The watchword for the week:
The Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5
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 100
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Let us Confess our Sins:
Gracious God, we are thankful for 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 do things our own way. 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. Soon we will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. Let us rejoice in his salvation.”
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 texts as a privilege, eagerly anticipating what might be spoken to you today. How might today’s 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.
O Lord, hear us now as we brothers and sisters in Christ pray together.
Creator of all, your name be held holy, your domain spread among us, your wisdom is our guide, your way is our path. May your will be done well at all times, in all places, on earth as in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today, and may we share it with others. As we release those indebted to us, so forgive us our debts, our trespass on others. Fill us with courage in the time of our testing. Spare us from trials too severe to endure. Free us from the grip of the powers that bind. For yours is the goodness in which evil dissolves; yours is the joy that sounds through the pain; yours is the life which swallows up death. Yours is the glory, the light, and the love for all of time and eternity. So be it. 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 and serve. AMEN.