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
Portions of the Prayer below contain excerpts from the Lent I Liturgy found in the Moravian Book of Worship, pages 72-77, and are used with the permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication of the Moravian Church.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
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 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.
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 ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.
Take time to read today’s Daily Texts. 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 your page’s right side (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
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.
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 the 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.