Daily Prayers for Moravians Has Moved!

Please note: The Daily Prayers for Moravians Blog has now moved to https://www.moravian.org/daily-prayers-for-moravians/. I have now ceased publishing here. You can enjoy these prayers without the advertisements that interrupt the flow of the prayers. Thank you for your continued used of these prayers.

The watchword for the week:
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Eternal Spirit of the living God, be for us the fountain of water
creating and sustaining us each day,
be for us the enlivening wind
searching us out and cleansing us,
be for us the refining, warming flame
steadying and transforming our desires,
that, lovingly and truthfully,
we may pray and we may live.

Psalm 68:1-10,32-35

1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered;
let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds — his name is the Lord— be exultant before him.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, (Selah)
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad;
you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in him,
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord, (Selah)
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel;
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

Let us Confess Your Sins

Against you have we sinned, gracious Lord. You provide for the lilies of the field, yet we doubt your love for us and so we often live our lives out of a sense of anxiety, rather than the assurance of grace. So forgive us from the sin of unbelief, from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, from all self-righteousness, from every neglect of our duty, from all ingratitude and selfishness, from lukewarmness in our love for you and our neighbor, and from indifference to all that you have provided for us.

God’s very being is grace. God’s every intent is to welcome you home. So receive God’s forgiveness, and rest in God’s love. Let us praise the triune God:

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 time now to read the Daily Texts for today. Remember, God speaks to us through the inspiration of Scripture, so approach the opportunity to read the Daily Texts as a privilege, eagerly anticipating what might be spoken to you today. How might this new word make a part of your life new again? If you do not have your own copy of the Daily Texts, you will find them posted at http://www.moravian.org. When you have finished praying, continue as follows.)

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

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.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Finally Brothers and Sisters, build yourselves on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Resting in God’s grace, let us think on these things:
Let us think about things that are honorable, things that are just, things that are pure, things that are lovely, things that are worthy of a good report, things that are virtuous, and things that are worthy of praise.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 6th Sunday of Easter (May 17-23, 2020)

The Watchword for the Week:

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give him glorious praise. Psalm 66:1,2

Let us give thanks for your goodness, dear God, let the people shout their joy.
We praise you for your freely given love, and the gift or your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
May we live our praise through our daily lives.
Gracious God, we love you, and we are thankful that you accept us as we are, but challenge us to become more of who you want us to be. 

Psalm 66:8-20

8 Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs;
12 you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water, yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows, 
14 those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats.
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
17 I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer. 
20Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.

Let us Confess our Sins.
Gracious God, you call forth from us shouts of praise and thanksgiving, and you call us to respond to your grace with a joyful noise on our lips. But we confess, Lord, that we often speak out of anxiety and anger rather than grace; this causes us to utter words either to or about others that cause pain and division rather than unity. At other times our mouths are silent when they should be bearing witness to your greatness. For these our sins, we humbly repent. 

Our God is gracious and forgives the penitent heart. He forgives you of your sins, so let us, therefore, give God glorious praise.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By God’s great mercy, we are given new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

Praise, honor, glory, and power to the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb, forever and ever! Jesus was handed over to death for our sins,
And was raised to new life for our justification.
Then what can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or hardship? Can persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loved us.
We are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor powers, nor heights, nor depths, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

(God speaks to us through the inspiration of Scripture. So approach the opportunity to read the Daily Texts as a privilege, eagerly anticipating what might be spoken to you today. How might this new word make a part of your life new again? If you do not have your own copy of the Daily Texts, you will find them posted in the margin on the right of your page (at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile phone) When you have finished praying, continue as follows.)

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

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.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Let those who serve you praise you, O God, let the true of heart give you thanks.
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let the whole earth be in awe of you; all the inhabitants of the world greet you with joy. For you spoke, and the wonderful deed was done; you commanded, and it all came to pass.
Praise to the love that moves the stars and stirs the hearts of the people.
God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
Make us complete in everything good so that we may do your will, working among us all that is pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ. Praise God to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 5th Sunday of Easter (May 10-16, 2020)

Please note: I am pleased to announce that my “Daily Prayers for Moravians” has moved to another web address. Moving forward, these prayers will be found at https://www.moravian.org/daily-prayers-for-moravians/. The most significant improvement will be that you will no longer see ads in the middle of the prayers. Everything else will remain pretty much the same. I hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please reach me at rtrevchris@gmail.com.

The Watchword for the week:

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

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 31:1-5,15-16

1 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.

2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.

3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.

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 cause us to walk away from you. Guide us to seek to abide in your love and share your graceful presence with 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.

Now is a time for the reading of a scripture passage. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts, take the time to read today’s texts now, but don’t rush over them as a task to be completed. These are the words that God would have you to cherish for this day. These are words that could transform your life if you allow them to. So read 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 the 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 this time of prayer help you to clarify where God would want you to focus your energy. When you are ready, continue the 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. Your created world is sacred, your glory and power are displayed in beautiful 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 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. 

Prayers for the 4th Week of Easter (May 3-9, 2020)

Please note: I am pleased to announce that effective immediately “Daily Prayers for Moravians” is moving to the another web address. Moving forward these prayers will be found at https://www.moravian.org/daily-prayers-for-moravians/ . The biggest improvement will be that you will no longer see ads popping up in the middle of the prayers. Everything else will remain pretty much the same. I hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please reach me at rtrevchris@gmail.com .

The watchword for the week:

Jesus says, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” John 10:9

Let the whole earth be joyful in you, O God,
We greet you with gladness, and celebrate your presence with a song.
For we know that you are creating us,
you are alive in us and we belong to you.
We enter your gates a motley procession,
But we enter with heartfelt thanksgiving and joy.
For you are gracious and your embrace is compassionate,
faithful through all generations.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake. 
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me. 
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Let us Confess our Sins:

O God, we thank you for sending the gift of your steadfast love to us each day, even though we do not always claim it. Move us, by your Holy Spirit, to accept your love and share it freely with those who need it. Forgive us when: 

We are slow to seek reconciliation with others. (pause for reflection)
When we cling to the feeling of having been wronged. (pause for reflection)
When we fail to extend to others the same compassion you freely give to us. (pause for reflection) 

Break in on our selfishness, and astonish us anew, O God! Our prayer is that you will claim us again and strengthen us to respond to the needs of those who are hurting. Amen.

The Easter message calls us to be kind to one another, to be tenderhearted, to forgive one another, and to be forgiven because when we enter his gates, Jesus feeds us with his life. Hear, then, the good news: those who are in Christ are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come. Thanks be to God!

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. 

Now is a time for the reading of a scripture passage. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts, take the time to read today’s texts now, but don’t rush over them as a task to be completed. These are the words that God would have you to cherish for this day. These are words that could transform your life if you allow them to. So read 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:

Let us now pray together:
Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we genuinely need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your live-giving strength, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forevermore. AMEN. 

Jesus makes my heart rejoice,
I’m his sheep and know his voice,
He’s a shepherd kind and gracious,
And his pastures are delicious,
Constant love to me he shows,
Yea, my very name he knows.
(Hymn 662 v.1 from the Moravian Book of Worship)

And now may the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us now and forever. Amen.

Prayers for the 3rd Week of Easter (April 26-May 3, 2020)

The Watchword for the week:
You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. I Peter 1:23

The Easter season calls us to celebrate new life.
Loving God, grant that we may be renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Help us to see the possibilities for new beginnings in our daily lives.
We give praise to the risen Christ in whom we live, and move, and have our being.

Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
1 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, save my life!”
12 What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.
16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

Confession of Sin
Almighty and most merciful God, we have erred and strayed from your holy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too often the devices and desires of our hearts, and we have offended your holy laws. This has separated us from you, and we have hurt even those that we love. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done things we ought not to have done, and we are truly sorry. O Lord, have mercy on us. Forgive us our sins as we can honestly confess them to you. Restore your image in us and create in us a clean heart. Make of us a new creation, ready and willing to serve you.

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 now to read a passage of scripture. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts you can read that now. If you don’t have access to a Text Book you can view the texts and the prayer on-line at https://www.moravian.org. When you get to that page simply scroll down and you will find them on the right side of your page. Don’t rush over the words, but savor them in your soul. What words or phrases happen to catch your attention? These might be places where God is inviting you to dig deeper. After you have had a chance to ponder those passages and pray for your family, friends, foes, and the needs of a hurting world, continue the prayer as follows:

Together as brothers and sisters in Christ let us profess our faith, saying:

I believe in the one true God, the Father of humanity,
who creates and sustains the universe in wisdom and power,
who calls us into being and into relationship with God by grace, whose nature is love.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
who lived that we might see God,
who died that we might be reconciled to God,
who rose that we might experience the life of God,
who freely accepts and welcomes all who come to him, not on the basis of their merit, but on the basis of his unconditional love.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
who is God present with us now,
who shows us our need for God,
who assures us of God’s love in all circumstances
who lives the life and love of Jesus Christ through us.
In this faith I will seek to live in harmony with God, with people everywhere, and with all of creation. Amen.
(From the Moravian Book of Worship, the Liturgy for Creation, page 29. Used by permission from the Moravian Interprovincial Board of Communication.)

Lord, as we experience the ups and downs of life,
Help us to put our trust in you.
As we come to doubt our abilities,
Help us to know that you make us complete.
As we fear for the health and welfare of those that we love,
Help us to know that you are with both them and us.
As we come to doubt that we are making a difference in your Church,
Help us to know that this is your Church and we simply have to be faithful to your call to us.
As we come face to face with our own mortality,
Help us to know that your grace gives us new life both here, and in the world yet to come.
Shout for joy all people of God, rejoice all the earth! The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Blessed be the name of the Lord in whom we live, labor, and love. Amen.

Prayers for the Second Sunday of Easter (April 19-25, 2020)

The Watchword for the week:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I Peter 1:3

The Easter season calls us to celebrate new life.
Loving God, grant that we may be renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Help us to lay aside those things that hold us back from you,
And help us to embrace those things which bring us closer to you and your will for our lives.

Psalm 16
Protect me, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
I say to God, “You are my God;
   I have no good apart from you.”
As for the holy ones in the land,
they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
Those who choose another god
   multiply their sorrows;
Their drink-offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
God is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
I bless God who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep God always before me;
   because God is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Confession of Sin

Almighty and most merciful God, forgive us for we have ignored the power of the resurrection of our Savior. We have followed too often the devices and desires of our own heart rather than seeking after you. This has separated us from you, and we have hurt even those we love. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done things we ought not to have done, and we are truly sorry. O Lord, have mercy on us. Forgive us our sins as we can honestly confess them to you. Through the power of the resurrection, restore your image in us and create in us a new and clean heart. Make of us a new creation, ready and willing to serve you.

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. AMEN.

Take a moment now to read a passage of scripture. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts you can read that now. If you don’t have access to a Text Book you can view the texts and the prayer on-line at https://www.moravian.org. When you get to that page simply scroll down and you will find them on the right side of your page. Don’t rush over the words, but savor them in your soul. What words or phrases happen to catch your attention? These might be places where God is inviting you to dig deeper. After you have had a chance to ponder those passages and pray for your family, friends, foes, and the needs of a hurting world, continue the prayer as follows:

Together as brothers and sisters in Christ let us profess our faith, saying:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again,
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

We thank you, Lord Jesus, not only for the privilege of believing in you, but of suffering for you as well, so that we may also be glorified with you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of the body we were called to peace. And let us be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Whatever we do, therefore, whether in word or deed, let us do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

Prayers for the Celebration of Easter (April 12-18, 2020)

(May the awesome message of Easter speak to our hearts as together we continue our journey through the Covid-19 pandemic. Portions of these prayers are adapted from the Easter Liturgy in the Moravian Book of Worship. Used by permission of the IBOC)

The watchword for the week:
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Colossians 3:1

The Lord is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed!
Hail all hail victorious Lord and Savior
You have burst the bonds of death.
Joyful, we with one accord
Hail you as our risen Lord.

Psalm 118:1-2,14-24
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever! 
2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
14 The Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation. 
15There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it. 
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By God’s great mercy we are given new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
Praise, honor, glory, and power to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
Jesus was handed over to death for our sins,
And was raised to new life for our justification.
Then what can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or hardship? Can persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loved us.
For we are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor powers, nor heights, nor depths, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Take a moment now to read a passage of scripture. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts you can read that now. If you don’t have access to a Text Book you can view the texts and the prayer on-line at https://www.moravian.org. When you get to that page simply scroll down and you will find them on the right side of your page. Don’t rush over the words, but savor them in your soul. What words or phrases happen to catch your attention? These might be places where God is inviting you to dig deeper. After you have had a chance to ponder those passages and pray for your family, friends, foes, and the needs of a hurting world, continue the prayer as follows:

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:
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.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

What we are saying brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
Nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
What is sown as perishable,
Is raised imperishable;
What is sown in dishonor,
Is raised in glory:
What is sown in weakness,
Is raised in power;
What is sown a physical body,
Is raised a spiritual body.
Then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
Make us complete in everything good so that we may do your will, working among us all that is pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers for Palm Sunday and Holy Week (April 5-11, 2020)

The watchword for the week:
And being found in human form, Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:7,8

We praise you, the Lord God of Israel! You came to the help of your people and have set them free.
You have shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and have remembered your holy covenant.By your tender mercy you cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us,
To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (From the Moravian Book of Worship, page 50)

Psalm 31:9-16
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around—
as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

Confession of Sin

The voice of the messenger echoes from the desert, calling us to prepare the way of the Lord and make a straight path on which he may come. Let us confess our sins, so that our crooked ways will be made straight and the rough ways smooth.

Our sovereign Redeemer, we join with the people of Jerusalem offering our own shouts of praise and celebration at your coming. Although we often welcome you as did the multitude on Palm Sunday, we also have not always understood what that meant. We confess as well that we have stood with the condemning crowd on Good Friday with our thoughts, words, and actions crying “Crucify!” And like Peter we have, at times, denied our relationship with you through our silence. We turn to you for help and forgiveness, gracious Savior, not because we deserve it, but because you are forgiving. Save us from our sinful ways, and restore us to a life of loyalty to you. Amen. (From the Moravian Book of Worship, page 50)

A silence is observed for the opportunity to reflect on your own particular shortcomings, and upon the gift of God’s grace.

Christ Jesus, our Lord, came to restore us to a right relationship with God. Know that your sins are forgiven, be glad and rejoice.

Amen.

Take a moment now to read a passage of scripture. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts you can read that now. If you don’t have access to a Text Book you can view the texts and the prayer on-line at https://www.moravian.org. When you get to that page simply scroll down and you will find them on the right side of your page. Don’t rush over the words, but savor them in your soul. What words or phrases happen to catch your attention? These might be places where God is inviting you to dig deeper. After you have had a chance to ponder those passages and pray for your family, friends, foes, and the needs of a hurting world, continue the prayer as follows:

As you taught your disciples to pray, so we pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass
against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, we are continually amazed at the way you turn the world upside down. For a Savior of the world we would have chosen a powerful prince,
But you chose a carpenter’s son born under questionable circumstances.
For disciples to help Jesus through his ministry we would have chosen well connected wealthy people of the upper class to bank roll the operation,
But you chose fishermen, a tax collector, and other such outcasts.
For a grand entrance into Jerusalem, we would have chosen a white Stallion,
But you chose a donkey.
When riding high in the polls on Palm Sunday we would have chosen to stay there as long as we could,
But you chose to clear the temple.
For a place of coronation we would have chosen a palace with a wonderfully decorated royal throne,
But you chose a cross.
For those who we would want to have included in the kingdom of God we would have
chosen those who look and sound like we do,
But you chose the world.
For people to share the love and grace extended to us in Jesus Christ, we would have chosen somebody else,
But you chose each of us.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Prayers for the 5th Sunday in Lent (March 29-April 5, 2020)

The Watchword for the Week:
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. Psalm 130:5

Loving God, from the busyness of this day,
Call us into your presence.
From the distractions of our lives,
Call us into your presence.
From the slumber into which our faith can fall,
Call us into your presence.
From the pain present in our lives as well as in the world around us,
Call us into your presence.

Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O God.
   Oh God, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O God, should mark iniquities,
   who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
   so that you may be revered.
I wait for God, my soul waits,
   and in God’s word I hope;
My soul waits for God
   more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in God! For with God there is steadfast love,
   with God is great power to redeem.
It is God who will redeem Israel
   from all its iniquities.

Confession of Sin

In order that our hearts might be cleansed, we need to lift to God the sins which stain our souls. Together, let us confess our sins:

Your ways are marvelous, O God. Your law is perfect, and your grace is boundless. We humbly ask for your forgiveness for the times when we have ignored your good intentions for us and instead have followed a short-sighted and misguided way of living. We ask that you create in us a clean heart, O God. Renew within us a true and right spirit with which we can stand before you without guilt or shame. Do not cast us away as we might deserve, but restore unto us the comforting presence of your Holy Spirit. Give us joyful hearts with which to serve our brothers and sisters, and your Church. 

Christ came into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be save through Him. We are forgiven and we have the promise of eternal life. Rejoice and give God praise.
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 now to read a passage of scripture. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts you can read that now. If you don’t have access to a Text Book you can view the texts and the prayer on-line at https://www.moravian.org. When you get to that page simply scroll down and you will find them on the right side of your page. Don’t rush over the words, but savor them in your soul. What words or phrases happen to catch your attention? These might be places where God is inviting you to dig deeper. After you have had a chance to ponder those passages and pray for your family, friends, foes, and the needs of a hurting world, continue the prayer as follows:

With one voice, we pray together:

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, and take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, Amen. 

Lord awaken us,
To see your presence with us in each moment.
Lord open our hearts,
To see the suffering of others.
Lord open our eyes,
To see the ways in which we can serve you this day.
Lord help us,
To see the value that we have in your great kingdom on earth.
Lord open our souls,
To accept the grace that you have already extended to us.
Lord make us aware,
Of how we can share your grace with those around us.
Lord awaken us,
To live our lives in anticipation of your return or our being called home to you.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever we do in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. AMEN.

Prayers for the 4th Sunday in Lent (March 22-28, 2020)

The Watchword for the week:

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Psalm 23:6

Praise be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Praise be to the One who knits us together as a community of faith.
Open our eyes Lord so we may see that you have blessed us in many wonderful ways.
Open our ears, Lord, that we may hear your word and proclaim it to the world. 

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Let us confess our sins to our loving God:

(Adapted from the Liturgy of Christian Unity in the Moravian Book of Worship, page 125. Used by permission of the IBOC)
Gracious Lord and God we know that we will remain less than the whole persons you have called us to be in Christ Jesus until we acknowledge our sins to you, so we bow before you and pray: We confess that we have tried to run away and hide from you. We constantly deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live without you. We have made idols of our own achievements. We have treated other persons as though they did not bear your image. We have failed to enfold and include all persons within the outstretched and open arms of Jesus Christ, our Savior. And we have left undone those deeds of loving kindness and godly justice that you want us to pursue in your name. Bring your Spirit upon us in a gracious, healing way. Make us agents of reconciliation as we live within your holy presence. Amen.

Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

Thanks be to God. 

Take a moment now to read a passage of scripture. If you have a copy of the Moravian Daily Texts you can read that now. If you don’t have access to a Text Book you can view the texts and the prayer on-line at https://www.moravian.org. When you get to that page simply scroll down and you will find them on the right side of your page. Don’t rush over the words, but savor them in your soul. What words or phrases happen to catch your attention? These might be places where God is inviting you to dig deeper. After you have had a chance to ponder those passages and pray for your family, friends, foes, and the needs of a hurting world, continue the prayer as follows:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us. 

Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the distractions that often becon to us. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen. 

God of all creation, guide us to build our lives on you,
Help us to make you the cornerstone upon which all the rest of our lives lean for support.
God of our salvation, guide us to build our lives on you,
So that we may live gracefully as a reflection of what you have given us.
God of the Spirit, guide us to build our lives on you,
Fan the flames of our faith so that we may passionately share your love with those with whom we live and work and play.
May the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us throughout the living of this day we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.