Good morning, everyone.
Weekends have a way of whizzing by, don’t they? It is like everything we haven’t got done in the week get stuffed into two days. For me, weekends tend to very busy with weddings and trainings and church events. So, I have to find other days to get caught up with tasks. Some weeks it seems like I am always catching up. lol
I did miss posting the Sunday prayer. But today, I make up for it with both a podcast and a morning prayer.
My little Prayer-on-the-Go podcast for today: https://www.spreaker.com/user/7828297/moody-monday
Today’s Morning Prayer Service
Morning Prayer for Monday in Advent
An Order for Morning Prayer
(Note: this is intended as a form of private prayer but when doing with another or as a group, work through it responsively)
We greet the Day
O Lord, open our lips:
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever.
Amen.
Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
This is the first and the great commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.
Kyrie
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Collect
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Prayer
Come, thou long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive my prayer as part of my service of the Lord who enlists me in God’s own work for justice.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a joy responsive to the Father’s joy. I seek His will so I can serve with gladness, singing and love.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus. Excite in me the joy and love and peace it is right to bring to the manger of my Lord. Raise in me, too, sober reverence for the God who acted there, hearty gratitude for the life begun there, and spirited resolution to serve the Father and Son.
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, whose advent I hail. Amen.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Reading Isaiah 9:2, 6–7
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Psalm 85
1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin.Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.[a]
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.
Reflective Prayer
Breathe in me O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me then O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
–St Augustine
Intercessory Prayers
We offer to God the prayers of our hearts-
Gracious God source of all love and fount of all blessing, your Son Jesus Christ promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith. Confident in his word, we offer you our prayers.
We pray for our world, for the leaders of nations and all in authority, that everyone may live in peace and mutual trust, sharing with justice the resources of the earth. May your love guide each heart.
(offer personal prayers for the world, leaders, the planet)
We give thanks for our church and every faith community across the world. Encourage clergy and religious leaders to lead with compassion, mirroring your love and grace by their lives and teaching.
We offer to your care, merciful God, all who are in sorrow, sickness, discouragement or any other trouble. Give them patience and a firm trust in your goodness. Change lives today through your mighty healing touch and bring to know your loving presence at work in their lives.
(offer the names of those whom you hold in your heart….).
We pray for our own needs and concerns, giving thanks that answers and resolution are already on their way to us. Especially, we offer these concerns to you…….
We give thanks for those who have died and for those who mourn their passing. May they find comfort and hope in the joy of your promise that you will greet us at the last and take us to your Father’s house.
Hear us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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 today our daily bread.
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, the power,
and the glory,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Lord Jesus, hallow this new day
I give thanks for your peace, wisdom and strength in my heart.
Help me to look at the world with eyes of love.
Help me to be patient, understanding,
humble, gentle and good.
Please let me see others as you see them,
that I may look past appearances,
and appreciate the goodness in everyone.
Close my ears to all of the gossip,
and save my tongue from speaking evil of others.
Please let only thoughts that bless remain in me.
Today I want to be well-intentioned and fair,
that everybody that who comes to me might feel your presence.
Loving God, clothe me in your kindness,
that throughout this day I might be a reflection of you. Amen.
May the God of peace enable us to do his will in every kind of goodness, working in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
Journeying with God 