The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord and be strong!
Let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
—from Ps. 27
OPENING PRAYER
O God, our guardian and guide, in these troubled times we ask for your protection. Lead us according to your word and establish our faith on the solid rock of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is for us the way, the truth, and the life. We ask this in his Name. Amen.
—PCUSA, adapted
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[A silence is kept.]
Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God's love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Glory to God! Amen.
—UMC
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O living God, you are the fountain of all life. We praise you for all the goodness that surrounds us and the blessings that fill us. For those times when our feet are firmly on the path, when the way ahead is clear, we praise and thank you. But there are other time when we find that we have strayed. And rather than dwelling securely in a land of milk and honey, we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness— lost and unable to find our way to our heavenly home. At those times, gracious God, we bless you that to a people parched with thirst, you offer living water—grace which springs up from the Rock of our Salvation, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
May your Holy Spirit descend upon us and fill us this morning. Teach us ways to profess our faith fearlessly, so that others may hear the good news of the joy and wonder of your endless love. Assure us also, as we pray for ourselves, for our family members and friends, and for the needs of our neighbors near and far, that you are there, that you are listening, that your promises are real. Be the Source of life and healing, of comfort and peace and justice, to all who need you this day. And may the Spirit for which we pray also change us in ways that we could never expect, that we, too, might be agents of change in the world. All this we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, God forevermore. Amen.
O living God, you are the fountain of all life. We praise you for all the goodness that surrounds us and the blessings that fill us. For those times when our feet are firmly on the path, when the way ahead is clear, we praise and thank you. But there are other time when we find that we have strayed. And rather than dwelling securely in a land of milk and honey, we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness— lost and unable to find our way to our heavenly home. At those times, gracious God, we bless you that to a people parched with thirst, you offer living water—grace which springs up from the Rock of our Salvation, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
May your Holy Spirit descend upon us and fill us this morning. Teach us ways to profess our faith fearlessly, so that others may hear the good news of the joy and wonder of your endless love. Assure us also, as we pray for ourselves, for our family members and friends, and for the needs of our neighbors near and far, that you are there, that you are listening, that your promises are real. Be the Source of life and healing, of comfort and peace and justice, to all who need you this day. And may the Spirit for which we pray also change us in ways that we could never expect, that we, too, might be agents of change in the world. All this we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, God forevermore. Amen.
BENEDICTION
In the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Amen.
