Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Life
You Call, based on Isaiah 55
Holy One of Israel, of all
Your love is unfailing, steadfast, sure
You call
Your mouth opens wide
Your hand opens wide
Your storehouse opens wide
Your heart opens wide
You call
Come, Listen, Receive
We’re listening
We’re open
We need your gift of life
Holy One make us alive
You Call © 2021 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being, you created us for yourself, so that our hearts are restless until they find rest in you. Grant to us such piety of heart and strength of purpose that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, and no weakness from doing it. In your light may we see life clearly and in your service find perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Worship, 1965
To the Trinity be praise!
God is music, God is life
that nurtures every creature in its kind.
Our God is the song of the angel throng
and the splendor of secret ways
hid from all humankind,
But God our life is the life of all.
Hildegard von Bingen, English version by Barbara Newman
Lord God, we come to adore you. You are the ground of all that is.
You hold us in being, and without you we could not be.
Before we were born, before time began, before the universe came into being, you were.
When time is finished, when the universe is no more, you will still be.
Nothing can take your power from you.
And in your presence we can only be silent before the mystery of your being, for no words of ours can do justice to your grandeur.
(A silence)
Yet you have spoken to us. Out of universal silence your living word has sprung.
You have spoken, and given form and beauty to the world.
You have spoken, and given purpose to human life.
You have spoken, and declared the forgiveness of our sin.
You have spoken, and freed us from the fear of death.
Lord Jesus Christ, divine Word, speak to us now.
Show us the beauty of life; unite us to the eternal purpose; remove our guilt; conquer the fear of death in our hearts.
Speak and let us hear, for your name’s sake.
Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship, Ed. Caryl Mickelm, Erdmans, 1967.
Father: today we celebrate your gift.
At creation you gave us the gift of life;
Through the life, death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus,
you gave us new life;
At his ascension, we gained a mediator
who prays for us every day.
But today we celebrate another gift:
the gift of your presence with us all the time and everywhere;
the gift of your life living in us and through us;
the gift of Your self in the Holy Spirit come to us –
to enable us to live the way you call us to live,
to equip us to serve you as you call us to serve,
and shape us more and more in to the image of Jesus.
THANK YOU for the gift of you.
And may others know the same gift of your Spirit.