+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Holy God, in every place on earth You gather Your people into Your presence to proclaim the wonders of Your love. Deepen our unity with Your faithful people throughout the world and build us up into a house of prayer for all nations. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
__________

__________

A Reading from the Old testament: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 (NLT)

In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.
_____

Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.
_____

Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”
__________

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 (NLT)

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
_____

God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!
_____

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
__________

__________

A Reading from the Letters: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17 (NLT)

For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
_____

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
__________

A Reading from the Gospels: John 2:13-22 (NLT)

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
__________

__________

Intercessions:

You, O Lord, are enthroned as the Holy One on the praises of Your people. Hear us now as we bring before You the needs of Your church:

+ For Christians around the world – that church leaders may follow in the footsteps of the Apostles…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all the churches in our communities – that Christians may be united with one another and with believers around the world…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all the people of our local churches – that our faith may show itself in acts of mercy and kindness…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people on the margins of life – that the welcome they receive in their church may remind them of God’s gracious care…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who design, build and care for church facilities – that their work may give glory to God…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who gather for prayer in Your name – that our praises and petitions may rise as a pleasing aroma to Your throne…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those of us who don’t know how, or what to pray – that Your Spirit would intercede for us with groanings too deep for words…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all the faithful who have died, especially through persecution and war – that having passed through the waters of baptism, they may share Christ’s victory over death…. Lord, hear us.

God of heaven and earth, You reward those with clean hands and pure hearts. Create in us clean hearts and right spirits as we bring our prayers to You, through Christ our Lord.
__________

I love thy kingdom, Lord, the house of thine abode, the church our blest Redeemer saved with his own precious blood.

I love thy church, O God. Her walls before thee stand, dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall; for her my prayers ascend; to her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy, I prize her heavenly ways: her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise.

Sure as thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be given the brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heaven.
__________

Benediction:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen