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 104:24-34
24 How countless are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, vast and wide,
teeming with creatures beyond number –
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships move about,
and Leviathan, which you formed to play there.
27 All of them wait for you
to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your breath,
they are created,
and you renew the surface of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works.
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
he touches the mountains,
and they pour out smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him;
I will rejoice in the Lord.
New Testament Reading
John 7:37-39
37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.’ 39 He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
Father, I come to You honestly and intentionally.
I do not want to hide, defend, or blame.
I confess my sins and my personal wrongdoings.
Show me where I was wrong, and give me grace to admit it fully.
Forgive me, cleanse me, and change me.
Heal the places in me that keep reacting from pride, pain, or fear.
Holy Spirit, fountain of love, I call on you with trust:
Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light.
Teach me how to make peace where possible
and how to walk in truth from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles.
We are thankful for:
• the spectacular scenery, exotic plants, rare animals and abundant sea life that flourish in the region
• how people who are ethnically and religiously diverse have long lived together
• the economic developments that have lifted some out of poverty
• the vital evangelism, social and public witness of churches, and how the churches relate to people of other faiths.
We pray for:
• the fragile environment and the unique plants, animals and lands, that they will be protected, especially as the sea rises
• tourism and other economic developments, that they will not threaten, but enhance life for all the people in these countries
• churches, that they will grow through evangelistic efforts and in their work with those of other faiths
• Christians to be bolder in their public witness for justice and reconciliation, especially in times of political turmoil.
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
Bestow on me, O Lord,
a genial spirit and unwearied forbearance,
a mild, loving and patient heart,
kindly looks, pleasant, cordial speech and manner
that I may give offense to none,
but, as much as in me lies,
live in charity with all. Amen.
–Johann Arndt (c. 1555-1621)
Contemporary Prayer
Heavenly Father,
you have welcomed us into your kingdom
and your hearts’ desire is to draw every human being to yourself.
Grant us clear eyes to see people as you see them,
sensitive feet to stand in their shoes,
and warm smiles to welcome them into your name.
Give us generous hearts
that our church becomes a foretaste of heaven
where every soul you send us
finds their loving home in the community of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
–Prayer from the Anglican Diocese of Mauritius.
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.
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