Good morning.
Today is Wednesday,
November 11,
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 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 today.
Let yourself dwell on a word or a phrase that jumps out at you and let your heart respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Be not far away,
Oh Lord.
You are my strength,
Hasten to help me.
Our scripture this morning is Psalm 16.
Oh God,
Keep me safe.
You are my refuge.
I said to the Lord,
You are my God.
There is nothing good for me apart from you.
The holy people of my land are wonderful.
My greatest pleasure is to be with them.
But those who rush after other gods will bring many troubles upon themselves.
I will not take part in their sacrifices.
I won't even speak the names of their gods.
You,
Lord,
Are all that I have.
You are my food and drink.
My life is safe in your hands.
Within the boundaries you have set for me,
There are nothing but pleasant places.
What a delightful inheritance I have.
I praise the Lord who guides me.
Even at night,
My heart teaches me.
I'm always aware of your presence.
You are right by my side.
Nothing can shake me.
My heart is happy and my tongue sings for joy.
I feel completely safe with you because you won't abandon me to the grave.
You won't let your loved ones see decay.
You show me the path to life.
Your presence fills me with joy.
And by your side,
I find enduring pleasure.
Please repeat these words.
Be not far away,
O Lord.
You are my strength.
Hasten to help me.
Today's Wednesday and on Wednesdays we pray for our communities.
So I invite you now to hold your community before God.
Take a moment to picture your community.
Which community are you being led to pray for today?
Perhaps it's your neighborhood.
Perhaps it's your school.
Maybe it's your workplace or your church.
Whatever community it is,
Hold this community before God.
Don't worry about diagnosing your community's needs or telling God what to do.
Simply hold your community before God and hear these words of blessing spoken over your community.
May the light of Christ go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you,
On your right and on your left.
When you rise and when you lie down,
May the light of Christ be with you.
May the light of Christ be in you.
May the love of God go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you,
On your right and on your left.
When you rise and when you lie down,
May the love of God be with you.
May the love of God be in you.
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.
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.
