Prayers for the 5th Sunday after Easter (May 19-25, 2019)
Posted on May 17, 2019by Daily Prayers for Moravians
The Watchword for the week:
Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:6
This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
We should praise the Lord at our rising, and at the setting of the sun.
May we share our faith and sing God’s praise through the living of each moment this day.
Psalm 148
Praise God! Praise God from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!
Praise God, all you angels of God;
praise God all you host of heaven!
Praise God, sun and moon;
praise God, all you shining stars!
Praise God, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of God,
for God commanded and they were created.
God established them forever and ever;
God fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise God from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Beast of the forest and all cattle,
crawling things and flying birds!
Rulers of the earth and all peoples,
nobles and all leaders of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Sovereign,
whose name alone is exalted;
whose glory is above earth and heaven.
God has raised up a horn for the people, and praise for all the faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to God.
Praise be to God!
Together, let us confess our wandering steps:
We, your disciples, have often dishonored the holy name that we bear, and we have turned aside from that path of holiness and loving service, in which you have called us to follow. We are sorry to find that we often attempt to satisfy our need for treasures and pleasures in ways that will not bring us deep happiness and purpose in life; and in fact cause us to walk away from you. Guide us to once again seek to abide in your love, and to live your graceful presence into the lives of those around us.
Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.
Take a moment for the reading of a scripture passage. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts take time to read today’s texts now. Don’t rush over the texts as a task to be completed, accept them as a gift from God for you to cherish today. They are words that could transform your life if you allow them to, so read them slowly and deliberately. Pause at words or phrases that happen to catch your spirit, for these are places where God might be speaking to you. When you have finished with your reading of scriptures, take time to pray for the needs that you present today, for the needs of those you love, and for the needs of a hurting world. May your time of prayer help you to clarify where God would want you to focus your energy. When you are ready continue with this prayer as follows:
In one voice, we pray together:
Creator of the heavens and earth, we praise your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. We know that you have created us to be holy, and ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; we give thanks for the blessings of our lives even as we seek to live into the eternity of yours. Amen.
The Festival Doxology:
Unto the Lamb that was slain,
And has redeemed us out of all nations of the earth;
Unto the Lord who purchased our souls for himself;
Unto that friend who loved us, and washed us from our sins by his own blood;
Who died for us once,
That we might die unto sin;
Who rose for us,
That we might also rise;
Who ascended for us into heaven,
To prepare a place for us;
And to whom are subjected the angels, and powers, and dominions; to him be glory at all times,
In the Church which waits for him, and in that Church which is around him from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.