Week Three
Sunday Morning
Greeting and Doxology
PSALM 148
Let there be praise; from the depths of the earth, from all that is living.
Praise the Lord! Across the heavens, from the heights, all you angels, heavenly beings,
sing praise, sing praise!
Sun and moon, glittering stars,
sin praise, sing praise. Highest heavens, rain clouds,
sing praise, sing praise.
Praise God’s name, whose word called you forth and fixed
you in place for ever by eternal decree.
Let their be praise: from depths of the earth,
from creatures of the deep.
Fire and hail,
snow and mist,
storms, winds, mountains, hills,
fruit trees and cedars,
wild beasts and tame,
snakes and birds,
princes, judges,
rulers, subjects, men, women, old and young,
praise, praise the holy name,
this name beyond all names.
God’s splendor above the earth,
above the heavens, gives strength to the nation,
glory to the faithful,
a people close to the Lord.
Israel, let there be praise!
READING
Ezekiel 37:12b-14
Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves,
O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know
that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves,
O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on
your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Give up your Spirit, O God, that we may live.
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
Creator God, as we begin a new day, we praise you for the wonder of human life
and of all your creation. Help us to treasure these gifts and live gratefully in our universe. In this spirit, we pray.
For all creation:
~That we do not plunder our resources, but use them with are and respect.
For all living things:
~That the flourish in harmony and interdependence.
For all people:
~That we reverence diversity rather than fear it.
For world leaders:
~ That they find ways to restore hope and dignity to those suffering from war and natural disasters. For church leaders: ~That they foster collaboration and shared decision-making.
For the community of Mercy:
~That we incarnate God’s loving compassion for all people.
PRAYER
God of all peoples, bring forth your reign of peace and justice upon the earth.
Gather nations together to work for the common good of their members.
Bless our efforts to bring an end to famine, social injustice and the exploitation of nature.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
BLESSING
May God’s blessing be upon us. Amen
May God’s light lead us in the way of Righteousness. Amen.
May our lives be patterned on Christ Jesus. Amen.