Prayers for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (November 5-11, 2023)

women's conference presentation

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 the day, but in our busyness, we have missed you.
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 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 the truth from even those we love. May your light shine into our dark corners, banish the shadows, and release the truth so that your grace might liberate us. 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 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 a copy of the Daily Texts, you will find today’s texts 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.

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.