The watchword for the week:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
Let the whole earth be joyful in you, O God,
We greet you with gladness and celebrate your presence with a song.
For we know that you are creating us,
you are alive in us, and we belong to you.
We enter your gates, a motley procession,
But we enter with heartfelt thanksgiving and joy.
For you are gracious, and your embrace is compassionate,
faithful through all generations.
Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
those he redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;
29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Let us Confess our Sins:
O God, we thank you for sending the gift of your steadfast love to us each day, even though we do not always claim it. Move us, by your Spirit, to accept your love and share it freely with those who need it. Forgive us when:
· We are slow to seek reconciliation with others,
· When we cling to the feeling of having been wronged,
· When we fail to work for the redemption of people whom we do not like,
· When we fail to extend to others the same compassion you freely give to us.
Break in on our selfishness and astonish us anew, O God! Our prayer is that you will claim us again and strengthen us to respond to the needs of those who are hurting. Amen.
We are enabled to be kind to one another, to be tenderhearted, to forgive one another, and to be forgiven, because Jesus feeds us with his life, a life given to save us from sin. Hear then, the good news: those who are in Christ are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come. Thanks be to 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.
Let us now pray together:
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.
Jesus makes my heart rejoice,
I’m his sheep and know his voice,
He’s a shepherd, kind and gracious,
And his pastures are delicious,
Constant love to me he shows,
Yea, my very name he knows.
(Hymn 662 v.1, Moravian Book of Worship)
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.