FRIDAY WEEK FOUR
Morning Prayer

Greeting
O God, come to my assistance,
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Doxology
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen

PSALM 51
Creator God, reshape my heart. A changed heart you welcome.

Have mercy, tender God,
forget that I defied you.
Wash away my sin,
cleanse me from my guilt.

I know my evil well,
it stares me in the face,
evil done to you alone
before your very eyes.

How right your condemnation!
Your verdict clearly just.
You see me for what I am,
a sinner before my birth.

You love those centered in truth;
teach me your hidden wisdom.
Wash me with fresh water,
was me bright as snow.

Fill me with happy songs,
let the bones you bruised now dance.
Shut your eyes to my sin,
make my guilt disappear.

Creator, reshape my heart,
God, steady my spirit.
Do not cast me aside
stripped of your holy spirit.

Save me, bring back my joy,
support me, strengthen my will.
Then I will teach your way
and sinners will turn to you.

Help me, stop my tears,
and I will sing your goodness.
Lord, give me words
and I will shout your praise.

When I offer a holocaust,
the gift does not please you.
So I offer my shattered spirit;
a changed heart you welcome.

In your love make Zion lovely,
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then sacrifice will please you,
young bulls upon your altar.

READING: Galatians 2:19-20

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who shepherds the people and sets them free.

God raises from David’s house
a child with power to save.
Through the holy prophets
God promised in ages past
to save us from enemy hands,
from the grip of all who hate us.

The Lord favored our ancestors
recalling the sacred covenant,
the pledge to our ancestor Abraham,
to free us from our enemies,
so we might worship without fear
and be holy and just all our days.

And you child, will be called
Prophet of the Most High,
for you will come to prepare
a pathway for the Lord
by teaching the people salvation
through forgiveness of their sin.

Out of God’s deepest mercy
a dawn will come from on high,
light for those shadowed by death,
a guide for our feet on the way to peace.

INTERCESSIONS
O God, we are mindful of your compassion in all seasons. As we turn to you, we pray for those with special needs:
~ Make them instruments of your mercy.


For leaders in the church, striving to minister with compassion, we pray:

For leaders in our world, striving to govern with justice and integrity, we pray:

For leaders in our Institute, striving to further the mission of mercy, we pray:

For educators, leading others to search for truth, we pray:

For health care workers, helping others regain their health or accept their diminishment, we pray:

For those ministering in pastoral and social services, we pray:


THE LORD’S PRAYER


PRAYER

God of all mercy, you give us truth and wisdom for all our days, but we shut our ears to your word and close our hearts to your call. Come to us as we struggle to open our hearts to welcome your Spirit this day. Help us to support one another as we seek to be worthy of the life to which we are called. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

BLESSING
May the God of mercy bless and protect us all. Amen.
May the God of peace comfort us in times of trial. Amen.
May the God of love shine forth in our lives. Amen.