The watchword for the week:
God, turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name. Psalm 119:132
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 119:129-136
129 Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 With open mouth I pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your custom toward those who love your name.
133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears
because your law is not kept.
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 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 of this world as good and faithful stewards. Show us how to tend the land, water, and air and prevent pollution and destruction. Teach us the discipline of conserving and 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. Reprinted with permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication)
The Lord, your Redeemer, says: 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. 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 today’s texts 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.
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.
As children of God, we 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 the 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.