Good morning,
My friends.
Today is Friday,
December 11th,
2020.
Oh Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three-in-one creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now,
And will be forever.
Amen.
Come,
Let us bow down and worship.
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our Maker.
Remind yourself that you're in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on any word or phrase that grabs your heart or catches your attention.
And let yourself simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Nothing is impossible with God.
What I believe help my unbelief.
Our scripture this morning is Matthew 11,
Verses 16 through 19.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds.
What comparison can I make with this generation?
They are like children shouting to others as they sit in the marketplace.
We piped you a tune,
But you wouldn't dance.
We sang you a dirge,
But you wouldn't mourn.
For John came neither eating nor drinking,
And they say he is possessed.
The chosen one comes eating and drinking,
And they say this one is a glutton and a drunkard,
A friend of tax collectors and sinners.
Wisdom will be vindicated by her own actions.
Out of wisdom,
Sometimes you come to us in clapping thunder,
But more often you speak to our hearts in that still,
Small voice.
May we learn to listen.
May we have ears to hear and eyes to see,
Because we need your wisdom to navigate our troubled world.
I invite you now in a silent moment to hold someone's name before God.
Don't worry about diagnosing anyone's needs or telling God what to do.
Simply hold someone before God this morning.
Bless all who call on you,
Almighty God,
From the rising of the sun to its setting.
From your goodness,
Enrich us.
By your love,
Inspire us.
By your Spirit,
Guide us.
By your power,
Protect us.
In your mercy,
Receive us,
Now and always.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
Who taught us to pray.
Our Father,
Which art in heaven,
Eternal God,
Earth-maker,
Pain-bearer,
Life-giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be.
Not only Father,
But Mother of us all,
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today,
Feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever.
Amen.
Please repeat these words.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Lord,
I believe.
Help my unbelief.
And now,
My friends,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
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.
Now in peace.
