Our Congregation at Prayer

An Order of Meditation and Prayer

(If you are a family meeting together, say the words in bold together.)

Invocation

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

(Everyone says the verse together. Spend up to two minutes learning the verse by heart. Then the leader reads the Bible lesson.)

Bible Readings

Date / The Gospel of Mark
May 4 / The Second Sunday after the Resurrection
Monday / Mark 5:1-20
Tuesday / Mark 5:21-43
Wednesday / Mark 6:1-13
Thursday / Mark 6:14-29
Friday / Mark 6:30-44
Saturday / Mark 6:45-56
May 11 / The Third Sunday after the Resurrection
See you in church! 8:30 or 11:00

Weekly Prayer: O God, by the humiliation of Your Son, You lifted up this fallen world from the despair of death. By His resurrection to life, grant us glad hearts and the hope of eternal joys; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and forever. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours,

now and forever. Amen

Petitions for Daily Prayer:

·  Sunday: Lord Jesus, on the day of the resurrection, You revealed Yourself to the Emmaus disciples. Let us see You as our Savior through Your Word and Sacrament.

·  Monday: Renew our piety this Eastertide that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.

·  Tuesday: Bless, direct and guide the leaders of our city, state and nation, that they may rightly wield the sword of justice, defend those who cannot defend themselves and hear the cries of all who are in any need.

·  Wednesday: You have caused us to be born again through the resurrection of Your Son from the dead. Keep us steadfast in the hope of the inheritance that cannot fade and that is kept in heaven for us, and give us a steadfast faith as we wait for the final resurrection.

·  Thursday: We thank You for the faithful who have gone before us and are with Christ. Bring us with them to share in the joys of the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

·  Friday: Jesus died on a Friday. Grant us holy meditation on this saving work, today and every day.

·  Saturday: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.


Catechism for the Week

The Apostles’ Creed – The Third Article

(A second week on the Third Article – how

we come to faith and the work of God in the Church.)

God the Holy Spirit

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. / All learn
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. / Gr. 1
But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. / Gr. 2
In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. / Gr. 3
In this Christian Church He daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. / Gr. 4
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. / Gr. 5
This is most certainly true. / All

Talk about the Catechism:

The first part of this Article is about the Holy Spirit. What else is included in this confession?

·  the forgiveness of sins

·  the resurrection of the body

·  eternal life

Whose sins are forgiven?

·  all who are truly Christian – who trust in Christ as their Savior from sin

·  all who receive the absolution from God

Does everyone go to heaven when they die?

·  all rise from the dead

·  eternal life is given to all believers in Christ, and only to believers in Christ