GREETING
Creator, we worship you,
and bow to your will.
Savior, we worship you,
and surrender to your love.
Spirit, we worship you,
and welcome your friendship.
Trinity, accept our praise,
and the offering of our daily lives.
HYMN 61 “Come, Thou Almighty King”
PSALM 8
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.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
(Declare your faith by repeating “The Apostles’ Creed” (882) or “The Nicene Creed,” (880) or use the following affirmation.)
We believe in paradox,
in mysteries beyond our explaining,
in unknowns beyond our comprehension.
We believe in God,
beyond discovery by our sciences,
beyond the reasoning of human minds.
We believe in our Father,
our source beyond our human reach,
a creating mind beyond our imagination.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
who became human just like us;
then crucified, resurrected and ascended.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who comes and dwells within us,
who connects us to the Mind so beyond.
We believe in the impossible,
that Father, Son and Holy Spirit
live as One, united, harmonious, Trinity.
We believe in paradox.
We, though ungrateful sinners,
are never far from God’s heart and mind. Amen.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER 70 or 71
PRAYER
Almighty God, our Creator, in heaven above,
you are so far beyond us in every way.
We cannot comprehend you with our minds.
We cannot explain you with our words.
We cannot approach you, or embrace you,
nor dare even look upon your holiness.
We are so limited, and so defeated by our sin,
hopelessly, eternally separated from you.
But in Christ, you have come down to us,
reaching out and embracing our flesh.
You have overcome the distance between us,
and removed all obstacles separating us,
You have let us peer into your divine face,
and we have seen the nature of your love.
With prodigious grace you drew us to you,
created for us an eternal bond with you.
And in the Spirit, we celebrate that bond,
reveling in your company night and day.
Like a personal guide you lead us to heaven;
constantly pointing us toward the path,
helping us overcome the trials and troubles,
giving wisdom and strength as needed.
Save us from blunders that might separate us.
All we love depends on your presence. 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 119 “O God in Heaven”
CLOSING PRAYER
Creator,
watch over your creation,
protect your every creature,
from dangers of the night.
Savior,
wash away our every sin,
rule over our defiant hearts,
renew us to obey your call.
Spirit,
fill us with faith and love,
let us dream of serving you,
never, ever leave our side.
Trinity,
sanctify this day’s worship,
build up unity among us,
let us be church for others. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
