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 100 “God, Whose Love Is Reigning o’er Us”
PSALM 85
PRAYER
(Consider some of the following concerns of people for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
After we broke so many covenants, thanks for the new one That the new covenant is a free gift
That there will never need to be another covenant That some cannot understand a free gift
That all is complete and perfect in the new covenant That some will not accept a free gift
That only the perfect Son can make such a covenant For new life in the new covenant
That in the new covenant Christ does all that is necessary That the new covenant brings hope
That the new covenant is not broken by our unfaithfulness That the new covenant brings peace
That the new covenant is all gain for us With the new covenant we can build a life
That the new covenant is all grace and love With the new covenant we can raise children
That Christ’s is the last sacrifice necessary for salvation With the new covenant we can risk action
For the love necessary for Christ’s sacrifice to be made With the new covenant we can risk love
For the forgiveness necessary for Christ’s sacrifice _____________________________
That God is so good, so loving and so full of grace _____________________________
For us to be thankfully faithful in the new covenant _____________________________
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
God, who are you? You are the Creator, Spinner of Galaxies, Universe Artist,
Genesis of Wisdom, Founder of Physics, Origin of Life, The Beginning and the End.
God, who are you? You are the Unapproachable Holiness, Omniscient Eternity,
Absolute Invincibility, Unknowable Invisibility, Supreme Power above All Powers.
God, who are you? You are the Author of Covenant, Keeper of Your Promises,
Friend of Abraham, Power of Moses, Heart of David and Father to Jesus, the Christ.
God, who are you? You are the Father Who Sends His Son, The Essence of Love,
Merciful Judge, Architect of Forgiveness, Granter of Grace, Source of New Covenant.
Who are we? We are inventors of sin, sowers of strife, designers of division,
instigators of hatred, visionaries of selfishness, fabricators of falsehoods and error,
Who are we? We are the children of your new covenant, your forgiven sinners,
citizens of your coming kingdom, your royal priests, and your very thankful servants.
Again, God, who are you? One Who Chooses to Love Us in Spite of Everything,
One Who Is Beyond Our Reach but Who Holds Us in Your Loving Embrace Forever.
We worship you. We love you. We bow down before you, and lift up your praise.
We are your covenant people, totally dependent upon you and forever grateful 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 158 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”
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.
