The Watchword for the week:
For dominion belongs to God, and God rules over the nations. Psalm 22:28
This is the day that the Lord has made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
O God set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and forever. Amen.
Psalm 22:19-28
O God, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Deliver my soul from the sword,
my life from the power of the dog!
Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
You who fear God, praise God!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify God;
stand in awe of God,
all you offspring of Israel!
For God did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
God did not hide God’s face from me,
but heard when I cried to God.
From you comes my praise
in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay
before those who fear God.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek God shall praise God.
May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to God;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before God.
For dominion belongs to God,
and God rules over the nations.
Let us Confess our Sins:
O God, we thank you for sending the gift of your peace to us each day, even though we do not always claim it. Move us, by your Spirit, to accept your gift and share it freely with those in need. 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 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.
God’s very being is grace. God’s every intent is to welcome you home. Receive now 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. 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.
We unite our hearts and voices in prayer:
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 the things 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 now and forever more. 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.
(From the Moravian Book of Worship, Hymn 662 v.1)
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.