“Order of Worship” α (Ω)

§ WE ARE LED INTO GOD’S PRESENCE

Let us draw near to our heavenly Father through His only Son Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, approaching the throne of grace with confidence that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need:

Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; call upon him when he draws near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the evil ones their thoughts; and let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, and to our God, for he will richly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as rain and snow fall from the heavens and return not again, but water the earth, bringing forth life and giving growth, seed for sowing and bread for eating, so is my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty; but it will accomplish that which I have purposed, and prosper in that for which I sent it. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. (Morning Prayer II: Second Song of Isaiah — Book of Common Prayer 86-87)

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of this redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Sunday Closest to August 17th — Book of Common Prayer 232)

Psalm for the Day – PSALM 15 (SING)

§ WE LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD

Reading the Word – JUDGES 13 (Restart 3-Year Plan)

A period of silence may follow for reflection & recording insights.

For further reflection/study:

• To Go Deeper with Today’s Word & in the Life of Discipleship: This Week’s Reflection Resources
• To Walk with the Church Thru the Christian Year: Scripture Readings ℵ

§ WE LIVE IN PRAYERFUL RESPONSE TO GOD

As we spend time with God in prayer (Listening as well as offering up prayers of Adoration, Confession of Sin, Thanksgiving, Surrender, & Supplication), we might include in our praying:

+The Jesus Creed*

+The Lord’s Prayer** (Prayed, Used as a Guide, or Both)

+Prayers for Ourselves, Our Families, the Church, & the World  (Great Litany)

* – “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31, NIV 2011).

** – 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.

α NOTE: The following “Order of Worship” is offered as a possible way into prayerful communion with the Triune God of the Bible and into earnestly listening for God’s revelation of His nature, saving work, and will through the Scriptures. However, depending upon your time limitations, interests, and convictions, one can “pick and choose” what it will look like for him or her to seek God through disciplined engagement with Scripture (“Read”) and Prayer (“Pray”) with the goal of receiving and reflecting the love of God (“Love”) every day of our lives (“Daily”).

† = Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, © 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

ℵ = Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.