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
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 embrace 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 104:24-34,35b
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
28 when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
Let us Confess our Sins:
(Adapted from the Pentecost Liturgy, page 97, MBW)
Spirit of holiness, we confess that we often fail to catch the wind as it blows through our hearts. When you seek to ignite us, we quench the fire of your love and dissipate the power of your presence. You long to restore us to the image of God, but we let it tarnish as we nurse selfish attitudes. You nurture unity, but we sow discord. You come to make our bodies your holy temples, but we misuse them. We allow the value systems of our society to separate us from your good intentions for us as we use your gifts for our own benefit. Forgive us, merciful Spirit. Burn away our impurities, and forge us into renewed and useful instruments in your service. Amen.
God’s very being is grace. God’s every intent is to welcome you home. So receive God’s forgiveness, and rest in God’s love. Let us praise 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 to read today’s Daily Texts. Remember that God speaks to us through the inspiration of scripture, so approach the opportunity to read the Daily Texts as a privilege, eagerly anticipating what might be spoken to you today. How might this new word make a part of your life new again? If you do not have your own copy of the Daily Texts, you will find them posted in the margin on the right of your page (at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile phone) When you have finished praying, continue 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 forever. Amen
Come Holy Spirit, come.
Give us a vision for a new day.
Come Holy Spirit, come.
Give us a mission for this day.
Come Holy Spirit, come,
Help us to heal a broken world.
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.