Talking with God
Week 2
Prayer is the heart of life with God, allowing us to hear His voice, dwell in His presence, and grow in understanding of His character. It also invites us to partner with Him, sharing His presence with others and participating in His work to bring His Kingdom to earth.
Learn more about practicing the liturgy.
Leader prays. Group Prays.
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Let us share in the joys and sorrows of one another's life.
What has been the highlight of your week?
What has been the low of your week? -
Let’s prepare our hearts in worship.
Hear our prayers O God,
Listen to the words of our mouths.
Surely God is our help
The Lord is the one who sustains us.
We will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. -
We will take a moment in quiet to reflect on our actions this past week. Then, together, we will confess and be reminded that we are the forgiven community.
Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Amen. -
Let us hear the word of the Lord from the Psalms.
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
–Psalm 34:1-10 -
Let us affirm our faith with the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day, he rose again.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the global Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen. -
An introduction to prayer.
Prayer is the center-point of life with God. It means always tuning our ear to God's ever-speaking voice and abiding in His constant presence. Through prayer, we get to know the character of our Father as we spend time with him. We also get to share His presence with the people around us. And thus, prayer is not just an opportunity to interact with the Creator God, but a way of creating with Him- of revealing His Kingdom on earth and joining in His work of making all things right.
Dallas Willard once wrote, “Prayer is talking with God about what we are working on together.” This week we consider what it means to talk with God.
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Let us open the scriptures and learn the story of Christ.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
–Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV) -
Let’s take a moment to talk through what we have heard, reflecting on what it is saying to us.
What can we learn about this week's practice through this passage?
Where did I feel resistance in prayer? Internally or externally?
How does talking with God change your view on prayer?
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Let us consider how to follow Jesus in our everyday lives.
Begin your day by spending time with God, reflecting on what’s ahead. Remain open to His guidance, listening for ways He might lead you to respond or adjust, and use this time of prayer to talk with Him about the work you are doing together.
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At this time, if you have a prayer request, we’ll hear those and conclude with the Lord’s prayer. This is our opportunity to talk with God about what we are working on together. What or who can we lift in prayer?
As our Savior taught us, so we pray;
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 for ever.
Amen. -
Let us confess the Mystery of our Faith.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again. -
May we go from this place prepared to reveal the Kingdom of Jesus, together.
Living God, draw us deeper into your love;
Jesus our Lord, send us to care and serve;
Holy Spirit, make us heralds of good news.
Stir us, strengthen us,
teach and inspire us to live your love
with generosity and joy, imagination and courage;
for the sake of your world and in the name of Jesus,
Amen. -
