WORSHIP—THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE

A BEAD AND A PRAYER FOR EVERY DAY

"Gods Blessed Name Be Praised" CROSS Make haste, O God, to deliver me. Make haste to help me, O God. (silence) Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: Have mercy on me. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: Have mercy on me. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: Have mercy on me. INVITATORY O God, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (silence) Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of God's Name; give to God glorious praise. Enter into God’s presence with a joyful song! Know that God is God! It is God that has made us, and we belong to God; we are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture.  Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and God's courts with praise! Give thanks to God! Bless God’s holy Name! CRUCIFORM Bless God, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God's holy Name.  Bless God, O my soul, and remember all God’s kindnesses! God is the One who forgives all your sins God is the One who heals all your diseases God is the One who ransoms your life from the Pit God is the One who crowns you with love and tenderness God is the One who fills your years with prosperity also gives you an eagle’s youthful energy. (Psalm 103 1-5) WEEK I ╬ God said to Moses, “I am the God of your ancestors,” the voice continued, “the God of Sarah and Abraham, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Rachel and Jacob!” . . . “I AM as I AM. This is what you will tell the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God spoke further to Moses: “Tell the children of Israel: ‘YHWH, the ‘I AM,’ the God of your ancestors, the God of Sarah and Abraham, of Rebecca and Isaac, of Leah and Rachel and Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever; this is the name you are to remember for all generations. ╬ The Samaritan woman said to Jesus, “I know that the Messiah—the Anointed One—is coming and will tell us everything.” Jesus replied, “I who speak to you, I AM the Messiah.” ╬ Jesus said, “I AM the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry; no one who believes in me will be thirsty. ╬ Jesus said, "I AM the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, and if you eat it you’ll never die." ╬ Jesus said, "I myself am the living bread come down from heaven. If any eat this bread, they will live forever; the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” ╬ Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ╬ Jesus said, “You belong to what is below; I AM from above. You’re of this world; I AM not of this world. I have told you already, you’ll die in your sins. Yes, you will surely die in your sins unless you believe that I AM.”   CRUCIFORM  How you love justice, O God. You are always on the side of the oppressed. You revealed your intentions to Moses, your deeds to Israel. You are tender and compassionate, O God— slow to anger, and always loving; your indignation doesn’t endure forever, and your anger lasts only for a short time. You never treat us as our sins deserve; you don’t repay us in kind for the injustices we do. (Psalm 103. 6-10) WEEK II ╬ Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Chosen One, then you’ll know that I AM and that I do nothing of myself; I say only what Abba God has taught me. The One who sent me is with me and has not deserted me, because I always do God’s will.” ╬ Jesus said, “The truth of the matter is, before Sarah and Abraham ever were, I AM.” ╬ Jesus said, "We must do the deeds of the One who sent me while it is still day—for night is coming, when no one can work. While I AM in the world, I AM the light of the world.” ╬ Jesus said, “The truth of the matter is, I AM the sheep gate. All who came before me were thieves and marauders whom the sheep didn’t heed. I AM the gate. Whoever enters through me will be safe—you’ll go in and out and find pasture." ╬ Jesus said, "I AM the good shepherd. A good shepherd would die for the sheep." ╬ Jesus said, "I AM the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me, in the same way Abba God knows me and I know God—and for these sheep I will lay down my life." ╬ Jesus said, "Yet you say—to someone whom Abba God has consecrated and sent into the world—‘You’re blaspheming,’ because I say, ‘I AM God’s Only Begotten.’" If I AM not doing Abba God’s work, there is no need to believe me; but if I AM doing God’s work—even if you don’t believe me—at least believe in the work I do." CRUCIFORM You never treat us as our sins deserve; you don’t repay us in kind for the injustices we do. For as high as heaven is above the earth, so great is the love for those who revere you. As far away as the east is from the west, that’s how far you remove our sins from us!  As tenderly as parents treat their children, that’s how tenderly you treat your worshipers, O God! For you know what we are made of— you remember that we’re nothing but dust.  We last no longer than grass, live no longer than a wildflower; one gust of wind and we’re gone, never to be seen again. (Psalm 103. 11-16) WEEK III ╬ Jesus said, "Then you’ll know for certain that Abba God is in me and I AM in Abba God.” ╬ Jesus said, “I AM the Resurrection, and I AM Life: those who believe in me will live, even if they die; and those who are alive and believe in me will never die. ╬ Jesus said, "when I AM lifted up from this earth, I will draw all people to myself.” ╬ Jesus said, "You call me “Teacher,” and “Sovereign”—and rightly, for so I AM." ╬ Jesus said, "I tell you this now, before it takes place, so that when it takes place you may believe that I AM." ╬ Jesus said, “I myself am the Way—I AM Truth, and I AM Life. No one comes to Abba God but through me. ╬ Jesus said, "Whoever has seen me has seen God. How can you say, ‘Show us your God’? Don’t you believe that I AM in  God and God is in me?"  CRUCIFORM Yet your love lasts from age to age for those who revere you, O God, as does your goodness to our children’s children, and to those who keep your covenant and remember to obey your precepts. You have established your throne in the heavens, and your reign extends over everything. (Psalm 103. 17-19) WEEK IV ╬ Jesus said, "The words I speak are not spoken of myself; it is Abba God, living in me, who is accomplishing the works of God. Believe me that I AM in God and God is in me, or else believe because of the works I do." ╬ Jesus said, "I AM the true vine, and my Abba is the vine grower who cuts off every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, but prunes the fruitful ones to increase their yield." ╬ Jesus said, "I AM the vine; you are the branches. Those who live in me and I in them will bear abundant fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." ╬ “Are you Jesus of Nazareth?” they asked. Jesus said, “I AM.”  ╬ When Jesus said, “I AM,” they all drew back and fell to the ground. ╬ Jesus said, “I have already told you that I AM the one you want. If I AM the one you’re looking for, let the others go.” ╬ Pilate said, “So you’re a King?” Jesus replied, “You say I AM a King. I was born and came into the world for one purpose—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who seeks the truth hears my voice.” CRUCIFORM Bless God, you angels, you powers who do God’s bidding, attentive to every word of command! Bless God, you heavenly host, you faithful ones who enforce God’s will!  bless God, creation, to the far reaches of God’s reign! Bless God, O my soul! (Psalm 103. 20-22) INVITATORY From the Book of Psalms, Selected Verses ♦ A good name is better than great wealth, the esteem of others, than gold and silver. (silence) ♦ O God, our Sovereign, how majestic is your Name in all the earth! (silence) ♦ I will be glad and rejoice in you, I will sing praise to your Name, O God Most High! (silence) ♦ We glorify you all day long, O God, and will praise your Name forever. (silence) ♦ The whole earth worships you and sings praises to you—all creation praises your Name! (silence) ♦ Teach me your way, O God, so that I may walk with you alone; make me single-hearted in reverence for your Name. I will praise you with all my heart, O God; I will glorify your Name forever. (silence) ♦ Happy are those who have learned to praise you, O God, who walk in the light of your presence! They will rejoice in your Name all day long, uplifted by your justice. I will extol you, my God, my Sovereign, and I will bless your Name forever and ever! (silence) ♦ Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your Name forever and ever! Great you are, God, and greatly to be praised; your greatness is unfathomable. CROSS In the Name of God, go in peace. Love and serve God in your loving of others. And make God's Name one that is known as love.