Invocation
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pause for reflection
Good morning, heavenly Father.
We worship you, the creator and sustainer of the universe.
Good morning, Lord Jesus.
We worship you, Saviour and Lord of the world.
Good morning, Holy Spirit.
We worship you, sanctifier of the people of God.
Opening sentences
One thing I have asked of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life;
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
Who is it that you seek?
We seek the Lord our God.
Do you seek him with all your heart?
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek him with all your soul?
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek him with all your mind?
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek him with all your strength?
Amen. Christ, have mercy.
Declaration of faith
To whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life,
and we have believed and have come to know
that you are the Holy One of God.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
King of endless glory.
Hebrew Bible reading
Psalm 85:1-7
You, Lord, showed favour to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
New Testament Reading
Luke 1:68-79
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house
of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us —
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him
without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun
will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
Merciful Lord, we confess that with us there is an abundance of sin,
but in you there is the fullness of righteousness and abundance of mercy.
We are spiritually poor, but you are rich and in Jesus Christ came to be merciful to the poor.
Strengthen our faith and trust in you.
We are empty vessels that need to be filled; fill us.
We are weak in faith; strengthen us.
We are cold in love; warm us, and make our hearts fervent
for you that our love may go out to one another and to our neighbors.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Myanmar and Thailand.
We give thanks for:
- the beauty of these countries and their people, and their many distinctive Buddhist temples
- those who long have struggled that these countries might become more democratic
- the faithful witness of churches, which have advocated with others for greater justice
- efforts to protect the environment and resources in these countries.
We pray for:
- minority ethnic and religious groups who continue to experience discrimination, persecution or even genocide (such as the Rohingyas), and for greater interfaith understanding and tolerance for ethnic and religious diversity
- those victimized by sex tourism and exploitation, and those who perpetuate such acts
- political stability and progress toward democratic rule
- economic justice for all people, and environmental protection, as these countries undergo development.
Prayer
Give us this day our daily bread.
All good gifts of the earth come from your generous hands, God.
Yet, this abundance is not shared equally among us.
While some are satisfied, others are starving.
Women often become the victims of exploitation
because they are desperate to feed and care for their children.
If only we would be mindful that each and every one of us must pray:
Give us this day our daily bread.
(World Day of Prayer Committee of Myanmar 1989, Lord, teach us to pray.
© 1989 World Day of Prayer International Committee.)
In our own place in the world, we pray for:
- all whose decisions involve questions of justice, mercy and peace
- federal, state and local politicians
- church leaders, ministers, pastors, teachers, and missionaries
- all the churches of our city or region
- our local congregation and its ministries
- our local communities, businesses, and schools
- the needs of our families and friends
- our personal needs, challenges and opportunities
Pause for reflection
Classic Prayer
What is this jewel that is so precious?
I can see it has been quarried not by men, but by God.
It is You, dear Jesus.
You have been dug from the rocks of Heaven itself
to be offered to me as a gift beyond price.
You shine in the darkness.
Every colour of the rainbow can be seen within You.
The whole earth is bathed in Your light.
Infant Jesus, by being born as man
You have taken upon Yourself the pain of death.
But such a jewel can never be destroyed.
You are immortal.
And by defying Your own death, You shall deliver me from death.
Amen.
—Adam of St Victor (12th century)
Contemporary Prayer
Sure to come Savior, I believe your coming again will mean the righting of all that is wrong; it will complete your rescue plan and fully carry out your redemption. But that sweet comfort makes the waiting all that much harder. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and redeem your people; come quickly and rescue us. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13, NIV
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.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.
Pause for reflection
Sending Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray
that we may live this day in your presence
and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, we pray that this day
we may take up our cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, we pray that this day
you will fill us with yourself
and cause your fruit to ripen in our lives:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,
three persons in one God,
have mercy upon us. Amen.
Canticle
Christ, as a light, illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield, overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sources:
– John Stott, quoted in Basic Christian: The Inside Story of John Stott (Downers Grove: IVP, 2010).
– Northumbria Community Trust, Celtic Daily Prayer (London: HarperCollins, 2015), https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/morning-prayer/
– Philip F. Reinders, Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible Through the Year (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2013), https://seekinggodsface.org
– World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle
– “Prayers of Confession/Prayers of who we are,” https://pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au/?p=400
– Arthur Bennett (ed.), The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975).
– Trevin Wax, Psalms in 30 Days (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2021).
– Jeanie Gushee & David P. Gushee, A Morning and Evening Prayerbook (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012).
– https://www.waysidechurch.org/corporate-prayers-of-confession
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