The watchword for the week
Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” John 14:27
We give thanks for your peace, dear God; hear now our expressions of gratitude.
We praise you for your freely given love and the gift of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amid our busy day, we pause to feel your peace.
Bless now the meditations of our hearts.
Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
2 that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
–6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
7 May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Peace is found when we search our hearts, confess our sins, and accept God’s grace. Let us do so now.
Gracious God, you call us to live in peace, but we confess, Lord, that we often live out of anxiety and anger instead; this causes us to utter words either to or about others that cause pain and division rather than unity. At other times our mouths are silent when they should be bearing witness to your love. For these our sins, we humbly repent.
(a silence is observed for private reflection)
Praise, honor, glory, and power to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! Jesus was handed over to death for our sins,
And was raised to new life for our justification.
Then what can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or hardship? Can persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loved us.
For we are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor powers, nor heights, nor depths, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Take time to read today’s Daily Texts. 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). 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 conveyed to you today. How might today’s Word make a part of your life new again? 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 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.
Let those who serve you praise you, O God, let the pure of heart give you thanks.
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
Make us complete in everything good so that we may do your will, working among us all that is pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ. Praise God to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.