Call to Worship

L: If it had not been God who was on our side, the troubles of our world would have swallowed us whole.

P: If it had not been God who was on our side,

the sorrows of our times would have swept us away.

L: Are any among us suffering?

P: Come and pray.

L: Are any among us cheerful?

P: Come sing songs of praise.

L: Are any among us sick?

P: Come and ask for healing.

L: Our help is in our God, the One who made heaven and earth. Call upon God, creator and rescuer.

P: God is on our side. AMEN!

Opening Prayer

Eternal God, you create us and you rescue us. Be here with us now. Help us know how much we need you. Teach us that no other power can support us like your power. As you share your power with us, teach us to be Christ to the world, proclaiming your reign for all people. As you lavish your love upon us, help us receive that love and offer it to the world, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saturday midday
Thursday midday

Opening response

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

Make your servant’s life happy again
because, my Lord, I offer my life to you.

Psalm 86:4

Praise

Blessed are you,
Lord God of our ancestors.
You are worthy of praise and raised high above all others forever.
Blessed is your glorious
and holy reputation,
worthy of praise and raised high above all others forever.
Blessed are you in your glorious,
holy temple,
worthy of hymns and honored
above all others forever.
Blessed are you,
sitting on the winged creatures,
looking down into the farthest depths,
worthy of praise and raised high above all others forever.
Blessed are you on your royal throne,
worthy of hymns and raised high
above all others forever.
Blessed are you in the dome of the sky,
worthy of hymns
and honored forever.

Hymn of the Three Young Men (Prayer of Azariah 29-33 CEB)

Psalm 93

Refrain:
The Lord will rule forever and always.

The Lord rules!
He is robed in majesty—
the Lord is robed,
clothed with strength.
Yes, he set the world firmly in place;
it won’t be shaken.
Your throne is set firm for a very long time.
You are eternal!
Lord, the floods have raised up—
the floods have raised up their voices;
the floods raise up a roar!
But mightier than the sound of much water,
mightier than the sea’s waves,
mighty on high is the Lord!
Your laws are so faithful.
Holiness decorates your house, Lord, for all time.

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:
The Lord will rule forever and always.

Psalm Prayer

Christ our King,
you put on the apparel of our nature
and raised us to your glory;
reign from your royal throne
above the chaos of this world,
that all may see the victory you have won
and trust in your salvation;
for your glory’s sake.

Scripture reading
Hebrews 9:24

Christ didn’t enter the holy place (which is a copy of the true holy place) made by human hands, but into heaven itself, so that he now appears in God’s presence for us.

Silence may be kept.

Response

Happy are people who grieve,
because they will be made glad.

Matthew 5:4

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns:

God’s royal priesthood, that it may be empowered by the Spirit
Those who wait on God, that they may find renewal
All people, that they may acknowledge the kingdom
of the ascended Christ
The earth, for productivity and for fruitful harvests
All who are struggling with broken relationships

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

Prayer

O King enthroned on high,
Comforter and Spirit of truth,
you that are in all places and fill all things,
the treasury of blessings and the giver of life,
come and dwell with us,
cleanse us from every stain
and save our souls, O gracious one.
Amen.

An Orthodox prayer

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.

May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and minds.
Alleluia. Amen.