May 26, 2020
Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
O God, in the glorious resurrection of Jesus death was defeated; by the power of the Holy Spirit may His resurrection life live in us today.
Matthew 16:21-28 (NIV)
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
O Lord, please be patient with me. One moment I pick up my cross and the next I lay it down again. In You is life, everlasting life.
(S-L-O-W-L-Y; inhale and exhale deeply)
Our Father, who is in Heaven, most holy is Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into a time of testing.
Deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Oh God, the king of glory, you have exalted your only son Jesus Christ with great trying to your Kingdom in Heaven: do not leave us comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
May 22, 2020
Hello, Lord! May my soul rise to meet You as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the sun, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the sun, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Matthew 15:29-39 (NIV)
29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
(S-L-O-W-L-Y; inhale and exhale deeply)
Our Father, who is in Heaven, most holy is Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into a time of testing.
Deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father, who is in Heaven, most holy is Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into a time of testing.
Deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
May 21, 2020
Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed.Alleluia!
Father God, through the life, death, and resurrection of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, death was neutered and the gates to eternal life were flung open. May we all in faith embrace this unearned gift and respond with grateful celebration empowered by the Holy Spirit; through Christ, the risen Lord we pray.
Most merciful God, we have rebelled against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with my whole heart; We have not loved my neighbor as ourself. We are truly sorry and humbly return to You.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, for Your glory.
We have not loved You with my whole heart; We have not loved my neighbor as ourself. We are truly sorry and humbly return to You.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, for Your glory.
You, promise that if we confess our sins You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank You for being a promise-keeping God. We receive Your gift of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Matthew 15:21-28 (CEB)
21 From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” 23 But he didn’t respond to her at all.
His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.”
24 Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.”
25 But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.”
26 He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.”
27 She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.”
28 Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed.
21 From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” 23 But he didn’t respond to her at all.
His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.”
24 Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.”
25 But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.”
26 He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.”
27 She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.”
28 Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed.
(S-L-O-W-L-Y; inhale and exhale deeply)
Our Father, who is in Heaven, most holy is Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into a time of testing.
Deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father, who is in Heaven, most holy is Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into a time of testing.
Deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
May 20, 2020
Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed.Alleluia!
O Lord, let my soul rise to meet You as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the sun, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
O Lord, let my soul rise to meet You as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the sun, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Matthew 15:1-20 (ESV)
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
(S-L-O-W-L-Y; inhale and exhale deeply)
Our Father, who is in Heaven, most holy is Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into a time of testing.
Deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father, who is in Heaven, most holy is Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into a time of testing.
Deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
May 18, 2020
Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Gracious God, it’s true we have rebelled against you in thought, word and deed, by our actions, and our inaction. We have not loved you with all our heart, soul,mind and strength; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We humbly repent and sincerely ask your forgiveness.
We rejoice in the good news, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, this proves you love us. If we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We receive your forgiveness and the restored relationship with you by the gift of Jesus, the Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia and Amen!
Matthew 17:1-13 (NIV)
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Suggestions for prayer:
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
Almighty God. who after creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest fro all your creatures: Grant that we may cast all our anxieties on you, and prepare for us for worship with your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ, Jesus for ever and ever. Alleluia & Amen!
– Ephesians 3:20,21
– Ephesians 3:20,21
May 17, 2020
Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Gracious God, it’s true we have rebelled against you in thought, word and deed, by our actions, and our inaction. We have not loved you with all our heart, soul,mind and strength; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We humbly repent and sincerely ask your forgiveness.
We rejoice in the good news, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, this proves you love us. If we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We receive your forgiveness and the restored relationship with you by the gift of Jesus, the Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia and Amen!
Matthew 16:21-28 (NIV)
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Suggestions for prayer:
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
Almighty God. who after creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest fro all your creatures: Grant that we may cast all our anxieties on you, and prepare for us for worship with your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13
May 16, 2020
Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Almighty and gracious God, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep, too often we have done our will instead of yours, we have put our hand in your face, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But you, O Lord, have mercy on us, you spare those who confess their faults, you restore those who are repentant, according to your promises declared to us in Christ Jesus our Lord; Grant gracious Lord for his sake, that from now on we would live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy name.
Lord, you promise that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Thank you for never going back on your promises, forgive our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and strengthen us to live in the power of your Holy Spirit, each moment of each day.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia and Amen!
Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Lord you have set your servants free to live in peace just as you promised; For our eyes have beheld the Savior, whom your prepared as a gift to the world; A light to the nations, and the splendor of God Most High. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, so be it now, and forever more.
Suggestions for prayer:
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
Lord Jesus, by your death and resurrection you took away the sting of death: Grant to your servants the faith, passion and courage to follow you, to love and serve one another for your glory.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ, Jesus for ever and ever. Alleluia & Amen!
– Ephesians 3:20,21
May 15, 2020
Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Most merciful God, we confess we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.
Most merciful God, we confess we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.
Almighty and loving God have mercy on us, forgive our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and strengthen us to live in the power of Your Holy Spirit, each moment of each day.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia and Amen!
Matthew 16:5-12
When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord; And deliver us. Clothe your humble servants in righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Suggestions for prayer:
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
O God, the author of peace and lover of unity, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom; Defend your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; may our faith be greater than our fear of any power or adversary; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ, Jesus for ever and ever. Alleluia & Amen!
– Ephesians 3:20,21
Prayer & Reading for May 14
Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Most merciful God, we confess we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.
You, O Lord have done for us what we could not do for ourselves. In Your grace You have given us the gift we could never earn. You offer to us Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him we are forgiven, healed and reconciled to You. Strengthen us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, all our days.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia and Amen!
Matthew 16:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord; And deliver us. Clothe your humble servants in righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Suggestions for prayer:
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Church, the Bride of Christ, for purity & purpose
• The Nation and all in authority at every level
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13
Prayer & Reading for May 13
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Hebrews 9:24
Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.
We accept, O Lord, by faith Your gracious offer offer of forgiveness for our sins in Christ Jesus. Strengthen us to live in the power of Your Holy Spirit, all our days.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia!
Matthew 15:29-39 (NIV)
Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation. Clothe your humble servants with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
(Take time to pray for yourself & others)
Suggestions for prayer:
• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission
• The Nation and all in authority
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission
• The Nation and all in authority
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Corinthians 13:14
Prayer & Reading for May 12
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Colossians 3:1-2 (The Message) So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Most merciful God, it’s true we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.
You, Oh Lord, have seen our needs. You show us mercy, and forgiven our sins, and reconciled us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Strengthen us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, all our days.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia and Amen!
Matthew 15:21-28 (NIV)
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord; And give us your salvation. Clothe your humble servants with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Suggestions for prayer:
• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission
• The Nation and all in authority
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission
• The Nation and all in authority
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
Heavenly Father, in you we live, move and have our being: We humbly ask for your Holy Spirit’s guidance in all our cares; May our busyness never lead us to forget you; Remind us that we are always walking in your sight and that’s a good thing; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Prayer & Readings for May 11
Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:57
Most merciful God, it’s true we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.
You, Oh Lord, have seen our needs. You show us mercy, and forgive our sins, and reconcile us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Strengthen us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, all our days.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Alleluia and Amen!
Matthew 15:1-20
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’”
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’”
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation. Clothe your servants with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Suggestions to pray for:• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission
• The Nation and all in authority
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The Nation and all in authority
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
Almighty God, to truly know You is everlasting life: Help us to know Your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may loyally follow in His steps to eternal life; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13). Alleluia and Amen!
Wool-Gathering or Praise Giving?
Monday & Tuesday 2/10 & 11/2020
Matthew 6:5-8 (New Living Translation)
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
The Lord is not condemning all public prayer just insincere public prayer. But we’ll focus on the private prayer part this morning. First, there’s the assumption that as a follower of Christ we will pray. It’s not “if you pray” but “when you pray.” Notice how intentional we must be to follow these instructions. Don’t just get by yourself, also shut the door behind you. Then the idea is to focus all your attention on the Father. Alone in the quietness of the moment with every intention of focusing our minds on God we find that everything other than God comes to mind. Oswald Chambers writes, “Prayer is an effort of the will. After we have entered our secret place and have shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is pray; we cannot get our minds into working order, and the first thing that conflicts is wandering thoughts. The great battle in prayer is the overcoming of mental wool-gathering. We have to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful prayer.”
To wool-gather is to indulge in aimless thoughts or daydreams. And our Lord invites us to pray to the Father. If our minds are prone to wool-gathering then our first prayer to the Father can be, “My God, instead of a wool-gatherer I want to be a praise-giver. Help, Lord!”
Prayer: My God, instead of a wool-gatherer I want to be a praise-giver. Help, Lord! Focus my attention on Your magnificence! Deepen in me a sense of my holy relationship to You. You, O Lord, are our spiritual Bridegroom. You, O Lord, are Jehovah’s Fellow. You, O Lord, are the sinner’s friend.
Help me Lord to consider the stark contrast between Your glory and my unworthiness, Your majesty and my meanness, Your beauty and my deformity, Your purity and my guilt, Your righteousness and my sinfulness.
Your love for me in Jesus Christ overcomes any contrast between You and me. You love me with an everlasting, unchanging love. Help me to love You as You love me.
You have given Yourself for me, may I give myself to You.
You have died for me, may I live for You, in every moment of my time, in every moment of my mind, in every pulse of my heart.
May we, Your people, never toy with the world and it enticements, but follow You, listen to Your voice, be clothed in Your grace, and radiate Your righteousness: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen! (Adapted from Valley of Vision)