Invocation
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures for ever (Ps 106:1).
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
Exodus 33:12-23
12 Moses said to the Lord, ‘Look, you have told me, “Lead this people up,” but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favour with me.” 13 Now if I have indeed found favour with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favour with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.’
14 And he replied, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’
15 ‘If your presence does not go,’ Moses responded to him, ‘don’t make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favour with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.’
17 The Lord answered Moses, ‘I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favour with me, and I know you by name.’
18 Then Moses said, ‘Please, let me see your glory.’
19 He said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name “the Lord” before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’ 20 But he added, ‘You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.’ 21 The Lord said, ‘Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.’
New Testament Reading
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. 3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labour motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit, 6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.
7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
Lord Jesus, you chose to be called the friend of sinners.
By your saving death and resurrection free me from my sins.
May your peace take root in my heart and bring forth a harvest
of love, holiness, and truth. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama.
We are thankful for:
- the natural beauty in this region
- the cultural and spiritual contributions made by the indigenous peoples living in these countries
- church leaders and others who continue to struggle for justice, human rights and dignity, and who work for reconciliation in these lands
- those who have turned away from violence and live with others in peace.
We pray for:
- Christians to have the courage to live out the liberating gospel.
- children and youth who are traumatized by violence and flee to other lands
- an end to gang violence and drug trafficking
- more just distribution of wealth that enables the millions who have been excluded to have access to a dignified life in these countries
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
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
—Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556
Contemporary Prayer
Hear, O God, the cries of your oppressed people.
It is a fight between good and evil,
between justice and injustice.
Lord, make your light shine upon us,
and guide us by your Spirit,
for we are cast down, but not defeated,
afflicted, but not in despair.
This is not a fight against flesh and blood,
but against principalities,
against powers,
against the hosts of evil in heavenly places.
Come, Lord, free us from the yoke of oppression
that has been laid upon us!
It is as if we were in a dark tunnel,
but we know that in your light we shall see light.
Do not leave us in the hands of our enemies,
who have joined against us,
all those who selfishly seek their own good
and act violently, trampling over their neighbours,
so as to reach their goals.
They thus hate justice,
they wish to devour us, destroy us,
day and night they are plotting evil.
Why do you tarry, Lord, in making your power felt?
They put their trust in money,
in influence, in bribery…
But we, Lord, put our trust in you,
our salvation comes from you.
May those who desire evil for us
be confounded and put to shame. Amen.
—Mendelson Dávila Amaya, Nicaragua
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.
