GREETING (Psalm 119:171-172)
My lips will pour forth praise, O God,
because you teach me your statutes.
My tongue will sing of your promise,
for all your commandments are right.
HYMN 113 “Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud”
PSALM 113
PRAYER
(Consider some of the following concerns for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
My names for God Those cursing with God’s name
Others’ names for God The needy calling out God’s name
Learning a new name for God The doubters calling out God’s name
Remembering an old name for God The faithful calling out God’s name
What it means to call God our “Creator” Those with no name to call out
What it means to call God our “Judge” The honor of knowing God’s name
What it means to call God our “Fortress” “Hallowed be thy name”
What it means to call God our “Rock” Honoring God’s name
What it means to call God our “Sovereign” The power in a name
What it means to call God our “Savior” The One behind all the names
That we speak God’s name, and get God’s attention ____________________________
The privilege of calling God, “Father” ____________________________
The mystery of God’s name, “I Am” ____________________________
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
Father, hallowed be your name in us,
in our thinking of you and in our actions,
in this world and in the world yet to come.
You are absolute, perfect goodness.
You are frighteningly different from us,
and yet, wonderfully attractive and desirable.
We have sipped lightly of your love,
and the rich depth of your commitment
is just beginning to dawn on us, Holy God.
But from what we have tasted so far,
We heartily agree and add our voices,
to those praying, “Hallowed be your name.”
Elohim, Yahweh, Holy One, Trinity,
Husband to Israel, Lord of the Church,
Spirit of Life, Beloved Home of Our Hearts,
give us the courage to drink deeply.
Your name is sweet on our lips, Abba.
Your name stirs us to good and holy living.
Your name is our holiness and love.
Your name is our power and authority.
Hallowed be your name forever, Great I Am. 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 105 “God of Many Names”
CLOSING PRAYER
Ten commands you give, O God,
not suggestions, not guidelines, but commands.
Let them command my life today, God of blessing.
Let their benefits sanctify the life,
that your holy Son’s loving sacrifice has saved,
and restored to usefulness to you and you kingdom. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
