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 100:1-5
1 Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God.
He made us, and we are his–
his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures for ever;
his faithfulness, through all generations.
New Testament Reading
Matthew 20:17-28
17 While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside privately and said to them on the way, 18 ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. 19 They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised.’
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. 21 ‘What do you want? ’ he asked her.
‘Promise,’ she said to him, ‘that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.’
22 Jesus answered, ‘You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? ’
‘We are able,’ they said to him.
23 He told them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’
24 When the ten disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them over and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, we worship you for you are the ever-faithful One, and your righteous reign is unmatched. We adore you for your steadfast love that endures forever and for the salvation found only in Jesus Christ.
Lord, we come before you, acknowledging your infinite holiness, your majesty, and your unwavering faithfulness. We thank you for your comforting presence, which guides us through the highs and lows of life.
Father, we confess that our hearts have drifted from you. We have followed our own devices rather than your righteous path, leaving undone things we should have done. We have been guilty of selfish pride and have failed to fully live out our calling as your people.
According to your promises in Christ Jesus, we ask you to wash away our sins and purify our hearts. By your Holy Spirit, restore in us the desire to walk in your ways, so that we may live for the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
We are thankful for:
• the long history of Christianity in these lands
• Those who have witnessed to their faith during long years of repression and persecution
• positive developments these countries have undergone since the end of the Soviet era
• those who pursue peace and reconciliation in the face of old suspicions and animosities.
We pray for:
• greater respect for the human rights of all the peoples living in these countries
• just changes for those living in situations of poverty and discrimination
• the healing of past wrongs and distorted memories of what has occurred
• a prophetic witness of the churches in relation to new challenges
• the Georgian Orthodox Church, that it may rediscover a rich relationship with churches worldwide.
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 community, businesses, and schools
- our local congregation and its ministries
- opportunities to experience meaningful worship and fellowship
- opportunities for discipleship and learning to be more like Jesus
- opportunities for service to others and sharing the good news
- the needs of our families and friends
- our personal needs
Pause for reflection
Classic Prayer
Be Thou a light unto mine eyes, music to mine ears,
sweetness to my taste, and a full contentment to my heart.
Be Thou my sunshine in the day, my food at the table, …
my clothing in nakedness, and my succour in all necessities.
Lord Jesus, I give Thee my body, my soul, my substance,
my fame, my friends, my liberty, and my life.
Dispose of me and of all that is mine,
as it seems best to Thee and to the glory of Thy blessed name.
Amen.
– John Cosin (1594-1672)
Contemporary Prayer
Faithful Saviour, I am so grateful for your commitment to me
that will never let me be snatched away from you.
I falter in my faith and feel the pull away from you
by the siren call of sin and temptation.
But you keep me standing in grace,
strengthened and powerfully pre-served.
Fill me with your Spirit to fight the good fight today.
Amen.
– Canons of Dort
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 intotemptation,
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.
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