Set us free to serve
joy
image via Picryl
Easter Prayer of Gregory the Great
Resurrection, Luca Giordano via Wikimedia Commons
It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise You Father and Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of Loving-Kindness
toward us, Your servants, You gave up Your Son.
Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father
by Your Blood poured forth in Loving-Kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin
by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled Heaven and earth.
Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness before You redeemed us.
Your Resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!
We pray You, Lord, to preserve Your servants
in the peaceful enjoyment of this Easter happiness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with God The Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Pope Gregory the Great (c. 540 – 604) of Rome, Patron Saint of Teachers
source
_________________________
1 Peter 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to praise You Father and Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of Loving-Kindness
toward us, Your servants, You gave up Your Son.
Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father
by Your Blood poured forth in Loving-Kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin
by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled Heaven and earth.
Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness before You redeemed us.
Your Resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!
We pray You, Lord, to preserve Your servants
in the peaceful enjoyment of this Easter happiness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with God The Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Pope Gregory the Great (c. 540 – 604) of Rome, Patron Saint of Teachers
source
_________________________
1 Peter 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you.
_____________________________
Questions
What significance does the resurrection of Jesus make in your life?
What difference does Jesus’ resurrection make in your relationships?
Questions
What significance does the resurrection of Jesus make in your life?
What difference does Jesus’ resurrection make in your relationships?
Authoritative Prayer
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
In the strong name of Jesus Christ
I stand against the world, the flesh and the devil.
I resist every force that would seek to distract me from my center in God.
I reject the distorted concepts and ideas that make sin plausible and desirable.
I oppose every attempt to keep me from knowing full fellowship with God.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
I speak directly to the thoughts, emotions, and desires of my heart
and command you to find your satisfaction in the infinite variety of God’s love
rather than the bland diet of sin.
I call upon the good, the true, and the beautiful to rise up within me
and the evil to subside.
I ask for an increase in righteousness, preace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
By the authority of almighty God
I tear down Satan’s strongholds in my life,
in the lives of those I love,
and in the society in which I live.
I take into myself the weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, salvation,
the word of God, and prayer.
I command every evil influence to leave;
you have no right here and I allow you no point of entry.
I ask for an increase of faith, hope and love so that,
by the power of God, I can be a light set on a hill,
causing truth and justice to flourish.
These things I pray for the sake of him who loved me and gave himself for me.
Amen.
Richard Foster, 1942- , Quaker theologian and author
Prayer – Finding the Heart’s True Home
I resist every force that would seek to distract me from my center in God.
I reject the distorted concepts and ideas that make sin plausible and desirable.
I oppose every attempt to keep me from knowing full fellowship with God.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
I speak directly to the thoughts, emotions, and desires of my heart
and command you to find your satisfaction in the infinite variety of God’s love
rather than the bland diet of sin.
I call upon the good, the true, and the beautiful to rise up within me
and the evil to subside.
I ask for an increase in righteousness, preace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
By the authority of almighty God
I tear down Satan’s strongholds in my life,
in the lives of those I love,
and in the society in which I live.
I take into myself the weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, salvation,
the word of God, and prayer.
I command every evil influence to leave;
you have no right here and I allow you no point of entry.
I ask for an increase of faith, hope and love so that,
by the power of God, I can be a light set on a hill,
causing truth and justice to flourish.
These things I pray for the sake of him who loved me and gave himself for me.
Amen.
Richard Foster, 1942- , Quaker theologian and author
Prayer – Finding the Heart’s True Home
__________________________
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh
but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion
raised against the knowledge of God,
and take every thought captive to obey Christ
_________________________
Question
Have you ever been led to pray with the boldness
and with the authority expressed in this prayer?
Ask for an increased measure of boldness in your prayers.
We ask for Good Tidings
Angels Announcing Christ’s Birth to the Shepherds, Govert Flinck, wikimedia commons
Dear God:
The newspaper brings nothing new
only an old, old story of war—
more bombing, more shooting, more bloodshed.
One more family wailing a funeral song.
Against the backdrop of brutal images,
we hear the old, old story of an angel with good news,
who brought good tidings of great joy for all people.
The newspaper brings nothing new
only an old, old story of war—
more bombing, more shooting, more bloodshed.
One more family wailing a funeral song.
Against the backdrop of brutal images,
we hear the old, old story of an angel with good news,
who brought good tidings of great joy for all people.
Angel of Bethlehem, we long to hear your song again this day.
We want good tidings for countries in crisis.
We want good tidings for people who long to govern themselves.
We want good tidings for soldiers caught in webs of violence.
We want good tidings for all who grieve, and who see no end to grieving.
We want good tidings for terrorists whose actions spread fear and anguish.
We want good tidings for ordinary people who long to live in peace.
We want good tidings for children, who long to inherit a country
where peace has blossomed.
We want good tidings for people who long to govern themselves.
We want good tidings for soldiers caught in webs of violence.
We want good tidings for all who grieve, and who see no end to grieving.
We want good tidings for terrorists whose actions spread fear and anguish.
We want good tidings for ordinary people who long to live in peace.
We want good tidings for children, who long to inherit a country
where peace has blossomed.
Jesus, our Savior,
you escaped Herod’s best-laid plans.
May your Spirit of peace be born again this year
in the hearts of all who work for peace. Amen.
Carol Penner, Canadian Mennonite pastor and professor
leadinginworship.com source
________________________________
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
________________________________
In what ways is the coming of Jesus the best news that the world needs to hear?
Who is one person that you can share this news with?
In what ways is the coming of Jesus the best news that the world needs to hear?
Who is one person that you can share this news with?
Come, O true Light
Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, via Flickr
Come, O true Light!
Come, O eternal life!
Come, O hidden mystery!
Come, O indescribable treasure!
Come, O powerful one,
who always creates and re-creates and transforms
by your will alone!
Come, you whom my wretched soul
has desired and does desire!
Come, you who alone go to the lonely
for as you see I am lonely!
Come, you who have separated me from everything
and made me solitary in this world!
Come, you who have become yourself desire in me,
who have made me desire you,
the absolutely inaccessible one!
Yea, O Master, just as you remembered me,
when I was in the world
and, in the midst of my ignorance,
you chose me and separated me from this world
and set me before your glorious face,
so now keep me interiorly,
by your dwelling within me,
forever upright, resolute;
that by perpetually seeing you,
I, the corpse, may live;
that by possessing you,
I, the beggar, may always be rich,
richer than kings;
that by eating you and by drinking you,
by putting you on at each moment,
I go from delight to delight
in inexpressible blessings.
Symeon the New Theologian 949–1022 Byzantine Orthodox monk
source
_______________________
John 1:9-10
Come, O hidden mystery!
Come, O indescribable treasure!
Come, O powerful one,
who always creates and re-creates and transforms
by your will alone!
Come, you whom my wretched soul
has desired and does desire!
Come, you who alone go to the lonely
for as you see I am lonely!
Come, you who have separated me from everything
and made me solitary in this world!
Come, you who have become yourself desire in me,
who have made me desire you,
the absolutely inaccessible one!
Yea, O Master, just as you remembered me,
when I was in the world
and, in the midst of my ignorance,
you chose me and separated me from this world
and set me before your glorious face,
so now keep me interiorly,
by your dwelling within me,
forever upright, resolute;
that by perpetually seeing you,
I, the corpse, may live;
that by possessing you,
I, the beggar, may always be rich,
richer than kings;
that by eating you and by drinking you,
by putting you on at each moment,
I go from delight to delight
in inexpressible blessings.
Symeon the New Theologian 949–1022 Byzantine Orthodox monk
source
_______________________
John 1:9-10
The true light, which gives light to everyone,
was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him,
yet the world did not know him.
___________________________
When have you experienced the presence and love of God most powerfully?
When have you experienced the presence and love of God most powerfully?
Remember some of those times in prayer and praise.
God, we greet your coming in Jesus Christ
Altarpiece of the Seven Joys of Mary, c 1480 France, via Wikimedia Commons
We greet your coming, God, with wonder:
You come to be with us;
yet you remain far greater than we can imagine.
You are near;
yet your wisdom sets you apart from us.
You appear among us;
yet we cannot describe your glory.
We greet your coming, God, with repentance:
We are more or less satisfied with ourselves;
but your presence exposes our sin and failure.
We are self-confident;
but you challenge our confidence in ourselves.
We are proud of our understanding;
but you show us that we do not know everything.
We greet your coming, God, with joy:
We had no true idea of what you are like;
but you have shown us yourself in Jesus Christ.
We felt our human life could be of no importance to you;
but you have shown its value by appearing among us as a man.
We are aware of the gulf between us and you;
but you have bridged it with love.
God, we greet your coming in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Caryl Micklem 1925 – 2003 English Reformed minister
You come to be with us;
yet you remain far greater than we can imagine.
You are near;
yet your wisdom sets you apart from us.
You appear among us;
yet we cannot describe your glory.
We greet your coming, God, with repentance:
We are more or less satisfied with ourselves;
but your presence exposes our sin and failure.
We are self-confident;
but you challenge our confidence in ourselves.
We are proud of our understanding;
but you show us that we do not know everything.
We greet your coming, God, with joy:
We had no true idea of what you are like;
but you have shown us yourself in Jesus Christ.
We felt our human life could be of no importance to you;
but you have shown its value by appearing among us as a man.
We are aware of the gulf between us and you;
but you have bridged it with love.
God, we greet your coming in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Caryl Micklem 1925 – 2003 English Reformed minister
_______________________
Psalm 77:11-14
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders
you have made known your might among the peoples.
Psalm 77:11-14
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders
you have made known your might among the peoples.
_________________________
How can you greet the coming of Jesus with wonder, repentance, and joy?
Glide down into my longing soul
O sweet and true Joy,
I pray Thee come!
Come O sweet and most desired!
I pray Thee come!
Come O sweet and most desired!
Come my Love, that art all my comfort!
Glide down into a soul longing for Thee
and after Thee with sweet heat.
Kindle with Thy Heat the wholeness of my heart.
With Thy Light enlighten my inmost parts.
Feed me with honeyed songs of love,
as far I may receive them
by my powers of body and soul.
Richard Rolle 1290–1349 English writer, Bible translator and hermit
The Encyclopedia of Prayer and Praise
I pray Thee come!
Come O sweet and most desired!
I pray Thee come!
Come O sweet and most desired!
Come my Love, that art all my comfort!
Glide down into a soul longing for Thee
and after Thee with sweet heat.
Kindle with Thy Heat the wholeness of my heart.
With Thy Light enlighten my inmost parts.
Feed me with honeyed songs of love,
as far I may receive them
by my powers of body and soul.
Richard Rolle 1290–1349 English writer, Bible translator and hermit
The Encyclopedia of Prayer and Praise
____________________
Isaiah 61:10
I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
____________________
Isaiah 61:10
I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
____________________
What are some ways you can express joy praising God
as you anticipate the coming of Christ?
visit with us, too
The Meeting of Mary and Elisabeth, Bloch 1866, wikimedia commons
Lord Jesus, this advent season we remember
the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth
both women miraculously pregnant.
We delight as we recall John the Baptist leaping for joy
inside Elizabeth’s womb!
Make plans to visit with us too,
that we might be filled with joyful expressions!
Impart within us the same awareness that John had
that we might always sense your presence.
Bless us with the same knowledge
that you are truly the lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world;
that you are the Messiah, and we are not;
and that you must increase, and we must decrease.
Invite us to join with John and prepare for your coming.
Eric Mathews
the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth
both women miraculously pregnant.
We delight as we recall John the Baptist leaping for joy
inside Elizabeth’s womb!
Make plans to visit with us too,
that we might be filled with joyful expressions!
Impart within us the same awareness that John had
that we might always sense your presence.
Bless us with the same knowledge
that you are truly the lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world;
that you are the Messiah, and we are not;
and that you must increase, and we must decrease.
Invite us to join with John and prepare for your coming.
Eric Mathews
_______________________________
Luke 1:41-44
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
In a loud voice she exclaimed:
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the child you will bear!
But why am I so favored,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
_____________________________
When have you rejoiced in God’s presence most vividly?
What aspect of your life needs to decrease
Luke 1:41-44
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
In a loud voice she exclaimed:
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the child you will bear!
But why am I so favored,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
_____________________________
When have you rejoiced in God’s presence most vividly?
What aspect of your life needs to decrease
so that the influence of Jesus can increase?
bring Life and Peace to us
Christ Pantocrator Mosaic on the Vault of the Kariye Mosque in Istanbul, photo by Feyza Nur, via pexels
O King of the nations,
You are the headstone of the glorious hall of creation.
You are the firm mortar which holds the building together.
Throughout the earth people marvel at your works.
But now the building is being reduced to a ruin by greed and fear:
Reveal yourself to mankind,
show yourself as the ruler of the world,
demonstrate the power of your love.
O just and faithful King,
you can unlock the prison-house of sin,
and let us out into the glorious freedom of love.
Now we sit in darkness,
grieving over the wrongs we have committed.
We long for the sun,
we yearn for the warmth and brightness of your truth.
Open the gate of this prison, and lead us to your kingdom,
which is our true home.
Come now, high king of heaven.
Come to us in flesh and bone.
Bring life to us who are weary with misery.
Bring peace to us who are overcome with weeping,
whose cheeks are covered with bitter salt tears.
Seek us out, who are lost in the darkness of depression.
Do not forget us, but show mercy to us.
Impart to us your everlasting joy,
so that we, who are fashioned by your hands,
may praise your glory.
Come to us in flesh and bone.
Bring life to us who are weary with misery.
Bring peace to us who are overcome with weeping,
whose cheeks are covered with bitter salt tears.
Seek us out, who are lost in the darkness of depression.
Do not forget us, but show mercy to us.
Impart to us your everlasting joy,
so that we, who are fashioned by your hands,
may praise your glory.
Exeter Book, c.960, codex of Old English poetry
___________________
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
_____________________________
Where is God’s life and peace most needed in your community?
Pray that the power of Christ’s love would be revealed in this situation.
Pray that the power of Christ’s love would be revealed in this situation.
Come Thou long expected Jesus
Sunset over Jerusalem via pxhere
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Charles Wesley 1707 – 1788 English hymn writer and Methodist
_________________________
Haggai 2:6-7
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
‘In a little while I will once more shake
the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come,
and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Charles Wesley 1707 – 1788 English hymn writer and Methodist
_________________________
Haggai 2:6-7
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
‘In a little while I will once more shake
the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come,
and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.
_________________________
What are some of the desires of the nations that only God can fulfill?
How can you be praying for your country this season?
How can you be praying for your country this season?