Preparation

Opening response

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

Teach me to do what pleases you, because you are my God.
Guide me by your good spirit into good land.

Psalm 143:10

Praise

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
And such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a Feast:
Such a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joys in Love.

George Herbert (1633)

The Word of God

Psalm 101

Refrain:
Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.

Oh, let me sing about faithful love and justice!
I want to sing my praises to you, Lord!
I want to study the way of integrity—
how long before it gets here?
I will walk with a heart of integrity
in my own house.
I won’t set my eyes on anything worthless.
I hate wrongdoing;
none of that will stick to me.
A corrupt heart will be far from me.
I won’t be familiar with evil.
I will destroy anyone
who secretly tells lies about a neighbor.
I can’t stomach anyone
who has proud eyes or an arrogant heart.
My eyes focus on those
who are faithful in the land,
to have them close to me.
The person who walks without blame
will work for me.
But the person who acts deceitfully
won’t stay in my house.
The person who tells lies
won’t last for long before me.
Every morning I will destroy
all those who are wicked in the land
in order to eliminate all evildoers
from the Lord’s city.

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:
Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.

Psalm prayer

Keep us, Lord,
in purity of heart and faithfulness to your commands,
that your servants may walk before you
in the way that is perfect;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture reading
1 Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Silence may be kept.

Response

Jesus said, I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep.
I came so that they could have life — indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.

John 10:7, 10b

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns:

Local government, community leaders
All who provide local services
Those who work with young or elderly people
Schools, colleges and universities
Emergency and rescue organizations

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

Prayer

O gracious and holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Benedict of Nursia (c.550)

The Lord’s Prayer

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 God kindle in us the fire of love.
Amen.