SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
CALL TO WORSHIP
Be still in God's presence and worship expectantly. Take delight in prayer, and you will receive your heart's desire.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
COMPASSIONATE PARENT, UNDERSTANDING BROTHER, LOVING AND FORGIVING SPIRIT, YOU KNOW HOW WEAK WE ARE AND HOW PRONE TO RETALIATE WHEN TREATED SPITEFULLY. WE WOULD RATHER RETURN A CURSE WITH A CURSE AND A BLOW WITH A BLOW. WE REFUSE MANY WHO ASK US FOR WHAT WE THINK WE DO NOT OWE. WE ARE READY TO SUE FOR THE RETURN OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS. HOW IS IT THAT YOU EXPECT US TO DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE US? IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD BECOME SO MUCH LIKE JESUS CHRIST? FORGIVE US, FOR HIS SAKE, FOR WE ARE NOT. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! As we have worn the likeness of the human in the earth, we shall wear the likeness of the heavenly one, the last Adam, Jesus Christ. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Do for others just what you want them to do for you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
HOW SHALL WE BE LIKE YOU AND YOUR ROYAL SON JESUS, HEAVENLY SOVEREIGN, UNLESS YOU TEACH US KINDNESS, AND A NOBILITY THAT WE RARELY PRACTICE, NOT MERELY RESPECTING OUR ENEMIES, BUT ACTUALLY LOVING THEM AND PRAYING FOR THEM AS JESUS DID? AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
LIFE GIVER, LIFE SHARER, LIFE SUSTAINER, MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE NEARNESS OF DEATH AND GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR RESTORATIVE GIFTS OF HEALING AND HEALTH. ESPECIALLY WHEN LIFE IS UNCERTAIN, WE REJOICE IN YOUR CONSTANT LOVE AND IN THE TENDER AFFECTION OF OUR CLOSEST FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WHEN WE HAVE BEEN WRONGED, WE ARE HAPPY AGAIN WHEN JUSTICE HAS BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT. MOST OF ALL WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU DO NOT TREAT US AS OUR SINS DESERVE BUT WITH MEASURELESS FORGIVENESS AND MERCY. ALL PRAISE TO YOU WHOSE NATURE IS LIFE, BUT WHO IN JESUS CHRIST SHARED OUR MORTALITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HEAVENLY MONARCH, YOUR MONARCHY CAN NOT BE POSSESSED BY FLESH AND BLOOD, NOR PURCHASED WITH SILVER AND GOLD, BUT WE CAN SERVE YOU WITH ALL THAT WE ARE AND HAVE AS YOU GIVE US THE ENABLING SPIRIT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
PSALM 37:1-11
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers;
DO NOT BE JEALOUS OF THOSE WHO DO WRONG.
For they shall soon wither like the grass,
AND LIKE THE GREEN GRASS FADE AWAY.
Put your trust in the Lord and do good;
DWELL IN THE LAND AND FEED ON ITS RICHES.
Take delight in the Lord, and he shall give you your heart's desire.
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL BRING IT TO PASS.
He will make your righteousness as clear as the light
AND YOUR JUST DEALING AS THE NOONDAY.
Be still before the Lord
AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM.
Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
REFRAIN FROM ANGER, LEAVE RAGE ALONE; DO NOT FRET YOURSELF; IT LEADS ONLY TO EVIL.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
BUT THOSE WHO WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL POSSESS THE LAND.
In a little while the wicked shall be no more;
YOU SHALL SEARCH OUT THEIR PLACE, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE THERE.
Be still in God's presence and worship expectantly. Take delight in prayer, and you will receive your heart's desire.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
COMPASSIONATE PARENT, UNDERSTANDING BROTHER, LOVING AND FORGIVING SPIRIT, YOU KNOW HOW WEAK WE ARE AND HOW PRONE TO RETALIATE WHEN TREATED SPITEFULLY. WE WOULD RATHER RETURN A CURSE WITH A CURSE AND A BLOW WITH A BLOW. WE REFUSE MANY WHO ASK US FOR WHAT WE THINK WE DO NOT OWE. WE ARE READY TO SUE FOR THE RETURN OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS. HOW IS IT THAT YOU EXPECT US TO DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE US? IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD BECOME SO MUCH LIKE JESUS CHRIST? FORGIVE US, FOR HIS SAKE, FOR WE ARE NOT. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! As we have worn the likeness of the human in the earth, we shall wear the likeness of the heavenly one, the last Adam, Jesus Christ. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Do for others just what you want them to do for you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
HOW SHALL WE BE LIKE YOU AND YOUR ROYAL SON JESUS, HEAVENLY SOVEREIGN, UNLESS YOU TEACH US KINDNESS, AND A NOBILITY THAT WE RARELY PRACTICE, NOT MERELY RESPECTING OUR ENEMIES, BUT ACTUALLY LOVING THEM AND PRAYING FOR THEM AS JESUS DID? AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
LIFE GIVER, LIFE SHARER, LIFE SUSTAINER, MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE NEARNESS OF DEATH AND GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR RESTORATIVE GIFTS OF HEALING AND HEALTH. ESPECIALLY WHEN LIFE IS UNCERTAIN, WE REJOICE IN YOUR CONSTANT LOVE AND IN THE TENDER AFFECTION OF OUR CLOSEST FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WHEN WE HAVE BEEN WRONGED, WE ARE HAPPY AGAIN WHEN JUSTICE HAS BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT. MOST OF ALL WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU DO NOT TREAT US AS OUR SINS DESERVE BUT WITH MEASURELESS FORGIVENESS AND MERCY. ALL PRAISE TO YOU WHOSE NATURE IS LIFE, BUT WHO IN JESUS CHRIST SHARED OUR MORTALITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HEAVENLY MONARCH, YOUR MONARCHY CAN NOT BE POSSESSED BY FLESH AND BLOOD, NOR PURCHASED WITH SILVER AND GOLD, BUT WE CAN SERVE YOU WITH ALL THAT WE ARE AND HAVE AS YOU GIVE US THE ENABLING SPIRIT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
PSALM 37:1-11
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers;
DO NOT BE JEALOUS OF THOSE WHO DO WRONG.
For they shall soon wither like the grass,
AND LIKE THE GREEN GRASS FADE AWAY.
Put your trust in the Lord and do good;
DWELL IN THE LAND AND FEED ON ITS RICHES.
Take delight in the Lord, and he shall give you your heart's desire.
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL BRING IT TO PASS.
He will make your righteousness as clear as the light
AND YOUR JUST DEALING AS THE NOONDAY.
Be still before the Lord
AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM.
Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
REFRAIN FROM ANGER, LEAVE RAGE ALONE; DO NOT FRET YOURSELF; IT LEADS ONLY TO EVIL.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
BUT THOSE WHO WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL POSSESS THE LAND.
In a little while the wicked shall be no more;
YOU SHALL SEARCH OUT THEIR PLACE, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE THERE.
