Document
INVOCATION
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.
Lord, open our lips.
And we shall praise your name. Amen.
PSALMODY
Psalm 147 - Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem
Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
for God is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
God heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
God determines the number of the stars;
God gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
God’s understanding is beyond measure.
The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
God casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre.
God covers the heavens with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills.
God gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
God’s delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor God’s pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear God,
in those who hope in God steadfast love. Amen.
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 12:9-14 - The Man with a Withered Hand
Jesus left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word,
Thanks be to God.
TIME FOR REFLECTION
Song: Magnificat
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
From the rising of the sun to its setting, let us pray to the Lord.
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
That the people of God in all the world may worship in spirit and in truth, let us pray to the Lord:
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
That the church may discover again the unity that is your gift, let us pray to the Lord:
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
That the nations of the earth, may seek ways that make for peace. We pray this week especially with the countries of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia.
We are thankful for:
- How the early Christian church developed here.
- The biodiversity of plants, animals and the natural terrain.
- How Berber, Arab and European cultures have blended.
- How these countries have remained and stood against the invasion of cultural and military forces from elsewhere.
We pray for:
- all the people of these countries: Muslims, the tiny remnant of Christians, those of other faiths who continuing bearing witness to their faiths and for all people of good will.
- an end to political violence.
- an end to how dominating powers have fought over these lands and their resources through the years.
- for those suffering exploitation and mistreatment as they travel through these countries.
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
God our help and comfort in times of trouble, we bring before you particularly today the communities in Mozambique who are facing a dire situation due to cyclone Eloise and the ongoing religious violence in the “Cabo Delgado” province. We pray for all religious leaders and local workers who are ministering in these areas that their work will touch and transform the lives of the communities they serve at this very difficult time through compassion and solidarity. let us pray to the Lord:
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
That the whole creation, laboring to be born anew, may be set free to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God, let us pray to the Lord:
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
Today we pray for Myanmar, for the people, for our colleagues and all people of good will. We pray that the whole creation, laboring to be born anew, may be set free to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God, let us pray to the Lord:
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
For all those needs for which we pray this day, we take a moment to name them before you now, either speaking aloud, writing them in the chatroom, or silently in our hearts........let us pray to the Lord:
Sung: Moran ethra hama’lain. Lord, have mercy.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O you, who enlighten the rational with the knowledge of your greatness, enlighten, O my Lord, my thoughts that I may meditate upon your holy and divine Scriptures at every hour, O Lord of all, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for ever.
Amen.
(From “Prayers of The Hallowing of Addai and Mari Disciplers of the East,”
English translation M. J. Birni, http://www.nestorian.org/nestorian_liturgy.html)
THE LORD’S PRAYER (in our different languages)
BLESSING:
All shall be Amen and Alleluia.
We shall rest and we shall see.
We shall see and we shall know.
We shall know and we shall love.
We shall love and we shall praise.
Behold our end which is no end.
(St Augustine of Hippo)
SENDING
Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
