Invocation
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and 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
Psalm 78:1-7
My people, hear my instruction;
listen to the words from my mouth.
2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past –
3 things we have heard and known
and that our ancestors have passed down to us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell a future generation
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
his might, and the wondrous works
he has performed.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and set up a law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach to their children
6 so that a future generation –
children yet to be born – might know.
They were to rise and tell their children
7 so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God’s works,
but keep his commands.
New Testament Reading
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
O my God,
with a humble and contrite heart,
I come before You in sorrow.
I am truly sorry for all my sins—
for the times I have failed to love You
with my whole heart,
and to love others as You have commanded.
I grieve for every wrong thought,
every careless word,
and every sinful action.
I am sorry for the good I have failed to do,
and for the moments I turned away from Your grace.
O merciful Father,
through the passion of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on me and forgive me. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Canada, and United States of America.
We are thankful for:
- the vast expanse of North America with its resources and varied landscapes; may they be preserved, enjoyed and used wisely
- those who are its original inhabitants – First Nations and Native Americans
- church-related organizations that strongly advocate for justice, and those that provide for new immigrants and refugees today, as well as for others who are poor and vulnerable
- ecumenical and interfaith engagements which are occurring in many communities that previously were mainly white and Christian.
We pray for:
- churches facing new challenges, that they may continue to witness boldly to the gospel in evolving multicultural, multireligious and secular contexts
- indigenous peoples in their long struggles for survival, land and rights; and for ongoing healing and reconciliation with those who have come after them
- new immigrants, that they will continue to be welcomed in these countries, and that policies will serve the common good
- effectively countering systemic greed that exploits communities and natural resources
- government leaders that they would advance justice, human rights, and peace for all within these countries and in the rest of the world.
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
This morning my soul is greater than the world
since it possesses you,
You whom heaven and earth do not contain.
Amen.
—Margaret of Cortona (1247-1297)
Contemporary Prayer
Breath of the Four Winds
Come from the four winds, O Breath,
And breathe upon these slain, that they may live. (Ezekiel 37:9)
Come from the South, O Breath,
blow your life-giving promise of hope
to our sisters in ponchos, Mothers of the Disappeared, political prisoners and exiles.
Come from the South and breathe justice that they may live.
Come from the North, O Breath,
blow your Word, in Spirit and truth,
to our brothers and sisters who have lost their languages in residential schools.
Come from the North and speak freely, so there may be healing.
Come from the East, O Breath,
blow your message of peace
to children in countries shattered by war and division.
Come from the East with morning’s promise of a new day.
Come from the West, O Breath,
blow in the tongues of fire in the sky at the setting of the sun.
We are your church, kindled in your Spirit, fired in the mystery of your coming.
Come from the West and pray in us, Holy Spirit, our ending and our beginning.
Amen.
—Wendy MacLean, United Church of Canada
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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
