Liturgical Morning Prayer - Day 2

Welcome to morning prayers. We are going to use the same liturgy each day this week. We hope that as it becomes more familiar it will help us to place God in the centre of our hearts and thoughts. It has been translated into French, Spanish and Indonesian. I will lead in English but feel free to read it in whichever language is easiest for you. 

The blue parts are the parts we read together. The reader will read the Scriptures. After the Psalm, you are welcome to pray silently or speak your praises out loud in whatever language you prefer to pray.

Opening sentences (all)

One thing I have asked of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life;
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.

Who is it that you seek?

We seek the Lord our God.

Do you seek Him with all your heart?

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Do you seek Him with all your soul?

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Do you seek Him with all your mind?

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Do you seek Him with all your strength?

Amen. Christ, have mercy.

Declaration of faith (all)

To whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life,
and we have believed and have come to know
that you are the Holy One of God.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
King of endless glory.

Scripture readings:

(Leader) Joining with God’s people around the world we worship God with the words of Psalm 48

Psalm 48:9-11 (NLT) (Reader)

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
     as we worship in your Temple.

As your name deserves, O God,
     you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
     Your strong right hand is filled with victory.

Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.
     Let all the towns of Judah be glad
     because of your justice.

Pause to pray either silently or out loud 

Ephesians 1: 15-19 (NLT) (Reader)

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in him. 

Meditation (Leader)

Let’s consider those words: “Spiritual wisdom and insight…[to] grow in your knowledge of God”. Very often we think we need wisdom to lead well, insight to deal with difficult situations, and understanding to relate well to partners. Yet Paul asks God to give the Ephesians wisdom and insight so that they might grow in their knowledge of God. Did you come to the Global Gathering expecting to grow in your knowledge of God?

As we pray quietly now, ask God to reveal himself to you in a fresh way today.

Pause to pray

Ask God to pour out wisdom and insight onto all the participants, so that they are not only equipped for ministry but that they might “grow in their knowledge of God”. You may want to pray more specifically for example, for those on your table, those who have never been to a Global Gathering or those who have recently taken up their leadership role.

Pause to pray

Then Paul prays for “Hearts flooded with light…[to] understand the confident hope.” The image of light flooding a space which has previously been dark is a metaphor for clarity, hope and truth. 

Ask God to fill your life with his light so that you may see clearly and understand the hope that he offers you. 

Pause to pray

Pray for those presenting today to help us encounter truth and light as they seek to communicate that to the rest of us.

Pray for hotel staff and others you know who do not yet understand the confident hope that God is offering to them. Ask God to reveal himself to them today.

Pause to pray

Canticle (all)

Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

Blessing (all)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders, he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

Acknowledgements:

The liturgy and closing prayers are taken from the Northumbria Community morning prayer: https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/morning-prayer/