Tag: Universalis

The 2nd Sunday of Lent: 25 Feb – Mark 9:2-10 ~ a vision of glory

The Second Sunday of Lent

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

Opening Prayer

Ever-faithful God, you accepted the sacrifice of your Son who gave himself up for the sake of us all. Train us by Christ’s teaching and school us in his obedience, that, as we walk his way of sacrifice, we may come to share in your glory. We ask this through Christ, our deliverance and hope, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Show Me Your Glory” – Kim Walker Smith


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Gospel Reading: Mark 9:2-10 (NLT)

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

Prayers of Intercession:

Heavenly Father, we call on your name with thanksgiving and trust; grant us your mercy and help.

+ We pray for believers on this Lenten journey – help us to live sacrificially….
+ We pray for believers in Jerusalem and the Middle East- help them to work for peace….
+ We pray for believers devastated and dislocated by war – protect them and grant them relief….
+ We pray for believers suffering persecution – strengthen them and deliver them from evil….
+ We pray for believers suffering from violence – protect them, comfort them, and heal them….
+ We pray for our neighbors, especially for those who are lonely or afraid – reveal yourself to them through us….
+ We pray for those who have died in Christ, especially your servant Billy Graham, that they may forever remain in the glory of your presence….

Loving God, we are your servants who trust in you, even in the midst of affliction: hear our prayers and help us to walk in your presence all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“I Love Your Presence” – Kim Walker Smith


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Blessing

God of salvation, let your Son’s passion and death be for your people protection from evil in this life and the sure hope of glory in the life to come. Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

The 1st Sunday of Lent: 18 Feb – Mark 1:12-15 ~ forty days of wilderness testing

The First Sunday of Lent
[All over the world today, children and adults alike are beginning their preparation for baptism at the Easter Vigil. Like them, we begin our own preparations, looking forward to renewing our baptismal vows and receiving God’s refreshment and blessing at Easter.]

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

Opening Prayer

God of the covenant, as the forty days of deluge swept away the world’s corruption and watered new beginnings of righteousness and life, so in the saving flood of baptism your people are washed clean and born again. Throughout these forty days, we beg you, unseal for us the wellspring of your grace, cleanse our hearts of all that is not holy, and cause your gift of new life to flourish once again. Grant this through Christ, our deliverer from sin, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“He Is Our God” – Prayers of the Saints Live


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Gospel Reading: Mark 1:12-15 (NLT)

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Prayers of Intercession:

Gracious God: Take care of your people on our Lenten journey. We pray especially –

+ For church leaders around the world – care for them and deliver them from evil….
+ For people of peace and goodwill in every tribe and nation – care for them and deliver them from evil….
+ For believers suffering oppression and persecution  – care for them and deliver them from evil….
+ For the hungry, the poor and the homeless – care for them and deliver them from evil….
+ For ourselves and our families on this Lenten journey – care for us and deliver us from evil….
+ For our neighbors, especially those who are sick – care for them and deliver them from evil….
+ For all who have died in Christ – raise them with you to an eternal life of endless glory….

God of all goodness: You have shown love from the dawn of creation: show us how to live in harmony with you, and help us along the way, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Lord, Have Mercy” – Prayers of the Saints Live


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Blessing

God of salvation, let your Son’s passion and death be for your people protection from evil in this life and the sure hope of glory in the life to come. Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

Ash Wednesday: 14 Feb – Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 ~ on giving, prayer and fasting

Ash Wednesday

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

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, send Your Spirit to open my heart and mind to all the Father has for me through the reading of the Scriptures. Help me to recognize Your presence in the disturbing events surrounding me. And reveal to me the way of the cross as my source of life and of resurrection. Quiet my heart that I may experience the power of Your resurrection and bear witness to Your living presence here around me. I ask this of You, Jesus, who revealed the Father and sent Your Spirit. Amen.
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Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (NLT)

+ on giving – “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

+ on prayer – “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
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+ on fasting – “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
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Prayers of Petition:

Heavenly Father: Pour out Your Spirit on me that I may have the heart, mind and strength of Jesus, especially during this season of Lent.

+ Give me Your heart, that I may respond with compassion and generosity to the needy people around me….
Lord, lead me to those in need.

+ Give me Your mind, that in the quiet of Your presence I may change the way I think about the world around me….
Lord, show me where I’m wrong.

+ Give me Your strength, that I may become more like You through the small sacrifices I make during this season….
Lord, make me a cheerful witness.

Heavenly Father: You know my heart and everything about me. Use this season to make me more like Your Son, Jesus Christ; that will be reward enough. I ask this in His name. Amen
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“More Like Jesus Would I Be” – Phoebe and Albert Chen (William H. Doane / Fanny Crosby)


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Closing

Lord God, thank You for Your Word that has enabled me to better understand Your will. May Your Spirit enlighten my actions and grant me the strength to practice what Your Word has revealed. I ask this through my Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

The 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 11 Feb – Mark 1:40-45 ~ Moved with compassion, Jesus….

The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Prayer

We come before you, O God, confident in Christ’s victory over sickness and death. Heal us again from sin, which divides us, and from prejudice, which isolates us. Bring us to wholeness of life through the pardon you grant your people. 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. Amen.
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“Jesus, Only Jesus” – Praise And Harmony Singers

Who has the power to raise the dead? Who can save us from our sin? He is our hope, our righteousness – Jesus, only Jesus

Who can make the blind to see? Who holds the keys that set us free? He paid it all to bring us peace – Jesus, only Jesus

Holy, King almighty Lord | Saints and angels all adore | I join with them and bow before | Jesus, only Jesus

Who can command the highest praise? Who has the name above all names? You stand alone, I stand amazed – Jesus, only Jesus

Holy, King almighty Lord | Saints and angels all adore | I join with them and bow before | Jesus, only Jesus

You will command the highest praise | Yours is the name above all names | You stand alone, I stand amazed – Jesus, only Jesus
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Gospel Reading: Mark 1:40-45 (NLT)

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Prayers of Intercession:

Faithful God, your loving-kindness and compassion are unending: hear our prayers, and respond according to your good purpose –

+ For all who gather for worship today, that we may live for God’s glory this week….
+ For all who suffer in body, mind and spirit, that they may be healed….
+ For all who are doctors, nurses and caregivers, that they may show kindness and love….
+ For all who suffer from leprosy, that this terrible disease may be eliminated….
+ For all who are lonely and isolated, that they may be shown compassion….
+ For all who suffer because of addiction, that they may have courage and hope….
+ For all who have died in Christ, that they may share the joy of everlasting life….

Faithful God, we rejoice in the mercy you show your people: hear our prayers, that we may always give you glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Just As I Am – I Come Broken” – Praise and Harmony


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Blessing

May the God of all consolation bless you in every way;
May God grant you hope all the days of your life;
May God restore you to health and be merciful to you; and
May God fill your heart with peace and lead you to eternal life.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

The 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 04 Feb – Mark 1:29-39 ~ Jesus preaches and heals the sick and demonized

The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Prayer

Out of your power and compassion, O God, you sent your Son into our afflicted world to proclaim the day of salvation. Heal the brokenhearted, bind up our wounds. Bring us health of body, mind and spirit and raise us to new life in your service. 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. Amen.
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“All the Poor and Powerless” – All Sons & Daughters


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Gospel Reading: Mark 1:21-28 (NLT)

After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.

That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Prayers of Intercession:

God-who-heals: Hear the prayers of your afflicted people –

+ For those who spread the Gospel, that your Spirit may strengthen them when they feel weary….
+ For those who are in positions of power and trust, that they may say “NO” to corruption….
+ For those who are brokenhearted, that they may be comforted and healed….
+ For those who are sick, that we may visit them often and pray for them always….
+ For those who are depressed, that in moments of despair they may know that your are with them….
+ For those who are relatives and in-laws, that families may be places of love and encouragement….
+ For those who have died in Christ, that they may live in Christ’s love throughout eternity….

We praise you, God-almighty, for you heal the sick and brokenhearted: graciously hear our prayers and respond according to your purpose and our need, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Boldly I Approach” – Rend Collective


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Blessing – Ephesians 3:20-21

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