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 132:11-18

The Lord swore to David
    a true promise that God won’t take back:
        “I will put one of your own children on your throne.
And if your children keep my covenant
        and the laws that I will teach them,
    then their children too will rule on your throne forever.”
Because the Lord chose Zion;
    he wanted it for his home.
“This is my residence forever.
    I will live here because I wanted it for myself.[b]
I will most certainly bless its food supply;
    I will fill its needy full of food!
I will dress its priests in salvation,
    and its faithful will shout out loud with joy!
It is there that I will make David’s strength thrive.[c]
    I will prepare a lamp for my anointed one there.
I will dress his enemies in shame,
    but the crown he wears will shine.”

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.

Psalm prayer

Jesus, Son of David,
make us a priestly people;
clothe us in righteousness,
make us fruitful,
and give us hearts to shout for joy in your salvation;
we pray in the power of the Spirit.

Scripture reading
Romans 8:15-17

You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba, Father.” The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him.

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.