Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. (Mark 16:9)
Jesus, please make yourself known to us more and more as well.
She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. (Mark 16:10)
Jesus, help us share the good news of your resurrection with those who mourn and weep.
And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. (Mark 16:11)
Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. (Mark 16:12)
Lord Jesus, please walk with us each day and help us as we walk in your ways.
And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. (Mark 16:13)
Holy Spirit, soften our hearts.
Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. (Mark 16:14)
Father, touch the hearts and minds of the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church, and help them believe the witness of those who have experienced Jesus and the work of your Holy Spirit in their lives. Thank you.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:15-20)
Lord, write on our hearts the message you want us to share with others. Thank you.
John 21:1-14; A word received: Ask me where to cast your net.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, (Psalm 92:12-14)
LORD, please help us to be vigorous, sturdy, and fruitful in old age.
As your days, so shall your strength be. (Deuteronomy 33:25b)
LORD, as our days are, so let our strength be.
Praying the Nicene Creed, a word received 12/29/07: Each day I want you to take a phrase from the Nicene Creed and pray that phrase. My people need to hear what is true and make it their own.
I believe in one God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
the Father Almighty,
Father, thank you for being a father to me. Thank you that by your might you have made your son Jesus known to us so that we can become your children.
maker of heaven and earth,
Thank you, Father, for your creation. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to be better stewards of your creation.
and of all things visible and invisible;
Father, we know that we are surrounded by your angelic hosts and that whole company of heaven, that cloud of witnesses that has gone before us. Help us to be steady in you till we reach that place of rest. Thank you.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
Father, guide us by your Holy Spirit so that every other “lord” in our lives is brought under the sovereign rule of Jesus and he becomes our one Lord. Thank you.
the only begotten Son of God,
Father, thank you for sending your one and only son to us so that we might become your children.
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
Jesus, you have always been there; help us receive you into every part of our lives.
God of God, Light of Light,
Jesus, you are God and you are the light to take us through this time of darkness in the church and in the nation. You are the word of God and are a lamp to our feet.
very God of very God,
Jesus, you and the Father are one; please help us come to know you and him better.
begotten, not made,
Father, thank you for choosing Mary to bring Jesus to us. Help us to respond as she did.
being of one substance with the Father;
Jesus, you came to us bearing the image of the Father so that we might know his love for us. You are one with him and there is no division between you. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to know the unity and character that you share with the Father.
by whom all things were made;
Jesus, everything we have was made by you, there is nothing that we can have that we can call our own except for your cross and resurrection. It is all a free gift of yours; thank you.
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,
Jesus, thank you for being willing to give up the glory of heaven to come and live with us. Thank you that day by day your Holy Spirit is willing to live in us in the midst of all our sin.
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
Holy Spirit, thank you for Mary’s willingness to receive your over-shadowing and her willingness to risk all to bear Jesus for us.
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
Thank you, Jesus, for what you endured on the cross for us.
he suffered and was buried;
Jesus, thank you for dying for us while we were still sinners. You went to the cross and the grave for us because of your love for your father and for us. Thank you.
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
Holy Spirit, thank you that you enabled Jesus to rise from the dead. Thank you for his victory over sin and death. Please bring us to new life in him.
and ascended into heaven,
Jesus, thank you for your ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of your father. Thank you that you ever live to make intercession for us.
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
Father, thank you for giving Jesus such a place of honor; please help us honor him by our words and deeds and belief.
and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead;
Jesus, you are Lord and you are judge; help us to fall into your hands and not the hands of men.
whose kingdom shall have no end.
Thank you, Jesus, for your endurance to the end on the cross. Thank you for establishing an eternal kingdom.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
Father, we desperately need the renewing power of your Holy Spirit in the life of the Episcopal Church
who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
Holy Spirit, thank you for helping us know both the Father and the Son!
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
Holy Spirit, please help us know you, worship you, and glorify you.
who spake by the Prophets.
Thank you for your word in Scripture and your words to us today.
Saturday: 145 * 104; Isaiah 25:1-9; Acts 4:13-21(22-31)*; John 16:16-33
HC: 118:14-18 or 118:19-24; Acts 4:13-21; Mark 16:9-15,20
Sunday: 146, 147 * 111, 112, 113; Isaiah 43:8-13; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-7
HC: 111 or 118:19-24; Acts 2:14a,22-32 or Genesis 8:6-16; 9:8-16; 1 Peter 1:3-9 or Acts 2:14a,22-32; John 20:19-31
Notes from the Front Line
***** Please pray daily for the Welcome Home Initiative, for the veterans who come to it and those who minister to them.
***** Please pray for the prayer table ministry this morning.
Albany Intercessor
