Posted 608 days ago
Thursday Evening Prayer
from the Mustard Seed House Morning and Evening Prayers
God who comes to us in community,
Come to us this night.
Unite us with your Spirit.
Welcome us to your banquet table,
Include us in your eternal family
Make us one in you.
(Pause to remind yourself of God’s worldwide community and reflect on the rich diversity of those who are part of this community.)
God of infinite love, you come,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Perfect relationship, perfect community.
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer you come,
The three in one, the one in three,
You come to offer us community.
Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons,
Male and female, oppressed and free, disabled and whole,
You invite us into your community,
That together we might grow spiritually,
And become mature in Jesus Christ.
We need your community,
To keep us accountable to your call,
For we are called to serve one another.
We need your community,
To equip and develop your Holy Spirit gifts,
So that we can build one another up.
We need your community,
For prayer and encouragement,
For fellowship and festivity, for worship of you.
We need your community,
To witness to your all-inclusive love,
For only in community are we made whole.
One people together, family of the living God.
Psalm 133 (The Message)
How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where GOD commands the blessing,
ordains eternal life.
Adapted from Isaiah 25: 1-10 (The Message)
Almighty God, you have already done your share of miracle-wonders,
You changed water into wine at a wedding,
And multiplied the fish and loaves to feed thousands.
All-knowing God, your well-thought-out plans are solid and sure.
One day superpowers will see them and honor you,
Brutal oppressors will bow in worshipful reverence.
All-caring God, one day all humanity will see you care for poor people in trouble.
You will provide a warm, dry place in bad weather and a cool place in the heat,
You will shelter all your people from the storm and shade them from the sun,
All-loving God, on your holy mountain you will wipe the tears from every face.
You will strip away the grave clothes that cover all nations,
You will remove every sign of disgrace from your people wherever they are.
All-powerful God, on your mountain you will banish the power of death forever.
There you will throw a feast for all the people of the world,
A feast of the finest foods with lavish desserts and vintage wines,
All-providing God, one day your mountain will rise above all others.
Yes! God you say so! Yes, you are our God, the one we waited for!
We waited and hoped for God. Now you are here and have welcomed us to your feast.
Let’s celebrate and sing the joy of God’s salvation; God’s hand rests on this holy mountain!
Acts 4: 33-36 (The Message)
“The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, ‘That’s mine; you can’t have it.’ They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.
“And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.”
Luke 14: 16-24 (The Message)
For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’
“Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’ “And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’
“The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.’ “The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded—and there’s still room.’
“The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.’”
Lord Jesus Christ, we believe you welcome us all to your banquet table.
May we open our arms to embrace you,
May we see you in the face of a stranger,
May we welcome you in the love of a friend.
We believe you welcome the abandoned, the misfit, the wretched to your feast.
Forgive us for the times we have allowed our prejudices to overrule,
And rejected you because you are different, ostracized or despised.
We believe that there is beauty hidden in each person,
Forgive us for the times we have failed to see your face,
Because you are disabled, poor, or homeless.
We believe we are all precious in your sight
Forgive us for when we have counted you unworthy of our love,
For when we have been indifferent to your cries.
We believe we are called to share life together as members of one family,
Forgive us for when we have been unconcerned for your suffering,
And failed to see others in your worldwide community as you do.
We are all created in God’s image,
Redeemed by Christ,
Filled with the Holy Spirit.
We are all invited to feast at God’s banquet table.
We are welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom,
With all the peoples’ of the earth.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
God all-powerful and all-knowing, encircle your community,
Keep love within and fear without,
Keep peace within and violence out.
Circle us with your presence.
God all-loving and all-embracing, encircle your community,
Keep wholeness in and disease without,
Keep care within and selfishness out.
Circle us with your love.
God all-mighty and all-caring, encircle your community,
Keep truth within and injustice out,
Keep acceptance in and prejudice out.
Circle us with your peace.
The blessing of God be upon you this night,
The blessing of the God of community.
The blessing of Christ be upon you,
The blessing of the Christ of love.
The blessing of the spirit be upon you,
The blessing of the spirit of peace.
The blessing of the God of Gods be upon you,
The blessing of the God of life be yours this night and forever.
Amen.
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