Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
Here is our Order of Worship
Reprinted from a prayer book used by George Washington
Morning Prayer link
Almighty God, and most merciful father, who didst command the children of Israel to offer daily sacrifice to thee,
that thereby they might glorify and praise thee for thy protection both night and day;
receive, O Lord, my morning sacrifice which I now offer up to thee;
I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the dangers of the night past,
and brought me to the light of this day, and the comforts thereof,
a day which is consecrated to thine own service and for thine own honor.
Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it,
that I may not do mine own works, but wait on thee,
and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of me;
and since thou art a God of pure eyes, and wilt be sanctified in all who draw near unto thee,
who doest not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in the courts,
pardon, I beseech thee, my sins, remove them from thy presence,
as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of thy son Jesus Christ,
that when I come into thy temple, and compass thine alter,
my prayers may come before thee as incense; and as thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my prayers,
so give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word,
that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness
mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it.
Bless my family, kindred, friends and country,
be our God & guide this day and for ever for his sake,
who lay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
An intercessory prayer from the Taize community link
To learn the history of Taize link
For all those who faithfully announce your Word, Lord, we pray.
Enable us to recognize your presence in our neighbors;
make us attentive to the poor and the unfortunate.
Lord, we pray for those who suffer in their workplace and for those who are without work,
that their dignity may be respected.
For prisoners and those forgotten by society,
keep us in solidarity with their suffering,
O Source of comfort, we pray.
For abandoned children, that they may find peace with those who welcome them, Lord, we pray.
For scholars and researchers, that their work may benefit all humanity, Lord, we pray.
For those who have responsibilities in public life, that they may act with integrity and for the good of all, Lord, we pray.
Amen
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:41-51 (Bible Gateway)
And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Prayer for generosity link
by Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), church reformer from Spain and founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) link
O my God,
teach me to be generous:
to serve you as you deserve to be served;
to give without counting the cost;
to fight without fear of being wounded;
to work without seeking rest;
and to spend myself without expecting any reward,
but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will.
Amen
Benediction by Jerome, (342 – 420),
bible scholar and translator, educated at Rome, settled in Bethlehem link
Lord, you have given us your Word for a light to shine upon our path;
grant us so to meditate on that Word, and to follow its teaching,
that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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Thanks!
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Wow! I’m walking and leaping and praising God after this sermon!! I’m shouting HALLELUJAH!
I went back and forth agreeing and disagreeing with some of the things you said, but in the end you tied it all up so I got so excited I had to get up out of my chair and shout!
I especially loved the fact that you recognize that we’re not all in a one-size-fits-all mold so the Luke 2:52 principle applies differently to each of us.
Thank you so much, Wade. I want to send you an email relating something I learned from God about myself that confirms what you spoke about today. I’ll look around to see if I can find an email addy for you.
Thanks to Deb and Dee once again for EChurch! Very much a blessing to me!