The watchword for the week:
The Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5
O God, our Creator, we worship and adore you this day.
We are your people, crafted by the skill of your hands.
Psalm 100
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Let us Confess our Sins:
Gracious God, your love for us is steadfast, unwavering, unconditional, given freely and abundantly. We confess that our love for you has wavered and become lukewarm. At times we have been unfaithful servants seeking worldly acceptance, self-gratification, and material gain. We can even deceive ourselves into thinking we can do things our own way. Lead us into lives worthy of our calling in Christ, with humility and patience, bearing one another in love, and eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thanks be to God who has loved us from the beginning and promises that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Let us rejoice in this good news!
Take time to read today’s Daily Texts. Remember that 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 your own copy of the Daily Texts, you will find them posted in the margin on the right of your page (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 pray together.
Creator of all, your name be held holy, your domain spread among us, your wisdom is our guide, your way is our path. May your will be done at all times, in all places on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today, and may we share it with others. As we release those indebted to us, so forgive us our debts, our trespass on others. Fill us with courage in the time of our testing. Spare us from trials too severe to endure. Free us from the grip of the powers that bind us. For yours is the goodness in which evil dissolves; yours is the joy that sounds through the pain; yours is the life that swallows up death. Yours is the glory, the light, and the love for all of time and eternity. So be it. Amen.
Loving God, you send us to bring good news to the oppressed,
and to bind the wounds of those broken in heart,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of prisons to those who are bound,
to announce the year of your grace,
to comfort all who mourn,
to give them a garland of consolation,
instead of the ashes of mourning,
the oil of gladness and healing,
and the rolling tears that wash away sorrow.
Lord of all, in whom we live and move and exult for joy, guide our steps through the complexity of our lives.
Keep us mindful of your steadfast love for us and how we can make that love come alive in the hearts of those we love and serve. AMEN.