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 86:11-17
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
and I will live by your truth.
Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.
12 I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God,
and will honour your name for ever.
13 For your faithful love for me is great,
and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.
14 God, arrogant people have attacked me;
a gang of ruthless men intends to kill me.
They do not let you guide them.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me.
Give your strength to your servant;
save the son of your female servant.
17 Show me a sign of your goodness;
my enemies will see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped and comforted me.
New Testament Reading
Matthew 10:5-23
5 Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: ‘Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
9 ‘Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. 10 Don’t take a travelling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or staff, for the worker is worthy of his food. 11 When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it,13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgement for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16 ‘Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts[b] and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, my Creator,
Redeemer, and Sanctifier, I give up myself entirely. May I no
longer serve myself, but you, all the days of my life;
I give you my understanding. May it be my only care to
Know you, your perfections, your works, and your will…;
I give you my will. May I have no will of my own.
Whatsoever you will, may I will, and that only…;
I give you my affection;
I give you my body;
I give you all my worldly goods;
I give you my credit and reputation;
I give you myself and my all;
O my God and my all, when hereafter I shall be tempted
to break this solemn engagement, when I shall be pressed
to conform to the world and to the company
of the customs that surround me, may my answer be:
“I am not my own. I am not for myself,
not for the world, but for my God.
I will give unto God the things that are God’s.
God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Amen.
(https://westernjurisdictionumc.org/starting-with-surrender/)
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Malawi and Zambia.
We are thankful for:
- the biodiversity and natural wonders in these lands
- church leaders who have spoken out and countered sexual violence and human rights abuses
- those who are dealing with challenges of migrations within, and to, these countries
- stable governance and economies, and rising living standards for many people in recent years.
We pray for:
- greater food security for those most vulnerable, especially in times of climate change
- an end to political and economic corruption
- rising standards of living, particularly for those most poor
- an end to exploitation of resources and of the people, especially those who are young and/or female.
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 for meaningful worship and fellowship
- opportunities for practicing the way of Jesus
- opportunities for outreach and service to others
- the needs of our families and friends
- our personal needs
Pause for reflection
Classic Prayer
Almighty, eternal and merciful God,
whose Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,
open and illuminate our minds, that we may purely
and perfectly understand thy Word and that our lives
may be conformed to what we have rightly understood,
that in nothing we may be displeasing unto thy majesty,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)
Contemporary Prayer
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets,
God of Love, you created us and you call us
to live as brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace…
Keep alive within us the flame of hope,
so that with patience and perseverance
we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation.
In this way may peace triumph at last. Amen.
–Pope Francis (1936-2025)
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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