Heavenly Father,
We thank you for your love and mercy shown us through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through Him you have brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We rejoice in your welcome and embrace. This has changed our lives. We take up the truth of the Gospel and the truth of your Word as a shield against the fiery darts of the enemy. What you say about us — dismantles the stories of guilt, shame, and fear that we have been telling ourselves.
Come Lord Jesus and walk with us.
Pour your love into our lives by your Holy Spirit so that peace rises up over anxiety. Give us compassion for people and a generosity of spirit toward them. Oh Lord, teach us the ways of peace so that we may not assume an enemy where there could have been a friend. We would lay down the old grudges that are destroying our souls and our capacities for friendship.
Come Lord Jesus and walk with us.
Oh Lord, your ancient enemy seems to work overtime seeking to dismantle your glory in Creation and blind us to your goodness. Forgive us Lord; we have given away the life-giving promises of your presence in exchange for cheap pleasures — but Oh how they have cost us. Save us through power of your life given in exchange for us.
Come Lord Jesus and walk with us.
We look past our fears of sickness and ask for you to comfort the families of those who have lost loved ones to this new coronavirus. Have mercy Lord.
We look past our fears for security and ask you to provide hospitable hearts and homes for the people fleeing violence in Idlib. Have mercy Lord.
We look past our fears for superiority and ask you to provide us with wisdom and respect for the limits, boundaries of Indigenous peoples. Have mercy Lord.
Oh how you love us Lord. Come, walk with us and teach us the ways of love.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.