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 81

Refrain:
Rejoice out loud to God, our strength!

Rejoice out loud to God, our strength!
Shout for joy to Jacob’s God!
Take up a song and strike the drum!
Sweet lyre along with harp!
Blow the horn on the new moon,
at the full moon, for our day of celebration!
Because this is the law for Israel;
this is a rule of Jacob’s God.
He made it a decree for Joseph
when he went out against the land of Egypt,
when I heard a language I did not yet know:
“I lifted the burden off your shoulders;
your hands are free of the brick basket!
In distress you cried out, so I rescued you.
I answered you in the secret of thunder.
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Listen, my people, I’m warning you!
If only you would listen to me, Israel.
There must be no foreign god among you.
You must not bow down to any strange deity.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up from Egypt’s land.
Open your mouth wide—I will fill it up!
But my people wouldn’t listen to my voice.
Israel simply wasn’t agreeable toward me.
So I sent them off to follow their willful hearts;
they followed their own advice.
How I wish my people would listen to me!
How I wish Israel would walk in my ways!
Then I would subdue their enemies in a second;
I would turn my hand against their foes.
Those who hate the Lord would grovel before me,
and their doom would last forever!
But I would feed you with the finest wheat.
I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.”

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:
Rejoice out loud to God, our strength!

Psalm prayer

Father of mercy,
keep us joyful in your salvation
and faithful to your covenant;
and, as we journey to your kingdom,
ever feed us with the bread of life,
your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Scripture reading
Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Now if there are some poor persons among you, say one of your fellow Israelites in one of your cities in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, don’t be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward your poor fellow Israelites. To the contrary! Open your hand wide to them. You must generously lend them whatever they need. But watch yourself! Make sure no wicked thought crosses your mind, such as, The seventh year is coming—the year of debt cancellation—so that you resent your poor fellow Israelites and don’t give them anything. If you do that, they will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin. No, give generously to needy persons. Don’t resent giving to them because it is this very thing that will lead to the Lord your God’s blessing you in all you do and work at. Poor persons will never disappear from the earth. That’s why I’m giving you this command: you must open your hand generously to your fellow Israelites, to the needy among you, and to the poor who live with you in your land.

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.