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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 27)
L: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
P: The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
L: Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
P: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
L: Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

 

For the light of Christ to shine through us

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armor of light,
now in this time and in this, our life.

We look to the Son, Jesus Christ who came to us
In great humility radiating the light of your Kingdom. And so, we believe and so we look for the last and great day when our Savior will again come in resplendent light to judge the living and the dead. May we shine with your light on that glorious day.

Even now, may we in quiet hope, incarnate the Light of the Son of God that people will in us see your beauty and salvation. Amen.

 

Excerpt from the Canticle of Light and Darkness:
We look for light but find darkness,
For brightness, but walk in gloom.

We grope like those who have no eyes;
We stumble at noon as in the twilight.

Blessed be your name, O God, for ever.
You reveal deep and mysterious things;
You are light and in you is no darkness.

Our darkness is passing away
and already the true light is shining.

 

Prayer for an Attitude of Service and Peace (fits with the epistle passage)
(by Francis of Assisi)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Good Master, grant
that I may not so much seek to be consoled
as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

 

Prayer for Grace in a World of Temptation and Sin
(from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer)
Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Children's Prayer
"Dear God, please help us to be good fishers of people.  We want to be good examples of your love and your care to our classmates, neighbor kids and friends.   Thank your for sending Jesus like a light into this dark world.  We pray for all those who are suffering hunger and hard times and ask you to bring peace and love to them.  Amen."

 

Closing Prayer--Nunc dimittis (from the common book of prayer)

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace

according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen

thy salvation;

Which thou hast prepared

before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles

and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son

and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be

world without end.  Amen.