Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory forever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God forever.
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and forever.
Amen.
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You are building a living temple for Your Holy Spirit out of the Church,
whose cornerstone is Jesus Christ, Your Son.
Grant faithful master builders to lay upon this foundation that which will survive the day of His return.
Never let us trust or boast in our own works, but only in the work You do by Your Spirit through Your Son.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
When there are divisions in the Church on earth, let what is genuine be recognized,
that we may always walk the path of Your commandments and so please You.
Guide us to a reliance on Your Son, the One who perfectly loved His enemies.
Let us imitate Him and be holy as You are holy.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty Father, You ask us to pray for our enemies and do good to those who hate us.
Help us in this task, that all may humbly come before You,
confess their sins and be reconciled to You and to each other.
Let no one be after selfish gain, but rather help us to consider others more significant than ourselves.
Do not let us hate our brother in our heart,
but instead model the humility of Your Son and make peace with our neighbor. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Lord, You do not willingly afflict or grieve Your children.
Look with compassion on those who are suffering in body or mind
[especially this week we ask for ___________].
Remember them in Your mercy, strengthen them in patience,
comfort them with the memory of Your goodness and let Your face shine on them,
that they may be guarded by Your peace in Jesus Christ.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, by Your Word give us understanding to keep Your Law and observe it with our whole heart.
By Your Son’s body and blood, confirm to Your servants Your promise,
that You may be feared, our reproach turned away and life granted us in Your righteousness.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, dear Father, we commend all for whom we pray,
trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:
Wade Burleson: A Mouth that Talks to People Not About People from Emmanuel Enid on Vimeo.
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.
Amen.
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