Invitation — Ephesians 5:14
"Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 88:1-3, 9b-11, 13-14
Lord, you are the God who saves me;
day and night I cry out to you.
May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.
I am overwhelmed with troubles
and my life draws near to death...
I call to you, Lord, every day;
I spread out my hands to you.
Do you show your wonders to the dead?
Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
Is your love declared in the grave,
your faithfulness in Destruction? ...
But I cry to you for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Why, Lord, do you reject me
and hide your face from me?
Bible Reading — John 10:14-18
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
Quiet
Dwelling
Remind yourself you are in God's presence and read again ... notice how God might be speaking to you through his Word — dwell on a word or phrase that jumps out at you ... let your heart respond to God in prayer ... take refreshment in God's presence.
Free Prayer
- for the call to follow Christ into our neighborhoods and workplaces
- for our capacity to serve the common good
- for those who work in colleges and universities
Prayer — BC 29
Good Shepherd, keep me alert to your unconventional friends and followers, wherever they may be found: people of faith who stand against what is wrong and pursue what is right; people who love God and serve their neighbors; people who nail pretense and pride, ego and arrogance. Wherever your church is, make it recognizable by its likeness to Jesus. Amen.
Blessing — Hebrews 13:20-21
"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."