives,
We are grateful, loving Savior, for your faithfulness endures through all generations.

All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
For all his love. Amen.

Prayers for the 27th Week in Pentecost

2008-11-18T06:11:00.004-05:00

The Watchword for the Week:

So teach us, O God, to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. Psalm 90:12

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid;
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
Today may we perfectly love You, and worthily magnify your holy name,
And now visit us with your Holy Spirit as we open our hearts to you. Amen.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 90:1-9, 12

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn us back to dust, and say, "Turn back, you mortals."
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning;
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh.
12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

We come before the throne of grace to unburden our hearts and to receive forgiveness. Let us confess our sin.

Gracious God, we affirm you as our creator, our redeemer, and the sustainer of our lives. You love us so very much that you have reached into our lives to claim us as your own. We confess however that we take your love for granted, and your grace is often forgotten. We allow our lives to become so cluttered that we forget to stop and count the steps that we have taken on any given day and ponder whether those steps have moved us closer or farther away from you. In so doing we often lose count of our days and the wisdom that we can gain from observing them. When these uncounted days mount up, we can find ourselves in places where we thought we would never be. We humbly ask that you would hear our prayer, know our hearts, and forgive us our sin.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Don't rush, but stop and ponder the words or phrases that happen to catch your spirit today.

Following the prayer in the Daily Text prayer the needs and concerns that are impacting your life and the lives of those around you.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your life-giving strength, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.

Empowering God, just as you created the heavens and the earth,
May you create within us a new life.
Open the eyes of our hearts
To see the impact that our every word and action can have on the lives around us.
You give us each day as a blessed gift.
Guide us and lead us to not only count this day, but to make this day count for the kingdom of God.

May the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be and abide with us now and forever. AMEN.

Prayers for the 26th Week in Pentecost

2008-11-10T08:47:00.005-05:00

Watchword for the Week:
Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13

Loving God, from the busyness of this day,
Call us into your presence.
From the distractions of our lives,
Call us into your presence.
From the slumber into which our faith can fall,
Call us into your presence.
From the pain present in our lives as well as in the world around us,
Call us into your presence.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 70

1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me!
2 Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me.
3 Let those who say, "Aha, Aha!" turn back because of their shame.
4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!"
5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

If we say that we have no sin, we have deceived ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sin, and lead us to live a new life.

O Holy One, we call to you and name you as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there are times when we fail to recognize you in the living of our lives. Forgive us for the times when we feel that church activity counts for living a Christian life. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around our hearts, and we hide our true feelings. Sometimes fear makes us small and we miss the chance to speak from our strength. At times doubt invades our hopefulness, we degrade our own wisdom then say and do foolish things. Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Free us from shame and self-doubt. Awaken us so that we might see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from our wisdom.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Standing in the light, let us give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read of the Daily Texts. Don't rush while reading, you are not reading to get it done, you are reading to gain meaning. Stop and ponder words and phrases that catch your attention.As you finish with the prayer from the Daily Text, spend an extended time praying for the joys and concerns in your life. This week pray especially for our new President elect, Barack Obama, and the Cabinet that is now being assembled to help him properly administer the Executive branch of our government. At the conclusion of your prayer continue as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name.Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heavenGive us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen

Lord awaken us,
To see your presence with us in each moment.
Lord awaken us,
To see the suffering of others.
Lord awaken us,
To the ways in which we can serve you this day.
Lord awaken us,
To see the value that we have in your great kingdom on earth.
Lord awaken us,
To accept the grace that you have already extended to us.
Lord awaken us,
To see how we can share grace with those around us.
Lord awaken us,
To live our lives in anticipation of your return or our being called home to you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever we do in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. AMEN.

Prayers for the 25th Week of Pentecost

2008-11-03T08:54:00.004-05:00

The Watchword for the week:
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me. Psalm 43:3

Gracious God, gather us into this time and place.
You have been with us throughout this day, but we have not always been aware of your presence. We feel it now.
Give us your spirit of reconciliation,
So that with you we may restore lost relationships, and make whole that which is broken.
Guide us to seek your light,
To brighten each dark corner of our souls.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 43
1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

If we say that we have no sin, we have deceived ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us.

Loving God, we want to live in your light, and we want to be people of truth, but we confess that there are times when we find ourselves in darkness. We retreat to dark places because it is here that we fool ourselves into thinking that you won’t see us, and it is here that we separate ourselves from you. This darkness then imprisons us with shame and we withhold truth from even those that we love. May your light shine into our dark corners, banish the shadows, and release the truth so that we might be liberated by your grace. Hold us close and build our relationship with you and those you have given us on earth.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Standing in the light, let us give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read of the Daily Texts. Don't rush while reading, you are not reading to get it done, you are reading to gain meaning. Stop and ponder words and phrases that catch your attention.
As you finish with the prayer from the Daily Text, spend an extended time praying for the joys and concerns in your life. This week pray especially for the United States as we come to the conclusion of this election cycle. We pray that God's will may be known and done among us. At the conclusion of your prayer continue as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and forever. Amen

Lord, your light is wonderful.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your light is marvelous.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your light fills this dark world of sin.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your light gives us hope for a new day.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light for our path.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.

And now may the Lord’s blessing be upon you.
May the Lord’s face shine upon you.
May the Lord’s countenance be lifted upon you, and give you peace.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Prayers for the 24th Week of Pentecost

2008-10-27T14:17:00.003-04:00

The Watchword for the week:
You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
Leviticus 19:2

The Lord is in the holy temple; let all the earth keep silence.
Gracious Lord, we are your holy temples when we acknowledge your presence within us.
As we marvel at the beauty of the changing seasons, we give praise to your creative power.
May we open our hearts to that same creative power within us.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 1

1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Who among us has clean hands and a pure heart? Who among us has not given in to vanity, or yielded to selfish desires?
If we say that we have no sin, we have deceived ourselves, and the truth in not in us.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us. Indeed we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one, and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Loving God, we thankfully acknowledge that you have stamped your very image within us and therefore we are holy, just as you are holy. We confess, however, there are times when we forget who you are, and therefore we lose sight of who we are as individuals and as communities of faith. We ask that you forgive us for the times when we forget that our bodies are your holy temples and do not care for them, or use them in ways which are unholy. We also confess that we do not always acknowledge your holy image pressed within the essence of those who are around us, both near and far. We are often more willing to divide ourselves by class, culture, race, ideology, and geography than to unite with one another under your banner of grace.
Hear us and renew us, gracious Lord and God.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us therefore give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time now to read the Moravian Daily Texts for today. Don't rush....stop reading long enough ponder words and phrases that happen to tug at your soul today.

Extend your time of prayer from that of the Daily Texts to those needs, concerns, joys, and celebrations that you find either in your own life, or being felt by the community of faith. When you have allowed sufficient time for conversation with God, continue with the following:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of the heavens and earth, praise be to your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. While we know that you have created us to be holy, we ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; may we give thanks for your blessings all the days our lives, even as we live into eternity. Amen.

And so, children of God, build yourselves up on your most holy faith.
May we be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit to pray every day and so be drawn closer to holiness.
May we live a life that gives space for silence to ponder the mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and give praise for God’s miracle of the sacred within us and others.
Think about the following things: things that are true, honorable, just, and pure; meditate on things that are lovely and of good report; ponder things that are of virtue and worthy of praise.
These are things that are holy, and for them we give thanks.

And now unto the God who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you as holy before the throne of grace with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 23rd Week of Pentecost

2008-10-20T09:42:00.003-04:00

We read the Watchword for the week together:
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2
Psalm for the Week: Psalm 96

1 O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, "The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity."
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 &13 let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

With humility before the Lord, we confess our sin:
(Adapted from the MBW, page 135-136)

God of grace, and God of glory, there are many times and places which give us the opportunity to share your good news, we confess however that many times we remain silent. Forgive us Lord,
When we fail to communicate Jesus’ promise of new life,
When we have not reached beyond ourselves with the word entrusted to us,
When we retreat into comfortable sanctuaries and do not seek to be a light to the nations,
When we become preoccupied with church involvement for its own sake, and do not labor to proclaim salvation to the ends of the earth,
When we look only to statistics as a measure of success rather than the depth of faith within persons and communities,
When we are too timid to speak the gospel message to those who want to hear it,
When we allow a life of ease to divert us from those who need your love through us.
Touch our lips with your forgiveness and give us a passion to share the good news of your salvation today.

The Lord your Redeemer says: “Now your guilt is gone and your sins are forgiven.” Give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name.Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

In Christ there is no east or west, no north or south,
We are all Children of God who are called into relationship with our creator.
We give thanks to God for granting us this relationship through the saving work of Jesus Christ our Savior.
Wonderful indeed is the grace of God poured out for us until our cup overflows.
This is the good news: through what Jesus has done for us, all people may enjoy God’s blessings.
Grant us therefore the intention and courage to share grace wherever it is needed.
And now may the God whose Holy Spirit enables us to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine,
Fill us for the living of this day. AMEN.

You may freely use these prayers publicly as you feel led, I only ask that you acknowledge me as the author, let me know that you are using them, and that you use them as they are. I don't want to take either the credit or the blame for any adaptation that you might make. I do hope that you find the prayers helpful to your fellowship with God. Thanks!

2008-10-13T10:07:00.007-04:00

Prayers for the 22nd Week in Pentecost

We read the Watchword for the week:
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things. Isaiah 25:1

Praise be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Praise be to the One who does wonderful things.
Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see the many ways that you have blessed us.
Open our ears, Lord, that we may hear the cries of need in the world and respond as you lead us.
Open our hearts, Lord, that we might feel your presence with us this day.
With all of our being we give you honor and praise.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Let us confess our sins to our loving God:

Forgive us Lord for the times when we trust in ourselves and the powers and principalities of this world to give us meaning and purpose in life rather than looking to you as the pioneer and perfector of our faith. Forgive us when we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think at the expense of exalting you with our lives. You are indeed wonderful, and worthy to be praised so hear now our humble petition for your mercy and grace. Grant us to live a new and nobler life.

Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Reading of the Daily Texts

A time for Prayer
(As you enter this sacred moment of prayer seek not so much to speak to God as to listen. If nothing else simply be still and rest in God's presence).

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

God of the past, present, and eternity,
Fill us with your grace.
For the living of this day,
Give us wisdom and direction.
For the desire to share your grace in tangible ways,
Give us passion and purpose.
Lord of life in whom we live, and move, and have our being,
May we follow you all the days of our lives.
We exalt you and praise your name,
For you have done wonderful things and we are thankful.

May the love God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be and abide with us now and forever, Amen.

You may freely use these prayers publicly as you feel led, I only ask that you acknowledge me as the author, let me know that you are using them, and that you use them as they are. I don't want to take either the credit or the blame for any adaptation that you might make. I do hope that you find the prayers helpful to your fellowship with God. Thanks!