Daily Prayer in the Season of Joyful Hope

FRIDAY

CALL TO WORSHIP, AND OPENING PRAYER

 

The kingdom of God is at hand:

Come, let us worship.

 

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for ever. Amen.

 

Alleluia!

 

Blessed are you, sovereign God,

ruler and judge of all,

to you be praise and glory for ever.

   [a few words of praise and adoration may be said here]

Awaken in us joyful hope

as we look for Christ's reign of peace,

when every voice shall give you praise,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God for ever!

PSALM, AND SCRIPTURE SONG

Psalm 70


Be pleased, O God, to deliver me.
   O Lord, make haste to help me! 
Let those be put to shame and confusion
   who seek my life.
Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour
   who desire to hurt me. 
Let those who say, ‘Aha, Aha!’
   turn back because of their shame. 


Let all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you.
Let those who love your salvation
   say evermore, ‘God is great!’ 
But I am poor and needy;
   hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
   O Lord, do not delay!

 

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for ever. Amen.

 

A Song of Salvation [Henry Allon]

 

Jesus, Saviour of the world,

come to us in your mercy:

we look to you to save and help us.

 

By your cross and your life laid down,

you set your people free:

we look to you to save and help us.

 

When they were ready to perish

you saved your disciples:

we look to you to come to our help.

 

In the greatness of your mercy,

loose us from our chains:

forgive the sins of all your people.

 

Make yourself known

as our saviour and mighty deliverer:

save and help us that we may praise you.

 

Come now and dwell with us,

Lord Christ Jesus:

hear our prayer and be with us always.

 

And when you come in your glory,

make us to be one with you

and to share the life of your kingdom.

SHORT READING

Hebrews 12.1,2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

a time for reflection on the scriptures …

 

… completed with:

 

As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.

Drink deeply with delight; I will comfort you.

CANTICLE OF THE SEASON

The Song of Jechariah

[Luke 1.68-79]

 

Blessed be the Lord,

the God of Israel,

who has come to his people

and set them free.

The Lord has raised up

for usa mighty Saviour,

born of the house

of his servant David.

 

Through the holy prophets,

God promised of old

to save us from our enemies,

from the hands

of all who hate us,

to show mercy

to our forebears,

and to remember

his holy covenant.

 

This was the oath

God swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free

from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous before him,

all the days of our life.

 

And you, child, shall be called

the prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord

to prepare his way,

to give his people

knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

 

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

 

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for ever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER,

thanksgiving, petition, intercession

 

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.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

 

a time for personal prayer and intercession …

 

… you may include this ‘Prayer for the Earth’:

Loving God, we give you thanks

for all who care for the earth and all its creatures.

We acknowledge with remorse that we belong to a people

who have played a part in the extinction of many species.

Help us to respect the natural world

and to protect all living things,

for they are valuable in your sight.

 

… and sum up your own prayers with these responses:

 

In joyful hope we pray to you, O Lord:

come, Lord Jesus.

 

Come to your Church as Lord and Judge;

give us a longing for your loving rule.

 

Come to your world as King of the nations;

let righteousness and peace prevail.

 

Come to us as Saviour and Comforter;

break into our failure and free us to serve you.

 

Come to us with power and great glory.

Lift up our hearts to meet you in joy.

CONCLUDING PRAYER, AND ENDING

Heavenly Lord,

you long for the world’s salvation:

stir us from apathy,

restrain us from excess

and revive in us new hope

that all creation will one day be healed

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing,

so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

downtown from the Empire State Building, Manhattan