Our Gracious God, We ask nothing of you except that you calm and search our hearts today so that by Your Spirit we may be hopeful people as we seek earnestly to hear Your Word and to eat of your body and blood. As Augustine once stated “our souls are restless until they find our rest in You.” May our minds and hearts be perturbed until we repent of our sins and confess You as our Lord today.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Holy Father, you are Just. When we deserved punishment, you gave us rewards. When we deserved death, you gave us life. Lord God of all creation, you have redeemed us as your people to love. And we your people continually forsake your ways. God, you grant us mercy everyday of our lives and you forgive us even when our dearest friends will not.
Today, we thank you for bringing us out of Egypt into the Promise Land where Your Son is King. In this kingdom, you give us wine and bread. You give us brothers and sisters. And you are sure to protect us from those who betray your Covenant.
In this great day which you have made, you have supplied the earth with air so that we may breathe; with water that we may drink; with beauty that we may cherish and religion so we may worship You.
Thank you our Father.