GREETING (beginning in Colossians 1:11-20)
There is One who is the image of the invisible God,
One in whom all things in heaven and on earth were created,
One who was before all things,
One in whom all things hold together,
One who is the head of the church,
One who is the firstborn of the dead,
One in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
One through whom God was pleased to reconcile with all things.
You are the One, Jesus, our Christ and our King.
To you we yield sovereignty over every day of our lives,
To you we offer our undying love and unending worship,
And before you, Jesus, our Savior and King, we bow.
HYMN 176 “Majesty, Worship His Majesty”
PSALM 132:1-12
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.
(Declare your faith by repeating “The Apostles’ Creed” (882) or “The Nicene Creed,” (880) or use the following affirmation.)
We will be made strong with the power of Christ our King,
we will be prepared to endure all things with a holy patience,
and joyfully give thanks to God through it all. This we believe.
In Christ we share the inheritance of the saints of the light,
for we have been rescued from the evil powers of darkness.
Christ has made us into citizens of the coming kingdom of God.
Jesus Christ was the beginning, the firstborn of the dead,
the first and foremost of every truth and everything that lives.
In Jesus Christ all God’s fullness was, and is, pleased to dwell.
Christ, the head of the church, began it all in Jerusalem,
Many experienced his teaching, crucifixion and resurrection,
and many believed and were gathered into the growing church.
But even in Jerusalem, Christ and his church had enemies.
Despite the early growth, over centuries the church suffered.
Today Jerusalem is a desert for Christians, only a few hang on.
Many early witnesses of the truth of Christ were pursued,
and so they spread across the Mideast where many believed.
The church grew and thrived, but now only a remnant remains.
Europe became the home of Christ’s church for centuries,
but today many magnificent church-buildings are museums.
Again only a remnant continues in this new desert for Christians.
European believers carried the good news over the world.
It grew and thrived in North America, but is now in decline.
Will this become the next desert with only a remnant remaining?
Central and South America heard the truth of Jesus Christ.
Again the Christian Church spread and grew across the lands.
Many are the threats against continued growth, yet faith abides.
Today it is Africa and Asia where the gospel is welcomed.
Countless are the peoples coming to believe in the gospel.
The work of Christ’s Spirit is exciting and everywhere apparent.
Repeatedly we watch the faith in Christ grow and spread,
only to later see it wither and be cast aside for material things.
Enlightenment, humanism and other forms of unbelief prevail.
A day may come when only a faithful remnant remain,
a day when every continent becomes a desert to Christianity.
And yet God’s plan will be fulfilled, bearing the fruit God wills.
Time after time God worked wonders with the remnant.
With only a few remaining strong and true, the gospel spread.
Persecution, strife, apathy or neglect will not defeat the remnant.
This dark time of winter desert will meet its timely end.
Christ the King comes with rivers of love, oceans of grace.
Christ the King brings lasting light into winter’s long darkness.
Springtime will come. The remnant will grow like seeds,
suddenly bursting into the garden of God’s coming kingdom.
Every continent will see the return of Jesus Christ, King of Life.
All creation will rejoice, humankind will sing their faith,
the good God planned from the beginning will be received,
and all the deserts will bloom and bear the luscious fruit of God.
Until Christ comes we will be strong and true, enduring,
with patience, joy, thanksgiving, love, for God and neighbor.
We will endure until Christ’s light and love shines in every desert. Amen.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER 70 or 71
PRAYER (inspired by John Wesley’s Covenant Service)
Pure Holiness, all-knowing and all-powerful, King Jesus,
we bow before your righteousness and justice,
we surrender to your steadfast love and grace.
Have compassion, Jesus, on our weakness and ignorance.
Forgive our rebellious and wandering ways,
our short-sightedness and misunderstandings.
Mercifully, our loving Savior, do not grant our requests,
for we are too shallow and too small-minded,
to know what we, or any one else, truly needs.
Instead, Jesus, pour out upon us the good that you desire.
Let your divine will rule supreme over us;
then good will come to all creation, and to us.
Into your faithful and loving hands, our holy king, Jesus,
we put ourselves, our family and our friends.
No other is trustworthy and steadfast like you.
Pour out on us all the rich blessings of heaven and earth,
or, if you will it, keep us in poverty and need.
In all things material and spiritual we trust you.
Put our hands and minds to work serving you every day,
or keep us idle, awaiting your royal bidding.
Just do not let us be busy doing our own thing.
Let us suffer long and make awesome sacrifices for you,
or let us live pleasantly, quietly, and peacefully.
Either way, we will live in joy and thanksgiving.
Fill us with many useful skills, talents and spiritual gifts,
or leave us searching for a way to serve you,
in building up the people of your holy church.
Make us aware of your constant company and friendship,
or leave us feeling empty, separated, and alone.
Just never let us be lost to you, our Holy King.
Your salvation is our only hope, and you our only Master.
Shape and use our clay in any way you want.
With joy we yield our hearts and minds to you.
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 166 “All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine”
As night comes upon us, we do not fear,
for you, Jesus our King, rule over the night.
As we surrender to sleep, we do not fear,
for you, Mighty King, protect us from danger.
And when we wake, we will not fear,
for we were created through you and for you.
We will be forever strong, King Jesus,
if you will but hold us in your glorious power.
Tonight we are yours, Mighty Savior,
and we will be yours in all the days to come. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
