Invitation — Psalm 126:3
"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 22:1-5
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Bible Reading — Luke 4:38-44
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
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 Christlike ability to deny ourselves and serve others
- for the commitment to do justice and show mercy
- for those who are elderly and infirm, and those who care for them
Prayer — HC 118
God of peace and rest, in Jesus you call us to punctuate our hard work and committed ministry with times alone with you. Instill in our heart the deep desire to be still in your presence and seek in you everything that we need spiritually and physically; in Jesus' name, amen.
Blessing — Ephesians 5:8
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."