GREETING (Adapted from Exodus 3:14-16)
I Am Who I Am, you have spoken
from the bush, the prophets and your Son!
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
has come to rescue those in bondage to sin!
Let us bow down before you, I Am,
and lift up prayers and songs of thanksgiving!
HYMN 532 “Jesus, Priceless Treasure”
PSALM 125
PRAYER
(Consider some of the following concerns for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
Jesus as our gatekeeper The peace of absolute security
Freedom in Jesus’ love Joy of freedom and security together
Security in Jesus’ protecting salvation Responsibilities of freedom
Jesus – our gateway to discover new things Responsibilities of security
Jesus – our gateway to grow in new ways Jesus sending us out to grow and learn
Jesus – our gateway to serving God Jesus sending us out to witness
Jesus – our gateway to loving others Jesus sending us out to serve
Jesus – our gateway to loving enemies Jesus sending us out to green pastures
Jesus – our gateway to eternal life Jesus sending us out to worship God
Jesus’ protection from enemies Jesus sending us out to enjoy God
Jesus’ protection from death ____________________________
Jesus’ protection from unknown dangers ____________________________
Jesus’ protection from losing our faith ____________________________
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
Stand guard over our salvation, Gate of Life.
Stand before us, and stand behind us,
stand beside us, over us and under us.
Keep us safe as we shelter in your loving care.
Guard us in the pastures that feed us.
Keep out those who poison with lies.
Open to us the opportunities from our Father.
Open to us wisdom and knowledge.
Open to us avenues to serving you.
Keep us safe as we shelter from life’s storms.
Forbid those who would steal our joy.
Shut out all that divides us from you.
Open to us ever deepening love for our Father,
open to us a real love for neighbors,
and the elimination of all prejudice.
Keep us from the temptation to hate our enemies,
and to withhold forgiveness for wrongs.
Keep us from adding sin on top of sin.
Open to us the hope of eternity with our Father.
Open to us the peace of a steady faith.
Open to us the joy of being with you.
Stand guard over our daily lives, Gate of Love.
Stand before, behind and within us.
Stand beside, over and under us, Lord. 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 670 “Go Forth for God”
CLOSING PRAYER
Your greatness, I Am, is our joy and our hope,
for you have sent your Son to be our shepherd,
the true vine and bread of life, the world’s light,
the gate, opening to grace, shutting out danger.
He has become to us the resurrection and life,
our way, our truth and our life forever and ever.
May our thoughts, words and deeds all this day,
faithfully reflect his presence and compassion. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
