Sunday morning November 7

Monday morning
Saturday morning

Preparation


Opening response


Lord, open our lips

and our mouth will proclaim your praise.


All your faithful ones bless you.

They speak of the glory of your kingdom.


Prayer of thanksgiving


Blessed are you, Sovereign God,

ruler and judge of all,

to you be praise and glory forever.

In the darkness of this age that is passing away

may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy

surround our steps as we journey on.

May we reflect your glory this day

and so be made ready to see your face

in the heavenly city where night shall be no more.

Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God forever.


The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;

let us pray with one heart and mind.


Silence is kept.


As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,

so may the light of your presence, O God,

set our hearts on fire with love for you;

now and forever.

Amen.


Hymn


Angels Your March Oppose


Charles Wesley

Angels your march oppose,

Who still in strength excel,

Your secret, sworn, eternal foes,

Countless, invisible.

With rage that never ends

Their hellish arts they try;

Legions of dire malicious fiends,

And spirits enthroned on high.


From thrones of glory driven

By flaming vengeance hurled

They throng the air, and darken heaven,

And rule this lower world.

But shall believers fear?

But shall believers fly?

Or see the bloody cross appear,

And all their power defy?


Jesus’ tremendous name

Puts all our foes to flight:

Jesus, the meek, the angry Lamb,

A Lion is in fight.

By all hell’s host withstood,

We all hell’s host overthrow;

And conquering them, through Jesus’ blood,

We still to conquer go.


Our Captain leads us on;

He beckons from the skies,

And reaches out a starry crown,

And bids us take the prize:

“Be faithful unto death;

Partake my victory;

And thou shalt wear this glorious wreath.

And thou shalt reign with me.”


Confession of sin


Let us admit to God the sin which always confronts us.


A time of silence and self-examination may be kept.


Almighty God,

patient and of great goodness:

I confess to you,

I confess with my whole heart

my neglect and forgetfulness of your commandments,

my wrong doing, thinking, and speaking;

the hurts I have done to others,

and the good I have left undone.

O God, forgive me, for I have sinned against you;

and raise me to newness of life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.


May the God of love and power

forgive us and free us from our sins,

heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,

and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.

Amen.


The Word of God


Psalm 136


Give thanks to the Lord because he is good.

God’s faithful love lasts forever!

Give thanks to the God of all gods—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of all lords—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the only one

who makes great wonders—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the one who made the skies with skill—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the one who shaped the earth on the water—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the one who made the great lights—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

The sun to rule the day—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

The moon and the stars to rule the night—

God’s faithful love lasts forever!

Give thanks to the one who struck down the Egyptians’ oldest offspring—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the one who brought Israel out of there—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

With a strong hand and outstretched arm—

God’s faithful love lasts forever!

Give thanks to the one who split the Reed Sea in two—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the one who brought Israel through—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

And tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Reed Sea—

God’s faithful love lasts forever!

Give thanks to the one who led his people through the desert—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the one who struck down great kings—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

And killed powerful kings—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Sihon, the Amorite king—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Og, king of Bashan—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

Handing their land over as an inheritance—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

As an inheritance to Israel, his servant—

God’s faithful love lasts forever!

God remembered us when we were humiliated—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

God rescued us from our enemies—

God’s faithful love lasts forever.

God is the one who provides food for all living things—

God’s faithful love lasts forever!

Give thanks to the God of heaven—

God’s faithful love lasts forever!


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


Remember us, O God, and shape our history,

form our inward eyes

to see the shadow of the life-giving cross

in the turbulence of our time;

for his sake who died for all,

Christ our Lord.


Old Testament reading
Micah 4:1-5


But in the days to come,

the mountain of the Lord’s house

will be the highest of the mountains;

it will be lifted above the hills;

peoples will stream to it.

Many nations will go and say:

“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of Jacob’s God,

so that he may teach us his ways

and we may walk in God’s paths!”

Instruction will come from Zion

and the Lord’s word from Jerusalem.

God will judge between the nations

and settle disputes of mighty nations,

which are far away.

They will beat their swords into iron plows

and their spears into pruning tools.

Nation will not take up sword against nation;

they will no longer learn how to make war.

All will sit underneath their own grapevines,

under their own fig trees.

There will be no one to terrify them;

for the mouth of the Lord of heavenly forces has spoken.

Each of the peoples walks in the name of their own god;

but as for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God

forever and always.


Silence may be kept.


New Testament reading
Philippians 4:6-9


Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.

From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.


Silence may be kept.


Gospel canticle
The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)


Refrain:

You have shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered your holy covenant.


Bless the Lord God of Israel

because he has come to help and has delivered his people.

He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,

just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.

He has brought salvation from our enemies

and from the power of all those who hate us.

He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,

and remembered his holy covenant,

the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham.

He has granted that we would be rescued

from the power of our enemies

so that we could serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes,

for as long as we live.

You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

You will tell his people how to be saved

through the forgiveness of their sins.

Because of our God’s deep compassion,

the dawn from heaven will break upon us,

to give light to those who are sitting in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide us on the path of peace.”


Luke 1:68-79


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:

You have shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered your holy covenant.


Brief silence.


The Apostle’s Creed


Let us unite in this historic confession of the Christian faith:


I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.


Prayers


Intercession and thanksgiving


Prayers may be offered for:

the day and its tasks

the world and its needs

the church and her life


Prayers may include the following concerns:


The saints on earth, that they may live as citizens of heaven

All people, that they may hear and believe the word of God

All who fear the winter months

All sovereigns and political leaders, that they may imitate the righteous rule of Christ

All who grieve or wait with the dying

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


Response


Loving God, we look to you.

Receive our prayer.


Silence may be kept.


Collect of the day


Almighty Father,

whose will is to restore all things

in your beloved Son, the King of all:

govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,

and bring the families of the nations,

divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,

to be subject to his just and gentle rule;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven, 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 Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven, bring us to reign with him in glory.

Amen.