GREETING (quote from Augustine’s “Confessions”)
“O Beauty, so ancient and so new,
you were with us, but we not with you.”
Together we have traveled so far.
Alone we stumble without our north star.
We again fix eyes and heart on you.
our destination to bring back into view.
HYMN 73 “O Worship the King”
PSALM 89
PRAYER
(Consider some of the following concerns of people for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
For courage to pray to God with honesty There is no God but God
That God’s steadfast love will save us That God has become our God
That God has become the Rock of our salvation The house we built for God
That God will never forget his covenant The house God built for us
That our heirs inherit God’s covenant with us Our desire to build for God
The line of David established forever in Christ God’s desire to build for us
God’s correction of our wrongs How far God has brought us
God’s punishment of our wrongs How far God intends to yet take us
God’s correction and punishment for others That God’s promises are forever
The place where we will never be disturbed That God’s steadfast love is forever
The place where God subdues all our enemies _____________________________
The place where God eliminates all violence _____________________________
The place where we go to be with our ancestors _____________________________
THE LORD'S PRAYER
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
Master Builder and Divine Architect,
David made you a proposal,
to build a fine house for you
to honor you and thank you.
You told David that you need no house,
but you promised him a house
built from his royal ancestors,
who would rule Israel forever.
I also have a humble proposal for you.
I would like to build a house,
but I want to build it with you,
not just me build it for you.
With you, God, as the master builder,
me your humble apprentice,
we could build a fine home
honoring your craftsmanship.
We could use my flesh and bone, God,
like a home’s wood and stone;
and we would use your grace
to hold everything together.
Then my mind and heart could be used
for wiring the whole building,
but to charge every wire in it
we need your steadfast love.
My hands and feet could be put to work
like the appliances in a home,
and we could use them to serve
everyone in the neighborhood.
We could use my eyes and ears too, God,
to be like doors and windows;
letting your Spirit blow freely,
keeping it all fresh and clean.
Together, God, we could build our house
in the ugliest neighborhood,
and invite everyone there
to come in to enjoy your peace.
You could covenant with other apprentices
to build more and more houses
until beauty replaces ugliness,
and gratitude fills each home.
Then across every neighborhood and town,
we would all sing your praise,
and live in your grace, love,
hope, peace and Spirit forever. 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 451 “Be Thou My Vision”
CLOSING PRAYER
You have covenanted with us, Creator and Almighty God;
and we know you are faithful to all your words.
We enjoy inexhaustible blessings because of your covenant,
and for your favor and gifts we are truly thankful.
We recognize our failures in keeping covenant with you,
and we are determined today to turn that around.
Let your Holy Spirit take possession of our minds and hearts,
so that we please you in all we think, say or do. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
