Prayers for the Celebration of Pentecost (May 23-29, 2021)

Christmas Eve candles in worship

(author’s note) While the photo attached to these prayers is from a Christmas Eve Candle Service at Edgeboro Moravian Church, I chose it for this Pentecost prayer because of the flames on each of the candles.  It is emblematic of the flames that came upon each of the worshipers on that first Pentecost. May our hearts and lives be ignited on this Pentecost day.

The watchword for the week:
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all. Psalm 104:24

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 104:24-35

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, used by permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication of the Moravian Church in North America)

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. 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:

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 forevermore. AMEN. 

Give us a new vision for a new day.
Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Give us a new mission for this new day.
Come, Holy Spirit, come,
Fill our lives with meaning.
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.