The watchword for the week:
Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight. Proverbs 9:6
Gracious God, we adore your saving name.
We give thanks that grace is at the center of your way.
This day is your gift to us.
May we use it to make your grace present in our part of the world.
Psalm 34:9-14
O fear God, all you holy ones of God,
for those who fear God have no want.
The young lions suffer want and hunger,
but those who seek God lack no good thing.
Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of God.
Which of you desires life,
and covets many days to enjoy good?
Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.
Loving God, knowing that your custom towards us is grace, we confess our sins to you:
We confess that we have failed to perceive your glory as it is revealed in creation. We have taken the gifts of this world for granted and have not stopped to marvel at what you have provided for us. Forgive us for rushing through life with reckless abandon. Forgive us for trampling upon other persons, places, and things, and for not understanding how dependent we are upon one another and the earth itself.
Help us, Creator God, to share the resources o this world as good and faithful stewards. Show us how to tend the land, water, and air and to prevent their pollution and destruction. Teach us the discipline of conserving and of replacing what we have used. Deliver us from exploitation. Keep us from idolizing money and material possessions. And make us compassionate in our concern for the needs of others. Amen.
(From the Moravian Book of Worship, Liturgy for Thanksgiving, page 163 used by permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication)
The Lord, your Redeemer, says: Now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven. Let us give praise 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.
O Lord, hear us now as we, brothers and sisters in Christ, pray together.
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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
We, as children of God, seek to follow in the ways of God.
We acknowledge that God’s way is grace.
We confess that we often find it hard to extend grace to all people in our lives.
Loving God, we ask that your Holy Spirit guide the words of our mouths and actions of our lives so that they might be more closely aligned with your love and grace.
Our world needs God’s presence, and God asks, “Whom shall I send? Who will be my messenger?
And like Isaiah, we respond: “I will go. Send Me.”
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.