Pentecost Day

-

PENTECOST DAY
Sunday, June 9, 2019

Readings:
Lesson: Acts 2:1-12
Psalm: 104:24-35
Epistle: Romans 5:1-11
Gospel: John 14:15-31

ADORATION
Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, I praise You for the innumerable diversity of life You have created upon this vast earth. In wisdom, Your breath of life invigorates the birds of the air, the animals of the land, and the fish of the sea. In mercy, You open wide Your hand and give food to all creatures, filling them with goodness and love. In glory, You go forth and renew the face of the earth with the eternal cycle of birth, death and resurrection. I will sing to You as I long as I live. I will praise You while I have my breath and being. I will rejoice in You, for in Your holy flame You will consume anything that stands in the way of life and truth.

CONFESSION
Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, Comforter and Advocate, on this day You descended upon the disciples of Jesus Christ. You empowered them to speak in other languages, that all peoples might hear Your truth and Your wonderful works. I confess that I am deaf to that testimony today. I often refuse to hear Your words from the mouths of those who differ from me. You broke down barriers of race, nationality and religion, and I admit that I would rebuild those walls. Your truth transcends all of my limitations. And while You are to be found in silence, I acknowledge that You are also found in the sound of a mighty, rushing wind of overlapping tongues.

THANKSGIVING
Heavenly Father, I thank You for considering me righteous through faith, and giving me peace with You through Jesus Christ Your Son. I thank You for pouring out Your love into my heart through the Holy Spirit who is given to me every day, just as Your loving-kindness is renewed in me every morning. I thank You that Jesus has reconciled me with You through His suffering. I celebrate that suffering does not lead to despair, but rather that to the light of hope which shines brightly at the end of the tunnel of death. I thank You that I do not need to be perfect—I just need to do my best. Perfection has already been done and won for me.

SUPPLICATION
Lord Jesus Christ, You did not leave Your disciples comfortless, but You breathed Your Spirit of truth upon them, that they might forgive sins, be taught all things, remember Your teachings, and live always in Your peace. Lord, I pray to You, send me Your Spirit so that I can let go of anything that no longer serves me. Send me Your Truth so that I can learn what I could not bear to hear before, but am ready to face and know now. Send me Your Love so that I can remember Your teachings and keep Your words as they are revealed in Scripture and Creation. And send me Your Comfort to dwell in me, so that my heart may be neither troubled nor afraid, but rather be ever renewed, strengthened and healed in the wholeness of Your peace.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

-
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Sunday, September 8, 2019 Readings: Lesson: 1 Kings 10:1-13 Psalm: 77 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 Gospel: Mark 7:31-37 ADORATION Almighty and gracious God, I praise You because You listen to me whenever I cry out to You. In times of trouble, I look for You in prayer. When my heart is heavy with fear and doubt, I meditate on You and remember the days of old. I understand now that Your hand throughout history is the answer to my prayers today. You are never absent, Your mercy is not gone forever, and Your promises never come to an end. You have not forgotten to be gracious, nor have You withdrawn Your loving-kindness. You are the God who works wonders. You made a way through the waters and redeemed Your people. So do You make a way through my tears and sorrow and deliver me. And Your way is holy. CONFESSION Father, the Queen of Sheba showered King Solomon with compliments on his wisdom and riches for his throne, and in tu...
Read more

First Sunday after Easter

-
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, April 28, 2019 Readings: Lesson: Acts 3:1-21 Psalm: 81:1-10 Epistle: 1 John 5:1-15 Gospel: John 20:19-31 God of faith, Your Word teaches me the importance of faith. I learn that faith has the power to heal any infirmity, to save from any danger, and to overcome any obstacle. I walk by faith, and not by sight, because faith is the evidence of things I cannot see. You bless all those who believe without seeing, and yet You do not require me to be blind. Rather, through Your Word and Sacraments, through Your creation, and through those You send my way, You continually call me to look intently and attentively, and to fix my eyes on You. I open my heart and mind to the everyday miracles You perform in my life in order to strengthen my faith. Father, when Peter and John had no money to help the crippled beggar, they offered him the healing Word of Your Son. I confess that I do not heed the cries of beggars I pass by. They call in di...
Read more

Second Sunday after Easter

-
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, May 5, 2019 Readings: Lesson: Acts 4:8-21 Psalm: 23 Epistle: 1 Peter 2:19-25 Gospel: John 10:11-18 Almighty God, Your Word teaches that salvation is found in no one else except in the Name of Jesus, Your Son. The Name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves.” From this, I learn that real and true salvation comes only from You, the Lord, the God of all peoples. To seek salvation with an honest and sincere heart is really to seek You. I believe that all who are on this search—regardless of race, culture, or creed—will find You, for You never forsake those who seek You. I believe that all who call on Your Name, by however they understand it, will be saved. I praise and worship You for the wideness of Your mercy, for it is like the wideness of the sea. Father, the Apostles declared that they could not stop telling people about what they had seen and heard. They chose to obey God and continue to teach in Jesus’ Name rather than listen to th...
Read more