Good morning.
Today is Saturday,
November 21st,
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 Lord.
Remind yourself that you're in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on the word or a phrase that jumps out at you and let your heart respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Hide us,
Your anxious children under the shadow of your wing.
Colossians three,
Verses 15 through 17.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
Since as members of one body,
You were called to peace and be thankful.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through songs,
Hymns and songs from the spirit.
Singing to God with gratitude in your hearts and whatever you do,
Whether in word or indeed,
Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
Giving thanks to God through him.
Please repeat these words.
Hide us,
Your anxious children under the shadow of your wing.
We will pray for each other today using the beautiful words written by Drew Billups.
Jesus,
Many things we assumed were anchored have now broken loose.
The routines we have trusted have become untethered.
In incremental,
Quiet,
Unrelenting shifts,
The world is changing around us.
We feel acutely powerless and out of control.
Lord be with us.
Hear our cry.
Come to our aid.
Let us meet you as faithful,
Sure and strong.
Draw us into your trying love and reveal the concrete fullness of your presence with us in the midst of current hardships.
Lord send your spirit full of comfort.
Send your spirit and empower us to move in spite of our fear toward clear eyed and constant love for you and our neighbors.
As our social circles become constricted and eerily still send your spirit and empower us to push past the selfish impulses we all feel and into the open fields of generosity and compassion.
Send your spirit and empower us to push our awareness wider when we want to withdraw,
To make decisions that benefit others before ourselves,
To look for opportunities to keep our sisters and our brothers,
To tenaciously commit to generosity when all we feel is scarcity.
Give us confidence that the things we cannot control lie securely in your hands,
That the quiet,
Reassuring permanence we seek is found in you.
Help us to relax the strained grip of our own anxiety and trust that you remain steadfast in your faithfulness to all the world.
In the very midst of threat,
Uncertainty and fear,
Help us to enter your rest because at the core of our being we know you as a faithful God and a powerful savior.
In the midst of waiting matters of things beyond our control,
Lord be with us 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 howling 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 hearts 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.
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.
Go in peace.
