September 5, 2018

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Season of Pentecost

As you enter into this Morning Prayer, remember that God is with you and ready to speak to you because he loves you. Enjoy the presence of your Lord and Savior. Pray as you are able: use the entire email or for a shorter time of prayer, be led through all five sections but focus on one element in each of the sections. 

- Calling - 

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we
know what when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

 

- Confession -

Prayer of Repentance
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Holy and most Merciful Father,
Though you should guide us, we inform ourselves.
Though you should rule us, we reign over ourselves.
Though you should fulfill us, we console ourselves with many things.
We think your truth too high, your will too hard,
your power too remote, your love too free.
But these things are not true, so heal our confused mind with your word,
heal our divided will with your law, heal our troubled conscience with your love, heal our
anxious hearts with your presence,
all for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.
Please forgive us and change us by your Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

(Pause for a time of silent confession)


Words of Assurance - Ephesians 1:6-8
Praise God for the glorious grace that he has poured out on us in Jesus, his Son. In him we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us, with all wisdom and understanding.


The Invitation
(An invitation to praise God after confession and prior to the daily Psalm(s) and Lessons)

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
                  as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Alleluia. The earth is the Lord's for he made it: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia.

 

- Constitution - 

Morning Psalm(s) - Psalm 38
A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

    O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
        nor discipline me in your wrath!
    For your arrows have sunk into me,
        and your hand has come down on me.    
    
    There is no soundness in my flesh
        because of your indignation;
    there is no health in my bones
        because of my sin.
    For my iniquities have gone over my head;
        like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.    
    
    My wounds stink and fester
        because of my foolishness,
    I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
        all the day I go about mourning.
    For my sides are filled with burning,
        and there is no soundness in my flesh.
    I am feeble and crushed;
        I groan because of the tumult of my heart.    
    
    O Lord, all my longing is before you;
        my sighing is not hidden from you.
    My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
        and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
    My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
        and my nearest kin stand far off.    
    
    Those who seek my life lay their snares;
        those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
        and meditate treachery all day long.    
    
    But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
        like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
    I have become like a man who does not hear,
        and in whose mouth are no rebukes.    
    
    But for you, O LORD, do I wait;
        it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
    For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
        who boast against me when my foot slips!”    
    
    For I am ready to fall,
        and my pain is ever before me.
    I confess my iniquity;
        I am sorry for my sin.
    But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
        and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
    Those who render me evil for good
        accuse me because I follow after good.    
    
    Do not forsake me, O LORD!
        O my God, be not far from me!
    Make haste to help me,
        O Lord, my salvation!
 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
          as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen


Old Testament - Job 14

Then Job answered and said:

    “Man who is born of a woman
        is few of days and full of trouble.
    He comes out like a flower and withers;
        he flees like a shadow and continues not.
    And do you open your eyes on such a one
        and bring me into judgment with you?
    Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
        There is not one.
    Since his days are determined,
        and the number of his months is with you,
        and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
    look away from him and leave him alone,
        that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.    
    
    “For there is hope for a tree,
        if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
        and that its shoots will not cease.
    Though its root grow old in the earth,
        and its stump die in the soil,
    yet at the scent of water it will bud
        and put out branches like a young plant.
    But a man dies and is laid low;
        man breathes his last, and where is he?
    As waters fail from a lake
        and a river wastes away and dries up,
    so a man lies down and rises not again;
        till the heavens are no more he will not awake
        or be roused out of his sleep.
    Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,
        that you would conceal me until your wrath be past,
        that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
    If a man dies, shall he live again?
        All the days of my service I would wait,
        till my renewal should come.
    You would call, and I would answer you;
        you would long for the work of your hands.
    For then you would number my steps;
        you would not keep watch over my sin;
    my transgression would be sealed up in a bag,
        and you would cover over my iniquity.    
    
    “But the mountain falls and crumbles away,
        and the rock is removed from its place;
    the waters wear away the stones;
        the torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
        so you destroy the hope of man.
    You prevail forever against him, and he passes;
        you change his countenance, and send him away.
    His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
        they are brought low, and he perceives it not.
    He feels only the pain of his own body,
        and he mourns only for himself.”


The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God


New Testament - Acts 12:18–25

Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

But the word of God increased and multiplied.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.


The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God


Slowly read one or more of the lessons again... did a word or phrase catch your eye or move your heart...meditate on it and pray your thoughts, desires, needs, and feelings.
 

A Song of Response - Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision
O Lord of my heart
Nought be all else to me
Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light

Be Thou my Wisdom
And Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee
And Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father
And I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling
And I with Thee one

Riches I heed not
Nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance
Now and always
Thou and Thou only
First in my heart
High King of heaven
My Treasure Thou art

High King of Heaven
My victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys
O bright heav’n’s Sun
Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
O Ruler of all


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
          as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
 

The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried:
he descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

- Communion - 

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Petitions
Take this time to offer personal prayers.
Where have you seen the Lord faithfully at work this past week?
Where do you hope to see the Lord's help and healing this coming week?
What prayers can you offer for our church, neighborhood, nation, and world?


A Collect for the Sixteenth Week of Pentecost
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth
in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

- Commission - 

The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. We pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Blessing - Numbers 6:24-26
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace."

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

 

- Family Devotion- 

If you have children, below are two suggestions to help your family create a daily habit of prayer and Bible reading, meditation, and application. Use these suggestions as guides for your specific family situation and the ages of each of your children. Corporate times around the table (like breakfast or dinner) or during bedtime routines may be good times for your family.

Suggestion 1
For a family devotion follow the Calling - Commission flow: 

Calling - Remind your children that God loves them and is with them.                   

Cleansing - Together and/or individually pray your own prayer of repentance or use the corporate prayer of repentance. Remind them that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and rose from the dead, that their sins are forgiven and Jesus now reigns as their king.

Constitution - Read one or more of the appointed readings. Then ask them some follow up questions like: (Read) What does this passage say?  (Think) What does this passage mean? (Live) How does this passage apply to us today? In addition to an appointed reading, you can also read a children's Bible, like The Jesus Storybook Bible.   

Communion - Then pray thanksgivings & petitions and/or The Lord's Prayer. 

Commission - Close by saying the Blessing over your children.

Suggestion 2
For those families going through the 10-minute family devotional Old Story New, this week we are on WEEK 75, PAGES 523-529. 

Close your time with prayers of repentance, thanksgiving, petitions, and/or The Lord's Prayer.