Tag: Universalis

Friday of 5th Week of Easter, 19 May – John 15:12-17 ~ chosen and appointed

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, loving Father, you have given us your Son Jesus Christ as the true vine of life and our source of strength. Help us to live his life as living branches attached to the vine, and to produce lasting fruit of justice, goodness and love. Let our union with him become visible in our openness to one another and in our unity as brothers and sisters, that he may be visibly present among us now and for ever.

Reading: John 15:12-17 (NLT)

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
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Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus: You have befriended me and commanded me to love others even as you have loved me.

+ Lord, you gave me your life; I give you mine as a living sacrifice. Help me to remain faithful, obedient, and true.

+ Lord, you commanded me to love others; help me to follow your example. Show me how I can give up myself for another today.

+ Lord, you revealed to me what was most personal and important to you; help me to become more transparent and trusting with those closest to me.

+ Lord, you chose me as your friend and appointed me as your emissary to make disciples. Help me to be a worthy example and witness of your Good News.

Lord Jesus: Fill me with your Spirit today, that I may be your friend in word and deed, and not in name only, to the glory of the Father. Amen.
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“Friend of God” – Phillips Craig & Dean


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 57:7-8 (NLT)

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Thursday of 5th Week of Easter, 18 May – John 15:9-11 ~ joy-filled obedience

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, you want your Church to be open to all persons and all nations, for your Son was available to all and you love all people. God, give us open minds and open hearts. Save us from our narrow prejudices and stop us from trying to create people in our own image and likeness. We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading: John 15:9-11 (NLT)

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
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Reflection & Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You loved me even before I knew you, and you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to prove the point; thank you for your loving-kindness to me.

Lord Jesus: You have given me the commandments to love God and to love one another; show me how you would have me keep these commandments that I may remain in your perfect love.

Holy Spirit: You remind me and teach me everything Jesus said and did; empower me to happily do what I know he wants me to do that I may overflow with his joy, and live securely in his love.

Soli Deo Gloria!
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“How He Loves Us” – John Mark McMillan


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 96:2-3 (NLT)

Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Wednesday of 5th Week of Easter, 17 May – John 15:1-8 ~ abide, remain, live, stay united… with me

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, loving Father, you have given us your Son Jesus Christ as the true vine of life and our source of strength. Help us to live his life as living branches attached to the vine, and to bear plenty of fruit of justice, goodness and love. Let our union with him become visible in our openness to one another and in our unity as brothers and sisters, that he may be visibly present among us now and for ever.

Reading: John 15:1-8 (NLT)

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
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Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Remain in me that I may bear good fruit and bring glory to the Father.

+ Purify my heart through your Word that I may abide in you.

+ Prune away what is dead that you may rise to life in me.

+ Produce new life in me through faithful obedience to your Word and Spirit.

Lord Jesus: I ask that I may become more like you to such an extent that those around me may see the change and give glory to the Father.

Soli Deo gloria!
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“The Deer’s Cry” – Rita Connolly at Powerscourt


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 96:1-2 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Tuesday of 5th Week of Easter, 16 May – John 14:27-31 ~ peace of mind and heart

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, almighty Father, you have absolute power over the world, and yet you respect the freedom of people, even of those who persecute your faithful. Make us realize that our faith does not protect us against the evil which people bring upon one another, but that you want us to build according to your plan a kingdom of justice, love and peace. Help our faith to stand the test when our meager efforts fail. We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading: John 14:27-31 (NLT)

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father….
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Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: Give us your gift of peace of mind and heart; set before us your vision of peace for our hurting souls and wholeness for our fragmented world.

+ We pray for those caught up in violence, anger and brokenness….
Hear our prayers, Lord, and grant us your peace.

+ We pray for those in relationships filled with anxiety and drama….
Hear our prayers, Lord, and grant us your peace.

+ We pray for those divided by racial tension and tribal hatred….
Hear our prayers, Lord, and grant us your peace.

+ We pray for those who are disenfranchised and oppressed….
Hear our prayers, Lord, and grant us your peace.

Lord Jesus Christ: In your mercy, bring your peace and justice to every part of your creation; and, by your grace, infuse our minds and hearts with a peace that overcomes the strife, the quarrels and the social tensions around us.

Make us bearers of your Good News of peace through the power of your Spirit at work within us that the essential “goodness” of creation may be restored and the Father glorified.

Soli Deo gloria!
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“Dona nobis pacem domine” – Choir of Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, Illinois


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 145:10-11 (NLT)

All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Monday of 5th Week of Easter, 15 May – John 14:21-26 ~ loving obedience

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus: you have made your home in my heart through the indwelling of your Spirit. Reveal your glory to me – full of grace and truth – that I may become a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to the Father, through loving obedience to your word.

Reading: John 14:21-26 (NLT)

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
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Reflection & Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit:

Teach me and remind me of everything Jesus said and did that I may become a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to the Father through loving obedience to his word.

+ Quiet my heart that I may hear your voice speaking to me; refresh in me your life-giving presence that I may faithfully love and serve you, without reservation, until my life’s end.

+ Give me eyes to see the greatness of your presence around me – in the beauty and wonder of creation, in all that is good and kind, and in friends and strangers alike.

Make me a doer of your word, and not simply a hearer. Infuse new life into my thoughts and actions that I may become a healing presence through my Lord Jesus Christ, who lives with you and the Father, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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“Trust and Obey”


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 145:2-3 (NLT)

I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!