Invitation — Psalm 145:8
"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 51:1-6
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Bible Reading — Joel 2:1-2, 12-13
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill.
Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming.
It is close at hand —
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army comes,
such as never was in ancient times
nor ever will be in ages to come...
"Even now," declares the Lord,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Quiet
Dwelling
Read again slowly ... find a word or phrase that catches your eye or moves your heart ... slowly repeat it ... pray your thoughts, desires, needs, and feelings from your meditation ... enjoy the presence of your Lord and Savior.
Free Prayer
- for our national and local communities
- for the continent of Africa
- for lobbyists and advocates for justice and peace
Prayer — HC 7
Holy God, corruption is everywhere. For too long sin and disobedience has been our master, ever since the fall of Adam and Eve. And still today, I look around and see this sin that poisons our life. We're all natural born sinners, corrupt from conception on. And I stand among another generation of such born sinners. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
Blessing — see Titus 2:14
Redeem us from all wickedness, purify us and make us your very own, eager to do what is good.