Heavenly Father, Your church gathers again, as you have called us to do, in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit to rejoice and exult in You (Ps 5:11).
For you are holy, and good, and beautiful. You are love.
You work righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103:6-8).
Through the gospel, you forgive iniquity, heal diseases, and will redeem our lives from the grave, just you raised Jesus from the dead. You crown your people with steadfast love and mercy and satisfy us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle (Psalm 103:5).
Though unseen, you are not hidden but have revealed yourself through the prophets and through the incarnation of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your word tells us that those who seek you, find you when they seek you with all their heart (Jer 29:13). And so we have come to seek you. We acknowledge that we do not see you with perfect hearts, rather with hearts marred by sin and apathy. Nonetheless, we come in faith that having been made clean through the blood of Jesus, we have confidence that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous” and your “ears are open to [our] prayers” (1 Peter 3:12).
And so, Lord, hear our prayers. Listen to our songs. Receive our worship. Be glorified in the worship of your people today. Amen.