For those who’ve gone before us, we thank you, Jesus.
For those who will come after us, we thank you, Jesus.
In the days you’ve given us to steward, be with us, Jesus.
In the communities you’ve purposed us within, be with us, Jesus.
In our moments of unity, be with us, Jesus.
In our moments of discord, be with us, Jesus.
In our hour of celebration, be with us, Jesus.
In our hour of grief, be with us, Jesus.
In the hearts of the poor and downtrodden, be comfort and peace, Jesus.
In the hearts of the proud and prosperous, be kindness and generosity, Jesus.
In the prayers of the meek, be courage and steadfastness, Jesus.
In the prayers of the mighty, be grace and mercy, Jesus.
In the plight of the truly persecuted, be blessing and steadfastness, Jesus.
In the pride of the haughty, be humility and correction, Jesus.
For a spirit of wisdom in troubling times, we ask of you, Jesus.
For a spirit of discernment for our leaders at every level, we ask of you, Jesus.
For a spirit of repentance where we have sinned against one another, we ask of you, Jesus.
For a spirit of forgiveness towards those who have wronged us, we ask of you, Jesus.
For a spirit of civility between created sons and daughters of God, we ask of you, Jesus.
For a spirit of peace when all around us declares war, we ask of you, Jesus.
Amen
Scripture References
Book VPsalms 107–150Psalm 1071.Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;his love endures forever.2.Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,3.those he gathered from the lands,from east and west, from north and south.107:3 Hebrew north and the sea4.Some wandered in desert wastelands,finding no way to a city where they could settle.5.They were hungry and thirsty,and their lives ebbed away.6.Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,and he delivered them from their distress.7.He led them by a straight wayto a city where they could settle.8.Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing loveand his wonderful deeds for mankind,9.for he satisfies the thirstyand fills the hungry with good things.10.Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,prisoners suffering in iron chains,11.because they rebelled against God’s commandsand despised the plans of the Most High.12.So he subjected them to bitter labor;they stumbled, and there was no one to help.13.Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,and he saved them from their distress.14.He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,and broke away their chains.15.Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing loveand his wonderful deeds for mankind,16.for he breaks down gates of bronzeand cuts through bars of iron.17.Some became fools through their rebellious waysand suffered affliction because of their iniquities.18.They loathed all foodand drew near the gates of death.19.Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,and he saved them from their distress.20.He sent out his word and healed them;he rescued them from the grave.21.Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing loveand his wonderful deeds for mankind.22.Let them sacrifice thank offeringsand tell of his works with songs of joy.23.Some went out on the sea in ships;they were merchants on the mighty waters.24.They saw the works of the Lord,his wonderful deeds in the deep.25.For he spoke and stirred up a tempestthat lifted high the waves.26.They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;in their peril their courage melted away.27.They reeled and staggered like drunkards;they were at their wits’ end.28.Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,and he brought them out of their distress.29.He stilled the storm to a whisper;the waves of the sea107:29 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text / their waves were hushed.30.They were glad when it grew calm,and he guided them to their desired haven.31.Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing loveand his wonderful deeds for mankind.32.Let them exalt him in the assembly of the peopleand praise him in the council of the elders.33.He turned rivers into a desert,flowing springs into thirsty ground,34.and fruitful land into a salt waste,because of the wickedness of those who lived there.35.He turned the desert into pools of waterand the parched ground into flowing springs;36.there he brought the hungry to live,and they founded a city where they could settle.37.They sowed fields and planted vineyardsthat yielded a fruitful harvest;38.he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,and he did not let their herds diminish.39.Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbledby oppression, calamity and sorrow;40.he who pours contempt on noblesmade them wander in a trackless waste.41.But he lifted the needy out of their afflictionand increased their families like flocks.42.The upright see and rejoice,but all the wicked shut their mouths.43.Let the one who is wise heed these thingsand ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
1.Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2.and he began to teach them.The BeatitudesHe said:3.“Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4.Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.5.Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the earth.6.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.7.Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.8.Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.9.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God.10.Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11.“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
