Day 167 | Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Day 167 - Audio Version

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​Day 167  |  Wednesday, 2 September 2020 

Prayer time at noon.

 A Beginning:
“God, you seek us out, in the dead of night and on this bright morning, in the depths of despair and in the valleys of worry.  Holy One, you shake us from complacency, wrestling fear from our souls and caution from our plans.  Loving God, you draw near, as close as our breathing, as present as the beat of our hearts. Loving God, you jealously desire our attention.”

 A Prayer of Invocation:
“Merciful God, you have searched us and known us. It was you who formed our inward parts and saw us growing in secret. You continue to watch over us as we take our first tentative steps toward you. Call our names, encouraging us to take the next fearful step. Catch us in your strong arms when we fall and lead us in the way everlasting. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.”

 A Prayer of Confession: Belief
“Holy God, Creator of all life, in the face of violence on our streets and even in our workplaces and schools, it is hard to believe.
In the face of an unexpected diagnosis, it is hard to believe.
In the face of alcohol, drugs and teenage suicides, it is hard to believe.
In the face of hungry children, homeless women and men, it is hard to believe.
In the face of problems that seem bigger than our prayers, it is hard to believe.
Holy God help our unbelief and lead us to a deeper place, where our hearts and heads abide in your amazing grace and redeeming power. Amen.”

 An Affirmation of Faith: Blessed by God (Luke 15:11-24)
“We believe in God, who loves us as a parent, searching for us when we are lost, embracing us in our hurt, always looking for any reason to throw a party.

We believe in the risen Christ, who gathers all the lost and forgotten into a new community and tells them and us we are all forgiven, blessed and loved.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who empowered the new community of followers to share bread, tell stories of God's love and turn the world upside down.

We are a faith-filled, Spirit-empowered, God-blessed community.”

 A Prayer: Growth
“God, you stretch us, you pull us, you push us - all for the sake of loving us.
When you call us to change, help us hear and respond. When you call us to open the doors, help us act. When you call us to grow, help us to leap for joy.  Throughout our history as a Judeo-Christian people, you have walked with us in wilderness and exile, in times of happiness and sorrow. You continue to walk with us today. May we know that as we grow in faith, we grow in Spirit.
We rejoice that we can change in such a way that we build up your realm in this world. Thanks be to you, O God! Amen.”

 A Blessing:
“Pardoned by God's abounding grace, empowered by God's constant love and protected by God's peace, let us serve God and others, always humbly aware of our own shortcomings, but always encouraged by the faithful and loving presence of God in Christ Jesus, to whom be glory and power, now and forever. Amen.”
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 Quotation: “Power, success, happiness, as the world knows them, are for those who will fight for them hard enough; but peace, love, joy are only from God.” -Frederick Buechner