Morning Prayer: Loving God, Who opens our hearts to the mysteries of faith in ordinary and extraordinary moments, come near to us today. Make known among us and within us Your strength, that we might experience Your power that uses what the powers of this world call weakness to demonstrate Your Almighty love to all creation. Amen.
John 20:18
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that He had said these things to her.
Song: In the Garden
- I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses,
and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own;
and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
- He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
and the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing. (Refrain) - I'd stay in the garden with Him though the night around me be falling,
but He bids me go; thru the voice of woe His voice to me is calling. (Refrain)
John 14:19-21
In a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. They who have My commandments and keep them are those who love Me, and those who love Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love them and reveal Myself to them.”
Song: Because He Lives
- God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Refrain: Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.
- How sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives. Refrain:
- And then one day I’ll cross the river; I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He reigns. Refrain:
Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing children to Him in order that He might touch them, and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Song: Jesus Loves Me
- Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
- Jesus loves me! This I know, as He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee, saying, “Let them come to Me.”
- Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.
The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us, not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me thus far? And even this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; You have also spoken of Your servant’s house into the distant future. You regard me as someone of high rank, O Lord God!
Song: Amazing Grace
- Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
- ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
- Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
- The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be, and long as life endures.
- Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
- When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations.
Song: Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
1 Peter 2:21-25
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” When He was abused, He did not return abuse; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Song: The Old Rugged Cross
- On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain: So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.
- O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. (Refrain) - In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me. (Refrain) - To that old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then He'll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)
