Prayers for the 24th Week of Pentecost

The Watchword for the week:
You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
Leviticus 19:2

The Lord is in the holy temple; let all the earth keep silence.
Gracious Lord, we are your holy temples when we acknowledge your presence within us.
As we marvel at the beauty of the changing seasons, we give praise to your creative power.
May we open our hearts to that same creative power within us.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 1

1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.



Who among us has clean hands and a pure heart? Who among us has not given in to vanity, or yielded to selfish desires?
If we say that we have no sin, we have deceived ourselves, and the truth in not in us.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us. Indeed we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one, and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Loving God, we thankfully acknowledge that you have stamped your very image within us and therefore we are holy, just as you are holy. We confess, however, there are times when we forget who you are, and therefore we lose sight of who we are as individuals and as communities of faith. We ask that you forgive us for the times when we forget that our bodies are your holy temples and do not care for them, or use them in ways which are unholy. We also confess that we do not always acknowledge your holy image pressed within the essence of those who are around us, both near and far. We are often more willing to divide ourselves by class, culture, race, ideology, and geography than to unite with one another under your banner of grace.
Hear us and renew us, gracious Lord and God.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us therefore give praise to the triune God:

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.


Take time now to read the Moravian Daily Texts for today. Don't rush....stop reading long enough ponder words and phrases that happen to tug at your soul today.

Extend your time of prayer from that of the Daily Texts to those needs, concerns, joys, and celebrations that you find either in your own life, or being felt by the community of faith. When you have allowed sufficient time for conversation with God, continue with the following:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.

Creator of the heavens and earth, praise be to your holy name. We pray that the gracious ways of heaven may be made real in the world that we inhabit. We hunger for much more than food today, and we pray that you will satisfy us, and all who have need. We are awed by your forgiving nature, and pray that you would inspire us to forgive each other in like manner. While we know that you have created us to be holy, we ask that you keep us from the temptation of living a life which would tarnish your image within us. You have created a world that is holy, and your glory and power are displayed in many wonderful ways; may we give thanks for your blessings all the days our lives, even as we live into eternity. Amen.


And so, children of God, build yourselves up on your most holy faith.
May we be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit to pray every day and so be drawn closer to holiness.
May we live a life that gives space for silence to ponder the mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and give praise for God’s miracle of the sacred within us and others.
Think about the following things: things that are true, honorable, just, and pure; meditate on things that are lovely and of good report; ponder things that are of virtue and worthy of praise.
These are things that are holy, and for them we give thanks.


And now unto the God who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you as holy before the throne of grace with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for the 23rd Week of Pentecost

We read the Watchword for the week together:
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2
Psalm for the Week: Psalm 96

1 O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, "The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity."
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 &13 let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

With humility before the Lord, we confess our sin:
(Adapted from the MBW, page 135-136)

God of grace, and God of glory, there are many times and places which give us the opportunity to share your good news, we confess however that many times we remain silent. Forgive us Lord,
When we fail to communicate Jesus’ promise of new life,
When we have not reached beyond ourselves with the word entrusted to us,
When we retreat into comfortable sanctuaries and do not seek to be a light to the nations,
When we become preoccupied with church involvement for its own sake, and do not labor to proclaim salvation to the ends of the earth,
When we look only to statistics as a measure of success rather than the depth of faith within persons and communities,
When we are too timid to speak the gospel message to those who want to hear it,
When we allow a life of ease to divert us from those who need your love through us.
Touch our lips with your forgiveness and give us a passion to share the good news of your salvation today.

The Lord your Redeemer says: “Now your guilt is gone and your sins are forgiven.” Give praise to the triune God:

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.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.


Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name.Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen


In Christ there is no east or west, no north or south,
We are all Children of God who are called into relationship with our creator.
We give thanks to God for granting us this relationship through the saving work of Jesus Christ our Savior.
Wonderful indeed is the grace of God poured out for us until our cup overflows.
This is the good news: through what Jesus has done for us, all people may enjoy God’s blessings.
Grant us therefore the intention and courage to share grace wherever it is needed.
And now may the God whose Holy Spirit enables us to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine,
Fill us for the living of this day. AMEN.

You may freely use these prayers publicly as you feel led, I only ask that you acknowledge me as the author, let me know that you are using them, and that you use them as they are. I don't want to take either the credit or the blame for any adaptation that you might make. I do hope that you find the prayers helpful to your fellowship with God. Thanks!

Prayers for the 22nd Week in Pentecost

We read the Watchword for the week:
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things. Isaiah 25:1

Praise be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Praise be to the One who does wonderful things.
Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see the many ways that you have blessed us.
Open our ears, Lord, that we may hear the cries of need in the world and respond as you lead us.
Open our hearts, Lord, that we might feel your presence with us this day.
With all of our being we give you honor and praise.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Let us confess our sins to our loving God:

Forgive us Lord for the times when we trust in ourselves and the powers and principalities of this world to give us meaning and purpose in life rather than looking to you as the pioneer and perfector of our faith. Forgive us when we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think at the expense of exalting you with our lives. You are indeed wonderful, and worthy to be praised so hear now our humble petition for your mercy and grace. Grant us to live a new and nobler life.


Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

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.

Reading of the Daily Texts

A time for Prayer
(As you enter this sacred moment of prayer seek not so much to speak to God as to listen. If nothing else simply be still and rest in God's presence).


Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.


Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.



God of the past, present, and eternity,
Fill us with your grace.
For the living of this day,
Give us wisdom and direction.
For the desire to share your grace in tangible ways,
Give us passion and purpose.
Lord of life in whom we live, and move, and have our being,
May we follow you all the days of our lives.
We exalt you and praise your name,
For you have done wonderful things and we are thankful.

May the love God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be and abide with us now and forever, Amen.


You may freely use these prayers publicly as you feel led, I only ask that you acknowledge me as the author, let me know that you are using them, and that you use them as they are. I don't want to take either the credit or the blame for any adaptation that you might make. I do hope that you find the prayers helpful to your fellowship with God. Thanks!

Mid-Day Prayers
21st Week of Pentecost


We read the Watchword for the week together:
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:22,23

Gracious God, In the midst of a busy day
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of a busy life
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of the pain that we carry in our hearts,
We pause to build our lives around you.
In the midst of our joyful celebration of the gift of life,
We pause to build our lives around you.
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 for the Week: Psalm 80:7-15
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches;
11 it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it. 14 Turn again, O God of hosts;
look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted.
(Pause and reflect on words and phrases that catch your spirit as you read the Psalm today. Is there anything there that you have overlooked before? As what God is gracing you with today?)

Let us confess our sins to our loving God:
(Adapted from the Liturgy of Christian Unity in the Moravian Book of Worship, page 125. Used by permission)

Gracious Lord and God we know that we will remain less that the whole persons you have called us to be in Christ Jesus until we acknowledge our sins to you, so we bow before you and pray: We confess that we have tried to run away and hide from you. We constantly deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live without you. We have made idols of our own achievements. We have treated other persons as though they did not bear your image. We have failed to enfold and include all persons within the outstretched and open arms of Jesus Christ, our Savior. And we have left undone those deeds of lovingkindness and godly justice that you want us to pursue in your name. Bring your Spirit upon us in a gracious, healing way. Make us agents of reconciliation as we live within your holy presence. Amen.
(We would all love to brush right over the confession of sin, but stop for a moment focus on specific words or actions that need God's grace. When you are truly ready for God's pardon, then continue with the Prayers)

Hear the comforting words of our Lord: Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

Thanks be to God.

Reading of the Daily Texts

Prayers of the Community of Faith (spoken and silent)


Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.


Creator of all humanity, we call you Holy, and seek to worship you all the days of our lives. We pray that the ways of your heavenly kingdom may be made real in the world that surrounds us. May the bread that we need for today be made available for us and all who are hungry; and may you forgive us, just as we are able to forgive those who have sinned against us. In the time of moral testing, may we listen first for your voice calling to us, instead of the call of the world; take from us the self-centeredness of our society. This world, and all that is in it, always has been and always will be yours, help us to lose ourselves to you and your kingdom. Help us to find who we truly are as we walk in your light. Amen.

God of all creation guide us to build our lives on you,
Help us to make you the cornerstone upon which lives lean for support.
God of our salvation guide us to build our lives on you,
So that we may live gracefully as a reflection of what you have given us.
God of the Spirit guide us to build our lives on you,
Fan the flames of our faith so that we may passionately share your love with those with whom we live and work and play.
May the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us throughout the living of this day we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.