Adapted from Exodus 3

The Lord says, 

“I am the God of your ancestors. 

I have indeed seen the misery of my people. 

I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. 

So I have come down to rescue them. 

And to bring them into a good and spacious land.” 

Oh Lord Almighty, 

We look to Zion, to your promise of restoration, of Shalom. Empower us to help bring about your kingdom here and now. 

Submitted by Austin D. Hill

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Adapted from Psalm 42 

As the deer longs for flowing streams, 

So my soul longs for you, oh God. 

My soul thirsts for God, 

For the living God. 

When shall I come and behold the face of God? 

My tears have been my food day and night, 

While people say to me continually, “Where is your God?” 

I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?” 

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,  

My help and my God. 

Austin D. Hill

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Adapted from Philippians 3:7-8, 10

But whatever were gains to us

We now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

What is more,

We consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ our Lord, for whose sake we lose all things.

We want to know Christ,

To know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings

 Submitted by Austin D. Hill

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Adapted from Revelation 21:3-6

Leader:           Look!  God’s dwelling is here with humankind.  God dwells with us, and we are God’s people. 

People:          God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Death will be no more.

                       There will be no more mourning, crying, or pain anymore.

Leader           The One on the throne proclaims, “Look, I’m making all things new!”

People:          Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

All:                 Let us worship God!

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God who hears our cries and is moved by our suffering,

Speak to us a word of comfort, challenge, co-mission.

Capture our attention and call us out of our routines,

That we might catch a vision of your deliverance,

finding our place in the movement of God’s justice

Be in our worship, Lord

Quiet our resistance,

Orient us to action,

And in all things, root us in your love.

Mandy England Cole

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 A Prayer From Catherine of Siena

O Holy Spirit, come into my heart; 

By your power draw it to yourself, God, 

And give me charity with fear. 

Guard me, Christ, from every evil thought, 

And so warm and enflame me again 

With your most gentle love 

That every suffering may seem light to me. 

My holy Father and my gentle Lord, 

Help me in my every need. 

Christ love! Christ love!

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Who will save us from the ways of death? 

Jesus Christ our Lord; thanks be to God! 

God’s grace is sufficient for us; 

In Christ, the weak are made strong. 

Weeping may linger for the night,  

But joy comes with the morning. 

Austin D. Hill

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Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 1979

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