Good morning.
Today is Wednesday,
March 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 worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our maker.
Remind yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
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.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
Our reading today is John 8 verses 12 through 18.
The next time Jesus spoke to them,
He said,
I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me won't walk in the darkness,
But will have the light of life.
The Pharisee said to him,
You are testifying about yourself.
So your testimony isn't valid.
Jesus replied,
Even if I do testify about myself,
My testimony is valid because I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you know neither where I come from nor where I am going.
You people judge by external things.
I don't judge anyone at all.
But even if I were to judge,
My judgment would be true because I am not alone in it.
The one who sent me joins me in that judgment.
Even in the law,
It is written that it takes two witnesses for testimony to be admissible.
Well,
I bear witness about myself and my Abba who sent me bears witness about me as well.
Please repeat these words.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
On Wednesdays,
We pray for our communities.
So I invite you now to hold your community before God.
Whichever community your imagination rests on in this space,
Let the Spirit of God lead your mind and rest on a community that you are a part of and lift that community before God in this space.
Don't worry about diagnosing the community's complicated needs or telling God what to do.
Simply hold your community before the Lord.
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 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.
Jesus you are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we may see.
Lead us to live according to your teaching and become your disciples.
That we may know the truth and be made free.
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.
So in peace.
