Morning Prayer

Friday, December 13, 2024
 

The Gospel

Matthew 6:5-14

Prayer

Jesus said to them: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

The Word of the Lord

 

 

Statement of Faith (Romans 10:9-10)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

 

 

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
   hallowed be thy Name,
   thy kingdom come,
   thy will be done,
       on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
   as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
   for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Prayers of Intercession

God of power and glory,

we remember your awesome deeds across the ages— 

the times you saved us and brought us home.

Yet, we also remember times                             

when we felt alone and afraid.

O God, we are your people,                                

the work of your hand.

Look upon us with your shining face,                

especially in the time of need.

 

We pray for those who look to you for healing
and hope . . .

those who are sick or recuperating from
illness and injury . . .

those who are lonely and need companionship
and care . . .

those for whom the holidays bring sorrow or pain . . .

those whose deep sadness overshadows joy.

Let your face shine upon us, O God.

 

We pray for people in need of restoration and reconciliation:

for those battling addictions and those in recovery . . .

for people estranged from those they love . .

for someone lost in grief . . .

for someone far from home.

Let your face shine upon us, O God,

that we might be saved.

 

Renew the spirit of a world grown weary

with waiting and hoping.                                      

Especially we pray for wars to end,

for hunger and poverty to be crowded out by abundance.

 

And we pray, too, for the church

because we also grow weary in our waiting and watching

for your power and glory to be made known.

Grant us clarity, passion, and true fellowship

so that we are awake to your presence.

Let your face shine upon the church

and all this weary world, we pray;

in the name of the One born in a manger

and coming again on clouds of glory. Amen.   

 

 

Closing Hymn: