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 19:1-14
19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
3 There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming from his home;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens
and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold –
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them,
and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from wilful sins;
do not let them rule me.
Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
New Testament Reading
Philippians 3:4b-14
4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ – the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not[b] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly[c]call in Christ Jesus.
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
Lord, You know me. You know everything about me.
You know every good thing I have done and every bad thing I have done.
You see my brokenness. You saw it when You made Your way to Golgotha.
You took all my sin on Yourself and now You offer me unmerited
and unlimited forgiveness. I confess my sins to You
because I know that You are my only hope
to deal with all the guilt and shame that I carry.
Thank you for Your extravagantly generous gift of love.
I receive Your forgiveness. I live in Your righteousness.
And I am filled with wonder and joy. Amen.
—Impactus (Promise Keepers Canada)
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
We are thankful for:
- the distinctive rhythms, music, dance, food and natural medicine in this area
- the beauty of the region, forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, and ocean coastlines, and especially indigenous peoples’ relationship with, and care for, the natural environment
- churches who witness and work both ecumenically and with those of other faiths to build relationships of trust and commitment amid ongoing injustice and oppression
- the diversity of languages and cultures flourishing in the region despite disruptions that have occurred through colonization, and political and economic turmoil.
We pray for:
- Christians to have the courage, imagination and energy to build bridges of peace and understanding against conflict and division, and to pursue justice for the poor, marginalized and dispossessed
- an end of corruption in all levels of the society, including economic exploitation which impoverishes and hinders economic growth from benefitting all.
- immigrants and refugees seeking a new home, and those who accompany and support them
- coca farmers to find sustainable incomes from other crops, for an end to drug trafficking, and effective assistance for those who are addicted.
In our own place in the world, we pray for:
- all whose decisions involve questions of justice, mercy and peace
- our federal, state and local politicians
- all the churches of our city and those who lead them
- our local community, businesses, and schools
- our 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
My God, Father and Preserver,
who in Your goodness has watched over me in this past night
and brought me to this day, grant that I may spend the day wholly in Your service.
Let me not think or say or do
a single thing that is not in obedience to Your will;
but rather let all my actions be directed to Your glory
and the salvation of my brethren.
Let me attempt nothing that is not pleasing to You…
Grant also, that as labour
for the goods and clothing necessary for this life,Â
I may constantly raise my mind upwards to the heavenly life
which You promise to all Your children. Amen.
—John Calvin (1509-1564)
Contemporary Prayer
In the cockatoo’s rasp and the bellbird’s song:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
In the gap-toothed grin of a mischievous child:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
In the tantalising smell of freshly baked bread:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
In the starlit splendour of the winter sky:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
In the satisfying squelch of a muddy walk:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
In the ladybird’s flight and the puffin’s waddle:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
In the sharing of stories and sipping of beer:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
In the windswept hair of a highland cow:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
When children are able to be children:
God’s joy at the heart of all things
When adults become like children again:
God’s joy at the heart of all things.
—Iona Abbey Worship Book (Wild Goose Publications, 2018), 169, adapted.
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
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 evil.
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.
