Good morning.
Today is Sunday,
October 18th,
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're 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.
Blessed be the Lord day by day,
The God who bears our burdens.
Psalm 11.
I take refuge in the Lord,
Yet this is what I hear from everyone.
Bird,
Fly back to your mountain refuge and hide,
Or see how the violent are bending their bows and fitting their arrows to the string,
Ready to ambush the innocent from the shadows.
Or when the foundations are being destroyed,
What can honest people do?
But I say God,
Who is called the great I Am,
Is in the Holy Temple.
God who was and is and is to come rules from heaven.
The eyes of God see all and examine the human condition.
The Lord watches over the just,
But stands against the oppressor and those who love violence.
Raining down fire and brimstone on the ruthless,
A scorching wind is all they'll get to eat or drink.
For the Lord is just and loves justice.
The upright will see God's face.
Please repeat these words.
Blessed be the Lord day by day,
The God who bears our burdens.
On Sunday,
We lift our hearts to the Lord in gratitude.
So I invite you now to lift your heart to God,
Picturing everything that you're grateful for today.
And as you hold your own heart before the Lord,
Hear these words of blessing spoken over you.
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 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 light of Christ go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you,
On your right and on your left.
May the light of God be with 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 light of Christ 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.
Gracious and eternal God,
As we rush into a future we don't know or understand,
Give us wisdom.
May we listen and learn with humility,
Trusting that you are always before us,
Calling us,
Wanting to show us the way if only we will calm our anxious egos and follow.
Still our anxious souls to rest in your hope,
Your provision,
Your strength and your justice through Jesus.
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.
