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Welcome and Preparation

We begin with a few moments to calm our bodies and minds.

Guide

The LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:7

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Remember Your Time of Need

Guide

Let us draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Bring to mind a transforming moment in your life. Imagine yourself in that situation. Picture where you are in that moment and who may be near you. (To learn more about the transforming moment click here.)

Or, call to mind your time of need—whatever trouble feels most pressing to you right now. What is that area of suffering or sin where you need the Redeemer’s help?

Confession

Guide	Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
All	Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. we have followed too much the deceits and desires of our own hearts. we have offended against your holy laws. we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord; And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
Guide	Grant your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All	Amen

Guide	Lord, open our lips;
All	And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Guide	O God, make speed to save us;
All	O Lord, make haste to help us.

All	Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Setting the Scene

At the Lord’s command, Moses raised his staff and God drove back the [Red Sea], parting the waters and making a safe path for the people to walk through the sea on dry ground. The old life of slavery was gone and a new life with God had begun. God’s people had gone through a sort of death and resurrection.

From Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry, Mike Wilkerson (Crossway: 2011), page 92. Used by permission.

Scripture Reading and Reflection

We’ll work with the following text in four stages.

1. Read: For the first reading, simply let God’s Word sink into your heart, mind and imagination and take note of any words or phrases that especially stand out to you.
2. Reflect: During the second reading, reflect on why that word or phrase might resonate with you now. What’s happening in your heart? What do you need from God?
3. Respond: For the third reading, consider how you’ll respond to God after hearing him speak to you. What will you say to him in prayer? Is he inviting you to know him in a refreshing way? Or is there some action he’s calling you to take, in faith?
4. Rest in what God has provided for you.

Psalm 31:1–5

¹ In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
² Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
³ For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
⁴ you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
⁵ Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

The Apostles’ Creed

Guide

We have been brought through death and into life through the waters of baptism, like the Israelites through the Red Sea. Yet today, in various ways, we again face death. Let us do so in hope, united to Christ in his death and resurrection, confessing our faith with his people throughout the ages:

All

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 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 holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Kyrie

Guide	Lord, have mercy
All	Christ, have mercy
Guide	Lord, have mercy

The Lord’s Prayer

All

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Collect

A collect is a common prayer that gathers our various individual prayers together according to a theme.

Guide	We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
All	Amen

Guide	Let us bless the Lord.
All	Thanks be to God.

Guide

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14