Good morning.
It is Wednesday,
February 10th,
2021.
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 sing to the Lord.
Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Remind yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you right now.
Let yourself dwell on any word or phrase that catches your attention or moves your heart and let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Shepherd us,
Lord,
With a faithful heart.
And guide us in the way of truth.
Our reading today is from John Chapter two versus twenty three through John Chapter three,
Verse eight.
While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival,
Many people believed in him for they could see the signs he was performing.
But Jesus knew all people and didn't entrust himself to them.
Jesus never needed evidence about people's motives.
He was well aware of what was in everyone's heart.
A certain Pharisee named Nicodemus,
A member of the Sanhedrin,
Came to Jesus at night.
Rabbi,
He said,
We know you're a teacher from God,
For no one can perform the signs and wonders you do unless by the power of God.
Jesus gave Nicodemus this answer.
The truth of the matter is,
Unless one is born from above,
One cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus said,
How can an adult be born a second time?
I can't go back into my mother's womb to be born again.
Jesus replied,
The truth of the matter is no one can enter God's kingdom without being born of water in the spirit.
What is born of the flesh is flesh.
What is born of the spirit is spirit.
So don't be surprised when I tell you that you must be born from above.
The wind blows where it wills.
You hear the sound it makes,
But you don't know where it comes from or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit.
Please repeat these words.
Shepherd us,
Lord,
With a faithful heart.
And guide us in the way of truth.
On Wednesdays,
We pray for our communities.
So I invite you now in this moment to hold your community before God.
Allow your imagination to be led by the spirit of God and land wherever God leads you.
And hold your community before the Lord.
Of love.
Don't worry about diagnosing your community's needs or telling God what to do.
Simply hold your community before God.
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 you receive us now and always.
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.
God our Savior,
Your spirit blows wherever she will.
Breathe on us,
Oh Lord.
That we might be born anew.
That we might be born of water and the spirit.
That we might be born again.
Amen.
And now my friends,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Amen.
