Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Holiness
Grant us, Lord, to hope on your name,
the primal source of creation
and open the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know you,
who alone is the highest of the high,
the holiest of the holy;
who humbles the proud
and elevates the lowly;
who makes rich and makes poor;
who kills and makes alive.
You alone are the God of spirits and of all flesh;
who sees into the depths,
who surveys humanity’s works;
the relief of those in danger,
the savior of those in despair;
the creator and ruler of all spirits;
who spreads the nations over the earth,
and has chosen out of all mankind those
that love you through Jesus Christ, your beloved son,
through whom you taught us, sanctified us, honored us.
Opening of the Great Prayer of Clement of Rome, from 1 Clement 59:3. Originally translated by J. B. Lightfoot (1890). Adapted for modern liturgical use.
Prayer of Adoration, based on Isaiah 6
Transcendent Lord,
in the midst of ordinary days
draw us to your wonder and majesty,
to fall on our knees and cry, “Glory!”
May we tremble, knowing how deeply you know us and love us
The fierceness of a tsunami does not compare to your passion for us
and for the salvation of all things.
Holy! Holy! Holy!
Blessed be your name forever!
Amen!
Prayer of Adoration, based on Isaiah 6 © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Adapted from Ephesians 1
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places,
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as children
through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace,
which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
making known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance
to the praise of his glory.
Selections from Ephesians 1:3-14 (adapted with minor wording changes from ESV)
Prayer – Cry, “Glory”
Transcendent Lord,
in the midst of ordinary days draw us to wonder
to fall on our knees and cry, “Glory!”
You are the Holy One, Above and Other.
May we tremble, knowing how deeply you know us and love us
The fierceness of a tsunami does not compare to your passion for us
and for the salvation of all things.
Shake away our apathy and distraction.
Shake the depths of our motives so the great stones of destruction are laid waste.
Shake us awake to your wild, thundering dance of true life.
Amen.
Cry, “Glory!” © 2011 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
God of power, love and wisdom:
you’ve known us and loved us from before we even were,
and extended your grace to us before we knew your name. You save us from ourselves –
from our arrogance, rebellion and sin;
and from the powers of the world and devil
which seek to ensnare us.
And you save us for something, as well –
for a new life of holiness
and for a great purpose:
to guard your gospel by giving it away in truth.
For all of this: we thank you and praise you.
Because of this: we can trust you and depend on you.
Holy, Holy, Holy – Father, Son and Holy Spirit: three times holy:
We love you – though we struggle to fully comprehend You.
We follow you – though we don’t know where you might take us.
We praise you – though we see only glimpses of your glory and wonder.
We trust you – because You’re worthy of our belief, trust and faith.
(Prayers of Confession)
Yet, we admit there are times our love, obedience,
praise and trust leave much to be desired.
Too often our love’s only a passing feeling and not a lasting action;
we obey only when it’s convenient;
our praise is limited to when things are going well
and our trust is more in ourselves than in you.
Forgive us, as in the quiet we tell only you
what we’re too ashamed to say before anyone else. (silence… )