GREETING
We kneel before you, Holy King,
seated upon the high, heavenly throne
placed at the right hand of Almighty God.
Christ Jesus, our King of kings,
you rule our hearts, O King of Love,
rule our lives as well, today and forever.
HYMN 325 “Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus”
PSALM 47:5-9
PRAYER
(Think back to the beginning of this day. Start there, and mentally walk through the day again, while you thank God for the day's blessings and God's continuous work of love. Confess and repent of those times when you forgot, ignored or rebelled against God. Continue to pray with your personal prayer list.)
SCRIPTURE LESSON
(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)
Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.
Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.
Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.
Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.
PRAYER (Rev. 5:12-14)
Worthy, worthy are you, Lamb of God!
In the beginning with God creating;
sent from God from heaven to earth;
God incarnate in our human flesh;
the story-telling messenger of God;
author of light, worker of miracles;
truth-speaking, holy wonder of God;
for atonement of our sin, an offering;
choosing crucifixion for love’s sake.
Dead.
Buried.
You descended into our death, Jesus.
Alive!
Risen!
You lifted us into your resurrection!
Worthy, worthy are you, Lamb of God!
Choosing to appear first to women;
in the flesh with 100’s of witnesses;
promising to send your Holy Spirit;
commissioning us to make disciples;
sending us out into all your world;
gifting us with your truth to speak;
empowering us to work miracles;
endowing your church with love.
Ascended!
Crowned!
You return to your Father in heaven!
Coming!
Soon!
Gather us into your Father’s house!
Worthy, worthy are you, Lamb of God!
Praying, we wait in faith and hope;
believing, we surrender to your love;
accepting, we wash with forgiveness;
loving, we turn our faces toward you;
following, we embrace your people;
carrying good news to the hopeless;
working miracles for the needy ones;
and celebrating your total worthiness:
to receive power;
wealth;
wisdom;
might;
honor;
glory;
and blessing!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
SILENCE AND COMMITMENT
(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)
HYMN 326 “The Head That Once Was Crowned”
CLOSING PRAYER
Speak our names, Jesus. Speak our names.
Tell your heavenly Father what you have done.
Proclaim across your kingdom the victory you won.
Tell of your sacrifice, your grace and love.
Tell of your triumph over every sin in the world.
Share the news of how you destroyed death forever.
Then, seated on your throne, beside God,
remind our Creator of treasured grace and mercy;
and speak our names, Jesus, in our Father’s hearing.
Speak our names near God’s book of life.
Plead with your Father to forget our foolishness,
to remember only your love. Then speak our names.
Your Father will hear your voice, Jesus.
Our Father loves and respects what you perfect.
When you speak our names, God will welcome us. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
