The watchword for the week:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16
Incline your ear to the Lord and come to him. Listen that you may live.
We will seek the Lord while he may be found. We will call upon him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their way and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them return to the Lord that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Confession of Sin
Lord Jesus, we come before you in humble confession. Help us conform our lives to you as the model for holy and righteous living.
(Adapted from the Liturgy for Lent I of the Moravian Book of Worship. Pause at the end of each petition for self-reflection. Used by permission of the Interprovinical Board of Communication.)
Forgive us, Lord
For the sin of unbelief. (pause)
Forgive us, Lord
From all defilement of the body and spirit. (pause)
Forgive us, Lord
From all self-righteousness. (pause)
Forgive us, Lord
From every neglect of our duty. (pause)
Forgive us, Lord
From ingratitude and selfishness. (pause)
Forgive us, Lord
From lukewarmness. (pause)
Forgive us, Lord
From all indifference to your meritorious life and death. (pause)
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Joel 2:12-12
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.
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 in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and forever. Amen
(Adapted from the Liturgy for Lent I of the Moravian Book of Worship. Used by permission of the Interprovinical Board of Communication.)
Loving Jesus, your life of love and self-giving are for us a model to follow for Holy living.
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your holy incarnation and birth,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your pure and blameless childhood,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your willing obedience,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your humility, meekness, and patience,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your faithfulness in your earthly calling,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your fasting and temptation,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your perfect life before God and humanity,
Bless us and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
By your tears and agony, your crown of thorns and cross,
Lead us to repentance of our sins.
By your willing sacrifice of yourself even unto death,
Make known to us the mystery of your love.
Into your open arms stretched out upon the cross,
Receive us all.
You have made known God to us as Father, so that the love with which he has loved you may be in us,
And you in us.
Christ, and him crucified,
Remain our confession of faith. Amen.