Call to Worship
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself.
Where she may have her young – a place near Your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King, and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are praising You!
Thanksgiving
We are thankful today for Your creation, Lord, of seasons – not just in terms of weather as in fall, winter, spring, and summer, but in terms of seasons in our lives, and Your Holy seasons throughout the year. We are grateful that You bring order to chaos, calm to storms, and stillness to emotional waves that ebb and flow throughout our lives. We praise You, O God, for Your created order with an inexplicable beauty that is inseparable from the expression of Your nature. Great are You, Lord!
Scripture Reading
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Prayer of Intercession
O Lord, direct our steps this day into the way of peace, and strengthen our hearts to obey Your commandments. May the Dayspring visit us from on high, and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, that they may adore You for Your mercy, follow You for Your truth, desire You for Your sweetness, for You are the blessed God of Israel, now and forever. (An ancient Collect, A.D. 440)
Lord, we are now in the fall season celebrating harvest, and fall festivals. Soon there will be Thanksgiving feasts, eventually leading to Advent and the Christmas season. We pray that in our preparation for these seasons to come, we will not get sidetracked and become distracted by the busyness and the material focus that often creeps into our lives. Let us not forget that each one of us has a personal need to prepare our hearts and minds to be set on You, our Lord and Savior. Grant us grace to savor these seasons that we experience together with our church, family, and friends – remembering first and foremost to honor You, our Prince of Peace. And in the name of Jesus, our Prince of Peace, we pray for the Men’s Kairos Prison Ministry taking place this weekend at the Carol Vance Unit in Richmond, TX. Lord, we pray for Your Spirit to be fully in control of this Kairos (God-appointed) time and for hearts and minds to receive Your full blessing. Thank you for LMC members who will be ministering in Your name and to Your glory. Come, Holy Spirit!
As The Spirit Leads
Please continue in prayer for any personal, church, community, nation, or world needs, concerns, or thanksgivings.
Lord’s Prayer
Let us close by praying the words that Jesus taught.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Refer: Matthew 6:9–13
Thank you for joining us in prayer. We hope you join us tomorrow.
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
—Numbers 6:24–26
