Preparation

Opening response

Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.
Lord, come quickly and help us.

Within you, God, is the spring of life.
In your light, we see light.

cf Psalm 36:9

Praise

Christ Jesus was revealed as a human
and declared righteous by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
and preached throughout the nations.
Believed in around the world,
he was taken up in glory.
The timing of this appearance is revealed by God alone,
who is the blessed and only master,
the King of kings and Lord of lords.
He alone has immortality
and lives in light that no one can come near.
Honor and eternal power belong to him. Amen.

1 Timothy 3:16; 6:15,16

The Word of God

Psalm 122

Refrain:
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of heavenly forces!

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let’s go to the Lord’s house!”
Now our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem!
Jerusalem is built like a city
    joined together in unity.
That is where the tribes go up—
    the Lord’s tribes!
It is the law for Israel
    to give thanks there to the Lord’s name,
    because the thrones of justice are there—
    the thrones of the house of David!
Pray that Jerusalem has peace:
    “Let those who love you have rest.
    Let there be peace on your walls;
    let there be rest on your fortifications.”
For the sake of my family and friends,
    I say, “Peace be with you, Jerusalem.”
For the sake of the Lord our God’s house
    I will pray for your good.

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. Amen.

Refrain:
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of heavenly forces!

Psalm prayer

God of our pilgrimage,
bring us with joy to the eternal city
founded on the rock,
and give to our earthly cities
the peace that comes from above;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture reading
2 Corinthians 4:5-6

We don’t preach about ourselves. Instead, we preach about Jesus Christ as Lord, and we describe ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. God said that light should shine out of the darkness. He is the same one who shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

Silence may be kept.

Response

Happy are people who are humble,
because they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns

The unity of the church
The peace of the world
The healing of the sick
The revelation of Christ to those from whom his glory is hidden
All who travel

Other intercessions and supplications may be offered as the Holy Spirit leads.

Prayer

O good Jesus,
Word of the Father and
brightness of his glory,
whom angels desire to behold:
teach me to do your will
that, guided by your Spirit,
I may come to that blessed city of
everlasting day,
where all are one in heart and mind,
where there is safety and eternal peace,
happiness and delight,
where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
world without end.
Amen.

after Gregory the Great (604)

The Lord’s Prayer

Believing the promises of God, as our Savior taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.

Conclusion

May the light of Christ our Lord shine in all our hearts.
Amen.