Day 162 | Friday, 28 August 2020

Day 162 - Audio Version

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Day 162  |  Friday, 28 August 2020

Today: Those recovering from Hurricane Laura

 A Beginning:
“We hear a divine melody, we feel an inner pull, drawing us closer, beckoning us to draw near to the love of God, the companionship of Jesus, the guidance of the Spirit.  We are drawn to this moment.  Touch us, Holy Spirit. Bring us to life.”
 
 An Invocation:
“Holy God, draw us close. Teach us and lead us forever and everywhere to be alive and on fire with songs of gratitude, words of witness, prayers of compassion, deeds of justice, acts of kindness. Holy God, draw us close and fill us with your Spirit. Amen.”

A Prayer of Confession: Stewardship
“Loving God, you who hold us so gently, teach us the art of letting go of anything that keeps us from your embrace. We grab and clutch things that are often only a passing fad. We go after success and recognition as if they will fill our deepest longings. We saddle relationships with unrealistic and unfair expectations.
Loving God, lead us to a deeper sense of gratitude, a growing sense of trust in your ability to provide. Teach us what treasures will last until heaven. Show us the blessings of giving with joy, loving without conditions, sharing from our abundance. Amen.”
 
An Affirmation of Faith: Healing
(Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19; Romans 8:18-21; Isaiah 53:5a; 1 Peter 2:24)
“We believe that the spirit of the Lord GOD was upon our Lord Jesus Christ, because the LORD anointed him; sending him to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor.

We consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

We believe that he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities .... We believe that he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed.”

 A Prayer:
“God of all peoples, we come before you this day calling your holy blessing upon us. As we give our lives to you, we ask that you show us your ways. Where there is sickness, bring healing. Where there is hurt, bring comfort, where there is separation, bring resolution for health.

We lift our own concerns to you in a moment of silence. [long silence]

Grant us the insight to know when you speak to us. Help us not to drown out your message. May we know the movement of your Spirit when we experience it. And then, may we know what you would have us do. Praise to you, O Creator. Amen.”

 A Blessing: Romans 15:5-6
“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant us to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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Quotation: “It is pleasing to the dear God whenever you rejoice or laugh from the bottom of your heart.” -Martin Luther