Daily Prayer in the Season of Penitence

TUESDAY

on Elim Dune, Namibia. Keith Martin's travelblog

 

CALL TO WORSHIP AND OPENING PRAYER

 

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy:

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.

 

Blessed are you, holy God,

holy and strong, holy and immortal.

 

    [words of thanks and adoration may be said here]

 

Teach us to live in this passing world

with our hearts set on your eternal kingdom,

where, freed from sin and redeemed by your saving power,

we may praise and worship you for ever.

Blessed be God for ever!

PSALM, AND SCRIPTURE SONG

Psalm 123

1 To you I lift up my eyes,
   O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
2 As the eyes of servants
   look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid
   to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
   until he has mercy upon us.

 

3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
   for we have had more than enough of contempt.
4 Our soul has had more than its fill
   of the scorn of those who are at ease,
   of the contempt of the proud. 

 

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 Christ the Servant

[1 Peter 2.21-25]

 

Christ suffered for you,

leaving you an example

that you should follow in his steps.

 

He committed no sin,

no guile was found on his lips,

when he was reviled

he did not revile in turn.

 

When he suffered, he did not threaten,

but he trusted in God who judges justly.

 

Christ himself bore our sins

in his body on the tree,

that we might die to sin

and live to righteousness.

 

By his wounds you have been healed:

for you were straying like sheep

but have now returned

to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

 

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.

SHORT READING

 

2 Corinthians 1.3-7

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

 

a time for reflection on the scriptures …

 

… completed with:

 

Have mercy, tender God, forget that I defied you.

Cleanse me from my guilt. Forget that I defied you.     [from Psalm 51]

CANTICLE OF THE SEASON

A Song of Salvation (Henry Allon)

So many gathered around, and he spoke the word to them. Mark 2.2

 

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.

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’:

 

Generous God,

we offer thankful hearts for easy access to safe drinking water,

sufficient to meet our needs.

We remember those who lack clean water supplies,

and those who walk for miles to fetch water for their families.

Bless the work of the engineers and development agencies

who seek to make a difference.

 

… and sum up your prayers with these responses:

 

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance:

govern and uphold them now and always.

 

Day by day we bless you:

we praise your name for ever.

 

Keep us today, Lord, from all sin:

have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

 

Lord, show us your love and mercy:

for we have put our trust in you.

 

In you, Lord, is our hope:

let us never be put to shame.

CONCLUDING PRAYER, AND ENDING

 

Almighty God,

by the prayer

and discipline of Lent

may we enter into

the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,

and by following in his Way

come to share in his glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

May Christ give us grace to grow in holiness,

to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. Amen.