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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 105)

L: O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
P: Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
L: Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
P: Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.
L: Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, praise the LORD!
 

Call to Worship

L: The Lord is faithful and always good to his children.
P: God's  love is always before our eyes, His mercy is new every morning.
L: May we remain in His  love always; may we walk faithfully with God.
P: May we always be  drawn to the congregation of your faithful ones.
All: We are standing on holy ground, let us worship our Lord.

Prayer for Protection (ancient Gaelic Prayer--see original below)--First Lesson

   Tend Thou to us whether asleep or awake,
   Keep us beneath Thine own glorious mantle;

    Thou Shield of protection, guard us for ever.
    Be Thou to us a hard triumphant glove
    To shield us securely from wicked hell,
    From the fiends, and from the quick rapids,
    And from the lurid smoke of the abyss.

    Be my soul in the trust of the High King,
    May Michael the powerful guard my soul.
    Amen.

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ACHANAIDH COMHNADH (ancient Gaelic Prayer--see translation above)
    Iomain fein sinn do chleidh's do chaimir,
    Seun sinn fo do bhrot riomhach reidh;
    A Sgeith dhidinn, dion ri 'r mairionn.
    Bi-sa do chlaidheamh cruaidh, cosgarra,
    Chon sinne dhion a irinn arrais,
    Bho fhigeirich is bho fheadaine frinne fuara,
    'S bho dheathach ruadh an aigeil.
   M' anam an urrachd an Ard Righ,
    Micheil murrach an comhdhail m' anama

 

Prayer of Confession

The rich presence of God, the beginning and end of all that is good, be with you now and always.

And also with you.

Let us pray. Our Lord Jesus, you have endured the sins and doubts of every generation.

We confess that we have strayed from your good intentions for us

Forgive us, o Lord

We confess that we have not kept all of your commandments

Forgive us, o Lord

We confess that we have not trusted you in the midst of life's storm.

Forgive us, o Lord

We confess that we have not shared the good news by word or deed

Forgive us, o Lord

We confess that we have envied others and maybe even betrayed their trust,

Forgive us, o Lord

Grant us the confident faith to acknowledge you as Lord, to always put our trust in you, to share the good news of God's love with others, and to live in peace with one another.  Amen.

 

Prayer of Trust in God's Salvation (by St. Augustine of Hippo) --Epistle

My God, let me know and love you, so that I may find my happiness in you. Since I cannot fully achieve this on earth, help me to improve daily until I may do so to the full. Enable me to know you ever more on earth, so that I may know you perfectly in heaven. Enable me to love you ever more on earth, so that I may love you perfectly in heaven. In that way my joy may be great on earth, and perfect with you in heaven.

O God of truth, grant me the happiness of heaven so that my joy may be full in accord with your promise. In the meantime let my mind dwell on that happiness, my tongue speak of it, my heart pine for it, my mouth pronounce it, my soul hunger for it, my flesh thirst for it, and my entire being desire it until I enter through death in the joy of my Lord forever. Amen.

 

Prayer of Trust (by Thomas Merton) -- Gospel Lesson

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself.
And the fact that I think that I am following
your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may
seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear for you are ever with me and
you will never leave me to face my troubles alone.
Amen.

Closing Prayer / Benediction (by James Dillet Freeman)

The light of God surrounds me;
The love of God enfolds me;
The power of God protects me;
The presence of God watches over me.
Wherever I am, God is!